I was 52 when I bought my first, an'87 420 SEL. Next came a'78 300D, currently w/ a bad transmission($800). Then came my current fave, an'81 240D stick($500. I put on new front brake pads, front shocks, and a used rear axle,total cost about $1000, I am putting a timing chain on soon). I am currently negotiating to sell my 420 and buy an '85 300TDT. I always hated to wok on cars when I was younger, mainly because of poor design and engineering, fasteners designed to work only once, etc. I love benzes, wish I had found them years ago.