is a 240d really THAT slow?

[fender_bender]

I really want a manual mercedes. I was looking at the 240d before I was scared off by people saying they are way too slow to the point of being dangerous and they suck on hills. Since I live in WV there aren't many "non-hilly" areas so I went with the 300d to get the extra cylinder and the turbo. Some people were saying the 300d was too slow and sucked on hills which I don't think is accurate at all. My 300d does fine on hills and has enough pep for me. I think I've only floored it twice in the 9 months I've owned it and that was just to see what it could do. I used to drive an Isuzu P'up 4 cylinder 5 speed diesel (why, oh why did I get rid of it!? ) It did 0-60 in about 36 seconds (some of that was me shifting at the wrong time) so I know slow, but how about the 240d? My wife wants the 300dt wagon...I'm going to end up with a fleet of these aren't I?

[gatorblue92]

They are slow but not too bad IMHO. I have never had an issue with my 240D anywhere but I have never driven it in the mountains before so I can't say how it would to there but around town and on the interstate it drives fine with modern traffic.

[fender_bender]

West Virginian's drive slow anyway...But I'm right on the border with Ohio so I have to deal with those speed demons.

[mespe]

Yes.


Having owned a 240D and having to drive in the truck lane with semi's passing me uphill, the answer is yes.

[fender_bender]

Dang it. Why didn't they have a 300d manual trans option other than the euro's? Was that a manual 240d or the auto?

[Zacharias]

Depends on where you live and what kinds of roads you drive on. I live in an area noted for fast and impatient drivers but I had very few to no issues with my '83 autobox 240d. However, I do almost exclusively semi-rural, suburban and secondary highway driving. One adjusts to the car's capabilities.

The odd time I did have to deal with freeways -- and especially where in one or two places here they made very short onramps -- it certainly promoted heads-up driving.

The worst experience of all is where you have to come to a full stop on an expressway onramp because the traffic is so dense you can't immediately squeeze in. Now that can be nerve-wracking in a N/A 300d or even a tired turbodiesel... but in a 240d it isn't something you probably want to do on an ongoing basis.

[fender_bender]

Almost every on ramp to I77 here is a sharp turn, short ramp, going uphill (Welcome to WV). It's almost impossible to build speed in any vehicle really, but traffic isn't all that bad usually. Once you get out of the 25-35 mph turn on the on ramp you have to really gas it to get up to speed to merge. Terrible design, but what else can you do with so many hills.

[Zacharias]

Originally Posted by fender_bender

Almost every on ramp to I77 here is a sharp turn, short ramp, going uphill (Welcome to WV). It's almost impossible to build speed in any vehicle really

Yowch. The onramps I dealt with are at worst flat, the shorter ones at least had a downhill grade now that I think about it.... You want a turbodiesel or a really strong NA five-cylinder.

[t walgamuth]

You're faster than a semi so if climbing and merging you may need to continue on the apron for a bit to build up speed. A good runningn 240 with a stick is very satisfying to drive. an automatic is no good for me even around town where you have to cross busy streets without getting clobbered.

[pawoSD]

I've driven an auto-240d.....it wasn't that bad. But it was slower than my 190d 2.2....

[vstech]

240 on level ground in good tune with the manual trans should get 0-60 in about 20 seconds under max acceleration. I understand it can be tuned to get around 16 or so...

[Stretch]

With modern traffic and a N/A 300D or a 240D I think you really need to think ahead if you want to get somewhere with a feeling of progress...

I used to get really frustrated by slow drivers when I was driving a fast car - so much so that I bought a really really slow one (much slower than a 240D) to see if I could beat them at their own game. I found that it doesn't matter even if you were to drive a tractor or a mobility scooter there's always some fool driving slower than you. The slower the vehicle you drive you either need to have serious road presence or be a super defensive driver who thinks ahead.

[Phil_F_NM]

My N/A 1978 300D with Auto Trans is a little slow on the onramps to interstates but once the engine gets into that powerband, it's good to go. I find the A/T shifts a bit too early for me under those conditions so I'll often have the pedal on the floor, activating the kickdown switch or I'll just keep the shifter in S and shift a bit later (no I'm not over-revving, I'm terrified of killing my engine.)
When I first got the car it was a slow pig but after a full fluid and filter change all around then shocks, springs and bushings, it picked right up and really can hold its own on the road. I still have to time my merges on very busy fast highways but I'm used to it and comfortable with what the car can do. It's no Ferarri but how I do love that somewhat pedestrian reliable vehicle.

Phil Forrest

[pawoSD]

My 190d 2.2 has a much taller diff than a normal 190d (2.85 vs 3.27) and its still faster than a 240.....despite being an auto. I can do 0-60 in about 17-18 seconds if I rev to the max....

[dude99]

I daily drove my 300D NA for two years before I sold it (that was a mistake) and other than the first day I had it, it never really felt slow to me. I mean you did have to wait for slightly longer opening when pulling into traffic, and passing big trucks on a single lane road with 4 people in it was a big no no (that one almost caused an accident), but it was perfectly drivable. That being said, not that I own a turbo model, there is no going back...