I currently own. a 98 e300td 225,000 miles, 99 156, milles, a 96 196,000 miles and a 86 300sdl 384,000 miles all diesels, Guy i sell these diesels as a hobby, trust me when you buy one buy it to have 10 years at least and youll never buy a new car again, long term dollars spent saves you cash every day. Yes you will have to fix things every now and then , but you average dollar per mile is nothing like a gasoline car, and a gas car benz needs alot more work to it and motors rebuilt over time. My last benz of mine that was a personal car was a e300 84 and it had 700,000 miles on it and i olet all my employees drive it we couldnt kill it, but it smoked so bad i sold it to the kid down the street and he put a new turbo in it and ran it another 70,000 miles before wrapping it around a tree when it was snowing. note he was hot rodding, hahaha a diesel! crazy kid. Personal opion, there is no other car that screams class and durabilty then a mercedes benz, if you want a volkwagon and get 50 miles to the gallon, and dont care obout comfort or leg space that is your ride. But gas if you plan on keeping a car a while is a waste, and look at what the resell value of a benz diesel is the 95 older body stlye are bring 10,000 on ebay! and the 85 that are really clean i have seen them sell for 5000 to 7000.00 i think that is crazy but you cant find these diesels any more, well good luck.