Yes I do; I am pretty sure MB was Hitlers favorite car. He had a very nice custom one made up. You can visit it in Canada actually. You were not a proper Nazi unless you had a MB. I also remember reading somewhere that they used slave labor, but I would need to confirm that. Henry Ford was a racist Jew hater lets not forget that to.

Every auto company that has been around for awhile has dirt/blood on their hands.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

That's very interesting about Henry Ford. You don't read about that in the history books.

I knew Mercedes had a close affiliation with the Nazis (made transport trucks, officers' vehicles, etc.) but I didn't know they used slave labor.

I suppose it isn't fair to judge the Japanese cars by history, I have just heard/read much worse things about the Japanese in WWII. Point taken: I can't confuse my dislike of Rice Rockets with my dislike of Japan's historical actions.

I see a fundamental difference between Germany and Japan. First, while the Nazis certainly performed heinous acts, note that the government that replaced Hitler made a formal apology and made attempts to make things "right". That may not exactly wash all of the blood off of everyones' hands, but at least they made an effort.

On the other hand, to this day, the Japanese government has refused to even acknowledge that they did anything wrong during WWII. In addition to 83mercedes' list, I can add the rape of Nanking, horrible defacing of fallen American troops, and even cannibalism to the list of atrocities committed by the Japanese during WWII.

If the Japanese government issued a formal apology or even acknowledged that these things happened, I might feel somewhat differently. But, as it stands, I feel really uncomfortable giving any of my money to improve the Japanese economy, and thus take every step I can to minimize the amount of my money going east. This is exacerbated by our (at least seemingly) very one-sided trade situation with Japan as it now stands.

Also, before anyone asks, yes, I'm a bit uncomfortable with German products as well...but had to make a compromise since "small" American-built diesels are so rare...

Re: the original issue, I honestly have difficulty blaming RT...I would object to his choice of replacement vehicle, but sometimes it's best to throw the towel in. That said, as others have mentioned, I'd back away from the car and take a break for a little while before making a final decision...maybe you'll change your mind...

FWIW...

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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

Japan and the US have an interesting relationship. We opened them up back in 1880's to the modern world. And played a large part in helping them modernize. They were our allies during WW1 and are very strong allies to this day. As China grows in power Japan will become and even closer friend.

Now it all depends on who is viewing history, you could counter every one of those points with an action the US commited. 100k killed in one night in the fire bombing of Toyko, 2 nuclar strikes, not taking prisoners, ect. It was a brutal war all the way around.

Curtis LeMay, later said: "I suppose if I had lost the war, I would have been tried as a war criminal."

Oh the Germans shot a pretty good number of our prisoners also.

What I am trying to say is the world has moved on. Japan is now a close friend; Germany, now well Germany does what is in their $$$$ best interests. And now that is selling weapons to China, along with France.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Looks to me like the US is the latest country with blood on it's hands....

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Bill Reimels
Now down to one:
1972 300SE 3.5 W109 (Euro delivery)

Well I like cars for another kind of independence. Free from mounting emission regulations and all sort of complicated goblygook gadgets. Compared to our newest cars, '96 4runner & '97 Impreza, my '84 has no computer, no OBD regulations to enforce. In a short few years it will be totally exempt from all emission inspections. So I don't mind spending more time with the car and less with the "watching" big brother. I like a simple but elegant solution but everything comes at a certain price And these cars are safe as tanks. My wife totalled, while borrowing my 4runner , an early 90's Honda Accord in an accident. My 4runner only sustained a damaged front bumper which I easily replaced myself - no body shop.

Amen to that. You have to be an electrician, a computer technician, and a mechanic to work on these modern cars. Everything is computerized and regulated.

I love the mechanical aspect of the old diesels. I'd rather turn a few screws and bolts than whip out some palm pilot that plugs into my engine and have the computer tell me what's wrong with the engine. Unfortunately, I think Mercedes is going down that road.

