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  #16  
Old 01-25-2008, 01:57 PM
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its a chick magnet.


*edit*
Seriously:
I've always loved Mercedes from the 1980s, diesels are the most practical daily drivers of the bunch. I'm considering selling the X5; I only drive it when the weather sucks.

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1985 500SL Euro w/ AMG bits 130k
1984 300SD Turbodiesel 192k
1980 240D Stick China 188k
2001 CLK55 AMG 101k
2007 S600 Biturbo 149k Overheated Project, IT'S ALIVE!!!
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  #17  
Old 01-25-2008, 02:09 PM
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Me (17) and my dad were looking for a first car and after looking at nissans and toyotas, I decided I wanted an old mercedes (i hate ricers). My dad owns a diesel truck and Ive always loved diesel, so we bought a 300d. It needed massive work (no brakes at all, every single thing that usualy goes wrong with these cars, was wrong, ect). We got it running great and I drove it and loved it. I just kind of became addicted I guess.
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  #18  
Old 01-25-2008, 02:16 PM
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I'm a little past the "20 something" age. (I'm 34 now) but this is an interesting thread and I'll through in my 2 cents...

I picked up my 85 300TDT just a month or so ago purely by accident. My crappy old Vovlo wagon laid an egg and I wasn't going to put another penny into in. My buddy happen to be selling his MB. I was in the right place at the right time.

I have always been into diesels. My grandparents always drove MB diesels so they bring back alot of good memories. I also ran a diesel repair shop for my family for a number of years in Philadelphia. We worked mostly on heavy equipment (Mack, Kenworth, Cat...) I left that world behind and now Farm full time (organic veggies) I also have plans to build a biodiesel processor in the next few months...but thats a whole other story.
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Chris

85 300 TD Wagon
51 Chevy 3100 Pick up
81 John Deere 2350 - The Workhorse
45 IH Farmall "A"
02 RM250
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  #19  
Old 01-25-2008, 02:21 PM
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1. I've always loved diesels. My earliest 3-4 year old memories (Some of the only ones) are of our diesel farm tractor and my great-uncle's John Deere 2020 diesel. Always loved the smell, and the sound.

2. I've never found myself agreeing with many people in my age group in my preferences on anything whatsoever. So it's not that surprising that I found the one car that hardly anybody else my age would drive.

3. The most attractive buying reason two years ago when I got the car is now the only one that no longer seems to apply - I was buying into the "low maintenance and it'll last forever" philosophy... obviously that one is biting me in the behind.

Good build quality still appeals to me. I hate ricers and I hate cheap foreign stuff.

4. My aunt had a Mercedes back in the early years (maybe got rid of it when I was 5 or younger?) and I always loved that car. Since I was a kid I've always wanted a Mercedes for "my first car" - and I just stuck to it.

5. The diesel part didn't come into it until about my sophomore year of high school, when I finally figured out who drove that 300SD i'm forever rattling on about - I looked that car up to get more info about it because to me it was the prettiest car in the lot, and that's where the interest in a specific w126 diesel Merc came from.

6. I just like the elegance of the thing. I've always liked the way big cars look (a taste I acquired from my grandfather). The reason I dislike new s-classes is that they don't have that presidential appearance to them..the w126 does.
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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

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


Current:

1987 300SDL
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  #20  
Old 01-25-2008, 02:25 PM
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Out of my 20's by now but I first fell in love with them while being toted around Portugal and Spain as a 10-year-old. They used them as taxis back then and probably still do. (Hey, the Berlin Taxi, right?) I have always looked back fondly on my years there and own a pair now primarily because of that.
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  #21  
Old 01-25-2008, 02:35 PM
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For me it was a hand me down from the grandparents. My grandma drove it 85,000 dealer-maintained, garage kept miles until late 2004. We drove it home during the summer of 2005, and I've never looked back since.

Before I knew the car was going to be mine, I had occasionally wondered what it would be like, and how much I would like to experience owning an MB. And lo and behold, it happened

I grew up on Volvo tanks, first the "blue bus" 240DL wagon, then dad's 850, and now the S70 turbo and the third 240DL wagon. So I wasn't about to drive some tin-can-Kia (sung to the tune of "Zoot Suit Riot" ). Originally I was to drive a $1000 83 (or so) mud brown Volvo 240 wagon with broken push-button overdrive and over 300k miles judged by the mechanic because the odo was shot. The Volvo was sold for exactly what we paid for it once the MB arrived.

Ever since I've gotten it, I started noticing all the little engineering things that made MB what it was back then. And I can see why their slogan back then was "Engineered like no other car in the world." It's a timeless design, safe, practical, and fun to drive. Plus I love telling people that I consistently get 30+ mpg even in the city. And they can't believe that the car is 18 years old
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Dale

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g1...MG_2277sig.jpg

1990 300D 2.5 Turbo -155k
2000 E430 - 103k
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Ecodiesel 4x4 - 11k
2014 VW Passat TDI SE - 7k Bro's Diesel
2006 E320 CDI - 128k Pop's Benz


Pre-glow - A moment of silence in honor of Rudolph Diesel
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  #22  
Old 01-25-2008, 02:51 PM
mild insomniac, maybe? :D
 
