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I have someone wanting to trade me a 1985 928 auto with 211k miles they got from an Estate Sale for my 1981 Mercedes 240d manual. My car runs amazing but I've always wanted a 928. My car has 280k which is still low for these engines. My car is mechanically sound the problem is this guy lives 5 hours away so we would meet in the middle (2 1/2 hours each) I haven't seen the car in person but it looks beautiful. No leakdown test has been made nor a compression test. I'm assuming since it has 211k miles it's been taken care of. He has one guy look over it and said the oil looks good, belt looks good, no leaks. What should I do?
The Nickname for a 240D here in Germany is "shifting dune". We had one in my youth and I don´t like the boxspring seats and the incorrect steering. Interieur is better in the benz.
It's funny, I clicked on the thread because I assume the question was "which should I buy" (not thinking you already owned one of the two), and in my mind it was a question of (Porsche) 928 or a (Datsun) 240 (z), which are at least in a similar universe.
OP, aside from the obvious difference in performance, are they otherwise similar in condition? The Merc is a really pretty car but other than being a manual, not really for me. Chris' dad's car looks amazing though.
And I am personally a huge fan of manual cars, especially if sporty and not daily drivers. Do you think you'll miss a 5-speed if you get this particular 928?
Cheers
Idk which one to choose guys, idk anything about the 928 except it's rust free, belt oil and coolant are good. Actually the parking paw is worn he says, he says it rolls 6 inches before going into park. 211k miles which means it's maintained I'm sure but idk how much life is left in it. My 240 is problemless, mechanical injection, diesel, good mileage. I don't need to go fast but I appreciate the 928 as well as the 240. I know the 240 will be cheaper to work on and easier. But it's a 928...I really don't want to regret trading the 240 but don't want to regret passing up a 928. Either way there will be some regret..Also guys I forget to tell you the 240 is my Daily so the 928 will become my daily. I know everything about the 240 inside and out and I might miss having the manual trans over the auto because it's more engaging
The 928 has to be checked over very carefully. You may be even trading for a car that needs 10k worth of deferred maintenance. I looked at many 928's over the years that at fist glance many look decent but below the surface many needed lots of items that a 928 specialist will need to attend to, things like engine vibrations and torque tube bearings, thrust bearings issues, oil leaks are all issues that need to be checked for otherwise you may be trading an asset for a big liability.
General speaking I'm no fan of trading cars, this is why money was invented. I believe you should sell your 240D for what it's worth and buy the best 928 you can after it's been thoroughly checked by you or someone very 928 knowledgeable. Better yet, buy a 928, see if it works for you and then decide to keep or sell on.
Last edited by icsamerica; 12-03-2022 at 03:11 PM.
Hard to tell but in the picture it looks like the interior rear panels have been removed on the 928. cant tell anything else about the interior, but it would be well worth getting a lot more detailed pics of the 928. If the interior of the 928 is actually in really good shape that would probably lend credence to it being a more worthwhile trade.
My 85 had 240K when I got T-boned after using it as my daily for 10 years, and it still ran extremely well. That was after I invested a significant amount in catch-up maintenance of course, but I did buy it as a non-runner for $1500.
Knowing that your 240d is fully sorted and you wanting to rely on it as your daily, I would be inclined to keep the Merc. I could see adding a 928 and when you are fully comfortable with it deciding which is the keeper, but to trade for a relativily unknow car seems like too high a risk to me.
Well the 928 he said the interior has been taken out and cleaned but the rear interior panels need replacing. Also he said he got it from an estate sale as well as knowing it has 211k on the clock it's gotta have been maintened correctly right? He said it's good for a daily so idk
12-03-2022, 01:32 AM
928 or 240
