Casualty of High Diesel prices. - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

asnowsquall · #31 05-01-2008, 01:35 PM

Preping my daily driver a 1983 VW Rabbit Diesel. Going to stick homebrewed biodiesel and WVO in it. Paid $500 for it and will have about $1250 or there abouts into it when done. If the engine dies they are cheap. Worse case I'll buy diesel and should get 40 mpg. Hopefully I'll always have 1 mercedes diesel. Using left over top coat paint for body work (getting it flat).

gdemoss01 · #32 05-01-2008, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.Kenny

The 1980 300sd is getting too expensive to run 19 to 20 MPG @$4.20 gal..
I'm putting the daughter in a Honda 33+ MPG @ $3.32 gal. Cutting the fuel bill more than half.
The Benzilla is probably going on down the road

Say bye bye to baby's first Benz............

I don't understand why your 300SD is getting such poor mileage. Mine has rarely, if ever gotten less than 26 mpg? Maybe someone has some suggestions for him: new injectors, filters, whatever??

Mr.Kenny · #33 05-01-2008, 02:35 PM

The 1980 300sd is used exclusively in town short trips; moving that Tank from stoplight to stoplight while rarely fully warming up; this is why the low fuel mileage. But it runs great. I decided to but it up on blocks in case diesel gets cheaper than gas or someone starts supplying me WVO without the collection hassles.

I already bought a sweet econobox Honda hatchback for $200 from a..... get this;... a Doctor!?
I never make payments on anything. Period.

mechmagcn · #34 05-01-2008, 02:36 PM

And everyone thought I was crazy for putting a 617 into my 53 F100, I'm getting right at 25 MPG out of it. It has become my daily driver and parts chaser

My 78 LN 8000 Ford has been put out to pasture with it's 6.7 MPG and the 94 F250 only runs when I have to have many tools for a service call. It will get 15 MPG if I drive like I have a raw egg between my foot and the accelerator

We have enjoyed cheap fuel for many years while the rest of the world has paid, so we might as well suck it up and learn to deal with the higher prices, they are here to stay. I see on the news that "Hillary" wants to stop the fuel taxes, if you really want to see some roads that reflect the horse and buggy days, just let that happen. All road construction and repairs would come to a schreeching halt

and then it would be a free for all dodging potholes.

babymog · #35 05-01-2008, 02:51 PM

Thanks to summer diesel fuel, and a "special enforcement grant", I set the cruise at only 70 yesterday and got just a tick over 30mpg on a 400mile round trip.

It's not all bad.

#36 05-01-2008, 04:14 PM

If you are getting 19 to 20mpg in a 300SD then you have some significant problems or lack of maintenance.

pawoSD · #37 05-01-2008, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by babymog

Thanks to summer diesel fuel, and a "special enforcement grant", I set the cruise at only 70 yesterday and got just a tick over 30mpg on a 400mile round trip.

It's not all bad.

Whats that "special enforcement grant"?

I have been seeing around 24-25...but I am a leadfoot.

About the expensive lawn mowing:
If it costs $20 to mow a lawn, I think I'd give up on it....thats way too big of a lawn. (it now costs about $8-10 to mow my relatives lawn with their ancient rider...and thats a BIG lawn...takes 3-4 hours!)

Or, get a manual mower (no engine!), and do it in sections....imagine how good of shape that'd put you in! Or an electric one, and a reeeealy big extension cord...or install outlets along the property....it'd probably pay for itself after a few mowings...

Mr.Kenny · #38 05-01-2008, 04:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ForcedInduction

If you are getting 19 to 20mpg in a 300SD then you have some significant problems or lack of maintenance.

It's maintained very well; but it is used exclusively for short city trips.

turbobenz · #39 05-01-2008, 05:09 PM

Im not considering switching. I just like the fact that

Its a diesel
It has no computer (well, cruise control and cc do)
Its massive
Its incredibly safe
It gets decent gas mileage
It can run on anything in an emergence
Its classy
Its reliable
It floats on top of the freeway
That engine noise is just incredible.

What does the honda civic have? Its reliable, and gets good gas mileage. No thanks.

Plus, a mercedes saved my life already once, Im dedicated now. i cant really turn my back on them

This:

VS this:

pawoSD · #40 05-01-2008, 05:12 PM

The 300SD in that pic looks almost exactly like mine!

Is that your SD?

JackG · #41 05-01-2008, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

what?

I wish I could ride a bike to school and or work but school is 23 miles away and work is 5 miles away down a highway then onto an interstate for a mile...

Peddle faster

TheDon · #42 05-01-2008, 05:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by asnowsquall

Preping my daily driver a 1983 VW Rabbit Diesel. Going to stick homebrewed biodiesel and WVO in it. Paid $500 for it and will have about $1250 or there abouts into it when done. If the engine dies they are cheap. Worse case I'll buy diesel and should get 40 mpg. Hopefully I'll always have 1 mercedes diesel. Using left over top coat paint for body work (getting it flat).

I want one of those, local prices in FL suck.. 4k for one... come onnnnn I paid $2000 for a Mercedes Benz

trade you for it?

turbobenz · #43 05-01-2008, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

The 300SD in that pic looks almost exactly like mine!

Is that your SD?

nope but it looks almost exactly like mine!

sublettm · #44 05-01-2008, 06:25 PM

I just got rid of my '87. Didn't get rid of it so much because of diesel prices, but the maintenance was about to kill me. I traded it in on a year old toyota. I still have my '84 but am seriously considering putting it up for sale. I have three cars and two drivers in my household. I need the driveway/garage space. I have been really torm about selling this one as it has been major maintenance free for the past 5 years now. Anyone in the Houston area that needs a good W123 300D can give me a shout. If I do get rid of it, this will leave me without a Benz in my stable. I don't know what I would do with all the free time I would have not tinkering on these old cars.

babymog · #45 05-01-2008, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Whats that "special enforcement grant"?

Lake Michigan to Detroit, I-96 and I-196, supposed to write one ticket every 10minutes, write for 5mph over.

I'm a leadfoot too, but I don't have a desire to give my insurance company my daughter's next-year tuition for a speeding ticket, I'll use the cruise control for a while.