Opportunity for a nice one. Has auto box. Good car? 40 MPG hwy claimed. Accurate?

I would think 40 is at least 20% higher than what you could reasonably expect.

Got any pic's?

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

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Pics tomorrow

I had a std shift '82 (same motor) - never saw better than 31mpg but I've heard of guys on here (who drive better than me) get 32 or 33. ymmv.

Good car ? yes, but what defines these (and BMW airhead motorcycles) is that you will only be rewarded with an excellent machine if you put some time into it. Plan on adjusting the valves every 15k or 25k, lots of rubber bits (engine mounts, driveshaft bushings, suspension...) and rubber hoses to get old and leak or break (or leak fuel out, or leak air in). Factory EGR gums up the intake but is easily defeated for off road use only. vacuum powered door locks often befuddle the vacuum powered engine shutoff.

It will be the slowest car on the road - but thats not the end of the world.

the biggest issue on these is the rust - hard to find un-rusted ones. Once the rust starts (near the jack points and wheel wells) its tough to stop. More than a few 240D's have angle irons holding up the drivers seat where the floor has rusted through (lesson - keep the door seals fresh so they dont leak)

Could be good - be mindful of the rust.

-John

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Not a chance on an auto 240D. Not in my experience anyway. 30 mpg was the best achieved average HWY mpg on the topside.

Good car? Absolutely!

If its a texas car it will likely be rust free. The dash is another matter though if its been parked outside.

you'll be lucky to get 27 highway with an automatic.

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[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.

If you were on a trip down out of the mountains, you might get 40 mpg while you are descending. After that, it won't happen until you are driving through a snowstorm in Brownsville, Texas on July 4th.

In other words, there ain't no way in hell it will get 40MPG on a regular basis, highway or city.

Now, with that said, that does not mean that it is a bad car, but I would encourage you to carefully consider the top three criteria when evaluating ANY used car. These criteria:

o condition
o Condition
o CONDITION

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personally id pass, unless your plan was to convert it to manual.

My feeling is extremely low HP is acceptable when you have direct control over RPMs and can wind it out in emergencies. The auto mated to the 616 is painfully slow and underpowered.

40mpg is preposterous, x2 what everyone else is saying above. around 30 would be a an excellent economy for that drivetrain, maybe a little above if you are driving at 55 maybe for hours. Normally it would be mid to high 20s

if its a nice car and worth buying, use the sellers lie against him to drop the price. Ask him/her if they have any Tractor Trailers in stock that do 25mpg, since the laws of physics apparently don't affect them

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I have gotten close to 30 in the past but that was driving 55 the entire tank. Usually I'm in the mid 20's on my 240D. 40 MPG simply isn't going to happen.

My recently acquired nice condition 83 240D manual gets 30 mixed, 35 highway. This is my first W123. I would NEVER get one of these with an auto tranny. Can't imagine how sluggish it would be. But with manual it's fine and fun.

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all good info. I am looking at it from the perspective of fule mileage and even mid high twenties low thirties is better than 12-15 I get in the Rover. Slow doesn't matter. Condition looks good, I will know more after looking at it today. Milegae is claimed to be 180,xxx.

if the mileage is accurate, and you can tell that from the condition of the steering wheel, and the pedals, NOT from the odometer. (in 30 minutes I can make the odometer say whatever I want it to...) and in less than that, I can swap it for one that's already set to zero or so...
there are MANY places that HIDE rust on these cars, so be ready to take the fender skirts out, the battery out, the battery TRAY out, the hood hinges need serious inspection, look over the area of the cowl above the hinges for dings, a sign the hood's gone nautical... pull the trunk liner and look for water/rust signs...

I've driven a few of the auto 240's and in good tune, they are not really that slow. they can be quick off the line, and acceleration is acceptable

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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!

My first diesel was a tired, rusty $200 '82 automatic 240D that had been well thrashed by the PO's teenagers. The car was pretty sluggish, and very noisy at highway-speeds, but did manage 25-26 mpg if it wasn't pushed too hard. It was great for tooling round the neighborhood for errands and yard-sales though.

That said, over the years I've driven a bunch of automatic 240Ds and there have been a couple that felt quite peppy for an automatic. And an '81 shouldn't have EGR.
So, as someone else mentioned, condition, condition, condition! If it's in excellent shape and drives well, for a decent price, maybe. Otherwise, I'd wait for a nice stick-shift.


Happy Motoring, Mark

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DrDKW

Personally, I would never buy an automatic 240D, just too darn slow.

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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'm getting about 24mpg in my "new" '82, 'cause your foot's in it constantly to maintain any speed and get out of the way of everybody else! Won't be much longer, though, 'til my manual swap is completed...

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'84 300D (sold)
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'76 MGB
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