I'm 24, so I guess that makes me one of the younger ones. I kinda like having a car that's about my age... seems like some of the best things were produced in the early 80's.

The Merc/Mercedes/Mercury issue is an interesting matter, maybe worthy of its own thread. Is anyone reading this in Toronto or anywhere else in Canada? There's a song called "Darlington Darling" by the Canadian (Torontan?) band Moxy Fruvous about a "V6 Merc in blue"... I always liked to think they were singing about a Mercedes, but now I'm not so sure.

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1985 300DT, Classic White, California, 159K
1982 240D, Metallic Silver-Blue, Manual Everything, 376K
1981 240D, Orient Red, Parts Car/Engine Donor, 145K

"When nine hundred years old you reach, look as good you will not. Hmm?" - Yoda

Hello,
OK, in North America, MERC would imply Mercury. In Europe, it would mean Mercedes Benz. In Malaysia, the vast majority call them BENZ or MB.

I am 40+(that's how everyone quotes their age here!)and have been around Mercedes cars for a LOOONGGG time, my dad bought a 1953 170DS new in 1954, so we had a MB before I was born. Around here, the ONLY diesel is a MB diesel, but since the W124 from 1985, diesels have become a rarity. Only the new CDIs are making a comeback, but at M$290,000(US$90,000) for a C270CDI, it is certainly NOT in the taxi league anymore.
Have a good week.

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Nachi11744

[QUOTE=nategodin]I'm 24, so I guess that makes me one of the younger ones. I kinda like having a car that's about my age... seems like some of the best things were produced in the early 80's.

44 here. Wow, never thought I'd read that. My perception is (taking my age into account) that early '70's to 1990 or so is that most manufactured things were junk. I'm speaking strickly US of course. Obviously MB built quality and also during that time the Japanese figured out a thing or two about quality I've always felt items from the 60's were the best - heavy on mechanicals, not yet to that new age of electronic everything and tons of plastic. Time was if you saw a tag "made in japan" it was junk. That sure changed, didn't it

While I really appreciate my TL and Jetta, I just don't get the same feeling as I do when driving my 300D - plus I can actually do more than change oil and air filters A certain satisfaction from that.

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'85 300D - 206K (sold)
'81 240D - 149K (sold)
'03 Jetta TDI - (sold)
'79 300D - (sold)

[QUOTE=hockeynut]Neither do I shipmate, love to drive the old 240D she is such a fine work of art.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

For g@$-powreed vehicles, IMHO you're completely right. It took them that long to figure out how to handle smog issues and still be able to produce anything resembling power.

However, diesels are another story entirely. Looking at it from the pickup truck side, it appears to me as though we're following the history of muscle cars fairly closely, just with different dates. With the notable exception of the GM 350 scrap heap, diesel trucks simply existed throughout the '80's. There were some teething issues, but, while none of them truly stood out in terms of power, they sold decently well and were "just another face in the crowd". Like cars from the '60's (and unlike anything that was produced in the '80's), they were complete mechanical engines with little-to-no smog equipment.

The first shot across the bow was with the introduction of the 5.9l Cummins to Dodge in '89. This was seen as a threat to sales, but nothing serious was done about it until the introduction of the 7.3l Powerstroke in '94. This initiated the Horsepower Wars, which (in stock and modified form) continue to this day. However, much as new smog regulations ended the era of the great muscle cars in '72, the new diesel emissions requirements for 2007 threaten to do the same.

I suppose we'll see what happens, though...

I was 2 years old when my Mercedes was built.

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Jeff M.
Mercedes W123 DIY pages are now located here.
1983 / 1984 300D Sold
2000 CLK430 Cabriolet ~58k Sold
2005 Avalanche 4x4 ~66k

[QUOTE=hockeynut]Isn't that the same era Chrysler designed the monstroscity they pawned off on MB. The infamous Climate control servo of the late 70's

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Proud owner of ....
1971 280SE W108
1979 300SD W116
1983 300D W123
1975 Ironhead Sportster chopper
1987 GMC 3/4 ton 4X4 Diesel
1989 Honda Civic (Heavily modified)
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Section 609 MVAC Certified
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"He who fights with monsters might take care lest he thereby become a monster. And if you gaze for long into an abyss, the abyss gazes also into you." - Friedrich Nietzsche

Hmm, my TD is a year younger than I.. I suppose I should double check its build-date so I know if we need to celebrate birthdays together.

Any of you guys own Model Ts? Then you could have the same feeling I have.

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"That f***in' biodiesel is makin' me hungry."

1982 300TD Astral Silver w/ 250k (BIO BNZ)
2001 Aprilia SR50 Corsa Red w/ 5.5k (>100 MPG)

Nice...

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Jeff M.
Mercedes W123 DIY pages are now located here.
1983 / 1984 300D Sold
2000 CLK430 Cabriolet ~58k Sold
2005 Avalanche 4x4 ~66k

I had a '31 model A Ford about 40 years ago. It was hoot to drive.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

I would also venture that most of us are Thrifty vice Wildly spending.
I would venture that many Forum members are intelligent and educated judging by the level of writing.
I would guess that most Forum members have lots of other talents and interest besides Diesels.
I would venture that most of us living in rural and suburban areas vice the Cities (duhhh)...
I would venture that most Forum members have a lot of ingenuity, resourcefullness and inventiveness that they bring to other aspects of their lives...and dont give up on anything that easily....
I would venture that most of us have pretty messed up hands..
i would venture that most forum mebers have very good taste judging that Mercedes styling is always classic and subtle...

Liked the Masda, I always like that car. I would have owned one if I were not a 6'5" hulk.

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'10 Chrysler T&C Stow-N-Go White. Grandpa's ride.

'13 Chrysler 200 Touring Candy Red. Grandma's ride.

Age and cunning will always over come youth and vigor.

and not a submarine, I magine being 6'4 would hve been a liability

Tell me something youngster. How can I convince my 21 year old son that these 300 series cars were the best ever built?

He drives a Celica GT with the big wing on the back and the booming stereo that drives me and everyone else in the area nuts. Calls the 123's "dorky" and the rice burners with the 8" tailpipe cool. I just don't get it...

To each his own, but I hope I'm around when he wakes up and realizes just what great cars the 123 series really are.

Cheers,

Bill

I'm only 28 but I've always loved German cars and American muscle cars. I don't think you can convince him. It's either in your blood or it isn't.

Scott

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Scott
1982 Mercedes 240D, 4 speed, 275,000
1988 Porsche 944 Turbo S (70,000)
1987 Porsche 911 Coupe 109,000 (sold)
1998 Mercedes E300 TurboDiesel 147,000 (sold)
1985 Mercedes 300D 227,000 (totaled by inattentive driver with no insurance!)
1997 Mercedes E300 Diesel 236,000 (sold)
1995 Ducati 900SS (sold)
1987 VW Jetta GLI 157,000 (sold)
1986 Camaro 125,000 (sold - P.O.S.)
1977 Corvette L82 125,000 (sold)
1965 Pontiac GTO 15,000 restored (sold)