saying goodbye to the benz (sadly). Need 3 kid hauler - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

a2t · #1 09-30-2009, 07:32 PM

After roughly 60k miles nearly troublefree (240k-300k) Im going to be needing a larger vehicle as the 87 300D will be too small for a 3rd kid. This car has been great thru thick and thin and I will be really sad to see her go. I wish there was some way to finagle a 3rd car seat in the back but its just too small.

A brief history of time with this thing (for my own sentiments) :

Bought at 239k from second owner with all records and even the original sticker! This car has made me appreciate the engineering that went into the MB's from the 80's. At 250k I put on the Frybrid veg oil kit which has run flawlessly for the last 50k miles and probably has saved me $6k in fuel alone. Ive taken her on long car trips and used it as a daily with just about no problems. Ive used it as a power generator during the Atlanta tornado in March of 08, where it sat idling in the driveway for 12 hrs powering refrigerators and TV's (its got the 120 amp bosch in it), all the while getting pounded by 50 mph winds and hail, and running on wvo. I cant say enough about the design of this car, if I had the chance to build a new car, it would be based on this thing for sure.

So...whats a good SUV recommendation for a family w/3 kids? Been looking at the Exped, Sequoia, Pathfinder from 07 on. Man its going to suck paying for gas again but I guess its enivitable. Still thinking about the SDL but I dont know if even that is big (wide) enough. I will surely look into it!

Also wanted to say what a great forum this is. Ive learned just about everything from fellow members, having never owned a diesel before. You guys are great and Im sure I will be back at some point. I will keep the 300D until early next year but then it will sadly be departing my garage. I doubt anything even newer will be designed as well as this thing is.

oldsinner111 · #2 09-30-2009, 07:35 PM

Good Suv ML320 CDI.You can find them used.

Sev · #3 09-30-2009, 08:28 PM

there's always the option of putting the bad apple of the three up for adoption

i'm just sayin...

Shawn T. W. · #4 09-30-2009, 08:48 PM

Don't realy know your situation . . .but could oldest child sit up front in a car seat? Would Momma fit in back w/two youngest in car seats . . .

On another note look for a Euro "Lang" model "extra row" of seats, but may be hard to hook a carseat too . . .

Maybe a retired limo that was a diesel . . .

Like this in GB

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/-----MERCEDES-220D-LIMOUSINE-DIESEL-1971-W115_W0QQitemZ300351660229QQcmdZViewItemQQimsxq20090928?IMSfp=TL090928159001r5968

Or this http://belfast.gumtree.com/belfast/50/43166950.html

390pi · #5 09-30-2009, 09:03 PM

Here's the solution; too bad this isn't available here: 2009 Chrysler 300C estate 3.0 CRD
(yes, a Mercedes diesel!)

okyoureabeast · #6 09-30-2009, 09:08 PM

Problem solved!

JimFreeh · #7 09-30-2009, 09:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a2t

Im going to be needing a larger vehicle as the 87 300D will be too small for a 3rd kid. I wish there was some way to finagle a 3rd car seat in the back but its just too small.

We had three daughters 2yrs apart each. So, that was four years between the oldest and youngest.

Started with a Taurus wagon, then an 87 300TD (which arrived in 93 concurrently with the youngest), which was replaced by a 95 E320 wagon.

Worked for us....

Jim

And, no, I didn't have a minivan or SUV, just sedans.... W115s, W201, W123s, and W124s then back to W123 for me as a daily driver....

turbobenz · #8 09-30-2009, 09:53 PM

w126 long wheelbase and have a third shoulder belt installed

JimFreeh · #9 09-30-2009, 09:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbobenz

w126 long wheelbase and have a third shoulder belt installed

Yea, that works too, now that they are pretty much grown....

Don't have to worry about it much anymore, they all want to drive their own cars.....

Jim

If you look at the specs, there is not a significant difference in the width between a W126 and a W124. Didn't realize that until after I bought my 560......

Jim

pawoSD · #10 09-30-2009, 10:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a2t

After roughly 60k miles nearly troublefree (240k-300k) Im going to be needing a larger vehicle as the 87 300D will be too small for a 3rd kid. This car has been great thru thick and thin and I will be really sad to see her go. I wish there was some way to finagle a 3rd car seat in the back but its just too small.

A brief history of time with this thing (for my own sentiments) :

Bought at 239k from second owner with all records and even the original sticker! This car has made me appreciate the engineering that went into the MB's from the 80's. At 250k I put on the Frybrid veg oil kit which has run flawlessly for the last 50k miles and probably has saved me $6k in fuel alone. Ive taken her on long car trips and used it as a daily with just about no problems. Ive used it as a power generator during the Atlanta tornado in March of 08, where it sat idling in the driveway for 12 hrs powering refrigerators and TV's (its got the 120 amp bosch in it), all the while getting pounded by 50 mph winds and hail, and running on wvo. I cant say enough about the design of this car, if I had the chance to build a new car, it would be based on this thing for sure.

So...whats a good SUV recommendation for a family w/3 kids? Been looking at the Exped, Sequoia, Pathfinder from 07 on. Man its going to suck paying for gas again but I guess its enivitable. Still thinking about the SDL but I dont know if even that is big (wide) enough. I will surely look into it!

Also wanted to say what a great forum this is. Ive learned just about everything from fellow members, having never owned a diesel before. You guys are great and Im sure I will be back at some point. I will keep the 300D until early next year but then it will sadly be departing my garage. I doubt anything even newer will be designed as well as this thing is.

Why an "SUV", why not a fuel efficient MB or VW wagon....diesel or gas....or an R-class.....or an ML Diesel......

A domestic or Japanese SUV?

Going from a W124 300D to one of those is an utterly horrifying thought.

I will have no more than 2 children just so they fit in any MB!

Bio300TDTdriver · #11 09-30-2009, 10:50 PM

You just need to find a nice 300TD.

okyoureabeast · #12 09-30-2009, 10:52 PM

Here's one

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mercedes-Benz-300-Series-NO-RESERVE-1985-MERCEDES-300TD-TURBO-DIESEL-WGN-CA-CAR-NO-RESERVE_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem2ea7ffa1f2QQitemZ200387043826QQptZUSQ5f CarsQ5fTrucks

Looks like the car has been ravaged by the california emissions nuts though

Bio300TDTdriver · #13 09-30-2009, 10:56 PM

Except for the fact that he has driven a 124. It would be hard to be happy in a 123. At least for me it would.

Avarec · #14 09-30-2009, 11:06 PM

a diesel crd jeep liberty

gbrebes · #15 10-01-2009, 01:07 AM

I own a 1984 300 SD. I have three kids, 8 yr. girl, 6 yr. girl, and 2 yr. boy. I fit all three kids in the back seat. The boy is still in a full car seat and the two girls were in booster seats until they got big enough to not use them. It was tight with the full seat in the middle and the boosters on either side, but they fit. Plus, whatever you get, you gotta stick with the veg oil, its been so good to you. So there is the 300SD or SDl, 1991-1999 Chevy Suburban, an 80's mercedes wagon, or an Excursion with the PSD engine, or if your feeling really frisky you could look for a Sprinter van.

Gilbert