The price of fuel is only ONE component of running costs.

The overall cost per mile should be determinative for the budget-conscious. That takes into account durability, build quality, frequency of repairs, costs of parts, insurance premiums, and other things, such as interest on car loans and depreciation.

True, the cost of fuel is a wild variable and can't be predicted, and it is likely the trend will only be in one direction (and that is up!) but it is only one factor.

Another is safety. Buying a really safe car, that will protect you in an accident, like a Mercedes Benz or a Volvo, should matter, also.

The cost of medical care, or crippling or fatal injuries that occurred because you were trying to save money on fuel by buying a car that was made of paper mache makes a pretty convincing case to stay with Mercedes Benz, gas or diesel.

But every time the price of fuel rises, the sales of the little sardine can/good mpg vehicles spikes, too. I have rented some of those little tiny cars, and they scare me. In a bad wreck there is no doubt you could get killed, maimed, or paralyzed from being in one of them. Not worth it to me.

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1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

That is completely unfair.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ju6t-yyoU8s
vs say
http://youtube.com/watch?v=lB0araA0T_k
and sure its got a busa engine in it but nuff said
http://youtube.com/watch?v=f5S1NAMnYKM

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http://superturbodiesel.com/images/sig.04.10.jpg
1995 E420 Schwarz
1995 E300 Weiss
#1987 300D Sturmmachine
#1991 300D Nearly Perfect
#1994 E320 Cabriolet
#1995 E320 Touring
#1985 300D Sedan
OBK #42

You must have read that in haste, but i did say a 94 E420, unsaid but implied that it is a Mercedes Benz. I don't think the body is as well built as the 85 W123, though I have never driven one. I plan to drive this one on Saturday. It does have the double air bag system up front of course. We could get along very well with one car, and I am kind of looking to go with a more economical Benz and getting rid of the Diesel and the Lincoln. That Town Car has been wonderful for the past ten years, but not economical for city driving. We use it mostly for long trips in the summer, and then it does OK, at about 21mpg at 70 mph.

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Junqueyardjim
Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important. C.S. Lewis



1983 Mercedes W123 240D 4 Speed 285,000 on the road with a 617 turbo, beautiful butter yellow, license plate # 83 240D INDIANA

2003 Jaguar Type X, AWD. beautiful, good mileage,
Mom's car, but I won't let her drive it!

I had a 93 400E a couple of years ago. On the highway it would return 26.5 -27 MPG on a very steady basis - it was actually cheaper to fuel than the car that I was using for a 60 mile per day commute. Guess what model Benz that car was??

Yep, a 240D.

You are going to love the E420 but be aware that its at least an order of magnitude more complex than any W123. The M119 engine is really shoe-horned into the engine bay and its a real PITA to work with.

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98 Dodge-Cummins pickup (137K)
13 GLK250 (157k)
06 E320CDI (341K)
16 C300 (89K)
82 300GD Gelaendewagen (54K)

Well If I fill both tanks @ a $3.46 Iam looking @ $96.88.. thats 28 gal.
I hold a total of 34.

We usually only fill the main tank, but on trips we do both.

It will only get worse cost wise as time goes. the environmentalist, oil co.
ceo`s, and politions won`t be happy until we are just like Europe, and
the rest of the world.

So we just gotta make more money,

Charlie

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there were three HP ratings on the OM616...

1) Not much power
2) Even less power
3) Not nearly enough power!! 240D w/auto

Anyone that thinks a 240D is slow drives too fast.

80 240D Naturally Exasperated, 4-Spd 388k DD 150mph spedo 3:58 Diff

We are advised to NOT judge ALL Muslims by the actions of a few lunatics, but we are encouraged to judge ALL gun owners by the actions of a few lunatics. Funny how that works

I am not sure what an E420 looks like, but I can speak from experience of going form a Diesel to a gasser when I recently purchased my first gasser in close to 3 years.

It is nice at first to drive a 190E, and it is a 5 speed, so it is also fun/ cool, and it has handling that my W123 could only dream of...........BUT

1- The glow light never goes out......(joke)

2- I was driving the 190E for a few weeks straight and then got back in to a 123 for the first time when I had to pull "my sons" 300CD out of the driveway.

I couldn't believe the difference. It was like had been driving a toy car for the last few weeks! The oversized steering wheel, the secure feeling of a true classic MB Diesel, the missed and loving sound of rattle rattle , and even the scent of the old leather and torn up dash made me think "No way I could keep driving a gasser".

3- My 190E 5 speed is for sale..........


...

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'87 924S
'81 280SEL

Sold ->

81 300SD -
93 300E w/ 3.2
85 300D-
79 300SD
82 300CD
83 300CD - CA
87 190E 5 spd
87 Porsche 924S

"..I'll take a simple "C" to "G" and feel brand new about it..."

Another fuel price thread, WOOHOO!