You guys get to buy your used cars cheaply. $6000 here in Australia will only get you into an early 190E, and probably only a 2 litre at that. The 2.3 is rare here so they sell at similar money to the 2.6 at around $9k upwards. A late (update) 2.6 or Sportline is usually around $12k or more here. Even our basic 180E (190E-1.8) which are all '91 or newer still sell at around $8k-11k. The damaged (big hit in rear) 2.6 manual I posted the link to in my earlier post sold at auction yesterday for $1250. Admittedly our dollar is only around US$0.78, but it gives an intersting comparison.

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107.023: 350SLC, 3-speed auto, icon gold, parchment MBtex (sold 2012 after 29 years ownership).
107.026: 500SLC, 4-speed auto, thistle green, green velour.
124.090: 300TE, 4-speed auto, arctic white, cream-beige MBtex.
201.028: 190E 2.3 Sportline, 5-speed manual, arctic white, blue leather.
201.028: 190E 2.3, 4-speed auto, blue-black, grey MBtex.
201.034: 190E 2.3-16, 5-speed manual, blue-black, black leather.