Jetta TDI,if you can change your own timing belt.

Yes, I had toyed with the idea of a Crown Vic or Grand Marquis, but was put off by the fuel economy. I'd like to get something that returns at least 25mpg on average. With the price of gas dropping, maybe it becomes a viable alternative (until we get out of this mess and fuel prices start to rise again...)

__________________
1983 300TD 240K - 1982 240D 215K - 1996 Dodge Cummins 70K

My Lexus LS430 very much reminds me of the old w126 - reliable, big, fast, fun to drive. But to cover the w123, I would have to say the Yaris or a totally stripped Camry would be close. In the early 2000s, you could buy a C-class with MBTex interior and 6-speed manual - that's fairly basic for a modern MB car.

__________________
- Brian


1989 500SEL Euro
1966 250SE Cabriolet
1958 BMW Isetta 600

Its grandson the W210.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Those small Toyota pick-ups are awesome!...Camrys are indestructible. The Lexus models from the 90's were the modern day W123s' of the 1980s'. All and all, I don't think there is really any European car that is available in the states today that resembles a rough and rugged Euro car that goes and goes...

The government gave it 5 star driver and 4 star passenger for front impact, 3 star for side front and rear. Also the tester did not have side or side curtian airbags.

I think I'll trust the NHTSA before Forbes magizine.

__________________
1979 240D- 316K miles - VGT Turbo, Intercooler, Stick Shift, Many Other Mods - Daily Driver

1982 300SD - 232K miles - Wife's Daily Driver

1986 560SL - Wife's red speed machine

When I got my Dodge/Cummens PU I was wondering if I'd fall in love and throw rocks at my 240Ds.:eek Its a great PU, owned since new by a friend, low miles and that Cummens is premo but theres a dozen or so things that just don't make it as nice to drive as my 240s. Wippers are noisy, heating & vent system doesn't match up, design wise, and the interior, put your greasy hand down once and you see the smug mark forever, instead of just being able to "hose it down" as in "MB tex", the interior is just plain "cheesy" compared to the 240, That Cummens is hard to beat tho Oh, the truck has been garage kept all its life and the paint is starting to "blister" off, Built in Mexico/environmentally friendly paint, I like the truck but it doesn't match up to the MBs. and "no" I don't want to sell it, I need it

__________________


1985 Euro 240D 5 spd 140K
1979 240D 5 spd, 40K on engine rebuild
1994 Dodge/Cummins, 5 spd, 121K
1964 Allice Chalmers D15 tractor
2014 Kubota L3800 tractor
1964 VW bug

"Lifes too short to drive a boring car"

I love my computer free W123. all of the rules and new features make new cars too hard to maintain, everything is made to be replaced and it takes a true wizard to know the magic replacement first try. I love my excursion, but the darn seatbelt warning every 2 minutes fro the first 10 is just annoying as heck. I want to choose not to wear a seatbelt and not be berated by the truck for my choice. Of course you can get the computer reprogrammed to remove these options, but in my CD I just yanked the seatbelt buzzer and all's well. I just dont think there is a modern simple car that is also designed maintainance freindly to last.

__________________

1982 300CD Turbo (Otis, "ups & downs") parts for sale
2003 TJ with Hemi (to go anywhere, quickly) sold
2001 Excursion Powerstroke (to go dependably)
1970 Mustang 428SCJ (to go fast)
1962 Corvette LS1 (to go in style)
2001 Schwinn Grape Krate 10spd (if all else fails)

My o3 dodge with cummins and six manual reminds me of a huge friendly 240. It seems equal or better mechanicaly to the 240d but the quality of the interior is much less. Dash controls etc are very similar to a 240d in simplicity and so forth.

The biggest suck on the dodge though was the factory shocks which were too weak even when new and got worse with age. At first I could not find any after market shocks for it at all but after it was 3 years old I found Rancho shocks for it which were very nice but only lasted about thirty thousand miles. Now I have a set of Bilsteins on it and they are outstanding! creamy smooth and they control the wheel movement adequately.

__________________
[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

There was never a car like the 123 until the 123 came along, and there hasn't been any since. The 123 was the highlight of MB chrome and steel engineering and anything else is simply something else.

__________________
Houston, Texas
1984 300CD 235K miles, Elvira, one owner
1987 300TD 180K miles
1974 TR6 78K miles Sarah Jane, one owner
OBK #27

I had a 1996 VW Jetta MK3 for 12 years. 5 speed, really fun to drive ,super reliable, easy to work on, saved my life in an accident , bullet proof engine and transmission.
The only reason I sold it is because there was too much rust on the pinch weld between the windshield and roof.
I wish I had kept it and done the body work to use it as a winter car. I still miss the fun driving and cornering after I had done suspension upgrades and chipped the engine. Those little 2.0 liter engine are awesome and the 5 speed transmissions last forever. I am constantly searching CL for my next one.
After 96, VW changed the crank so be careful because the 93-96.5 engines had forged cranks with oil squiters.

