I am considering a 1983 Mercedes 240D. It has 138K actual miles and it is in very good conditions. The owner states that the car runs and drives great, that it is 100% rust free and the interior is in very good shape, according to the photographs I have seen of it. The engine looks very clean and he also states that the car has NO leaks of any kind. I think I can get it for less than $2000 - shipping included. First of all- is this a good price on this car?

Secondly- I have heard that these cars are VERY LOW on power- especially the automatic models. Just how slow can I expect this car to be? Is there anything out there these days that increase the performance of these cars? Now I have a 1989 Pontiac Safari wagon (a 4200 pound, 9-passenger car), with a 140hp V8 4bbl Oldsmobile built engine. It is very sluggish. I think someone said that the 240Ds (early 80s models) have a 76hp engine. I am unsure of the weight of the 240Ds (around 3000 lbs?), so I am guessing with the weight/hp ratio- that it could not be much worse than my 89 Pontiac wagon. ANY advice / information appreciated.

__________________
2004 Toyota Sequoia Limited 4wd
1991 Lincoln Town Car Executive
1991 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1988 Mercedes 300SEL
1972 Chevrolet Caprice Kingswood Estate 9-passenger wagon
1973 Pontiac Grand Ville
(Prior MB's: 1974 240D, 1985 380SE, 1984 190D, 1993 400SEL)