I have seen that car, and the kid is getting a bargain!! It should last him all the way through college considering its imaculate condition....

Sluggishness on diesels is entirely relative, even the 240D can be driven with pep and vigor. If he masters shifting the automatic using both acclerator pedal and shift level, working all its gears instead of riding around in 3 all the time, and maybe takes a few several hundred mile trips at speed..... then he will not be disappointed with its performance.