I mentioned in a previous thread I was getting bad fuel mileage(14.9 to be exact). Just got back from a trip to West Virginia. I am pleased to report I got 24.5 mpg's over the trip. I am sure some will say that is not good enough. However I had the car loaded down with a/c on and was running pretty hard. I would leave it in 3rd gear going up most of mountains and back in drive as I reached the top. Never exceeded 3400 or so rpm's in 3rd. Very happy with the way the car drove and handled. Pretty good for how heavy it is and the 14inch tires that need to be replaced soon. Solid as a rock and was happy I had no mechanical issues.

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1985 Mercedes Benz 300SD, TMU
2015 Chrysler 200S

I'm interested in the capability of the 2.88 diff to climb hills. With this one (also a 2.88), it's limited to about 60 mph with the a/c on when traversing a decent hill. I don't drop it into 3rd..........I'll just let it climb at whatever speed it can make.

So, if you left it in 4th.......what would be your climb speed on those hills?

Oh, not much over 30 mph if I didn't plan ahead. I definetely wasn't working the car to hard. Wasn't trying to kill it just keep in it's "power band" so I didn't roll back down the mountains (lol) . They were around 3500 to 3800 ft to the top and then I would shift back into drive at the top. Otherwise it would just keep shifting and I would loose to much momentum otherwise. Performed really well. Didn't get passed once on the way up the mountains. Actually made a few passes in the ole diesel.

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1985 Mercedes Benz 300SD, TMU
2015 Chrysler 200S

So, you'd climb in third gear at about 50 mph or so???

And, what hills are we talking about..........I-64 westbound into Beckley??

I've taken that hill in both the SD and SDL. IIRC, the SDL can hold 65 on the hill.........the SD probably can hold 60 or so (with the 3.07 diff)........now it probably won't be able to do it.

About 45 mph or so, just depended on the grade. Now I am talking straight up 2 lane twisties on Rt. 33 heading to Elkins. Sometimes I would hit 4000 rpm's but wasn't trying to break it or make the temp go up. Brakes didn't fade either.

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1985 Mercedes Benz 300SD, TMU
2015 Chrysler 200S

........starting out at Harrisonburg..........yep, that's a long and brutal ride........I never had to do that.........I stick to the interstates if possible........must take forever..............