My experience with MB's diesels is currently limited to an '81 240D, although I have owned several VW diesels (turbo & non-turbo). There's no doubt much power to be gained from another cylinder and a turbo, but the 240D is not a tire-burner.

Having just sold a "rusty, but trusty" '76 BMW 2002 to purchase the '81 240D, I'm more than thrilled with the 240D. The vehicles are similar in that they're both bare bones manual everything, but the Bimmer would accelerate like crazy. I live in a rather flat part of Southern Illinois, but I've adapted to allowing time for acceleration.

Why just last night while travelling to my daughter's first ever grade school basketball game, my wife yelled that there was a deer on the shoulder. Then she yelled again, concerned that I was not slowing down. I told her I was facing the dilemma of which is worse: hitting the deer or losing momentum to get up the rise in the road ahead

I'm quite content with the 240D for myself. But when it comes to replacing the tired old Caravan, I believe I'll scour around for a 300TD automatic for the wife and kids to drive to school.