I agree with Larry and dieseldiehard. Americans wouldn't want a car like that. Well, at least very few would. Truth be told, I wouldn't let my wife drive one. I discussed this with my G/F. I listed cars she could drive, that thing wasn't on it.

Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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My g/f is a marine biologist and SHE wants one!

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

So what's this about?! The statistics show that the US has the highest percentage of obesity and overweight people in the world. Why do you have to point at NE Texas? What's up with that? Do you think that I've never been to the bay area? I've seen just as many overweight people there as anywhere else in the US that I've been, and I've been in almost every state in the union minus Alaska and three or four others.

I am 6'1" and 178 pounds. Does that sound overweight to you?

So what's up with this attack on NorthEast Texas?

5'8" 158lbs

And, I don't believe the cummins diesel in my '92 is "new" technology.

Got to go eat something fried...feelin' alittle light.

Larry,

Same here, been queued up on the long 1973 gas lines. I think our different point of view is largely attributed to our specific geographical areas. Here in the North East of New York small cars/high milage cars are the rage. For example, take the Mini Cooper, the waiting list is so long that the best one can hope is to buy it at MFR price. With that said the huge SUVs/Trucks are selling up here surprisingly well. Well not really that much of a surprise. With rebates up to 15k it is a wonder how GM/Chrysler/Ford are making any money. But from an every day work commute experience I don't see these "new" big rigs used often. There's no doubt in my mind without the ridiclously high rebates these big rigs would be stagnating in dealers' lots. As most of us here know, two of the most successful producers of big rigs, registered major decline in revenue.

However I do not doubt for a minute there are people who will drive big trucks at any price or cost.

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Peter
1984 300D MB "Klara"
1996 4Runner SR5 "Toy"
1997 Impreza Outback "Subie"
80's Diesel PU Rig (to be purchased)

Why did you put the word "new" in quotation marks? I didn't say that! What I said is that the Cummins is much more recent technology, NOT new technology. It is a direct injection engine, which is more advanced and more efficient than an indirect injection engine, like the 617. I'm just saying that it's not fair to compare the fuel efficiency of an engine designed in the mid '70s to an engine designed in the late '80s, due to technological advancements since the 617s inception.

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1982 300D, black w/ palomino leather, 203K
2001 E320, champagne, 105K (Mom's)
1999 Dodge Dakota, squeaky & battered, 142K

Whoa Larry, don't get upset, its nothing personel, you aren't from there are you?
I get around to both places, I drive or fly back to E Texas every year or two. Family lives there (Mineola area) I am unable to recall where I heard the statistics on E Texas but it was while I was there the news came out. I saw the evidence last Christmas in Brookshires (supermarket)! sheesh.
Diesels die hardskie

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

nope,
I am 6' 1.5" and about 210 makes me more fat than you FWIW I watch my weight somewhat but since we own and operate a restaurant its difficult at times to avoind some food (free)

Gotta say, the diets here in the Bay Area are not as narrow as what they serve over in E Texas, all them fried Catfish, fried steaks, fried whatever they got. I had a heck of a time finding anything not fried there.

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

The percentage of big vehicle varies throughout the US. In the more rural areas people tend to have bigger vehicles, but in packed places like L.A. or the Bay Area I see a lot more passenger vehicles than pickups or SUV's. And last time I checked there are still massive waiting lists for small, efficient cars like the Prius. So I disagree with those who say there's no market in the US for cars like these. That was the perception with diesel cars too until recently, but look at the CDI's now, supply just can't keep up with the demand.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

That big dude standing next to the car looks like he could ride it like a pony....that's a tiny fargin car...I have a family of five....

Nope...better to use WVO and not worry about mileage...

By the way, how many years would you have to wait before you could convert that thing to WVO???

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1998 W202 C230 - The money pit of late.
1984 W126 300SD (356,800 miles) Gone to the wrenchapart
1984 W123 300D Gone to the wrenchapart
1972 W108 280SE 3.5 (sold but not forgotten)
1986 Buick Grand National 3.8l Turbo (86k miles)
1966 Glassic Model 'A' Replica http://www.glassicannex.org

http://banners.wunderground.com/weat...Round_Rock.gif

On a side note...which restaurant do you own?

