I'll be sure to keep the nozzle at a safe distance from soft parts.
I see you're in central VA. I'm in Virginia Beach at the moment, but will be driving it home to Atlanta on Tuesday morning. After driving it briefly tonight, I'm somewhat convinced to keep this car around as a daily and keep the AMG for weekends/sunny days.
For curiosity's sake, what is a car like this, assuming no hidden surprises, worth on the resale market at the moment?[/QUOTE]
Sadly the forecast is not good for your travel plans.
National Weather Service
Others have chimed in on some issues.
The erratic fuel gauge is probably a gunned up sending unit. It is located under the first aid kit. Remove it, clean it, if you must take it apart be aware there are two tiny wires, try not to disturb them.
Expect high 20's for mpg. Reset the trip odometer after a fill up, press the round instrument cluster dimmer button.
The rust prone area I and others, mentioned is under the battery tray, can't be seen by removing just the battery.
The SDL has a better designed, but harder to work on engine. The 126 chassis is heavier tho. As far as the "ride" goes, the SDL should be a bit nicer also. Your 123 seems to be sorted out with perhaps newer suspension components.
Harsh transmission shifts will be vacuum related. Finding the culprit will take some diagnosis, how much vac is the trans getting, does the modulator operate properly, do you need a strong spring in the transmission, etc. I believe your mentioning of a "screw/bolt" indicates to me a Bowden cable adjustment. This determines when the shifts occur, not how hard.
Be sure to inspect the dome light for perhaps being burned out.
I live 20 miles SE of Richmond, about an hour away from Williamsburg.