I ended up buying two cars...neither one a Benz.

All the MBs I found that I wanted to buy were getting too pricey for what I was looking for. I had a self-imposed $5,000 budget, but my MB eyes were only looking seriously at the stuff that goes for north of that. I would always find some disqualifier on the sub $5k cars.

I ended up with two pretty nice Volvos for what I would have paid for one "nice" Benz (I know, it's all relative). This way, I can DD one Volvo and leave the other as a spare and for the kids to use. I will be able to save Millie from the daily Houston commute this way, which is the least I can do for her. What a rotten way to pile the miles on such a nice car. I really hate the drive home in the sun...I just cringe thinking about all that UV hitting her un-cracked dash and not-yet pink palomino interior. But I digress....

Anyway, picked up a nice Mississippi 780 Bertone, an '89 with the B230FT. 133k and owned by a Volvo enthusiast who is making room for the wagon his wife wants. The other is a peach of a '91 240DL with 101k from VA. Super clean...literally looks like a 3 year old car. Both cars cost a total of $7,350. Certainly not cheap, but nice, maintained cars in great condition usually aren't.

Looking forward to the bonding process!

Thanks for all the opinions. Made me think outside my Benz diesel box.

Oh, and these will be Volvo numbers 4 and 5 for me!

Tim

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2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

You are in REALLY good company!!!

Jorn just picked up a gorgeous 780 off Craigslist last month for $1,200!!
Imagine that!
Bought a Volvo...

I just love those cars, Bertone's beauties, and quite rare too. Hoepefully yours has the 4 cylinder and not the V6, which is problematic.

And the 240 sedans are everlasting. Those rear wheel drive Volvos rule!!
Wonderful turnin radius on them too.

Very different from the Mercedes diesels, but have plenty of really great traits in common: build quality, strength, durability, integrity, ability to run to insane mileages (with manufacturer issued high mileage badges to prove it!), comfortable seats, and practicality.

Enjoy! Probably time to sign up for the www.brickboard.com and start getting the free monthly newspaper that www.ipdusa.com sends every month!!

Great choices!!!

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

Yes Jim, the 780 is the turbo 4.

I still get the IPD catalog even though I haven't had a Volvo for nearly 8 years! I guess we all knew I be going back at some point.

I still lurk at Swedespeed, brickboard, etc too. Will have to start posting again as I baseline the cars and find those little hidden "gems"!

Thanks for the encouragement!

Tim

__________________
2009 VW TDI Jetta Sportwagon 172k miles (rear-ended harder than Elton John on 8/4/13. Total loss)

1991 Volvo 240 142k miles (T-boned by a stop sign runner. Total loss)

Does she have a sister?

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green 85 300SD 200K miles "Das Schlepper Frog" With a OM603 TBO360 turbo ( To be intercooled someday )( Kalifornistani emissons )
white 79 300SD 200K'ish miles "Farfegnugen" (RIP - cracked crank)
desert storm primer 63 T-bird "The Undead" (long term hibernation)

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