The thing is, we were already crusing around 75-80 when the guy tried to pass us, he'd switch to the left lane about 40 feet behind us, and begin his approach, so we just gradually kept up our speed to match his and keep him that far away, then he'd just eventually drift back into the right lane. This road had virtually no other cars on it, for that stretch for a few miles we were the only ones. There was no need for the guy in the pickup to have to pass us at 80+ mph....ironically he exited at the same exit we did, another one of those red-light hopping people who speed to the next light or stop sign.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

Just because you feel there's no need for the guy to go 80+ mph, you prevent him from passing you? How do you know that he didn't have some sort of medical or family emergency to tend to? If I'm doing fine in the right lane, and I'm already speeding, I'm just going to let the other guy speed past me in the left lane, which happens to be the passing lane as well. If there's a cop on the other side of the hill/overpass, then he's going to be the one to get a ticket. If he wants to pass me and speed, I'll let him, it's not my duty to decide whether he needs to pass me at a certain speed or not.
-Joe

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

I drive 2 lane mountain roads half the cars you pass where passing is permitted in the on coming lane, suddenly speed up often as much as 30 miles an hour. I don’t know what they are thinking but the are sorely mistaken if the think I am going for a head on collision if another car comes speeding head on towards me, they wont se a major head on collision. But that will find they have been shoved of the road and down a steep ravine I just cant phantom what these morons are thinking suddenly when a passing section appears the want to go 60 or 65 instead of the 33mph they have been going the last 5 miles. Who gives them a license to drive they obviously don’t realize what it is like to go off a 700 to 800 foot mountain side. The road is no place to play games in a 2 ton vehicle moving at hundreds of feet a second.
My two cents on a topic that scares and pisses me off at least twice a month.
Dave S

i have been prepared to push them off many times in that instance, thankfully it was not necessary. the bad thing is if you are the least bit inattentive and dont realize they are speeding up it can get dicey quickly.

the interstate stuff described is reindeer games.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Around here there are no trucks, busses, or trailers allowed in the left lane. It's a high speed lane and the loss of visibility and general blockage of traffic that is caused by these vehicles is a good reason to keep them out of the lane.

I agree with this. If you are not moving at the speed of the lane that you are currently travelling in, move over to the right. This also applies to the center lane. You have no right to drive 55 mph in the center lane if the lane is moving at 63 mph. Move over into the right lane.

If someone wants to go faster than you, and the lane allows it, so be it.

I drive my van at 55 mph in the right lane, all the time. I manage to get 16.5 mpg with it in largely city driving with some highway. It amazes me how many people don't like the fact that I am going 55 mph. They believe that the right lane should be their passing lane around those in the center lane who are travelling 65 mph. Naturally, they don't want to use the left lane because this would invite a ticket if a cop happened to be around the next curve.

So, because they are pissed at me, the pass in the center lane and immediately cut me off in the right lane. Probably move over after they have cleared the van by 10 feet. It's happened much more than I would have otherwise believed.

i drive on two lane interstates. when on the three lanes i spend a lot of time in the middle lane.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

55 in any lane these days is risky business. that doesn't give them the right to cut in closely though. of course if doing 55 the right lane is the safest.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Why should it be risky in the right lane of a three lane expressway? The lane typically has all the heavy trucks and moves at 50-60. Sometimes I actually pass vehicles in the right lane by using the center lane. Now, here is where it gets risky. Using the center lane to pass at 55 mph (vehicle in right lane is going 50 mph). is dangerous. I generally step it up to 60 mph and get it done fast.

if they drive 50 to 60 where you drive that is obviously going to be ok for you. where i am used to the right lane with the trucks moves at from 65 to 70. so i wouldnt do it here, i would sacrifice some mileage and move with the traffic.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

you guys also had a 240d you wouldn't be having this conversation. just enjoy the liberation of enjoying the driving rather than the hurrying.

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currently
[1981 300 td tdidi 165500 dark brown/palamino-Brownie-mine-3k miles of ownership
1983 240d 162+++ Anthricite grey w/ henna red interior and hella lights-wifes car-Red

the above two cars are for sale
and can be seen on the cars for sale thread here. pix also available.


240d-144+ Manilla Yellow w/ palmino interior-greasecar kit-Blondie-the college kids car

23" gt 21 speed still on original tires-still got the nubs
21" khs tandem

but one has the five non turbo motor with stick.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

In regards to the BMW (remember post 1? ), it was probably slower becuase if you neglect the maintenence on those automobiles, they do NOT age well. The HP/quarter mile ratings that were posted are obviously for NEW automobiles so you have to take that information (and age) into consideration.

He probably couldn't pass becuase a plugged CAT, ripped up exhaust, filthy fuel filter and bad spark plugs/dirty injectors limited his crippled automobile into a speed bracket much lower than that of a religiously maintained 6cylinder diesel benz of hattie.

(Not to mention his kickdown probably no longer worked...)

No suprise there...I was not impressed with my ex-gf's 325ic when I was doing work on it. High mileage and low maintenence does not treat those cars well

As an update...people on the freeway get mad when you pass them towing another car doing about 75-80MPH

Towed a Rabbit convertable for about 200 miles with the 300SD...even climbed hills in the 55-60 range without pegging EGT's and the engine temp stayed reasonable.