There is an ad in my area stating as such? Is this a misprint or worth looking at?

its an 81 not 83 sorry

The 300SD did not come with it. However someone could have retrofitted a manual to it. I personally would love to have a manual in mine.

__________________
green 85 300SD 200K miles "Das Schlepper Frog" With a OM603 TBO360 turbo ( To be intercooled someday )( Kalifornistani emissons )
white 79 300SD 200K'ish miles "Farfegnugen" (RIP - cracked crank)
desert storm primer 63 T-bird "The Undead" (long term hibernation)

http://ecomodder.com/forum/fe-graphs/sig692a.png

me too.

tom w

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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.

Would also love this car with a manual

I also would like it with a manual, perhaps...dual tranny's. I know I'd get sick of shifting the manual on my short city drives around here....but for a "cruising car" I'd definatley love a manual.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 102k - mine - (OC-104,600)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 26k - wifes (OC-25k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 57k (OC - 63k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 73k - dad's (OC-75k)
'01 SL500 - 92k(km) - dad's (OC-94,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 122k - Brothers (OC-125k)

Well, I'm going to disagree with all of you.

I can shift the SD anytime I want with my right foot. The transmission is setup just perfectly and it shifts precisely when I want it to shift. However, if, by chance, it lingers in a lower gear too long, I just lift my foot about 1/4" and I've got the next gear.

I will admit that it's reluctant to downshift........so, I do the 4-3 manually when needed. A 3-2 is very rarely needed, but, also can be selected with the shifter.

A properly setup automatic is a dream to drive............who wants to bother with a clutch.......

After reading that, I have to agree. Mine shifts absolutely perfectly anyways and always downshifts if I press the pedal most of the way down. (its very responsive) I can come around a corner at 20-25mph and drop from 4-3 then 3-2 in no time, and then it rears up and roars forward with tons of torque and boost! Very thrilling and addicting. I'll stick with my auto, it rocks. 237k so far and its shifting perfectly firm and no slipping. (synthetic fluid) I'm curious how far I'll be able to get out of it. When the dealer redid all the internal seals 2 years ago at 213k they said it "looked great" inside still with lots of life left. guess the previous owner was gentle/cared for it!

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 102k - mine - (OC-104,600)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 26k - wifes (OC-25k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 57k (OC - 63k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 73k - dad's (OC-75k)
'01 SL500 - 92k(km) - dad's (OC-94,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 122k - Brothers (OC-125k)

And I'm going to have to re disagree with you . I've been driving a manual for the last 6 years and only recently have I moved to an auto with my 300SD. They are nothing alike. A manual gives you much more control and causes you to pay more attention to your driving IMHO.

If that SD had a properly setup transmission, you'd change your mind on that.............

I agree, but you have to have it set up correctly (so you can shift at will with your right foot). It took me a little trial and error to get it the way I wanted it.

I have no use for sports cars with auto trannys, but in one of these cars it seems more appropriate than a manual.

The 300SD is the first automatic I've owned, and I only bought it because I liked the car so much that I was willing to give up my tradition of driving stick-shift only.

I do think it would be awesome with a manual - it's got a lot of meat, and the way manuals rev up and rev down for shifting, it only makes it sound more powerful and thrilling!

But also I have to say that I haven't been annoyed with the auto tranny that's inside this 300SD - that's my big compliment to this car. I agree with Brian that the shifts are indeed well-metered and MOST of the time it shifts like you want it to and responds to the amount of throttle pretty well. I also found gear 3 and 2 to be REALLY cool

i do enjoy driving my 350 auto.

the tranny in it is as close to perfect in its operation to any i have owned. but if it went out i would definately consider converting it to stick.

and if given the choice of stick or auto i would always choose stick for economy of operation and economy of keeping it on the road.

now if i came across a 64 dodge hemi (cheap) i might consider a torqueflite.

tom w

__________________
[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.

Auto's are a God-send in stop-go rush hour traffic but I have to strongly agree that manuals promote much more attention to driving and an implicit understanding ALL THE TIME YOU ARE DRIVING of speed and rpm's.

I vacation in Europe every couple of years (family ties) and thoroughly enjoy hauling the family around in a 5 speed diesel minivan like a VW Sharan or similar. Much much better than many of the totally boring equivalents like the Caravan or the Windstar over here.

You can get a five speed, standard shift DIESEL powered Caravan from Daimler-Chrysler in the UK - why not here?

Well as someone who almost got into an accident in snow because the transmission decided to shift at the worst possible moment, I would still prefer a manual. Manuals also have a lower power loss than automatics. The better mileage would be very nice considering todays fuel prices.

__________________
green 85 300SD 200K miles "Das Schlepper Frog" With a OM603 TBO360 turbo ( To be intercooled someday )( Kalifornistani emissons )
white 79 300SD 200K'ish miles "Farfegnugen" (RIP - cracked crank)
desert storm primer 63 T-bird "The Undead" (long term hibernation)

http://ecomodder.com/forum/fe-graphs/sig692a.png

I doubt it. I've owned 2o cars and have driven much more. I like my auto in stop and go traffic but given my druthers, I do like manuals better.