Oh well...It's a brave new world. Every "convenience" makes life that much more difficult. I see engine electronics and computers in relation to mainstream automobiles (not for racing applications) as causing more trouble than they solve. But no one wants to get their hands dirty anymore.

remember what kirk said to scotty about the Excelsiour "Come, come, Mr. Scott. Young minds, fresh ideas. Be tolerant."



but i agree with you.

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

"it's suposed to have trans-warp drive.."

"aya, and if my grandmother had wheels she'd be a wagon"



I love startrek..

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One more Radar Lover gone...
1982 VW Caddy diesel 406K 1.9L AAZ
1994 E320 195K

They are making these new electronically controlled cars with hundreds of complicated electronic controls intricately entwined between each other which boggles even the technical mind. This "hydra" connected to the "black boxes" have become so complicated that the dealers cannot fix them "new". What's going to happen 10 years later when these electronics will start shorting & burning out? Better find a way to fix it cause Uncle Sam will fail it at the inspection Welcome to the new age of trully disposable cars

Folks take another long hard look at your diesel pet peeves - it's nothing compared to whats coming!

I guess then you can buy them with "disposable income."

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DJ


84 300D Turbodiesel 190K with 4 speed manual sold in 03/2012

Exactly But I can think of several things more enjoyable to waste my disposable income. Come to think of it...I don't have any disposable income

Wow, it's apparent that none of you guys have ever owned a MK3 Toyota Supra Turbo...sigh...

These old Mercedes are rock solid. They are built to last, that's for sure...I've never had any major problems with any Benz I have owned (and I've owned quite a few up to this point).

My Supra on the other hand (probably the ONLY car Toyota ever built that doesn't follow their usual portrait of reliability) has had just an incredible amount of parts replaced at this point, and I have a stack of receipts and invoices about an inch thick from the last five years that total somewhere around $10k. O_O All that, and the car still needs a new clutch, new master cylinder, the rear subframe is cracked into three large pieces, (the diff is the only thing holding it all together) all the window seals and taillight seals leak, the steering rack and bushings need to be replaced badly, the trans needs to be rebuilt, the timing belt and front main seal need changing (leaking like a sieve), and I can't for the life of me get it to pass smog. It sure is pretty tho. And it's scary fast. Nothing like taking the top off and cruising down PCH at sunset. Ahh, I can't wait for summer...lol. I guess it's all worth it in the end if you love the car.

While we're on the subject, here's a picture of her:

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Current cars:
2000 ML55 AMG, 174k miles
2003 C240 T-Modell, 202k miles
1995 S320, 207k Miles

It has cheered me up no end to see that other folks to-do lists are as bad as mine.

All the reasons for keeping or trashing these cars have been already stated. All I can do is to state my personal experience last week when I picked up my car in the CP Rail yard in Calgary (shipped from Toronto) on a very wintry day and drove her over the Rockies to central BC, where I'm in the process of relocating to.

The rail yard was one of those large volume car shipping operations where you are not allowed to enter the compound. The rules are that they drive the car to the reception area and you inspect it there before driving it away. Day I arrived it was COLD and snowy. I was scared the fellow in the lot would not be able to start her right and flatten the battery. Well, over the car came looking like a giant mobile snowball covered in a level 18" of snow. "Started right up" beamed the lot guy, "glowed her and she fired on the first crank. pretty decent for a diesel". That made me feel really good.

Where I'm moving to - Vernon BC - has steep hills. We had a 12" snowfall overnight so I threw the chains on the back to handle the hills. The old girl had more traction and stability than some of the 4WD pick-ups that were wheel spinning all over the place. Again, made me feel good.

So if you car makes you feel good, keep her. If not, perhaps you should sell....

Just my 10 cents worth.

I have also wrestled with the idea of a new car be it German, Japanese or Detroit. Every time I look deeper in what's available and hear all the problems that are circulating on the web, I come to the conclusion that the best decision is to keep the old diesels going as long as possible and if planning a cross country trip, rent what you need. If insurance, sales tax, license fees etc etc are added up, a rental IMO is the better deal.

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Dan
1981 240D
1987 300D Turbo
1973 220
Das Beste Oder Nichts