__________________
1984 300D

My Golf TDI feels like driving an econo plastic milk carton.

The Golf interior and exterior show more wear than both my older MBs. The engine parts are substandard compared to MBs.

It is not engineered like an older MB.

The MPG is not what it's cracked up to be.

But it is rather peppy and has a decent on-line community following.

But I wouldn't not have purchased it had I known what I do now.

__________________
JWJ
1983 MB 300D - > 430,000 miles - Deep Blue - Bilstein Comforts - 0-60 in 24 seconds - 27MPG
1985 MB 300TD (wagon) - > 275,000 miles - Manila Beige - Thule rack - 0-60 in 18 seconds - 22 - 25MPG
Biodiesel, Mobil Delvac 1, and Viton fuel lines!

A couple of years ago I thought of buying an older Dodge/Cummins, with the intent of slapping a camper on the back and heading out on the road of adventure/camping/discovery. Then I fell under the allure of the diesel Toyota LandCruiser and picked up a nice European model with 6cyl NA diesel and 5 speed, which I'll setup for my remote road excursions. A nice sounding Dodge Cummins has come up on the local list (Cdn dollars):

http://ottawa.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehicles-SUVs-trucks-vans-1992-Dodge-Ram-W250-4x4-Cumins-Turbo-Diesel-Truck-W0QQAdIdZ89442400

To complement my 240D and my Land Cruiser, I need a third vehicle for all-around driving, commuting, etc. The 240D and LandCruiser don't see winter salt. Sometimes I wish I was one of those people who can be satisfied with one car, maybe one day I'll see the light!!

Search goes on for that elusive vehicle, but the thoughts offered here are very useful! Thanks.

__________________
1983 300TD 240K - 1982 240D 215K - 1996 Dodge Cummins 70K

I'd trust the people who have an interest in these cars (The insurance companies) To do their own testing.

IIHS Crash-Test Ratings*
2007 Toyota Yaris
Frontal
Overall Good
Chest Good
Head/Neck Acceptable
Left Leg/Foot Good
Restraints Acceptable
Right Leg/Foot Good
Structure/safety cage Good
Side
Overall Poor
Driver Head and Neck Poor
Driver Head Protection Poor
Driver Pelvis/Leg Acceptable
Driver Torso Marginal
Rear Passenger Head and Neck Good
Rear Passenger Head Protection Marginal
Rear Passenger Pelvis/Leg Good
Rear Passenger Torso Good
Structure/safety cage Acceptable
Rear
Overall Marginal
Dynamic Rating Marginal
Seat Head/Restraint Geometry Good


I'm sorry but I just can't see these compared to a w123 at all. Maybe it's because I am biased since 2 people from my neighborhood died really close to here in a new yaris (Teens first car) Folded up like a cardboard box.

If you are looking for a cheaper car go for the 1997 to 1999.0 Jetta TDI. The mechanicals are so simple to work on, the ride is nice enough, and the trunk and backseat are spacious. Power windows and ABS were available in 1998 on GLS trim cars. 1998 also saw some improvements to the pistons... not really a concern for a stock output motor but if you want more power the older engines safe limit is about 115 hp. 1998+ cars have depowered airbags and they all have seatbelt pretensioners. They all have central locking, 1998+ cars have keyless entry. Plus you have the availability of aftermarket scan tools that function just like the dealer ones, so any fault in the computers can be read and fixed without a trip to the dealer.

The 3rd generation VWs are built like cookie cutters. They come apart and go together so easily. The electrical system is modular. Mounting points for every available engine / transmission combo are present on the body. Common problems are well documented and understood. Is it Mercedes? no. But is is a nice, respectable everyday car that will return 43+ mpg? Yes. The timing belt is easy to service and you only have to mess with it every 60k miles.

The 1999.5+ models (like mine) have a nicer interior but a smaller back seat and trunk. They do handle better though. They can also make more power with the stock turbo due to a better exhaust manifold design.

-Jason

__________________
1991 350SDL. 230,000 miles (new motor @ 150,000). Blown head gasket

Tesla Model 3. 205,000 miles. Been to 48 states!
Past: A fleet of VW TDIs.... including a V10,a Dieselgate Passat, and 2 ECOdiesels.
2014 Cadillac ELR
2013 Fiat 500E.