I bought my first Benz a year ago, an '81 300SD. Great car. Before too long, I want to find a really fine specimen to polish up. The one I've got was definitely a starter/project car -- $1400, rode hard and put away wet, but maybe it actually did have only 171K when I bought it cause the engine and tranny seem strong -- just beat up in other ways.

Don't know much of the history of BMW supposedly being MB's enemy -- not sure if I want to hear it -- sorta like I didn't know my Irish granny (barn in Belfast, she was) was a protestant til a few years ago, didn't really want to know.

I bought my bimmer, an '87 325i a few years back. It had high miles but a highly regular, documented, maintainance history and it ran great. I've done two road trips in it -- Bay Area to Olympia, WA and back -- with riders from the Craigslist rider board and it was some cool driving. I do the all nighter routine. Sorta sleep and drive -- traffic is way light. Coming back a week or two ago, I took the 101, coastal route cuz the lady needed to go to Willits. The road is mostly two lane and twisty. I was gear-banging and apex cutting -- Juan Manuel Fangio, watch out. It's kinda fun turning these kids onto the experience of driving a hot bimmer. My li'l 325i is my poor man's Ferrari.

My gas cost averages around $30 for each leg and it takes around 14 or 15 hours. Air fare's like $150 to $250 and I have to rent a car/ get picked up and borrow my brother in law's gynormous Ford pickup while I'm there.

I'd like to get a diesel that feels as good as this car, someday no doubt. I can appreciate the good German engineering on both cars.

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1986 300SDL, 362K
1984 300D, 138K