deeph8,

This is not the first time this debate has come up here.

I have owned 4 240D's, a 300TD turbo, and a non turbo 300D. I do all my own work, I just got through stripping the 300D non turbo to the bare block, boring and putting in new pistons. I have done a similar job to a 240D and can probably do the same work on a 240D in about 2/3 the time it takes on a 300D.

You are really onto something by recognizing that all the gadgets on the 300D's are sources of problems that are a pain and an expense to fix.

I prefer to drive a manual transmission, and detest driving or working on ANYTHING with an automatic. That's just me and my personal likes/dislikes. I'm not throwing rocks at those who like their automatics. That said, I never found ANY of my 240D's to be totally objectionable as far as power goes. They were ALL manual transmissions. I wouldn't buy an automatic 240D on a bet, now that would really be something slow.

As far as working on them, although the engines are basically the same except for a difference of one identical cylinder, I find the five cylinders to be a real pain compared to the four. That is not only because of the cramped engine compartment of the five cylinder car, but also because of the electric gadgets and doodad's.

I learned as a child how to crank the windows up and down without a button. I also learned, even with my limited intelligence, that if I was cold I should turn up the temperature, and if I was hot, I should turn down the temperature. When I became an adult I learned how much of a pain in the A$$ keeping gadgets like climate controls, electric windows and electric sunroofs working properly can be.

Again, I'm not in any way belittling anyone else for their likes/dislikes, but for me, I wouldn't trade one manual transmission 240D in good condition for three 300D's, turbo or non turbo, if I were the one driving AND maintaining them. The 240D has the simplicity of a Model A.

Good luck with your decision.

My $0.02,