Thanks Jim, LGB and everyone else who has been so helpful here!
The delay in purchase was as much as a function of him obtaining the $ as it was of thoughtful process.
The car was looked at by a college first who's daughter needed a car, but she didnt like the "wagon look"!
He was frustrated by that but told me about it, because it looked like a good car that needed some TLC.
Just what a a 17 year old needs, plus a father with a few skills...to teach him what to do on his own car... a perfect way for him to learn basic maintanence/repair the skills needed to own a car on a budget. The way I learned was similar... the "I break it I gotta fix it" thought process, teaches mechanical sympathy and understanding....and also sounds like fun to me.

I have to share with you people a little gemstone....
My son asked me how you increase the performance of an engine the other day...
Well, he is a computer kid, always tuning, boosting performance etc...

How do you make a computer run faster I asked?
Go into the Bios and raise the clock multiplier and voltage to the processor, and add as much RAM as you can, he said.
Ok, engines are the sameas processors, but substitute fuel for electricity, I said.
Then I asked, but what happens with the processor when you do that?
It will overheat, so you put a better fan on it, he said.
Same with car engines.... the harder they work, the more fuel you add, the more air flow and cooling you need!
Cool, he said!
Then I asked him a real gem.
OK, if the processor and system is maxed out, but you still want more performace, how do you get it?

Mmmm, he said and thought for a minute...
"Run the fastest processor, the most hi speed ram, increase the clock and voltage, add fans, then I would reduce the number of background unwanted programs running, remove any hardware that I used rarely... run one 10,000rpm hard drive..... but the more you do that, the less practical it becomes for everyday use..."
Hey!, he said thoughtfully, at the end "Thats what sports cars are, isnt it"
Stripped down slippery bodies, big engines, and designed for going fast!

I learned something too!
Just thought you guys would smile at that one!

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2009 Mercedes ML320 Bluetec