G’Morning, all!

At the end of this month/early April, your truly will be purchasing his first motor vehicle intended for his own use. I’m damned near 40 now, and will actually have to start driving, daily.

Looking at my vehicular options, and in recognition of the fact that I’m not a Rockefeller, I’ve narrowed down the range of vehicle options somewhat.

A fellow - a mechanic, and who doesn’t need to know a good mechanic? - has recommended I look at either a Volvo 240, or, he says, if I really want to get fancy with it, and don’t mind having the same vehicle for the net ten or more years, a mercedes 300d.

His advice was the volvo would do me for a while, and that what it lacked in comforts and efficiency, it made up for in survivability. The mercedes, he said, would survive under just about any conceivable crash situation, and has the added benefit of being a german-made diesel, and thus should be good for around 500K miles.

Anyone here had any experiences with either type, or could suggest other alternatives? I’ve looked at the older toyotas and hondas, and find them simply out of my price range.