I have a love/hate relationship with the SDL.

I love to drive it. It has an engine that is a technological marvel and it's almost as quiet as a gasser at 75-80 mph. It gives you the feeling that it weighs about 1000 lb. more than the SD, even though it is only 200 lb. heavier. It's ridiculous to own one for driving around town and I only take it out on the highway.

The hate part is the maintenance. Most of them need the typical things that an 18 year old vehicle needs and the parts are expensive. I've owned this one a bit over one year and have put over $3.5K in parts. This includes new tires and a new Alpine head unit. But it also includes a bunch of suspension components and electrical switches and relays and a driver's seat spring. I still need to get the cruise and the climate control repaired and this will run another few hundred.

I look at it as a long term project. I anticipate getting down to less than $1000. per year commencing in year three. Of course, this is provided that the head does not crack and the head gasket remains intact, no sure thing with this primadonna engine.

If you decide to get one, find one with an excellent body and very good paint. If you have to put $5K in one, you sure don't want to do any body and paint work to add to the mechanicals. After residing underneath this one all day Saturday, I do feel good about the fact that it lived in Florida for all of its life and the PO had an 8.5 repaint on it prior to my purchase.