I'm going to go out and say this - I'm creating this thread and I already pretty much KNOW the answer, but I'll make it nonetheless.

Would you say that diesel cars are addicting?

Suddenly, gas cars (especially second cars and commuters) don't seem nearly as appealing. I've had some 80s VWs, a sweet Audi Coupe GT, and I've driven 80s BMWs and what have you, though none of them have been diesel powered. Granted, I'd say the closest gas powered car that is W123/W126 vintage would be a 2.7L eta powered BMW (a 325e or 528e - 4500 RPM redline and lots of torque - killer longevity and good mpg), but still...when you've driven a diesel, you're missing out on a lot...timing belts, distributors, tachometers ()...

I'm not sure what my next car will be, but I'd be hard pressed to get back into a gas car for my commuter...and I'm considering trading the main car (the GLI) I have for a new common-rail Jetta Sportwagen TDI. 140 hp and 235 tq, here I come.

Anyone agree? - Are diesel cars addicting?

Once you diesel, do you ever go back?

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2003 Volkswagen Jetta Wolfsburg Edition, "Tiffany," - Black/Black Cloth - 75K miles, Jetta #6; my faithful, turbocharged, BBS-adorned sled

SOLD 3/08 1981 Mercedes Benz 300D, "Elise" - Astral Silver/Black M.B. Tex - 217K miles - I miss her everyday; the best-built car I've owned

A friend of mine in college (rich kid) had a brand new '79 rabbit diesel (very cool at the time). His dad drove a new caddy diesel (with long shag carpet, believe it of not). We used to borrow the caddy and stuff about 8 people in it for ski trips to VT, that car never smelled the same (imagine beer and bong water in shag carpet, with 8 sweaty guys).

I miss the mileage more than anything. My SDL would return a rock solid 22-23 around town and I drive fast. I need to fill up and check, but I bet the Jetta only does around 20. Considering that its a tin can with a little 4 banger, compared to the SDL...thats sad.

If I were buying a new E class I would opt for a CDI over the gas.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

One single-car garage, two diesel cars. My sig speaks for itself . Some folks on this board care only about alt fuels. Some care only about MBs. Me, I love diesels.

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'91 300D 2.5 Turbo 330K
'00 VW TDI Golf, 190K
'67 BMW R50/2
'73 Norton Commando Interstate

Kinda lightweight with me, i wanted a diesel for the alternative fuel thing then owning the 300SD turned me into a Benz fan.

And i currently own 2 gasser 190's and had a S420.

Trade me a red 500E for the 300D and ill never go back to diesel again

Seriously tho, i love the fuel economy of the diesel's, the jetta tdi i had got better mileage then my motorcycle! that has to say something about diesels fuel economy!

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Current:
05 E320 CDI
07 GL320 CDI
08 Sprinter
05 Dodge Cummins
01 Dodge Cummins

Previous
2004 E55 AMG
2002 C32 AMG (#2)
1995 E300
1978 300D
1987 300D
2002 C32 AMG(blown motor :[
1981 300SD
1983 300SD
1987 300SDL
2002 Jetta TDI
1996 S420
1995 S500
1993 190E 2.6
1992 190E 2.3
1985 190E 2.3 5-Speed

Meh -- I ain't feelin' the tingle. Maybe my 300td ain't the "good stuff." Now, a new BMW 535d would get me twitchin' for more!

... maybe.

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

Yes, I am a diesel-aholic, but more specifically I am a Merc-diesel-aholic. I am to the point where I not snore as I used to. Now when I snore I sound more like a 617 non-turbo at idle.

I do have some interest in other diesels, but with three W123's diesels and a W210 diesel I have become partial to what I am familiar. I do look forward to the introduction of Honda's diesel and the return of VW's with diesel. When the Jeep Liberty diesel was available I almost bought one. I really liked it, but I am not much of a SUV person no matter what the size. I liked it because of the sound it makes.

I have about 1.6 acres of yard to mow. My riding mower, push mower, and trimmer are all gas powered. I wish that they were diesel. Then I would have a fuel tank at home and everything could be refueled from that one tank.

I do like some gas power vehicles. I love Packards, W108's, Pontons, and many others. But I still dream in diesel.

Pull-starting a one-cylinder diesel would be a chore. Imagine the effort required to pull against twice the compression, and you probably wouldn't have a glow plug to help get it started.

well with 1.6 acres, you could use a diesel tractor with belly mower like I do, and it just may be possible to find a diesel 2 stroke trimmer?

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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread
"as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do!

My drivers:
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5Turbo
1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!!

1987 300TD
1987 300TD
1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere!

I am addicted to my 300SD. If I don't hear him running everyday, I get the shakes! I have not had him down in WV since Thanksgiving and I am a wreck!

I also agree with the eta engined BMW... I have a 1984 528e and I love that car as well... It just seems tinny and spartan next to the big 300SD.
But the engine is smoooooooth and gets good gas mileage while putting away a lot of lesser cars.

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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

Current
Monika '74 450 SL
BrownHilda '79 280SL
FoxyCleopatra '99 Chevy Suburban
Scarlett 2014 Jeep Cherokee
Krystal 2004 Volvo S60
Gone
'74 Jeep CJ5
'97 Jeep ZJ Laredo
Rudolf ‘86 300SDL
Bruno '81 300SD
Fritzi '84 BMW
'92 Subaru
'96 Impala SS
'71 Buick GS conv
'67 GTO conv
'63 Corvair conv
'57 Nomad

...or put a deck under my workhorse 1981 300D.

I'm not afraid that I'm going to blow the engine from pushing too hard past redline. In my diesels, I am always confident to push it whenever I get the chance, and they love me for it. Triple digit speeds are seen every time I take 'em out when the weather's fair. Usually occurs as an involuntary act.

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1987 300SDL (324000)

1986 Porsche 951 (944 Turbo) (166000)

1978 Porsche 924 (99000)

1996 Nissan Pathfinder R50 (201000)

First, most women hate diesels and that's a plus...

Second, If I'm going to drive an older car, the MB is more than likely better than most new cars...It beats driving a standard tin box like most people are driving today....

The Tenor Man

Is it that I can expect nearly 100% reliability?
Is it the mileage?
Is it the sound?
Is it that I can choose to use vegetable oil to run it?
Is it that I am driving something nearly 30 years old and for the most part operates and looks like a car that is 2 or 3?
Is it knowing that in today's dollars, if I were to go buy it new it would be a $100K plus auto?
Is it the comfort I have know it is rock solid and engineered for safe travel?
Is it that I almost never see them on the road and therefore drive something unique?
Is it the quiet time I have one on one with the cars, using the help, advice and skills to make it better than it was?
Is it the soul that we know it has?

I thinks so.

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1980 300TD-T (82 Turbo and Trans) 159,000 Miles "Jackie-O"
1983 300SD 272,000 Miles "Aristotle"
1987 Jeep Wagoneer Limited - keeps the MB's off the ice and out of the snow
1994 BMW 530it