For awhile I was really PO'd at my 300D after the dash fire after I replaced the engine. Then, the tranny went, too. I cannot believe I actually stuck it out and changed it. It seems surreal now..
I am really starting to LUV my "MODEL T" 85 300D especially now that Diesel is 2.12 a gallon here in SJ. Even after her dash fire, she came to back to life like the true indestructible queen she is. The other day I bumped a wire in the engine compartment and the AC came roaring on ICE COLD, and I was amazed because I thought it had died after a year of non use.

I am weary of modern cars. A car is supposed to be a tool for your Life, something that lurks in the background like your refridgerator or lawnmower, but for some i assume , economically it has become something like the House, a major focus of Life
The other day I saw a Mom pull up in her new SUV and put $50 of gas in it. It didn't take a lot of math to figure out she's paying $900 a month ( Car payment, Gas and Insurance ) to drive the thing.
All that glitzy marketing confuses me. I dont know the difference between an Imprezia or Vitara or Verona, they all sound the same and look the same and they probably all come off the same assembly line.
The fact that they are bringing back the V8 with 32 valves and 360 hp stresses me out. Who needs 360 hp? Gasoline will maybe cost $3.00 a gallon next summer and double that in 5 years...
These new cars all have at least an ICU and an ECU, not to mention, now a CCU ( Climate Control Unit) and a SCU (Suspension Control Unit). I know there are some really BRIGHT People on Shop Forum but the electrical glitches when these thing start to age are not EZ to solve. I am am STUBBORN but not bright. On my temporary SAAB 9000 which I can now sell now that my 85 300D is running, I had a problem with the Central Locking system where I had to practically dismantle the car to find the problem...and still haven't...Can you imagine fixing electrical glitches on a 2005 car?
When my 300D finally rolls over, i will try to find another one, or move to a area where I can ride a Bike or use the T... I Hope I never see the day when a car consumes half of my Pay..

Since yours was not a question I intended to read and then move on. However, I know what you mean and felt compelled to chime in. For reasons far from those you mentioned, I also had sort of pushed the needs of my vehicles (probably more my needs) into the background until recently. With a little subtle nudge through an e-mail from BC I started to move forward. What a great feeling to do so. I really enjoy working our these labors of love. Your other point regarding new v. mature vehicles also struck a chord. I have conversed with my two mid-twenty year old sons about the advantages of the mature vehicles. Of course being somewhat bright and showing they pay attention, or at least hear, when I am talking, my oldest commented the prices we paid for the two Mercedes defy logic. That was an area I thought better of spending much time . . . I have been able to demonstrate when the costs of insurance, registration and very importantly, entertainment/satisfaction are considered factors, I come out ahead to them. Of course when I get the response that I seem to maintain a few vehicles to do what they can do with one I am again heading into an area of subjectivity. Okay boys. I have several objects of entertainment while you only have one. When the youngest responded with, "Dad I have more exciting entertainment w/o involving the vehicles. Would you suggest I need more?" Whoops. Another area I had better tip-toe around.

Kidding aside, I am about to head to work in my '87 300TD. The trip to-and-from are high points of my day. To me that says plenty for what we drive.
Steve

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Steve
'87 300TD - 132K - Soon 4-Sale
'84 300D Turbo - 122K - Driving
'77 VW Type II - 77K - Restored
'08 250EX Ninja
English Bulldog (Brier) - My best friend. Passed away 12/02/04 while in my arms.

It's true, these new cars are money pits when it comes to servicing. Take a look at the new W220 S-class for example: if the suspension starts to sag, then one of the pressure units may be leaking - but these are built into the struts -and the new W220's have struts which contain some of the adaptive electronics (hence it has one of MB's infamous collection of acronyms like ABC, ASR, ASD, ASS, BS, or whateva' ...etc! ) of which replacement is VERY expensive!!

There's so much electronic hardware nowadays on new cars that effective inspection is probably more dependent on the quality of your laptop than your tool kit! But I'll probably take a W220 S-Class anyday (a S500 4-Matic for me!) but I'll probably have to hit the lottery first to start dreamin' like this...

So stay faithful to your 123s, 116s, 107s, 124s, 126s, 201s, etc... It'll appreciate you more in return...

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My Mercedes-Benz Homepage and W123 Owners Photo Gallery and W111/W112 Coupes & Convs Gallery
2005 Northeast GTG and 2005 Mid-Atlantic GTG and Summer '09 Central FL GTG on YouTube

and so's my 240D and Rabbit Diesel.

I think $5/ gallon fuel will start to wake some people up about the utility value of their choice of transportation. They're all a bunch of jellyfish now- reacting to the slick marketing campaigns and the car parked in the driveway next door.

As for electronics, well, you don't see any in any of the cars in my sig.....

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80 300SD (129k mi) 82 240D stick (193k mi)77 240D auto - stick to be (153k mi) 85 380SL (145k mi) 89 BMW 535i 82 Diesel Rabbit Pickup (374k mi) 91 Jetta IDI Diesel (155k mi) 81 VW Rabbit Convertible Diesel 70 Triumph Spitfire Mk III (63kmi)66 Triumph TR4a IRS (90k mi)67 Ford F-100 (??)

Can't you see with the India, China and Russia awakening to Economic Development from Free Market enterprise, gas is going to go up astronomically, until its a Luxury and people will return to the City? Its to bad me and a couple of buddies cant store say a ten thousand gallons of diesel now at say 2.30 a gallon and sell it when its $10.00 a gallon
Profile car 2010, when gas is $10.00 a gallon...800cc Diesel at 110 mpg, curb weight of 1400 pounds, two seater....