[QUOTE=aersloat;1704451]I had my most expensive fill ever today - I usually pump my own at a local commercial cardlock but was in a rush and got 5 gallons at the corner station, where in Oregon you don't pump your own.

That "pump your own" doesn't apply to diesel. When the pimplie faced attendant comes running up having a hissie fit seeing you pumping your own , tell him to check with the boss. I haven't driven down the coast in a couple years, things may have changed but I dont think so. Check it out.

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1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

Living in Northern Virginia, lots of foreigners comment about 123s when I'm refueling. Typically they come up with big smiles and go on and on about how great these cars are back in their home countries.

They're almost always from ex-Russian states, Eastern Europeans, Turks, and Middle Eastern Arabs. Even an occasional American (if they own a diesel). It's always an affable conversation. An answer for world peace?


Oh yeah, those Americans who don't have diesels universaly give the deer-in-the headlights stare.

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83 300D 328k mi (623) Light Ivory - daily driver
82 300D 166k mi (881) Thisle Green - fixer upper
82 300D 282k mi (473) Champagne - parts

You lucky dog!

Please ask your father to tell someone at GM that if they can get the Astra with the 1.9TDI over here, they could pull a real coup - as far as taking sales from the VW TDI. Now that, would be competitive intelligence!

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Thats basically what his job is. They tell the planning department what they should be doing. The problem is GM's basically doesnt have a compatent planning depatment. Thats why they are slow to the market, but the engineering is world class.

There were plans for an EV2 hybrid. GM would have been first to the market. It was scrapped.

As far the the Astra, it had a good power-train, although it was a bit rough at idle. All we get it the 1.8L 140hp gasser, in our version. I would rather have the 260 turbo they get overseas. You will see plenty of diesels making it over in a few years.

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Adam Lumsden
(83) 300D
Vice-President of the MBCA International Stars Section

I drove the equivalent of an Aura wagon in Germany earlier this year. It had the 1.9GDTi engine. It was plenty quick, quiet, and almost odor free. Economy was fantastic - I would think that in the lighter Astra, it would be even better. Rumor has it that VW is going to have a waiting list for their TDI's late next year. This would be the perfect opportunity for GM to get a jump on the competition, and shed it's image as a big slow moving behemoth corporation.
(thanks for listening to my soapbox "rant")

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Yea, the ad campaign where GM had the whole "we are professional grade" theme really just confirmed what people thought, GM is a behemoth that does build great working vehicles, but moves slowly and focuses too much on larger vehicles. I hope they can change that, I'm getting sick of the Chevy commercials advertising SUV's and saying "Chevy is an American product" as if it's supposed to make me proud. Every time I hear that, I think, "Yes, and that's why I like foreign cars."
I tend to lean environmentalist just a bit normally, but I despise SUVs and companies that seem to make them almost exclusively. Pickup trucks I can endure, but only if someone actually has a use for one.
Then again, I can also endure the destruction of my masculinity caused by driving a minivan, so my perspective is somewhat unique.

Anyway, GM is a company that has it where it counts, they just need to get more competitive. Such is the feeling I have anyway.



Hrmmm... I was going somewhere with this whole rant, but I don't know where. Whatever, debate is fun.

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1984 300DT turbo 138k mi

Still hauling me to school and back.

Handy Site:
http://www.dieselgiant.com/

My 1st Fuel Pump Story ...

Pulled up to the pumps yesterday with two of my daughters and slid my credit card thru the reader ... The AmEx has been taking a Christmas BEATING, but approval was swift.

After starting to pump, I heard a loud "BEEP", the screen read "Transaction Cancelled" and the Clerk came running out his booth. He informed me LOUDLY that I was "pumping Diesel" and that I'd "ruin my car". All at once I was glad that my AmEx hadn't imploded, but a little embarassed to be the object of the commotion, so I quietly pointed at the "Diesel" badge on the back of my 240. He appologized, and squirreled back into his booth.

Long story short - My 17 year old informed me in her best Valley Girl voice that she "was sooooooo embarased" and she'll "never ride in THIS car again". After her rant, I slyly asked what she thought she was going to drive to College in next fall?

Then the sky fell ...

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TripWagner,

U would be better to drive your daughter to college and bring the 240D home with U.

A car for the first year of college will only have a negative effect on her GPA. If she does well in her freshman year, U might consider letting her have a car the following years if her GPA stays accetable.

P E H

That sounds familiar, except my 16 year old daughter has no interest in an "old guy car" like a W123. A while ago she was trying to get me to buy her a motorcycle, not she seems to want to get her hands on my old jeep and/or wants me to put my 914 back together for her. In reality, I'll probably buy her something newer.

the links (here to youtube) of IIRC Bob Lutz talking about GM taking a "skip a generation" in their engineering and are going to hybrid and HCCI (Diesotto) in a few years, in order to meet next tier emissions standards. He also mentioned that the average Chevy buyer would not be willing to pay the extra cost for a small diesel but the 1/2 ton, and up, truck buyer did not fit that marketing demographic.

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1987 300D (230,000 mi on a #14 head-watching the temp gauge and keeping the ghost in the machine)
Raleigh NC - Home of deep fried sushi!

At this rate they will be lucky if they are around long enough to "skip a generation." The should have about 15 employees left by then.

It all depends on how responsible she is.

They let me take my Benz to college my first year (I just finished my first semester) and I wrapped it up with a 3.67 gpa (5 a's and a b minus in calculus).

If she's responsible as it is, go for it. It'll just make her miserable not to have it.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

1986 300SDL
1987 300SDL
1982 240D
1982 300SD


Current:

1987 300SDL

Then also we have to remember the "average Chevy buyer" is NOT on the forum.

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1987 300D (230,000 mi on a #14 head-watching the temp gauge and keeping the ghost in the machine)
Raleigh NC - Home of deep fried sushi!

Maybe she'll learn how to type out "you"...

She's definitely getting a W123 (Maybe a W114) ...

I'm not too terribly concerned about her asthetic desires, she needs to learn how to drive a stick ... she needs to learn to drive a stick WELL! I'll also be wrapping her in thick German Steel, that she can still afford to fuel up! That's the kind of love a Father can appreciate for his daughter.

Her GPA sucks, so I'm not worried about that! AND I'm thinking the Diesel Panzerkampfwagen will scare away all the mealy beefcake boys that can't handle a girl that can manuever a vehicular legend!

And, like my oldest boy, she'll hate me for a while, then have a "Gas Station" story of her own!

PS: Has any one else noticed that teaching "clutch finesse" is MUCH easier on a Diesel??? Another Thread???

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