The van is a Seat (
www.seat.de) I was disappointed also in the lack of old MBs here. Most are collector owned and not driven in winter. Couple observations: the salt is very corrosive and is used Nov-April. The TUV is strict. Very image conscious Germans, keep up w/the Jones etc. If you can afford it most keep cars 5 -6 yrs tops. Lower income drivers have a newer Opel than an old MB. Many went to East Europe. Most 124's have significant rust patches by now. Many cities have "umwelt" zones, now Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, and you need a windshield sticker to drive in the metro area or pay 40euro fine. Diesels and gassers older than OBDII need to be retrofitted w/ particle filters or pay increased tax. Insurance and taxes gets more expensive as the car ages (go figure) 100k kilometers to a German is like 100k miles to an American. You start thinking something expensive will break. They do drive flat out and older cars start using oil. Parts are so hard to find (and $$ from MB) so the local mercedes club goes to the US every year and shops salvage yards in the west for rust free parts and ships back sea-land containers for club members orders. (
www.mercedesclubs.de) Still looking for something nice to buy but won't be cheap here!!