What car should I buy????

[MarkM]

I may be buying another car next year, as rust is consuming my 85 300D faster than I can fix....the car is mechanically great, but all doors are rusted, right rear trailing arm rusting, hole in floor, front fenders, etc... I have had this car since 1997 and love it. BUT, I don't have a garage, I have two young boys, and just dont have the time to spend tinkering. Here are some of my thoughts about a possible choice: (I would buy used, probably in the 12K to 15 K range): Camry, avalon, subaru forester, lexus, BMW, .....OR a 1990's mercedes gas or diesel model. Or I may just look for a pristine euro standard 240D (this would be my dream car, with pumpkin orange paint, matching wheel covers on steel rims, and german hounds tooth interior door panels and upolstery.....this car probably doesn't exist anymore.)


I may decide to buy 4 doors for my car and do some body work (all DIY) and a cheap maaco paint job, and drive it for another three years (my original goal was to get 500,000 miles on it, but now I would settle for 400,000, currently at 320K). Mechanically, the car is perfect. BUT, all the body work will be costly and time consuming.


That is my dilema. I love the old mercedes diesels, but I may have to ween myself from 20-year-old cars. Maybe someday when I have a garage, I will get a MBZ 123 diesel hobby car...with no body rot. Is there another car out there....a family sedan, daily driver.... that would give me the same feeling as when my deisel starts like a tiger with just a click of the ignition, or purrs down the highway at 70mph.

Should I just buy a camry (the smart thing to do) and joint a support group for former MBZ diesel owners???

Thanks,

Mark