Quote:
Originally Posted by Travis_k
I want to get another car older than my w126 in a couple of years, and I was curious how fast the 190 or 200ds, can go, or more importantly, can they stand being driven 65-70 mph for hours at a time (assuming the car is in reasonably good shape)?
|
While I never owned a W110 200D, I've driven W115 220Ds and W123 240Ds extensively for years.
I consider the W115 220D a marginal car for the freeway. Sure, you can hit 75 if you like to rev the engine waaaaay up there, but even minor grades will challenge the car's top speed.
Next, the W123 chassis, with it's slightly larger engine, the 240D. Very similar wrt to size, weight, suspension, etc., but the lower differential gear ratio, and the extra 200ccs of displacement transformed the car into a competent freeway cruiser. Not a fast cruiser mind you, but no longer relegated to the slow lane.
I'd suspect that the W115 chassis, with it's extra 200ccs of displacement would have a similar effect on performance vs the W110.
In conclusion, my experience leads me to conclude that if 220D was on the threshold of being adequate, the diminished performance of the W110 200D would result in a car that I would not be comfortable with on the freeway.
Now, an enterprising person might try to stuff a 240D engine in a W110.
But you'd still have that pesky swing axle with at least 4.09:1 gears. Redline, here we come!
Jim