When to buy?
There is an tl;dr at the end.
Guys, what should I do? I am a 22-year-old man living in Finland and I have somewhat fallen in love with the idea of owning a W124 sedan as my first car (because even now they are more than 30 years old). Many seem to like driving one more than any other car and moreover I would like a simple car that I could learn to fix myself, and also the design of W124 is timeless. I don't fear about crashing one since I have driven other cars, and even if I crashed it I would just repair it if it was doable.
However, the I would actually need the car in summer 2028. I would like one with minimal rust and 5-speed manual gearbox for under 10k€. Preferably 2.3 liters motor at maximum. I don't care about whether it is petrol or diesel or any of the expensive collectible cars. My dad can repair cars, so it wouldn't need to be in mechanically perfect condition either.
I would be ready to import the car from Germany myself if there wasn't an affordable rust-free individual in Finland. I think generally there is more rust in Finland's ones because there is a lot salt used and few cherish their cars by washing them for example. Immediately after buying I would have the car's structures protected from rust by a car repair business in order to drive it potentially for 10 years.
The main question is that what is going to happen to the market in 18 months. Today I can find good examples in Germany for 7 to 10 thousand euros and in Finland for at least 10 thousand euros. What so you think, is it likely that I would find ones too at Easter 2028? Will something obvious happen to the prices? Would I buy the car sooner I potentially have a good way to store it here. The costs for bureaycracy for keeping it would be perhaps 300 euros a year.
TL;DR I would very much want to experience the W124 sedan even once myself. I am looking for one with minimal rust from Finland and Germany. Would I find one for under 10k€ at Easter 2028 like today and save up just little more money until then? Preferably 5-speed gearbox and max. 2.3 liters.