Looking back I wish I had paid some bills with my left and/or right nut. Who thought having 4 kids was a good idea?

Keep it. Or send it my way.

__________________

1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

As fuel prices keep generally creeping up, a 240D will become more valuable, IMO. I think we are about to see a wave of econoboxes come back, and the stick 240D will compare well with them. You didn't mention if yours was a stick- if it isn't and you have the time, I would look into tracking down the needed parts and make it so.

Rick

__________________
80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Good point! I've sold more than a few vehicles that I later regretted parting with. The 240D fits well with my values and principles (slow but steady and reliable; solid engineering; safe; owner-maintainable; built to last), and I'd have to go to Southern US to find a rust-free replacement (mind you, that could be something nice to do once I'm retired I would have no such feeling of regret parting with the Volvo, if that's what I end up doing to introduce a change in my "stable".

My only regret about the Benz is that I can't (bring myself to) drive it in the winter (because of road salt etc.). It's just too nice for that.

No, mine doesn't have a stick, and indeed, it might make a nice early retirement project to retrofit one to mine! Thanks for the suggestion.

Cheers!

__________________
1983 300TD 240K - 1982 240D 215K - 1996 Dodge Cummins 70K