I drive a 240D auto all over the place. It's fine for most things, but does slow down going up hills. A freeway merge when going up an onramp might be a bit tough but I haven't done that yet.

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1982 240D automatic
Odometer quit at 307K...about 325K now

You really have to learn energy management driving an auto 240D. I don't encounter traffic anymore where I live now, but I lived in Dallas with a '76 AMC Pacer. This was a single barrel carb 258ci I-6. All 90HP (when new), 3500lbs, and auto. That is the car that taught me how to drive a low-powered car and not have everybody behind you curse your name or grow old on the on ramp.

cphilip has a good point, too. I quickly learned in my Miata to drive like your riding a motorcycle: just assume that nobody is going to see you. And if they do, they're going to run over you.

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1982 240D
1993 Mazda Miata LE
1991 Mazda MPV
1993 Volvo 940 Turbo Wagon

The one thing I really liked was the SOUND! It sounds like a piece of farm equipment, N/A engines have a totally different (more rugged perhaps) sound than the turbo motors. At idle it sounds pretty small and wimpy though.

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

That was EXACTLY my experience, too, when I was in the market for one many years ago.

Going up highway 101, on the PuertoCello hill, opposite the Frank Lloyd Wright Civic Center in San Rafael, CA, I actually had it floored (1977 240D automatic) and at 50mph it was actually slowing down!!!


Then I tested a nearly identical 1977 240D manual, in EXACTLY THE SAME PLACE, and that one made it up the hill just fine.

This was back in about 1980, when there were lots of them around that were mint, and low miles, and I wanted one so bad I could taste it.

You could get one for about $8,000, too back then - (choose your color, do you want a manual or automatic?) Which sounds pretty cheap for a low mile minter, today, but $8,000 was a lot of money back then.

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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)