My wifes '87 300D now has 137k on it. It is at that point where it needs some major maintenance.I am tempted to sell the car and use the money I would be putting into the car fixing it for a down-payment on a new VW Jetta TDI.I can already hear the negative remarks but your not in my position.#1 thing is I can't afford to have it done,so all maintenance must be done by me.#2,My wife does not have another car to drive while I am fixing this one.And she doesn't drive a stick so she can't drive my car.Here are "some" things I can think of off-hand that it needs:Struts(F&R),strut mounts,lower ball joints(I was planning on buying the whole control arm with ball joint in it).Injectors.I purged them twice and it still runs pretty rough when starting cold.A climate control push-button unit.New idler pulley and belt.Trans filter and fluid.(I wanted to switch to sythetic).It definitely needs new suspension bushings all around.(sounds like fun )Plus any unforseen things and whatever else I missed.I hate to do "one-thing-at-a-time",so, when/if I do it,I do it ALL.Roll it all together and it adds up to a nice down-payment.What should I do?
It needs the work done but my wife won't have a car to drive for a couple of weeks.I know I will never forgive myself for selling this car.Just once I'd like to own a car with an "actual" warranty.Hence I'm torn I know all opinions will lean toward keeping the Benz so please give me your "unbiased" advice.TIA.
Joe.
PS.When we attact Iraq gas is going through the ROOF.
Makes the TDI even more tempting.