Well, you'd be able to pull around 120 in first gear....

Off-the-line power would probably suffer a bit though.

If you want a car that is safe, fairly reliable, and gets decent mileage, and is European, get a Volvo 740 with the non-turbo 2.3 liter 4 and a manual gearbox (4-speed OD--5 gears). It'll get maybe 27 to 28 on the highway, and it's a Volvo, so it'll be safe. Plus, a decent non turbo 740 would be a little over $2000 US. If you sold the 380SEL, you'd probably be able to get easily into one (maybe two??).

If you want a car with all these points except the European aspect, get a front-wheel-drive General Motors car with the 3.8 liter V6 engine and an automatic. 28-30 highway MPG easily, and pretty safe, too. Think Pontiac Bonneville, Buick Lesabre, or Oldsmobile 88 (from the late 1980s or early 1990s). $2500 US will get you a good one, and they'll accelerate at least as well as the 380SEL.

Nice to know I'm not the only accounting major on the site. I go to the U of Washington, in Seattle.

-Sam