If you can find one , a manual 280SL seems to fit. I also second the e28 or e24, in fact, I am looking for one myself. The 528e of the era ( with the eta engine) was said to have quite good fuel economy and was somewhat diesel-like in performance.

I share the same rant wrt the lack of clarity on the transmission options. It's a very important consideration. I really can't imagine a person who would just buy a car with whatever it has (unless it's obvious what it has from the get-go). Seems like it is always the first question I have to ask, usually followed by a "Not interested!"

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)