You got that right. I wouldn`t trade my 86 IDI for anything new on any lot, anywhere. Interesting you mentioned it.
We lived in Santa Cruz for 40 years before moving here to NV. Our Dentist was in a complex behind Dominican Hospital. I use to see this Mercedes 240D in the lot. Stopped by and checked it out every once in a while and wondered who owned it. Our DD was a 85 300D Turbo Diesel, and I drove my Datsun 720 Diesel I drove for over 30 years.
I came home one afternoon from PNP with the bed filled with my Mercedes treasures from PNP. Was filling the tank at the station, and I hear this klakity klak of a Mercedes behind me.
This lady gets out.."Hey nice car". We have several of them and worship the ground they sit on etc... and show her my treasures.
She had owned the car for 30 years, raised her family and the kids learned to drive it etc... she was head of the pathology dept, and her husband was head pharmacist at Dominican.
This was the car I had drooled over.
She said she was thinking of trading it for a new car. Told her if she traded it or donated it, it would get wholesaled off and probably PNP would end up with it, and described what then happens to them.
"Well maybe I will donate it to you".... yeah right...
She was missing her right front Hub Cap, and said I had a couple that color. Exchanged info etc...
Cleaned up the best HB and put it on her car in the parking lot. Left a MSG, "check your right front wheel".
Calls me up that evening and thanked me for it.
A week later she calls and asks me if Iam still interested in her car? "We decided to give it to you".
2 weeks later meet her husband in the parking lot behind Dominican, he has the DMV paper work, paper signed over to us. Where it said price paid, wrote in "Gift".
We were more excited to get that old car, than anything new, and it was just about to roll over 306K miles. Now 380 something K miles.
I have it out in the shop with the front end out of it, and all new German Lemforder part`s to put back in, including new Springs. She is our baby. Simple basic car, can get 33 MPG on the Hwy.
Like the simplicity our IDI`s have.
Goat