If you are leaning camry you can get no more reliable platform than the 4 cylinder 2.2, 5 speed. The V6 is not nearly as reliable as the I4. My three have all been automatics with no problems - i dont view that as a liability on these cars.

Get a clean one with service records and you will own it for a long time and barely have to put a dime into it.

Okay, back to MB's (currently trying to learn about the ACC to fix it) for me...

dd

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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car