Gas vs. Diesel Forum Viewers - Why the Change?

[Jim B.]

I have personally met more people from the Diesel discussion than any other place, and they are really great, helpful, friendly, funny and intelligent folks.

Furthermore, they are wise in the way of Mercedes, the whole car, NOT just its engine, and tinkering and repairing with them in general.

As I presently own a gasoline powered W126 body, MANY diesel guys own this body style, and frankly, this is the best place anyone with a question about the antenna, HVAC, bumpers, seats or most NON ENGINE questions about the W123, W124 and W126 cars can be quickly and competently answered.

For a NON diesel W126 question, I think I would ask first right here, all things considered. It is a fairly closely knit section of real experts and enthusasts, with real passion - not the same "community" as in Tech.

I am SURE I an not alone.
I frequent the Tech , OT, SL, parts, wheels, all of them, but this place is where I truly feel at home.

The people here are tops, and many are real friends to me.

The first Mercedes I ever tried to buy was a W123 Diesel, about 25 years ago.
I failed in that quest then because they weren't in the blue book then and I couldn't get a loan on them.

Probably one day I will get one yet. I really love the older Mercedes diesels. They idea of a W123 240 manual or Euro 300 non turbo is especially alluring to me.

I could probably find the best one right around here.

I would keep it forever.

[deerefanatic]

Rather you guys want to admit it or not, the popularity of the diesel discussion on this forum, and every other MB diesel forum, is largely being fuelled by the veggie craze..... now, I won't bad mouth veggie like ForcedInduction does, but I do think there is a right and wrong way and that 95% of "conversions" (if they can be called that) are "wrong".......

But that, in my opion is fuelling it..... I've been on this forum for a while now (2.5 years if my memory serves me.. I'll have to look....) and when I joined, veggie was a side topic.... Now it takes up 30% of the posts.... I frankly get sick of the veggie talk.. I say get a seperate area devoted to veg.....

[JimmyL]

Originally Posted by deerefanatic

Rather you guys want to admit it or not, the popularity of the diesel discussion on this forum, and every other MB diesel forum, is largely being fuelled by the veggie craze.....

Lots of the traffic seems to be from younger folks who for one reason or another have a diesel Mercedes and just like to immerse themselves in all things MB Diesel. Some of us "olds" seem to like that also....... We just are a little more selective about when/where we pick our spots, but the sentiment is similar.

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Probably one day I will get one yet. I really love the older Mercedes diesels. They idea of a W123 240 manual or Euro 300 non turbo is especially alluring to me.

I could probably find the best one right around here.

I would keep it forever.

I know you have the very sport-minded W126 coupe with the Big Dawg under the hood, but I promise there is a relaxing quality to driving a stick 240D that simply has to be experienced to be understood.
Kind of like hopping on the old tractor to mow the back pasture......

[SwampYankee]

Originally Posted by E320wagon'94

I don't know if I'm alone in thinking this, but i feel like in the Diesel specific area, we all have a common bond. In the other areas, everyones getting info for cars, over here, we're kinda the underdog diesel guys. It seems were a tighter knit group in here.

I think that has a lot to do with it. The same holds true for truck forums as well. There are diesel guys and there are the others.

[rrgrassi]

I signed up when I was looking for an older MB, with the original intent to burn blended veggie/rug/kero. I run bio, dino, or a mix of the two now. The info and welcome I got, even without owning a MB yet was astounding. I signed up on two others at the same time. This forum answered first without the attitude of buy one before asking questions.


This one is the best, I think.

[Rmcfarland]

Just a guess (correct me if I'm wrong) but after 25+ years, maybe the diesels long life is starting to show? Maybe the gassers that are of this vintage are just not on the road as much anymore. I RARELY see 123's around where I live, and virtually nothing older than that.

[pawoSD]

Originally Posted by Rmcfarland

Just a guess (correct me if I'm wrong) but after 25+ years, maybe the diesels long life is starting to show? Maybe the gassers that are of this vintage are just not on the road as much anymore. I RARELY see 123's around where I live, and virtually nothing older than that.

I actually see more W126 gassers around here by me than anthing else. The occassional 300D or 240D....and raaarely a SDL or SD......but the diesels are quite rare. I know of two of them here at school...a grey 300TD wagon in ok-shape with 170k on it....and a MINT 300D with 400k on it that belongs to a forum member....pretty neat.

Sad fact: I have only ridden in ONE gasser MB ever...a very poorly maintained 280te grey market wagon owned by a friend's mom. It still had POWER though. It'd go from 70-115mph like nothing! Then she dumped about $10k into brakes/electrical work/a new tranny, then a few months later blew an oil line but kept driving, seized the engine at a rest stop 4 miles later. Had 179k on the engine at its death. About 2k on the tranny. Now she has a mazda.

[asnowsquall]

I don't know, I'd kinda like to try an early 90's 300TE gas wagon for a while to see what its like. Seems like a nice rig for $2000-$4000. Think I'm nutz? No, not the 4 matic.

[ujourdan]

I think whoever said the veggie craze spurred the popularity of this forum is on to something. I actually bought my MB for exactly that reason, to convert. After learning and also experiencing the good and bad about it I decided to not do it. However, I still mix in 1/2 a gallon of svo per tank just because I do like the smell of it. Believe it or not, 1/2 a gallon makes a big difference in the smell. I will stop now because it will get cold soon here in the NE but I do will continue next year.

[asnowsquall]

I've played with veggy and its fun but I haven't been "successful" yet. I may play some more but my time is limited. I've always loved German cars. I'd like to check out a gas wagon "someday". I do love my simple 240D that just keeps running.

[Hatterasguy]

I started hanging out on this site in 2001. A lot has changed. A lot. I remember reading OMG 9/11 threads.

This site has grown by leaps and bounds, I wonder where we will be in 10 years. I'll be here.

As far as volume and traffic you would have to ask Bill, but I bet its up many hundred precent. Diesel forum used to be a pretty small place.