You probably don't want an R129. Apart from the fact that they are practically all slushboxes, the top hydraulics seem designed to fail (12 hydraulic cylinders). Overly complex.

The 280SL in stick form can be fairly reliable, if it can be found. Probably not for the price of an e30 or e28, though. Unless it has issues.

Yeah, Volvos seem to be cheap, if unexciting. Go for a wagon.

I had a '96 V6 Camaro stick (first year 200hp). It was very peppy and thrify, as Tyler says. But I got tired of all the plastic , the huge doors and glass. Couldn't wait to dump it, well before I had worn it out, to buy a 240D stick....

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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 (??)