thinking about buying...

[glickbo]

Hi all, this is my first post since joining-im in the market for a pagoda and found this car in queens, ny.  im going to test drive it next week but on the pics and videos shown there is white smoke coming out the exhaust-any ideas what this could be?  im definitely going to have it looked at by a mechanic but i was wondering if any owners had this issue-thanks and its nice to be here!!   
https://picasaweb.google.com/100453298220027127376/1965Mercedes230SLTwoTopsPresentableDriver21500

[JamesL]

Welcome

If this is the first car you've seen, use it as a benchmark - others will no doubt weigh in with comments on what's cosmetically not right with the car - but your biggest cost (assuming it stops smoking (it may just be cold)...) items will be bodywork and a soft-top. The bodywork is tough to tell from pictures but they show loads of black schmutz all over the underside of the car which could be hiding all manner of things. Pull the carpets up in the footwells and behind the seats (also the rear shelf). The engine bay should be white (to match the car) as should the underside of the hood so have a good look around there (take a magnet) for repairs to the front end (which seems to be sitting low (or the back end high...)). Again, if done well, no issue but bondo is not your friend.

It's a great price for a driver but is it good value?

[glickbo]

thanks, Tosh.  i have seen a bunch of pagodas, and the more i think about it, the white one is not the one for me-the white was a respray, original color was green, all the window seals have to be replaced, the smoke issue bothers me, and the interior, all redone, does not look like it is stock and i would  redo it again-i saw another car at gullwing motor cars in burgundy which i can get for less money and appears to be rust free-that one i did drive and it drove well-i will of course get it checked before purchase but although its a california coupe i just cant stop thinking about it!  a paint job and some interior work shoud get the old girl looking fresh-the soft top doesnt really bother me that much but appreciate your input

[J. Huber]

Hey Glick, I think you are wise to pass up that one, I think it was overpriced and as you pointed out, it needs a lot of work to be done correctly. You may find others that actually cost you more up front but will require less money afterwards...Good luck.

[Benz Dr.]

I wonder what he means by, ' soft top is in good condition ' when it looks the dog's breakfast.

  I think this is the car that Sam Pagoda drove to the Yukon. 

[glickbo]

oh the soft top was disgusting!!  i really cant stop thinking about the 250sl i saw-hopefully i can trade my challenger soon then i can make the deal!!  needs work but being rust free i think its worth it especially for the price

[Ulf]

If it is a California Coupé, you might want to reconsider - unless you're happy with leaving the hard top on as the conversion is not cost-effective.