I feel so *validated!*
Picked the Baron up on Christmas Eve, and he's been my working wheels since late April, adding to his 145K miles daily. There were some issues initially, mostly things that an occasional summer driver (which describes the last two PO) tolerates but shouldn't (shocks, some steering work, a ball joint, major service, bit of rust repair). Knowing that the timing chain was checked at the service, I'm still tuning an ear to anything Herr Baron might have to tell me. Give it another month and I'll finally be past the slight paranoia with each new sound.