I'm new to your forum and have exchanged some messages with Jim (the moderator) about the 123 wagons.

I want to buy a 123 diesel wagon to run on WFO (waste fryer oil) and I need to give my "advisor" a test drive before I'm allowed to purchase. So I need to look nearby.

I may have found the car, but it has a salvage title. '84 with 150K miles, Carfax suggests 3 owners; Carfax doesn't suggest odometer roll-back; no a/c, no door locks, no cruise control. Small-time dealer says he reconstructed title in 2002 after an accident that "totaled" the car. Accident "pushed in" front of car, breaking headlamps. He replaced headlamps, radiator and fan clutch, but didn't paint hood(?!?). Scoffed when asked if the frame was bent in accident. He wants $2K, which, according to Kelly Blue Book is between what a dealer might charge and a private party.

I have sold, purchased, and enjoyed "salvaged" major home appliances and understand that an insurer/retailer may decide to scrap an item that retains significant value. My questions:

1) When I drive the car, what should I look for?
2) Who should I have check out the car and what should they look for?
3) How expensive is fixing a/c? My '87 Dodge Colt has no a/c and I've survived, so it's not imperative.
4) Will I be giving my otherwise peaceful existence over to the cult of Mercedesism if I purchase this car or something like it?

Thanks