Hey, I'm no old codger ... I'm a young curmudgeon ... get that straight! Believe me, I love computers ... if not for them, I'd be laying out newspapers with block presses every day. That said, I still reserve the right to complain about the nuisances they bestow upon us. Especially in a car, where, fuel economy aside, older models offer basically just as much with a more mechanical leaning. My dad, who has a tendancy to be set in his ways, told me once (well, more than once) that since MB made my car, no one has put anything in a vehicle worth calling an advancement. That's a bit of an exaggeration, but in many ways it's true. There's a certain point where "simplicity" overrides invention. Especially in the US, where gadgetry reigns supreme. Like I said, the fuel economy is hard to argue. That goes for the TDI and the Prius. Beyond that, I like computers in the newsroom, but not under the hood.

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Funny (and sad) that when we speak of TDI's one thinks of VW's. If we lived on the other side of the pond you could look at many choices ...

http://www.dieselcar.com/


Alfa Romeo, Audi, BMW, Chrysler, Citroën ,
Daewoo, Daihatsu ,Fiat, Ford, Honda,
Hyundai, Isuzu, Jagua,r Jeep, Kia,
Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Rover, Mitsubishi
Nissan, Peugeot, Renault, Saab, SEAT,
Skoda, Suzuki, Tata ,Toyota, Vauxhall ,
VolksWagen, Volvo

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1999 E300DT (131,800) 154,000 Black on Black SOLD

2006 CLK 500 coupe Capri Blue on Grey (zoom,zoom)
47,000mi

04 VW TDI Passat 80,000mi
(Techno)

How to eliminate oil dependency through market-driven approaches.
“We could cut oil use in half by 2025, and by 2040, oil use could be zero,”
The Sound of Diesel Speed
Ode to MB

If I keep my Mercedes does it mean that I don't get a signed diploma? Am I some kind of drop-out?

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1983 300-D turbo
1985 300-D turbo
1959 Harley Panhead chopper
1929 Ford coupe restored
I hang out with Boneheaddoctor at Schuman Automotive OBK#5
All liberals are mattoids but not all mattoids are liberal.

My 603 has computer controlled idle, as well as abs, an alarm ect. All I can say is MB makes some reliable stuff I have had zero electrical problems so far. It all has been stupid stuff like dirty contacts.

Besides one of my favorite things to do at the GTG's is spin my idle knob around and show fellow 603 owners how simple it is to change the idle. Ohh on the 617 you need tools to do that!

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

By using the term 'graduate', I didn't mean to imply superiority, but rather, when all our MB's rust out.

Its a fun thread to see all the opinions out there.

So far I'm basically of the opinion that the fuel economy grabbed me but I can't imagine giving up the classic 123's that 'mark their territory' on my driveway. I can tell you which of the four were parked where just by the oil spots

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DAILY DRIVERS:
'84 300DT 298k (Aubrey's)
'99.5 Jetta TDI IV 251k (Julie's)
'97 Jetta TDI 127k (Amber's)
'97 Jetta TDI 186k (Matt's)
'96 Passat TDI 237k (Don's
'84 300D 211k Mint (Arne- Undergoing Greasecar Conversion)

SOLD:
'82 240D 229k (Matt's - Converted-300DT w/ 4 speed

My 240D is built to a different standard. The simple act of slaming the door shut is an eye opening experience. "MB quality" is assumed, while "VW quality" is more of an oxymoron.

My modified TDI is way faster that the 240D. The TDI is "Scary Fast" after driving the 240D.

When my TDI has trouble, I hook up my laptop computer to the ODB port and it tells me what's wrong.
When my 240D has trouble, I have to figure it out (but that's not necessarily a bad thing, either).

My 240D gets 28 mpg, and want's it's oil changed every 3,000 miles.
My TDI gets 47 mpg, and want's it's oil changed every 10,000 miles.

My TDI has heated seats, heated mirrors, and air bags all around.
My 240D has MB-Tex (not a bad thing).

The stock radio doesn't work worth a damn in either one of 'em.

I see more VW Jetta's, Beetles, and Golf's on the road in one day than I see W123's in a year.

Door dings on my TDI don't send me into a homocidal rage.

240D has timing chain.
TDI has timing belt. That might say it all, in the end...

My 240D has the advantage of being "engineered to last".
My TDI has the advantage of an additional 20 years of technological evolution.