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Talking

we've always been a euro car family being my familily is all from slovenia and croatia... i grew up with the Volvo's, the VW's, audi porsche bmw and, mercedes... but the thing i loved the most was when I turned 2 my parents got me my first mercedes...
this cute little W123 pedal car... well... not really a pedal car... it's a CE... I don't remember what the rest of the sticker said b/c it fell off and back then i didn't care...
steel body
battery powered
aluminum wheels
functional lights && REAL LEATHER!
I think that got me hooked.
its gold w/ black leather.
I have it to this day... and my plan is when i have the 240 repainted im having it done in the same color.
when i started my search i was looking for something around a 124 or a 140 but i settled for what i my pocket could handle...
and now i think its time i try and step up a bit and make the 240 my resto project... i may sound like a brat. but i seriously turned down a car b/c it wasn't an MB... (01 Grand Marquis) YUCK

i learned US cars well.. don't compare w/ my first car... (1995 poniac sunfire conv. ... gag me)
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Matthew McIvor

2016 E350 4Matic Black/Black
2007 GL450 4Matic with Off-Road Pkg Silver/Black
1995 E300 Diesel White/Gray
1994 S600 Euro Black/ Black Velour
1986 560SL Blue/Blue/Gray
1986 190E Blue/Blue 93k
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  #23  
Old 01-25-2008, 02:57 PM
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I actually bought the car for biodiesel/WVO and to learn how to work on cars in general. I also think they are cool as hell and have thought so for years. Almost bought one a few years ago when diesel was much cheaper than gas (and I wanted an excuse to get one), but went with the camry instead. Its been an awesome project restoring the benz...
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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car
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  #24  
Old 01-25-2008, 03:13 PM
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My dad decided i needed a car instead of a 1963 chevy truck. He bought the 240d for 400 bucks and i hated it at first. It was dented and full of drug paraphernalia. It slowly grew on me and now five years later i love it and will drive it the wheels fall off.
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  #25  
Old 01-25-2008, 04:32 PM
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I got into MB diesels because my mom's daily driver from 1988 to 1999 was the 300SD. After she stopped driving it, it sat up for about two years in the parking garage of the office building where my dad works. When my dad needed something to drive after his 1996 DeVille was totalled in 2001, he started driving the 300SD again. He still drives it around when it's not too hot out, had it resprayed in 2005, it needs an interior refurbishing, A/C work and a little rust repair, but it's still running good. It's because of that car that I wanted a MB diesel for myself. I looked at a few W126s, W124s, W123s, and finally found a W123 that fit the bill in September 2004. The past 3 years with the car have been pretty good. I just want some rust repair and a repaint done on it when it gets warmer.
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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.
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  #26  
Old 01-25-2008, 05:06 PM
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I always have had an appreciation for diesels. I was in the market for a car and had the opportunity to buy one from a PO who took meticulous care of it for the right price. I did some research before my purchase and was excited to hear nothing but good things. The car has its quirks, mostly interior cosmetic, but its grown on me more and more. I've had lots of different cars and always worked around vehicles and I have been nothing but pleased with my 300SD. The car is fun to work on and a blast to drive. I've never not cared about how much money I put into a car/truck like I do with this one. I guess I'm actually going to keep this one around for a while.
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1985 Mercedes 300SD - 210K
1992 Ford Festiva - 92K
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  #27  
Old 01-25-2008, 05:22 PM
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I got hooked when we bought our first '82 300D. Couldn't say what it was but I fell in love with that car and diesels all together. I loved the tank like feel of the car and the awesome sound of the diesel engine. We then picked up an '85 300SD Cali edition. Loved how solid that car felt and rode, in addition to the sexy engine note.

When it was time for my own I came across my '97 E300 on eBay. I loved the body style and it was a diesel, 'nuff said. Of all the diesels, it's difficult to choose a favorite as I like them all. But I do love the w210 chassis. It does appear to have some quirks, but nothing that can't be tackled by most of the DIY'ers on this forum. Even the NA w210 has a refinement unlike any other. It's an amazing engine that screams to 5,200rpms. That's practically unheard of for a diesel.

And without mention obviously I love the w210 turbo.

End of rant...
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  #28  
Old 01-25-2008, 06:05 PM
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The ability to easily use alternative fuels was what attracted me at first. That, and I wanted to learn more about cars in general. Before, I had a few gas cars where I didn't do anything with them (put in oil, water, gas and you're good to go!) I wanted to learn how to work on cars, because I knew mechanics are able to charge an arm-and-a-leg for something that only takes a few hours of honest work.

Though my complete inexperience with anything mechanical is putting me at a huge disadvantage, because the jobs everybody tells me is simple ends up taking me eight hours. I am beginning to think I have bitten off more than I can chew with this car, and maybe I should have saved up a little more for a car that was more well-maintained.

Despite the endless problems, it is still by FAR my favourite car I have owned. It is the absolute most fun to cruise in, and to marvel at how much leg space my back seat passengers have.
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  #29  
Old 01-25-2008, 07:23 PM
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It was a hand me down, but I realized it had so much potential even at that age and condition. So, I slowly restored it as best I could and called it my own.
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  #30  
Old 01-25-2008, 08:33 PM
ForcedInduction
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SwampYankee View Post
This is a fairly worthless thread mainly to fulfill my own general curiosity. That said, what got you younger guys and gals into old Mercedes diesels?
The best Diesel cars made that I could afford.

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