Well, I'm just out of my 20's as of about three weeks ago, but I've had my Benzes for a while.

I started wanting a diesel when I was about 18 or 19. At first my plan was to wait until after college and get a Cummins Ram. By the time I was out of college (26, long story) I had come to the realization that I didn't want or need a 3/4 ton truck. Since diesel engine options are limited in smaller vehicles, my choices were basically VW or Mercedes. I don't like front wheel drive, and had heard many bad things about VW build quality and reliability, so that left Mercedes.

My father and I bought (mostly him) a 450SL when I was 9 or 10. I grew up working on that car. When I just turned 15 we sold it and I bought (mostly me) the 300D a few months later.

We had an original sales brochure for 1980 (year of our SL) and thats where I first saw the W123. There's nothing like picking out your first from a factory Mercedes brochure. :D

The neighbors are just now starting to admit they weren't very comfortable about a 10 year old driving that big v-8 around the neighborhood. :cool: It literally was never driven unless I was in one of the 2 seats.

Owned a 220 six cylinder gas standard a long time ago. Probably before the majority of our site members were born. It was in the very high quality era compared to the american competition. Never forgot the hand built quality and attention to detail and design back then. The drive was superior as well.
Unfortunatly the gap has narrowed in my opinon and continues to. There may be no newer ones than the 123 considered by me even with some of the performance limitations inherant in them compared to the newer examples.
I also do not want their particular headaches as a bonus. This site also helps greatly at keeping so many 123s still on the road. Very soon there may be less. For the time being parts are easy and serviceability by an average guy like me is possible as well.
I assume a lot of 123 owners eventually might transistion to the mid size japanese diesels as they get a few years on them. The increased general performance and milage may have little downside. We might even have digital speedometers and records in the computors to know the accumulated miles prior to purchase as well. That alone might be refreshing.
No longer a young guy myself yet the reasons for aquisition today still might be simular.

Well I'm really into music and the sound of a 300d has been the the ultimate "heavy metal" ever since I was in my 20's

I just want to say to all you guys out there that I would have already sold my 300D if this forum did not exist. This is the only way that I have been able to keep my car on the rode. Thanks.

I have always loved the style and class of MB's. I espically like the fact that my W123 will run on VO or Biodiesel and not skip a beat.

What got me interested is I had to get rid of a 1997 Nissan Maxima because it would not pass emissions due to a check engine light that would not go out. The car ran fine, but no one could get the light off. I wanted something completely mechanical. When it was broke I could take off the part and replace/repair it. Plus, I started to say that they don't make them like this anymore, but when you think about it, I believe MB was the only one who did make them like this. In the early 80's, Detroit was making cars like the chevette or tempo. Pieces of junk in any age. I adore the simplicity, timeless styling, cheap insurance, and decent gas mileage.

Family tradition. I've never known anything different.

But, after having spent time at the wheel of many other cars I'd say:

1. The safety of engineering. Crumple zones with hardcore safety cage since '51.

2. The quality of materials

3. The overall performance for a vehicle of its vintage

4. The fact that I have dedicated nearly half of my life to learning and repairing every single mechanical element in every MB made in the past 20 years. First car (a gift) was an '85 300D with only 180K miles, and I wanted to know EVERYTHING about it.

5. Nothing beats a Mercedes for an all-around solid cruiser. Whether gas, or diesel powered, a Mercedes is a Mercedes. And for their time, back in the '70s and '80s, nothing could compare to that balance which resulted in excellent customer satisfaction.

I think the reason that got me into MB's was that my dad is from a village outside Sindelfingen and his parents as well as him worked at MB. Both his parents worked there for over 30+ years. His father (who just died a couple weeks ago) was a lead paint dept. supervisor for many years. My dad worked there during college making the rear bench seats we find in many of our cars. :D So its both a family/love of MB thing for us. Personally, I love the safety, build quality, and the diesel aspect. (though I'd drive a MB gasser too) We started out with my car 4.5 years ago....and have accumulated two more in that time. I will be graduating college here in May, and should hopefully end up with a bit more income than I currently have.....so I can start working on adding a couple more MB's! :D (And hopefully getting my lovely to get rid of her Rav4, that thing needs to go :rolleyes: ) Its so rare to see another diesel MB, so its really exciting to see another one. Tonight when I pulled into the parking lot at my school (in our 300D) a W124 300D pulled in to another spot at the same moment! So awesome! :D I walked past it and smelled diesel like crazy though... :eek: they need to fix some fuel lines.