Both are good cars.

- Patrick

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1982 240D. 198k, Marine Blue/Blue, 4 Speed, Crank Windows, No Sunroof, No Rust, No Oil Leaks
2001 TDI. 197k, Lagoon Blue/Black, 5 speed, Chip, G60/VR6

Had a 300SD, now own 2 TDI's. I am done with old MB's, never again, though I may consider a CDI in the future.

IMO TDI>MB
Because:
-TDI is faster.
-TDI gets better mileage.
-TDI can start in -30C with no problems.
-TDI has much more comfortable seats.
-TDI has 10000mile oil change intervals.
-TDI handles better IMO.
-TDI has more modification options (upsolute chip etc), decent gains for cheap.
-TDI HAS NO RUST!!!!!

The tdi's are interesting to me as well,but I bought the 126 because the price was right,I might be able to afford a tdi in 10 years,but I am still hoping for a winning lotto ticket and the return of the NEW DIESEL BRONCO see pic:

Attached Thumbnails

 

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I'mm SSOOOOOO CONFUSED!!!!
81 300 Sd
88 Jag XJS
96 f250
73 bronco
77 goldwing

I've said it before, but the only diesel I'd drive is the one that you can run without a battery or functioning alt.

I just love that feeling of taking a car on a long trip and knowing the only way you'd get inconvenienced while traveling is if you blew a tire(So long as you made mechanical preperations prior to).

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

Correct me if im wrong, your 350SDL and 300SDL can't run without a battery or functioning alternator, infact none of your cars listed in your sig can.
*Cough*Hypocrite*Cough*

hmmm, correct me if i'm wrong, but my altenator went bad, battery ran down of course. I jumped my car off and drove it 25 miles to a shop to get the altenator changed. Was I dreaming that I drove my car without a charged battery and bad altenator or what was it that made my 300 SDL run without these items?

Don't know about your 300SD, but in comparison to my sister's car, I can't agree with most of those when lined up against my car (603, W124)...
-speed: couldn't tell you ... I've never gone over 100 in mine (I'm a wimp) and never gone terribly fast in my sister's. Acceleration-wise mine seems little more sluggish "off the line" but after that is, IMO, much livelier than the TDI.
-mileage: can't argue it. I got 29mpg on the last tank and was thrilled. My sister can drive to Michigan on a single tank.
-cold starting: my sister's car performs like a dead clydsdale in cold temps. It may just be her particular vehicle, though. My car is a definate diesel in the winter, but it started on the first shot when it was -7F here. Hasn't been colder than that in a few years ...
-seats: personal preference, I'm sure, but I find my car much more comfortable. My friends seem to find my car unusually comfortable, too, especially the back seats. I never ride in my own car's backseats, so I can't verify their comfort personally. But driver's seat, even with 18 years of butts, I find far more cozy than the TDI.
-oil: can't argue with you there, either, but have to admit I like doing oil changes. It's one of the only things I can figure out how to do on a car. It makes me feel special.
-mods: My idea of a modification is the $5 cupholders I bought at Pep Boys ... so ...
-rust: My car is 18 years old, has been slugged around in ice, snow and salt, has never been garaged, and has never been waxed. It has some small rust spots on the door panels and one rocker panel. At 3 years old, I would hope my sister's car has no rust.

You realize not only are you getting into car rivalry here ... you're delving into sibling rivalry

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1987 300D, arctic white/palomino--314,000 miles
1978 240D 4-speed, Euro Delivery, light ivory/bamboo--370,000 miles
2005 Jeep Liberty CRD Limited, light khaki/slate--140,000 miles
2018 Chevy Cruze diesel, 6-speed manual, satin steel metallic/kalahari--19,000 miles
1982 Peugeot 505 diesel, 4-speed manual, blue/blue, 130,000 miles
1995 S320, black/parchment--34,000 miles (Dad's car)

Is 300SDL engine not electronically controlled?

Man i'd like to have that Bronco. Are they putting diesels in the new bronco? Like I said before if Ford could get a diesle in the F-150 it'd be a hit. I'll take a CDI in about 10 years, that if I don't hit the lotto first. If that's the case, i'll buy one the next day.

not sure acutally, but I did drive it. Of course if i turned the ignition switch off, i know it would not start.