At least that's the way I see it. If you're driving around family members (or even friends) often, a Mercedes will do a lot better if you ever get smashed into by another vehicle.

As far as conversion goes, people seem to be voting that a Mercedes is a lot easier to do than a Volkswagen, but I bet most that voted Mercedes haven't done a VW. ;)

Rabbits get better mileage. I know someone who drove from Virginia to Georgia in a VW pickup on one tank of diesel fuel.

I think overall, if maintained properly, the VW is gonna be cheaper, too, though riding in a Benz is lux.

Let us know which one you go with and how the conversion goes! Thanks for posing the question.

if you go look at the prices of parts a MB is cheeper to fix and keep running.

as well if you can find a cheep TD in any kind of drivable condition GRAB IT FAST!

VW rabbits have a nasty habit of blowing head gaskets. Mercedes benzes are just built better, there are more available and with the internet it's not hard to find parts cheaply as it once was.