I like breaking the "diesel-myths" when I meet people who see/ask about my car....it really does seem that everyone thinks they're slow and icky. :rolleyes: Oh well, I'm helping people get past that one at a time.

Anyways, I've only owned a MB, and would like to keep it that way. :)

ME/BE Diesel
 

There is a certain soul and dignity about these cars that is so rare to find. I've always been attracted to them for that reason. Besides that diesel's are far superior engines for my needs (highway cruising) and no one builds cars like this anymore. I'm maintaining a historical document.

I've vowed to never buy a gasser ever again.

Well I'm 22 and i just bought a 1984 300D that is a year older than me. I've driven trucks since i was 8 (grew up on a ranch, in oklahoma). Started thinking about the wvo/svo. Did the math and this semester i was gonna spend 1800 on gas driving to school work and back home. With a 300D i figured id only spend about 900-1200, and then knew that i could do a svo to it and save even more. So I traded my 1995 crownline ski boat for this car. 2 days later the sunroof wont work, next day the headlights quit, the car has a bad oil leak, and now if it gets below 30 it wont start. But the car looks damn good. haha
Ive ordered a engine block heater and a tank style heater (1500w) for the fluid. I figure that with these going it will definitely stay warm.
Sorry for getting off topic, im new to the forum but will be asking alot of questions.

Not under 20 but close enough...
 

My 1977 240D is my first car. Probably will be my last. I chose it for many reasons...
1. This car is known for being well built, it's a Mercedes, and it can go forever with the right treatment.
2. Diesel... I love the smell.
3. Manual tranny
4. no electronics, less stuff to break and cost money
5. simple engine with a lot of room, makes it easier to learn how to work on it.5. 6. and...let's face it, she's a pretty cream colour, she goes with all my outfits :)

Well, it's been a few decades but -
When I was a teenager, I got my first Mercedes (a gas Ponton 180) because -
1 It was a $200 car.
2 It was easy to work on.
3 Even at only 30 cents a gallon, I couldn't afford to put gas in Dad's V8 Chevy on lawnmowing money.
4 My other choices were - walk or bicycle.

In September 2006, for my 50th birthday, I bought my first Mercedes diesel because -
1 It was a $225 car.
2 Never owned a W123 or a diesel and wanted to learn about them.
3 Hadn't owned a Mercedes that could top 20 city-mpg since my Ponton.

The sellers of my first diesel had originally acquired the car for their teenagers to drive.
Their teenagers drove the car because the choices were limited to -

1 Buy their own vehicle
2 Drive the 240D.
3 Walk or bicycle

Happy Motoring, Mark

mine was my grandmother's who left it to me when she passed... i always loved the benz since i was very young (27 now)... locked the keys inside at 3... took my drivers test at 16 ect

Familiar Envy ...
 

I'm an old guy ... but my 19 year old son wants my car so bad he can taste it! Loves the fact that you can open the hood WIDE open, crawl into engine comparment and identify just about everything in there. Fuel efficiency is another draw ... He gets 19 MPG on his Ford, my 240D does 30. He learned how to drive a stick on the diesel, and is hooked on the low end torque. Insurance rates are also a draw for younger drivers. And for a old car, the 3 point star still turns heards!

There is a lot to love on these old cars :D

I got hooked on the W126 when I was 14-15, and since I really couldn't afford anything else that I liked I decided to get one. I went through a Camry in the mean time which was a good car. To go easy on the fuel burn I got the diesel, but I would have bought a gas version if a good one came along. When I bought the SDL I had found a 420SEL and 560SEL to look at as well, but never got to.

I'm a MB fan I don't really care if they are diesel or gas, in this country diesel really limits what models you can get. I want an SL500/CL500 next, soon as I get out of school.

I hate rice, no ricer for me. The closest I'd ever get to owning a "ricer" would be a 190E 2.5 16 valve EVO 1 or 2.:cool: