Crisis of Conscience

[B-Rad]

So I'm sitting at work one day and I get volunteered (read, voluntold) to go pick up the three new guys for our shop. I didn't really have a problem with it, since I didn't have much I was working on at the moment anyway.

Miraculously I managed to fit three Marines in full Service Alpha uniform into my car plus me driving, and to my surprise no one ripped or tore anything getting in or out of my SVX. Also to my surprise, one of them actually knew what an SVX is!

A few days later, he asks me if I'd be interested in trading my SVX. I immediately dismissed the idea in my head, thinking it'd take something amazing to replace my beauty, but I humored him and asked what he had. He replies "six speed 2001 Mercedes-Benz SLK320 with 25,000 miles." I didn't know what it was at the time, I assumed some 4-door Benzo sedan, but he continued to explain the SLK320 is a 2-door 2-seater hard-top convertable coupe, and he's in need of a "Family car" for his wife, infant, and dog.

I read up on the SLK320 and it looks amazing. I've had my SVX for close to 7 years now and it was my first car, but I think this trade would be in my best interest. The private party Blue Book value alone is three times that of my SVX in it's considerably good condition. But I like to consider myself a nice guy. I'd feel bad knowing the SVX is indeed NOT a great family car, and he'd be better off using the Mercedes to get a more suitable family vehicle (though he did mention he has two other nice vehicles... which raises my suspicions a bit. but at the same time, he said he got the Mercedes for $5,000 because his uncle worked at a Mercedes lot and got him a hefty discount, which again raises some suspicions...) Either way though, he'd only be out his $5,000, which is about what I'd get for my SVX (Blue book said $5,800 fair condition, $6,700 excellent condition)

I've yet to actually see the car, since it's in his home-town, but I may be able to make a quick road trip to see it this Memorial Day weekend. My three biggest concerns are: 1.) it's true condition, mechanically and cosmetically, 2.) the dreaded repair costs if and when something does go wrong, and 3.) whether it's as comfortable a ride as my SVX.

What do you guys think? Any good pointers you can give me in this?

A friend of mine said take the Mercedes or he'd pummel me for passing up on a Mercedes... And that you only learn things in life the hard way.