Remember the 86 300SDL that I was so interested in. 157,000 miles and $ 5000.00. Great interior and exterior. Owned by a senior couple for the last 13 yrs.

Well, grandpa does not want to budge from his asking price of $ 5,000.

They have no prior maintenance records. I was very interested in the car and asked them if they had a regular mechanic I could talk to. They said there was no fixed mechanic and they just got work done here and there.

Finally, when I asked if I could take the car in for a Pre - Purchase inspection, he refused, saying that he did not have insurance on the car and did not want to go through the trouble.

Now, I am not sure if I want to gamble. With a diesel, and expecially one which has a history of head cracking problems, I certainly wanted a compression test done.

On the other hand, these people are not car buffs and for them it is just an old car they want to get rid of. But without records...and not allowing me to get the car inspected...I do not know...

Should I walk away ?

Amit