Does reverse in a 240D manual count as one spd?
 

I saw a local used car dealer ad for an 81 5 spd 240D. Having never driven a 5 spd 240D before I wanted to go check it out. I asked the first person on the phone if it's really a 5 spd and she said yes it's a 5 spd, but she didn't seem to know much else about the car so I spoke to another person, a female sales associate and asked her to verify that it is indeed a 5 spd and she said an emphatically yes. I told her that I have a 240D with a manual transmission and my owners manual states that it is a 4 spd and afaik Mercedes never sold a 5 spd in this country. As I was going round and round trying to get the truth out of her, I finally asked if reverse was counted as a speed and she finally said yes. Duh! I said why do you mislead people like that when it clearly is a 4 spd and what do you have to gain by doing that? She replied that she's not misleading people and that she's Mercedes certified for 18 years and per by the build sheet from Stuggart, it is a 5 spd.

Want to have some fun? Here's the ad. Call them up and give her crap. :D
a
Featured Listing: 1981 MERCEDES 240D
5 Speed, PDL, 4 Cyl, Fully Equipped, PW, Diesel, All Services Well Documented, Must See To Appreciate!, Never Any Rust! $2950, Call Bristol Motor Works At (860) 585-9383 Stock #62 . Bristol, CT

yes they are counting reverse as a speed

I didn't think there was a 5-speed 240D in 1981 at all, even in Europe, but I might be wrong. I thought that option came a year or two later. And it definitely wasn't available in the U.S. You can easily get the build sheet and I'm willing to bet it won't say 5-speed.

Although I do know a few people who drive in a manner that utilizes reverse as a speed.;)

Oh, for some reason I thought it was a later option.:(

funola, just ask for the VIN and you can clear it up. Either way, reverse shouldn't be regarded as a "speed."

I've never heard of such a thing.

thats in my state too , not too far from it actually

http://www.cars.com/go/search/detail.jsp?tracktype=usedcc&csDlId=&csDgId=&listingId=23953347&listingRecNum=1&criteria=prMx%3D4000% 26sf1Dir%3DDESC%26prMn%3D0%26mkId%3D20028%26stkTyp%3DU%26rd%3D75%26crSrtFlds%3DstkTypId-feedSegId-mkId-pseudoPrice-pseudoYear%26zc%3D06226%26rn%3D0%26PMmt%3D1-0-0%26stkTypId%3D28881%26sf2Dir%3DASC%26sf1Nm%3Dprice%26yrMn%3D1977%26sf2Nm%3Dmiles%26yrMx%3D1989%26al MkId%3D20028%26rpp%3D50%26feedSegId%3D28705&aff=national

VIN WDBAB23AXBB225529
Model 240 D
Chassis 12312310225529
Engine 616912 10 190631
Transmission 000141 54
Order 0 0 705 22655
Approx. year not defined
Lights BOSCH
Cab 55526
Dealer United States (USA) (705)
Interior leather anthracite (137)
Paint
681 manila beige (T) (с 01.01.1979 по 31.12.1981)
37 Unknown code
Options
411 mechanical and hydraulic sliding roof (с 01.10.1965 по 31.10.1993)
steel sliding roof (с 01.02.1963 по 30.09.1965)
422 mercedes-benz power steering (с 01.01.1963 по 29.02.1986)
440 bumpers with guards, front and rear (с 01.10.1970 по 30.04.1974)
bumper with horn and rubber buffer front and rear (с 01.03.1964 по 30.09.1970)
tempomat (cruise control) (с 01.09.1975)
467 central locking system and instruments with english lettering (с 01.04.1970 по 31.10.1993)
461 + 462 + 463 (с 01.07.1968 по 31.08.1969)
491 USA version (с 01.01.1963)
513 Becker radio Europa (stereo - USA) (с 01.06.1969 по 31.07.1981)
Becker radio Grand Prix cassette electronicLW/MW/USW (с 01.11.1982 по 31.01.1990)
Becker radio Le Mans (с 01.01.1963 по 31.01.1967)
radio Eco for export (с 01.10.1995)
radio MB Special, without traffic news decoder, with RDS and longwave
524 Reims adapter IV (с 01.04.1962 по 28.02.1963)
paintcoat preservation (с 01.01.1964)
531 automatic antenna (с 01.01.1963)
542 lockable glove compartment (с 01.02.1963 по 29.02.1986)
570 folding armrest front w202/210 stowage box front with armrest (с 01.04.1970)
front folding armrest w202 - housing at front with armrest
586 Behr air conditioner, and electric window lifters (front and rear doors) (с 01.04.1970)
593 headlamp flasher and turn signal lamps - italy (с 01.01.1963 по 31.07.1965)
headlamp flasher and turn signal lamps, front, crystal clear (с 01.08.1965 по 31.01.1967)
heat-insulating glass, rear window pane (с 01.02.1967 по 31.01.1971)
heat-insulating glass, all-around, heated rear window pane (single-sheet safety glass), band filter
green heat-insulating glass all round, heated rear window, single pane safety glass - tinted strip (с 01.01.1972)
639 radial-ply tires, elimination of warning triangle (с 01.11.1973 по 31.10.1974)
elimination of first-aid box and warning triangle (с 01.08.1977)
668 662 + 666 (с 01.01.1963 по 28.02.1963)

673 high-capacity battery (с 01.01.1964)
801 Change of year of model, last figure shows new model year

No it does not count as one speed, it is a 4 speed trans, its vin WDBAB23AXBB225529. They seem to play games with words like their name Bristol Motor Works as in BMW. It seems they have removed the mention of 5 spd from their website.
http://www.bristolmotorworks.com/inventory.html

outside of N. America, to be precise

I didn't know 240Ds came with 5 spds in the '70s, either. Seems like they should be more plentiful, in that case.

IF the US Dollar ever regains strength against the Euro, I'll have to go over and snap up a few.