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View Poll Results: Which "fuel" miser? | |||
300D 2.5 turbo | 7 | 21.21% | |
190D turbo | 5 | 15.15% | |
190D N/A | 8 | 24.24% | |
'87 300D 5spd mods | 3 | 9.09% | |
VW diesel(cheap non TDI) | 10 | 30.30% | |
Voters: 33. You may not vote on this poll |
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#1
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Best MPG Mercedes?
I start a new job tomorrow.. I will be driving 50 miles round trip about 60/40 highway/city. In a year we may move even farther away from work. So I'm thinking of what kind of commuter car I would want.
I once had an '85 vw golf diesel... LOVED that little bug smasher. My concerns about it were it's size(I'm 6'7"), it looked like a clown car with me driving it.. AND it seemed very unsafe in any kinda crash. I did get 45 mpg no matter how I drove it, and with really worn out piston rings... it put out a fine mist of oil on the highway . I would see people using their wipers behind me lol. Teach them to tailgate a 55hp car!! You can notice from my signature that I have two MB's right now. My TE is a great, clean, perfect car.. but SUCKS gas! I get 22 mpg MAX on the highway, and about 17-18 in the city. I drive like an old lady most the time. The 300D is a work in progress, but my recent city DD test's indicate it's getting 24+ mpg. I would like to fill it up and drive it on the highway and see what it gets... but it's not at the stage where I would feel comfortable doing that. The longest oneway trip I have made is 50 miles. If I put the ALDA back on, and maybe look at some other stuff(like what?) then it can perhaps do better in the mpg department. It's VERY peppy the way it is now and really likescruising at 75+ on the highway. It's got a pretty low rear diff in it now but I still get 2500 rpm at 65-70. So the questions are: 1. Find a 300D 2.5 turbo? I think one can eek out 40mpg if driven properly. 2. Find a 190D turbo? 40-45mpg? 3. 190D N/A... 40 mpg? 4. Continue working on my 300D and try to see what I can get the mpg's up to? 5. Say eff it and find another VW? I'm willing to let my 300D go for the right circumstance(ie: I would trade it for a 300d 2.5). I'm kinda sick of messing with it, it's been 4 years now. The other factor is my cheapness... I would pay something like 2500-3000 for a decent high mpg commuter, but I prefer 2000 or less whatcha think?
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08 R320 CDI current Past 95 E420 87 300D Turbo 5spd 90 300TE 83 300SD 85 300TD 92 400E 85 190D |
#2
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190D 2.5 (turbo) or 2.2 5-speed
Lightweight, good gearing, no automatic transmission slippage of torque, good aerodynamics
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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg |
#3
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Have you put your 6'7" self in a W201? I'm surprised how snug a W202 is and you tower over me.
Have you looked into a 96-97 Passat TDI? Sixto 87 300D |
#4
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A 2.2 5spd 190d is going to be a tough act to beat, a buddy of mine had a VERY nice one a while back and was able to flirt with 50mpg (his claims) on the highway in the summer with no A/C. They are cool little cars, very nimble and "sufficiently" powerful with the 2.2 and 5spd trans, although the auto 2.2's are slugs.
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#5
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I voted 190D turbo before I read the OP. A 124 diesel with a 5-speed should get you into the mid 30's mpg highway with everything working right and normal driving style. Manual 190D's (turbo or not) can get a bit more, but not enough to make me change cars if I already have something I'm happy with. Come spring you might want to consider using a motorcycle on nice days. My old 250 got 55 mpg and I rode it like I stole it.
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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar. 83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles 08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles 88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress. |
#6
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Quote:
Passat TDI sounds expensive. And I always thought the TDI's had some sort of reliability issues... but I'm starting to realize that's not the case. maybe the auto transmissions are the issue.
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08 R320 CDI current Past 95 E420 87 300D Turbo 5spd 90 300TE 83 300SD 85 300TD 92 400E 85 190D |
#7
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Quote:
If this was Europe I would get a big scooter, they are everywhere there and other drivers watch out for them.
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08 R320 CDI current Past 95 E420 87 300D Turbo 5spd 90 300TE 83 300SD 85 300TD 92 400E 85 190D |
#8
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6'-7"? Dood, you were wearing that Golf not driving it.
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#9
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50 miles round trip? I wouldn't be that worried about fuel economy. I've done 100+ miles round trip commute before in my 84 300D. Right now I'm doing 28 mile round trip commute with a 165 mile round trip every week home. (I work away from home during the week and return home on the weekends).
I think it'll be more down to the way you drive whatever car you end up commuting with. I get 28mpg when I try, my wife has gotten 29.5 per tank when she drives it.
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Onus probandi incumbit ei qui dicit, non ei qui negat I recondition w123/w126/w124/w140/r107/r129/ steering boxes! 1984 300D "Elsa" odo reset 6/2011 147k 1983 300TD "Mitzi" ~268k OM603 powered 1995 E300 "Adelheid" 262k [Sold] |
#10
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I'll be driving the TE till I figure something out...
I may use a full tank a week @ $55 to fill as of today.. with my Kroger fuel discount. Wish I could force it to drink E85
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08 R320 CDI current Past 95 E420 87 300D Turbo 5spd 90 300TE 83 300SD 85 300TD 92 400E 85 190D |
#11
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+1
I sold my 96 Passat TDI last year for $2500 (sold it to a friend, could have got more) and it was mechanically solid with 230k. No leaks and always posted 42mpg+ driving 80 with the air on. When my wife drove it it would post 46-48mpg. I did not have room for her anymore as was given a company car and no long pay for fuel. All Passat TDI's 96-97 are manuals so no worries on the tranny. Of all the cars I have owned I miss that one the most, very reliable and great on fuel. And as a bonus for your size the seat goes waaay back, I could not even touch the peddles on the two furthest settings and I am 6'2.
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1999 E300 TD 190,000 1996 Passat TDI 225,000-sold 1996 E300 120,000-sold 1998 Jetta TDI 186,000 -sold 1983 Chev Suburban C20 6.2-sold |
#12
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Quote:
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08 R320 CDI current Past 95 E420 87 300D Turbo 5spd 90 300TE 83 300SD 85 300TD 92 400E 85 190D |
#13
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I'm 6'-2", 230lbs and I can just barely get comfy in my 190D turbo. I've had newer gas 190's before and it seems the power seats wouldn't let me get enough room for any kind of comfort.
Off topic but I drove an old '71 Datsun 240Z through my senior year of high school and college and I've never had that level of room/comfort in any other car. |
#14
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Quote:
My 72 Celica was nice too... My 85 Jetta gets around 50MPG, but it's GUTLESS!!! and I'd LOVE to see it with 55HP... it came with 37 according to the manual... but that little 1.6IDI non turbo SIPS the fuel... I'm putting her back into service since fuel has topped 4.00/gallon around here.
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John HAUL AWAY, OR CRUSHED CARS!!! HELP ME keep the cars out of the crusher! A/C Thread "as I ride with my a/c on... I have fond memories of sweaty oily saturdays and spewing R12 into the air. THANKS for all you do! My drivers: 1987 190D 2.5Turbo 1987 190D 2.5Turbo 1987 190D 2.5-5SPEED!!! 1987 300TD 1987 300TD 1994GMC 2500 6.5Turbo truck... I had to put the ladder somewhere! |
#15
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datsun 240z with mercedes om606 turbodiesel , holset hx40super , mb 722.3 automatic.... - YouTube
Sixto 87 300D |
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