Perhaps the VW Beetle had KISS but it also seemed to require frequent engine rebuilds.
The 240D was for people who had money to put into a vehicle up front - who then went on to enjoy a long service life without a lot of maintenance costs (that's a rather sweeping generalization).
The VW Beetle was for people who could not put much money into a vehicle up front, and then proceeded to be tortured with constant maintenance issues and engine rebuilds (that's a nearly certain generalization).
I couldn't deal with rebuilding a car's engine twice a year at my annual mileage accumulation.
Ken300D