Thanks for the reply. You're right about the 8 cylinder which is why I've ruled out the 540. Compared to a 17-year-old car, even 10 years old looks pretty new. My present car is about to need new brakes and I do wish for something a bit newer. Unfortunately, when buying older, used cars you have a limited selection (concerning the manual vs. automatic transmission). The car I had before was a 5-speed Honda Accord and it was fun to drive but I've enjoyed the automatic.
The reviews I've read are all over the place. My mechanic (independent) thinks the 528 is a good car. Because it's lighter than my 1993 model, it should get better mileage...it's a trade-off of weight vs. mileage, but the 528 has more airbags. The car is out of town but I've seen pictures and it looks to be in excellent condition. I hope to test-drive it in the next few days.