I hear ya on the spending time with the kid(s) Mine are 5 & & and I'm just starting to induce an interest in hand tools (sockets, wrenches, etc) They recently learned to ride bikes W/O training wheels and adjusting the seats up and down a million times has proven an amusing way to help them garner an interest in doing things themselves and with tools...If they're younger, simple woodworking for me proved a fun thing. Build some simple birhouses and have them help with assembling the parts..If they're older? I dunno, I'm not there yet...But damn time passes quickly.

I don't even own a MB but I have an affection for diesels and automobiles so it seems to me like a 300D would be a good fit. I've got an '01 VW TDI. The TDI is fun to drive but rather more sophisticated (read - electrikery/sensors on sensors) than I care to admit...I loath using a computer in my garage. But with the TDI its a neccessity.
Rob M Concord, MA

Balance is a personal thing....