I bought the 210 diesel while working for a fast moving, money making software company. I bought it in early '96 a few months after my son turned 16. That's when I gave him the 240D. I was paid mileage for my business travel which amounted to about $1,500 per month. I was covering several states, and it was a driving territory.

The car was fabulous in every way. It had Xenons, leather, chrome wheels and every available option except metallic paint.

I left that company in early '98 and at the same time my son was going to college. Once I was away from the $1,500 in mileage most every month, it just didn't make sense to keep it. I found the manual transmission 300E and had been looking for one for a few years. I sold the 210 car to a doctor in Sherman and started driving the 300E.

In late '99 I started going to an office in the Dallas areas most days and put the 240D back on the road after my son had parked it when he left for the university. Then I went through the engine woes and started driving the 300E daily. I now wish I had put the 240D back on the road and saved the 300E. The problem with that is that the 300E is so much more pleasant to drive on the mostly two lane route that I run every day. It's not a good route for a 240D with its lack of passing power.