Mid '80 Cutlass diesel
Whoops, did I say that out loud???


**edit** Please note, tongue was planted firmly in cheek

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Hey, I resent that remark I like my TDI Jetta - in '03 all you could get with a TDI was a Beatle, Golf or Jetta. I wouldn't have the Beatle (I think that's a girls car), the Golf is too small, so the Jetta was my only choice for high mileage. In '04 they re-introduced the diesel Passat with a TDI, but only available with auto I would like a Passat with a 5 speed

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

Volvo 740/760 D24T engine with manny tranny -- 0-60 in about 8.5 sec (really!) and better power on the highway than the fou cylinder turbo.

32 mpg on the road, too, in good shape, plus the normal Volvo safety. Eats up the road just like a Benz.

I actually find the Volvo more comfortable on long trips than the 300D -- I can more around in the seats a bit more, and I like the leather better than the vinyl covers (except in the summer -- the Volvo is black over black....).

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!

My dream fleet:

Daily driver: VW Passat TDI wagon with a 5 speed

Daily use/BOMB pickup: 1994-98 Dodge 3/4 ton 4x4 regular cab, 12 valve Cummins, 5 or 6 speed, and see what kinda power I can get out of the engine

Restore/once-in-a-while driver/creampuff #1: 1985 W123 300TD with black or blue velour interior and 3rd row seat

Restore/once-in-a-while driver #2: 1984 Ford F-250 (the truck I have now)

Serious 4x4: IH Scout with a 4BT Cummins installed; dunno on other mods

Hot rod/sleeper: 1959 Cadillac ambulance/hearse, looking 100% factory on the outside, with a 426 Hemi for power and other various well-hidden speed-related modifications (only GM vehicle and only g@$$er I am willing to own)

Tow rig/vacation vehicle: Medium-duty chassis (Freightshaker FL-70, for example) crew cab

Hey, I can dream, right? Oh yeah, and everything except the Caddy running on biodiesel/WVO...

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2001 VW Jetta TDI, 5 speed, daily driver
1991 Ford F-350, work in progress
1984 Ford F-250 4x4, 6.9l turbo diesel, 5 speed manual
Previous oilburners: 1980 IH Scout, 1984 E-350, 1985 M-B 300D, 1979 M-B 300SD, 1983 M-B 300D
Spark-free since 1999

I like it! But, how about a Jaguar XJ6/12, even in 1968 they had two 13 gallon kidney fuel tanks, IRS suspension, Dana 44 with inboard disk brakes, almost all of the suspension and running gear is rebuildable, (most of the ball joints and tie rods are GM parts), the car has amazing sound proofing, is fairly aerodynamic, handles and rides very well, etc. (You can easily upgrade and early car to XJS V12 sway bars, vented 4 piston calipers, etc.)

I think it would be a great canidate for a 603 or 606 motor, and I love the looks of the Series 1 (pre-safety bumper) or even more so the rare 2 door coupe version XJ6C and XJ12C which they actually endurance raced in europe.

Of course I am biased, I had a 1972 S1 XJ6 with a L98 and 700R4 trans, but never was able to fully finish the project. Damn, Damn, Damn........

I see a lot of affluent people drive them now. I cant understand why, I thought they were technically troublesome and tempermental and not easily that serviceable....

Though some of the new one's are pretty nice cars, they are all Ford's to me! (Kinda like the XK8, but I doubt I would own a Jaguar made after 1974, they just don't do much for me anymore.)

Attainable Non MB's that I'd like to pass through my hands some day;

Citroen DS21
Alfa Romeo Giulia Spider
Series II or III Land Rover with the spare on the hood full brush regalia and a diesel engine under it.

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Fred Johnson
1977 240D
1983 300SD

I had 4 wonderful years of trouble free motoring from my '93 Jaguar XJ6, sold it to a friend who has now sold it to another friend so I still see it regularly. I then bought an Audi A8 that was nothing but trouble, all manner of electrical gremlins and convenience features going wrong.

I already own a non-MB diesel, my 2002 Jetta TDI Wagon which is a great everyday car, but just a little too small for me. A Touareg with the V10 TDI might be nice...

Kevin

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'85 300SD

And they are regularly available with a standard transmission

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5 speed '91 190E 2.6 320,000 mi. (new car, fast, smooth as silk six, couldn't find any more Peugeots)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.5l Turbo Diesel 266,000 mi. (old car, fast for a diesel, had 2 others)
5 speed '01 Jetta V6 (new wifes car, pretty quick)
5 speed '85 Peugeot 505 2.2l Turbo Gas 197,000 mi. (wifes car, faster, sadly gone just short of 200k )
5 speed '83 Yamaha 750 Maxim 14,000 mi. (fastest)
0 speed 4' x 8' 1800 lb Harbor Freight utility trailer (only as fast as what's pulling it)

In the early '80s these were a GREAT favorite in the Virginia Hunt Country, where they actually WERE "estate cars". Despite flaws, the 505 sedan and wagon were some of most nicely put together "ergonomic" cars I've ever seen...particulaly remember a "change tray" that would hold a row of coins upright so that you could easily fish up the exact amount for a toll or meter. Body designs that didn't date badly, either...if they didn't rust away.

and live happily ever after if someone would trade me a truly rust free low mileage '85-86 BMW 524TD for my 336,000 mile, almost rust free (but slightly shabby) '85 M-B 300TD, since I've always been a handling freak, but to tell the truth, the one car of all the 40 or so that I've owned since 1960 which I really wish I had yet was the '66 Lancia Fulvia Coupe (narrow angle 1300cc. V4) which I bought in '76 with the engine in pieces in the trunk, rebuilt that winter, and drove daily until a neighbor talked me out of it in 1986, just before he got transferred out of the area.

What Diesel would I most like to have?

Believe it or not...

A 1982 HMV Freeway Diesel! (Yes, they made diesel models too.)

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I would like to have an extended cab early 80's Toyota or Nissan pickup with the non-turbo 300D engine in it. I am actually considering building such a ride. If I never get around to it my choice would be a Dodge pickup - 2 wheel drive, extended or quad cab with the Cummins engine in it.

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Jim

I'm a certified diesel-nut I'd say that my favorite "light-duty" diesel is the mechanically-injected B-series Cummins. The 6BT is IMHO the best engine put in any pickup truck, and the 4BT 4-cylinder would make a great powerplant for a 4x4 (either a Jeep or a Scout).

For larger "high speed" engines...to be honest, I'm a big fan of Cummins, but there is a soft spot in my heart for the 2-stroke Detroit diesels...I was "born and raised" on a 2-valve WWII-vintage 6-71 marine engine

Looking at something similar; in fact, I have the vehicle (an '84 Toyota pickup), and am actively searching for an engine.

HOWEVER...unless my measurements are off, I don't think you can fit an OM617 in the compartment without lengthening the nose and/or relocating the radiator, or moving the tranny back and creating a doghouse with a BFH. I think even a 616 (which is the route I'm planning to go) won't fit unless the engine-driven fan is removed...but at least the radiator should be able to stay in place. Haven't measured a 616 yet, and when I asked on here a month or two ago, no one gave me an answer as to an "official spec" length...

Just FYI