I believe the $20K rule is a decent starting point, but you must meter it with common sense. Having recently bought mine, for around that price, I can tell you that I looked at several D's around the state of FL. It's quite amazing what some folks "believe" their car is worth. I saw one with a seat removed, the dashboard torn up, and a motor that could barely run - and this person wanted $18K !!!! He informed me that it was a "collectable" and the price was skyrocketing these days. (fortunately enchanted, I may have been...stupid I'm not!) My 2 cents: use the knowledge and advice available from folks on this DML, friends who may own a D, and good common sense. Don't be enchanted with the site of the car of your dreams - but also don't lose faith that you can find a quality machine. Personally, I'd choose a car that is well maintained - with higher miles. I'm learning how strong these engines really are. Put it this way, it's a toy and a labor of love. Ask anyone who's ever owned a boat how much money they invested intially, then annually for maintenance. Then ask how many times they got to enjoy it in one year. Arguably, you'll find your D is a better deal - as toys go! And it has the potential to appreciate in value. Eric