So, my dad finally found a cottage truck for hauling firewood, tools and whatnot around the countryside. He's been looking at various things during recent years to keep his 3er wagon from getting too beat up, as he's quite particular about car condition. But for less than a road legal Lada Niva, he now has bought ...
A Mercedes-Benz ML!
I didn't even know you could get them as manual, but there was a '99 ML230 5spd for sale at a used car dealer nearby. It's been imported from Germany already in 2005, gone through a handful of owners and some service history and bills followed, including a clutch/gearbox rebuild receipt from a specialist. There's traditional moderate rust in the edges of wheelarches and the suspension components, but the sunroof surround and the doors etc are OK and it looks well kept.
I think it's amusing that it's the smallest engine, a 148-hp straight-four, but the car has been specced like a dealer did it as it has a custard coloured leather interior combined with dark wood decor and factory bull bar and side steps and all. Dad says it drives surprisingly well, doesn't whine or creak and goes straight (though I expect slowly), and the gearbox feels on point. I also presume the 4x4 works. It doesn't need anything other than a new set of summer tires and some cosmetic work done on the southern side of the gulf when travel opens up again. It'll be interesting to see how it holds up and just how much fuel it uses.
VIN data:
189 (Black Opal)
200A LEATHER
205A LEATHER MUSHROOM
221 LEFT FRONT SEAT, ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE
222 RIGHT FRONT SEAT, ELECTRICALLY ADJUSTABLE
249 AUTOMATICALLY DIPPING INSIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR
259 RADIO PREMIUM WITH BOSE SOUND SYSTEM (head unit is a Becker TrafficStar 1DIN navi)
280 LEATHER STEERING WHEEL AND LEATHER GEAR SHIFT KNOB
414 ELECTRIC TILT/SLIDE SUNROOF IN GLASS VERSION
580 AIR CONDITIONER
661 TYRES 255/65 R 16 WITH LIGHT METAL WHEELS
723 BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT COVERING
731 WOOD TRIM BURRED WALNUT ROOT
809 AEJ 06/1/M/X
841 FRONT PROTECTION BAR
846 SCUFF PLATE IN ALU-APPEARANCE WITH RUBBER STUDS
873 SEAT HEATER FOR LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT SEATS
988 REG. DOC. AND COC CERTIFICATE WITH EC TYPE LABEL
E03 UNIVERSAL RUBBER MATS (SET) ANTHRACITE
E15 DOOR SILL PANELS STAINLESS STEEL
U40 No code designation available
U50 No code designation available
U61 LUXURY PACKAGE
Order number 0 9 250 10943 (Destination: Branch Duisburg)
Delivery date 12 01 1999
Fun fact: Prices for the M-class started at 357000 FIM in 1999, or 81 500 eur in today's money. An ML320 would have cost a lot more at 466000 or 106k and change, but I bet the kit with which the ML230 was ordered would have cost a pretty penny too.