We purchased our 1st MB 2 years ago. We were in need of another vehicle, but soon realized that only a used car was within our budget. Why? Not only was my wife was 6 months pregnant with our first child, but she was also quitting her job to be a stay@home.mom! So, I found a 240d trade-in that was at a dealer. It took FOREVER to accelerate (It was so slow that my was afraid that she'd go into labor and we'd never make it to a hospital in time). But due to many years of experience with VW diesels, I was able to determine that the acceleration issue was fuel related and purchased it for almost nothing. After my Dad & I tinkered with it for several weekends, it ran like a top (it will even chirp the tires when it shifts to 2nd gear … Lookout Michael Shumacher) ->> Fast Forward June 2000 ->-> Our 1990 Ford (the "Mommy Taxi") drank it's last sip of 89 octane ... i.e. we needed another vehicle. Since I'd acquired so many MB parts (& know-how) over the past two years, another MB made sense (especially since my wife now enjoyed the 240d). I got a 300sd in great condition at an auction that I thought my wife would love. WRONG. Why? Turbo Lag. After about two weeks, she said she felt "on-edge" in this car ... "It all of a sudden just takes off … I don't know what to expect when I have to put my foot down". Now the 240d is the "Mommy Taxi II" and I pilot the SD. I've been very impressed with my MB's and wouldn't hesitate to jump into either & drive cross-country. The boredom of their reliability has also impressed my Dad ….. He purchased a 300sdl last week. Go figure.