BINGO !!!!

Quote:
"If a 123 will be 1/2 as costly as the 308...I won't get one. I would not be able to afford it."

I don't know of ANY production cars more expensive to maintain and repair than Ferraris and Lamborgini's. They are beautiful but beauty is as beauty does in my book.

Some first hand observations from an old mechanic with factory training on Porsche and Ferrari:

Many Ferrari and Fiat parts will interchange. Ferrari parts are
300% higher. We have no dedicated wrecking yards for them.
Ferrari interiors stink for several years before the smell of poorly tanned leather fades.
Those long caster Italian front suspensions won't allow a decent U turn anywhere.
In any city you can find a car jacker willing to screw a gun into your nose so he can steal your expensive sports car.
Knowledgable Ferrari techs are HARD to find.
Inexpensive new parts don't exist.
The Italians are famous for discontinuing parts for cars more than ten years old. Not all parts.... just some.

Mercedes diesel parts are easy to find, reasonably inexpensive, and you can still find parts in a wrecking yard.
Mercedes turn in their own tracks.
No one wants to steal them.
MB diesels are a DIYers dream come true. Easy to repair.
New parts are still fairly cheap and they exist in a competitive market.

I would venture a guess that your Camry has been very reliable and has cost you very little in upkeep.

You found a 1983cd for $3200 asking price????? What exactly do you expect to pay for one?

You may just find that driving a turbo diesel MB is the answer to dependable, safe, and inexpensive (relatively) transportation. It will keep high mileage off your Ferrari and still get you to your destination in comfort.

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You can get farther with a smile and a gun than you can with just a smile.

1984 300D
1985 300CD
1980 300SD
1993 SL500

Quote from "Fish" Salmon, Air Force test pilot:

"A helicopter is a compilation of poorly engineered misfitted parts flying together in loose formation."

Also they don't fly, they just beat the air into submission.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

Yeh, but they look great! Seriously, though, the 308 is easy to work on, so my mechanic says. And you're right about the 10 year rule...Lots of fun to drive though, and that's what it is all about.

Went to a Porsche/MB mechanic today...he suggested going with gas because dsls are more expensive to repair when needed. I think you suggested the best thing to do...drive them all and pick the one I like. I'll try to go out this weekend and drive gas,dsls,2dr,4dr...no wagons though.

And of course, there's that 'no wings' thing too.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Randy, they have wings.

They are called "rotary wings".

I kid you not.

Do you know what the glide ratio is for those type of wings? Similiar to a rock!!!

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

For those who care, the MB I purchase will park next to this 308 in my garage (if I messed up posting the pic, none of this will matter).

guess I messed up

You need to link the picture to a picture posted on a server. This forum doesn't have one for that purpose.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

Old Navy, ... what do you think the box under the box where posts are written does ?
The one that says " attach a file" ?
It is only if you want to put more than one picture into one post that you need to provide your own server....

Well I'll be hornswaglled, I hadn't noticed the critter. :p

This has been brought to you by "Another Senior Moment" from SwampEastMO.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

Old navy.......

Pay no attention to him. He used to fly helicopters for a living. Need I say more...............