Fortunately, most hipsters can't drive stick. 240D prices are really weird- you either find nice cars that people ask "I NO WUT I GOT" money for, or you pick up slightly tattered ones for what the monthly payment would be on a new Benz. My current DD is a '83 240D (last year of the 240D) with a 4 speed, with 300,000 miles on it, that I paid $750 for. It starts and runs great, even in the winter. The 4 speed shifts flawlessly, too. P/O loaded the gearbox up with Redline oil, which I'm sure helped.
The 4 cyl is pokey (as Duff Beer will attest to) but I replaced the mechanical fan with an electric one from a Miata and run 50 cetane in it, and it's OK. Top end on flat ground with no wind is about 80 mph. Keeping the valves adjusted is probably the single biggest way to keep them running the best.
Tunachuckers: 15 Years of Effluency
'08 - '10: 1966 Volvo 122, "Charlie"
'10 - '18: 1975 Ford LTD Landau --> 2018 - current: Converted into 1950 "Plymford"
'22 - current: 1967 Volvo 122, "Charlie ]["