At the TOP of the Yahoo News this morning.

http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/610/dirty-driving-top-10-worst-polluters/;_ylc=X3oDMTFiNGVqdnJzBF9TAzI3MTYxNDkEc2VjA2ZwLXRvZGF5BHNsawN3b3JzdC1wb2xsdXRlcnM-

Notice that they are almost all Diesels!

I wonder why the USA hates Diesels when garbage like this is at the top of the yahoo news.

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I'm starting to truly despise articles like that.

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~Michael S.~
Past cars:

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


Current:

1987 300SDL

I wouldn't be surprised if they used the Carbon credit score system to rate the vehicles. NOX emissions are like 200x's as expensive as CO2. There are too many variables for a brief article like that to cover. I wouldn't call it blatant misinformation, but it's definitely twisted.
To give an example of how useless the Carbon cap system is, take a look at the CA beater buy back program. You sell your beater to the junk yard for $650.00. You think to yourself, "Good thing I got that old, polluting vehicle off the road".
Now the junkyard has a few Carbon credits that it can sell to any Coal burning plant in the country that finds it to be cheaper to purchase credits than to modernize its facility.

Otto
'79 240D 4 spd

This whole carbon thing makes me mad. since when did one thing determine the fate of the planet? i always thought the ecosystem was more complex. I can understand why you might want to keep an eye on emissions. but why do stories like this only focus on the carbon?

Carbon credits make me mad also. i think everyone should be held accountable to the public for there pollution. if we had a population that truly cared about pollution you wouldn't need government oversight and carbon credits. factories, and power plants should have a publicly available report of their pollution. and let the public see how it all works.

The people of California love the idea of the Prius but what if there was a report on the pollution given off by its factory. I think if every factory had a label, like the nutrition facts on the back of any food product, the customers of the products produced could then make informed purchases and let the economy sort out all this pollution crap.

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its my guess that taking old, reliable beaters of the road is probably worse than just leaving them alone. Driving a mercedes diesel that goess 500k is much greener than a prius.

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

No doubt that article is biased (and a bit old too). It doesn't make a clear distinction between EPA's "pollution score" which doesn't include CO2 and the carbon footprint which is separate. The average Joe reading this will no doubt conclude that diesels are filthy, both in terms of smog forming emissions and the carbon footprint.

A little perspective. That 1/10 pollution score that the pre-2007 diesels have is actually the same that many new gasoline vehicles had as recently as 2001. Are they really that filthy? I don't think so. Second, the carbon footprint of these diesel SUV's as I'm sure many of you know is actually less than that of an equivalent gasoline vehicle. Yet again the article doesn't mention this.

Having said that, I'd disagree that driving an old Mercedes diesel for 500K miles is greener than driving a Prius. The Prius should last at least as long as any old MB diesel (car tech is improving and vehicles now last longer than they used to) and no doubt the Prius's emissions are very clean. I say enjoy your MB diesel for what it is: a well built machine that's stylish, safe and economical, but don't kid yourself that it's greener than a Prius.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

Oh well, I can't say I drive the old SD's to save the environment....In fact, until I can get solid proof that global warming is real...I'm not going to even think twice about it, so I'll continue adding 2 cycle to my dino diesel, and keeping my S430 @ 68 degrees inside while doing 80mph!

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2015 E250 Bluetec Black/designo Sand
2014 GLK250 Bluetec Iridium Silver/Almond
1999 E320 Sedan Bordeaux Red/ Parchment
1999 E270CDI Estate Black Opal/Black
1983 300SD Champagne/Palomino Leather
1982 300SD Silver Blue/ Pacific Blue Leather

Is there any data on the environmental impact of building new cars? I would think that the energy and environmental footprint that goes into producing a new car could count for several years of running an old car that still works, even if it is inefficient.

It would seem that saving the world from producing new cars by driving old ones that just need some parts and repairs has to at least come close to the gains of driving a new efficient, clean vehicle, especially if it is an old MB diesel that can run on bio.

But that is only my guess, I don't have any data to back that up.

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Man-induced global warming is real and I have already discussed this topic to death (check out the Open Discussion sometimes). But that's where diesels have an advantage over gasoline vehicles, their carbon footprint is lower. On a single vehicle basis though, your vehicle's emissions are less than a drop in the ocean so don't feel too guilty.

BTW, how's that S430 of yours? Do you think it's better than a W140?

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

It depends. Check out this article that I came across recently:
http://www.slate.com/id/2194989/?y=1

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

What about the gassers that burn so much oil they thing they are a diesel? Talk about a noxious fog...and these actually pass smog inspections...how?

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Well, I really don't know to be honest with you, I've never had a chance to own a W140 yet, but I've driven several, and I don't think its any "better" that a W140, but different, I will say I love the classic lines of a W140, but I also like the modern look of the W220, I battled this constantly when deciding to update the W124 to the W210, lol. I will say, I don't know that a W140 S420 could average 28.5 mpg on the highway, but the S430 does (cruise control @ 80). I don't think I'll ever be able to say I like any Benz more than another though, I love all of 'em, that's how I end up saving them from the crusher, lol.

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2015 E250 Bluetec Black/designo Sand
2014 GLK250 Bluetec Iridium Silver/Almond
1999 E320 Sedan Bordeaux Red/ Parchment
1999 E270CDI Estate Black Opal/Black
1983 300SD Champagne/Palomino Leather
1982 300SD Silver Blue/ Pacific Blue Leather

Thanks, that's an interesting article. I guess it depends on the car, what type of fuel it uses and how much, and how long you drive it.

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Crushers add to the carbon problem also...so you are saving two things, air and classic MBs!

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RRGrassi


70's Southern Pacific #5608 Fairmont A-4 MOW car

13 VW JSW 2.0 TDI 193K, Tuned with DPF and EGR Delete.

91 W124 300D Turbo replaced, Pressure W/G actuator installed. 210K

90 Dodge D250 5.9 Cummins/5 speed. 400K

Never thought of it like that....

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2015 E250 Bluetec Black/designo Sand
2014 GLK250 Bluetec Iridium Silver/Almond
1999 E320 Sedan Bordeaux Red/ Parchment
1999 E270CDI Estate Black Opal/Black
1983 300SD Champagne/Palomino Leather
1982 300SD Silver Blue/ Pacific Blue Leather