I think you can get a car with less miles in the same price range... I paid 1500 for mine, but the engine is kinda tired. Its low on compression and hard to start when hot. If rebuilding one isn't out of your skill set, then I wouldn't be too scared off. The body on my car has close to zero rust though... Do you live in the "rust belt" area of the US? A little rusty may be all you'll find unless you travel south somewhere thats dry.
These engines will last and last if you keep the oil changed and run synthetic in them. They also need to warm up before you run them hard. The main reason they got a bad rap is from the timing belts breaking and ruining the engines. Unlike the Mercedes diesels, these have a belt that has to be changed. People ignored this and when the belt goes the engine goes. Simple as that. I guess many of these same people just figured no big deal, if the belt breaks like a gas engine, you just replace it and your on your way. Obviously, with the high compression, when belt breaks the valves hit and the engine is done.
Jason
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