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1974 240D 3.0L 4(M) - 250K -OM617.910 + 300D FW + Rajay turbo power!
1977 6.9 3(A) - 84k

Agreed. I guess to me recent=new. My most "recent" vehicle... the '92 1 ton.
I still would like to see my SD do a consistant 30+mpg.

Here's what I've experienced:

'82 300SD 25-28mpg
'85 380SE euro 21mpg
'85 380SE 18mpg
'72 280SE w/SBC, 700R4 18-20mpg
'92 D350 cummins 24.7mpg best yet loaded with approx 800lbs running 75+mph, wvo/diesel blend. checked w/gps
'94 C2500 350TBI, 5sp 14mpg (parked at the ranch)
'75 C1500 350 carb, 350auto maybe 13mpg (sold)
'73 914 1.7 stock 30mpg, dropped to 18mpg w/SBC V8 (sold)
MF 203 Perkins 152 diesel (I forget to put fuel in)
MF 135 Perkins 152 gas ( I run out every time I mow)

Most of you guys obviously have no idea just how small that car is. My wife has one of the new Mini Coopers and it is HUGE compared to the Smart. That little diesel car in this thread will be no bigger than the Smart.

If you take four chairs and put two in front of the other two with just enough room for legs between the two rows, that's how big the Smart is and I mean the whole car! It is TINY compared to the Prius, the Cooper or any of the smallest cars you see here in the US.

The Cooper is a hit everywhere even in East Texas with us Pick Up driving fatso's. My wife had to wait three months for hers.

BTW Pickups are predominant in rural areas because most people live on large places. A small place is several acres. When you have a place to take care of, or horses, cattle, or the other things that people are involved with who own land, a pickup is indispensible.

Sumner, Texas is in NorthEast Texas near Paris.

Have a great day,

definitely off topic, yes I have too much time on my hands for Larry however:

"Do sprawling communities translate into expanding waistlines? Absolutely, according to a new study that adds to a growing body of evidence that suburban living makes people fat. Russ Lopez, a Boston University researcher found that people who live in spread-out communities are heavier than their city-bound counterparts. By examining U.S. Census figures from 2000, Lopez created a formula that measures the level of sprawl in 330 metropolitan areas . . . metropolitan areas with high levels of sprawl included Dolan, Ala., Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C., Tyler, Tex. , and greater Atlanta. Urban areas such as Boston, Honolulu, Los Angeles, and especially New York City, scored much lower because they're more densely populated.
Using figures from a 2000 federal health study, Lopez tried to see if higher levels of sprawl contributed to obesity. He reports his findings in the September issue of the American Journal of Public Health.
Obesity rates grew in communities as they rose up the 100-point sprawl scale, Lopez said. Even after he adjusted the statistics to remove any influence of different demographics -- in other words, making sure the numbers were comparing similar types of people -- residents of the sprawling Atlanta region were 17 percent more likely to be overweight than those who live in the more tightly squeezed Boston area.


The Epidemic
• 63% of Texas adults are overweight or obese. (CDC BRFSS, 2002)
• 22% of non-Hispanic white adults, 42% of non-Hispanic black adults, and 30% of Hispanic adults in Texas are obese. (CDC BRFSS, 2002)
• 30% of Texas high school students are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. (CDC YRBSS, 2003)
• The obesity rate among Texas adults increased by 100% between 1990 and 2002. (CDC BRFSS, 1990, 2002)
source: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/state_programs/texas.htm

The CDC reports that over two-thirds of adults in the US are overweight. For Texas the news is particularly disappointing because it is fifth from the bottom.

source: www.swhp.org Insights, June 2004 Scott & White Health Plan

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'95 E320 Wagon my favorite road car. '99 E300D wolf in sheeps body, '87 300D Sportline suspension, '79 300TD w/ 617.952 engine at 367,750 and counting!

dieseldiehard, just curious but what kind of restaurant do you own? I hope it's not American or Italian food or I may just declare a G2G at your place

Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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