If you decide against this car drop me a note. All the 240ds should have had a five speed. At least in my opinion. It still will rev higher than a turbo 300d for the given comparable highway speed.

A change of the rear end to the one used in the natural aspired 300ds would additionally help somewhat though. I live in an area where four speeds are adequate for ninety percent of the local driving.

On long trips I just take another car. Even though the 240ds can do it. I think that car is ideal for an area not grossly overpopulated and towns are not too far apart. For the vast majority of people their use of cars primarily is on shorter distance runs anyways..

These are just my opinions though.