I know many of you own multiple MBs, and maybe even gas. My wife has and soon will be HAD a POS Subaru Forester. It blew a head gasket at 38,000 ruining the cats and o2 sensors. I mentioned to her (she knows near nothing about cars but likes nice ones) that MB also makes an AWD wagon. So I'm going to look for a wagon for her, could be an 80ish 300 Diesel to a 1998 ish E320. Anyone have any recommendations about what to check on these cars, the newer models to maybe avoid? I know the diesel isn't 4-wheel drive, but she like the ride in my 300D and might be willing to give up the AWD for that. I'm hoping to stay in the low 20's for the car assuming I can get about 11~13K for the Subaru. Any advise, web-site pointers etc greatly appreciated.

You should do some reading through the archives here.

The word is that the MB AWD cars in the vintage you mention are not reliable. My brother was looking at one a year ago and I did some research for him here. Doesn't look pretty.

Ken300D

Q. Why did the Redneck buy a '76 Subaru from a junkyard and park it up on blocks behind his house?

A. Because he heard that it was really the "in" thing to have a Subaru out back.

Actually, I really liked my '86, and it made it to 155,000 miles with no problems, although the clutch was beginning to go when we sold it.