Just picked up my Mercedes Benz for an amazing $2,400. And is the same model year as me. Providence has spoken!
She has a straight body, needs some paint touch up and a paint job next year, replacing the carpet and working out a few kinks, but that goes with the territory.
I'm a wife, mother of two, stepmother of one and full time journalist. Although I've worked on cars since I was about 13, the Benz is uncharted territory for me. Have my Chilton's manual and am ready to go.

 

As an amateur to diesels myself, I'd say be prepared to understand a different kind of "animal" from a gasoline-driven engine. And if you can find a person who knows diesel engines (i.e., a legitimate diesel mechanic), whose brain you can pick, that would be ideal; that's what I'm looking for, myself.