"When r u going to junk that Stone Age Relic (85 300D) & break down & get a real car?"
Whenever I hear that question, I quietly demur, defer and desist to the person who says it. I'll be driving my Relic long after I see that person's car go into the Crusher..my 20 year 85 300D is:

1. Much more reliable. Except for the mistakes I make to it, the car is unfallible. Every feature works from the dash and console lighting to the power antenna to the AC that freezes your bolts off.

2. Much more safer than many front wheel drive vehicles where you will eat your engine in an accident.

3. Mechanically more sound. Every ball joint, caliper and rubber item on the undercarriage, including he bushings have been replaced. New struts front and back.

4. Has at least 300K ahead of it...

5. Has ageless styling. Soap bubbles are in now and when you go out to a Mall parking lot you can't differentiate bewteen an Intrepid, BMW or Escort. Before it was hugebodies and before that fins. Next it will be globes.

6. Easily repaired. After my last engine swap ( i made the mistake that caused the previous engine to knock) it dawned on me that I never checked the service manual once, or had to label a single bolt, wire or vacuum line.

Question: "When r u going to junk that Stone Age Relic (85 300D) & break down & get a real car?"

Answer: " As soon as I can find a 240D.."

Excellent answer..as soon as I find a 240D.

I own a rare convertible Mercedes 300D, it was built in Italy by Bruno Fratelli

Old MB's are so rare around here that people don't know what to make of them.

They see the gunsight on the hood and assume I'm some rich old bastard with a classic.

Partially true...

- 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

Forget #4,

Just tell them that these engines "Are known to run for 500,000 miles or more"




-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

I agree with all your points except this one. Yes, the W123 was safer than many cars of its time and for a few years to come, but a new Camry or Accord is a much safer car. I think in a FWD vehicle, you're just as likely to rip the engine off its mounts in an accident (most cars are designed to do this) as in a RWD one!

New cars are nice you don't have to get your hands dirty.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Good answer, most people can relate to you wanting to move up to the semi exclusive ownership of a 240d. I just tell people that I am driving the last series of lada car exported to north america when asked. That seems to satisfy them. Yes there may be a 240d in your future if you are fortunate enough to join our exclusive fraternity. Also alows you to post exclusive questions on threads that are never responded to. Things like am I driving my 240d too fast? Anyways make allowances for me as I am not firing on all five cylinders since owning two 240ds.

" I'm waiting until this one wears out, or someone makes a better car. So far I've been waiting 20 years"

Or, if you want to be nasty:

"If you buy the best and take care of it, it will last a lifetime.Too bad about those cheap ****boxes you drive."

I have been driving 123's for the past 4 years and recently let my son, who just turned 16, start driving the '81 I had been driving. I have just recently started driving the '84 300SD as my daily driver and oh what a feeling.
I eventually want to set the 190Dc up as my daily commuter - that will probably take me a few months though.

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Jim

When I make a major repair or upgrade the cost isn’t even a consideration because I view my 123 as the car I will be driving 20 years from now. I thought the same thing with my 124 until the rear crossmember broke after some drunken bastard ran into it.

If someone wrecks your car and you kill them, is that a crime of passion?

No one really bags on me over my car, in fact it's usually the car my friends and I take on our lil outings. Better than trying to stuff a buncha guys in a tiny lil '03 GTI or my other friend's CRV. They like the springy rear seats and how it takes speedbumps and such

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Fully agree and the same goes for SUV's all you see today is plastic pretenders which won't hold a candle to the G off road. People have forgotten the utility part of any bona fide 4WD, gone are diff locks, PTO, long travel suspension and bodies out of corrugated steel that will take tree trunk and rock hits in stride.

The new G is ugly as well as totally being a mall cruiser.