240D Manual owners: Are you happy?

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I've only recently gotten into this MB diesel craze, and I believe it is incurable--e.g. daydreaming about what to get at pickapart, mentally diagramming the perfect homemade ramp made up of 2 by 8's, etc.

I enjoy my 300D-T, to the point that I actually look forward to my commuting time, but one thing is lacking, it seems to me: I've always thought that the DIY, diesel, old but reliable school of thought would be more compatible with stick shift. And I much prefer stick to auto's in terms of driving fun.

So, I have been scanning the craigslist as well as recycler.com in my area (L.A.) for pre 85 240D manuals.

Tell me, is this what I'm really looking for? Does your 240D manual trans. really give you the best combination of diesel reliability, under-the-hood simplicity, and stick-shift pep that I imagine? Or is there too little power, compared to a Turbo, to make it enjoyable?