Sounds like on line registration really blows.
Back in the day I very purposely took a work study job working for the school's admin. office. After a couple of semesters among other things I was working registration.... Took a leave of absence at one point, and had all of my classes locked up for my final year before I left on leave.

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95 E300D gave away
77 300D, 227k, station car
83 300CD 370k, body gone away to the rust gods, engine is in a Yota pickup, going strong
89 190E 2.6- 335k, no more
79 VW FI Bus- 154k summer driver
59 VW Beetle ragtop- 175k
12 VW Jetta- 250k
74 MG Midget-78k