Let me add my reasons....
I needed a reliable second car for not much money ( had to be under $2000). When you look at cars in that price range, most are 10 year old plus gassers. At that age and mileage gassers are typically near the end of their useful life--computers and related components. You can easily relpace $100 worth of sensors every month to cure the latest "no start" problem. How to get around that problem?--Buy a diesel! No computer ( if its old enough); no sensors to tell the non-existant computer whats going on. In fact trouble-shooting is MUCH simpler in a diesel---In a gasser, the problem can be fuel related, or ignition related. With a diesel, with rare exceptions---its the fuel system!
Once I arrived at the idea of an older diesel, the choice became very simple Mercedes, or Peugeot. Since Peugeot is not currently imported, and are not availible either on the road, or in junkyards in the huge numbers of the Mercedes, the choice made itself----

Umm, wait a second.... There are OTHER types of cars? Strange, I never noticed. RT

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When all else fails, vote from the rooftops!
84' Mercedes Benz 300D Anthracite/black, 171K
03' Volkswagen Jetta TDI blue/black, 93K
93' Chevrolet C2500HD ExCab 6.5TD, Two-tone blue, 252K

Why did I opt for diesel? after reading and learning about the engine design, I came to appreciate the simplicity...beautiful physics...design for durability from the start, (not the ones that were retrofitted gassers, with the exception of vw of course) and the flexibility of fuel choice especially the concept of a 100% veggie oil fuel. .....and I got tired of the smell of gasoline. cheers, Mark

Cazzzidy,

Having owned and driven 240Ds in the past, I'll give you a tip. Keep an eye on your rear view mirror and don't try to go to the mountains.

Sixto,

You are correct. As memory serves me MB did a grand stand publicity campaign in about 1979 to promote sles of their new turbo. I believe they ran the C111 with the OM617 on their track for 10,000 miles with average speeds of 152 miles per hour and fuel consumption at 10 mpg. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.


Peter

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Auto Zentral Ltd.

Translation..... when *******s tailgate you - it will triple the annoyance by NOT jarring the mirror so you dont have to look at them at all. And yes, stay out of the mountains if you dont know how to use the transmission to sustain optimum rpms...... you just cant expect to climb hills while lugging 4th gear below 50mph.

Basically, 4 cylinder manual tranny diesels require superior driving skills on the part of the owner....... something the general public does not want and will not tolerate - as modern cars virtually drive themselves.

But all is not lost - newer models are avialable for those who dont like to drive and would rather talk on cell phones, play with navigation systems and diddle with dvd's.

Why diesels?

1. They sound cool.
2. They get better fuel economy.
3. They're more durable.
4. They're simpler to work on.
5. And the combination of a luxury car like Mercedes with an engine that's typically used in trucks just fascinates me. Don't know why.

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2004 VW Jetta TDI (manual)

Past MB's: '96 E300D, '83 240D, '82 300D, '87 300D, '87 420SEL

When I went to buy a car, after 15 years of light trucks, I didn't even think about MB (will admit to serial ownership in the 60s). I didn't know anything about cars built after 1980 so I studied for six months. The 240D made the short list. Same thing on the day to buy. the 240D was the first to fit the price-location template.

It is cool to have torque and not to have spark plugs. But for me the best part is when the cat is in the passenger seat. When we're at a stoplight and I look over and see him bouncing up and down from the idle...that's something money can't buy.

Tscott,

You can get your cat to ride with you? That is so cool. I can't get the 4 of mine near a car. Cat's are not as blindly obedient as dogs and won't just do what you command. They're smarter than that. I remember pulling in for fuel many years ago and seeing a guy with a cat who was willing to give up some seperateness to be a buddy. The guy pulled in and the cat jumped out of the pick-up to check things out. When the guy was through getting fuel, he whistled, the cat jumped in the truck, and they took off. I was stunned.

Peter

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Auto Zentral Ltd.

Years ago, I had friends who had a large dog who would take off for parts unknown, and not return when they called. The only way to get him to come home was to start up their (Peugeot) diesel. For some reason he really liked that sound and would come running!

The diesel sound can be magic that way. My guinea hens always come running when they hear the diesel, even if they're visiting a neighbor. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to have the same effect on women.....

I had a Chesapeake Bay Retriever that was the same. He would escape from the yard and take off through the neighbourhood, staying just far enough away that you couldn't put a hand on him.

So I would drive the TDI around with the tailgate open, and sure enough, he would come running and jump in.

Well, I for one, have always had at least one MB sitting around. Mostly old pontons with the occasional diesel ponton thrown in. A couple of years ago I bought a super nice gas ponton, my baby. I had a 13 year run with Mazda 929's and grew tired of them (still have one though). Figured I'd like to have a star on the hood but don't like newer MBs and know that old gassers are nearly at rebuild time. Bought my 83 300d on ebay last year. Got ripped off a bit but now a year later am realizing how great a car these old 123s really are. Easy to fix, plenty quick once warmed up and CHEAP to run. I feel safe in it. I feel I can survive a pretty good smack without getting killed. Big Plus, this group, it's a lot of fun talking to other nuts about these old beasts. If you can't find a way to fix a problem here, it's all in your head :-)

In reading all these posts, it warms my heart to see people who love their diesels so. I gre up on a farm tinkering with diesel tractors and trucks. All the men in my family were either farmers or truck drivers, so I guess I have diesel in my blood. Another reason I drive mine is I have a 30 mile commute to work each day. My gasser MB gets 25 MPG on premium at 2.10 per gallon. My diesel gets 30 mpg on #2 at 1.53 per gallon at the Flying J truck stop. = savings of about $40.00 per month. Not to mention the nostalgia of working on a diesel again. I'll probably drive this thing until the body rots off. Then get another one and do the same while taking the drive train out of this one and building me something fun. Because the engine and driveline will still have a lot of life left in them.

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83 W123 240D
76 300D, "Lil Yellow Car"
1978 Cessna 172N 180 HP Mod

"If life ain't fun, I'm not interested"

The important things are those that you learn after you know it all.
Chip Foose

Build a better mousetrap and you will REALLY infuriate corporate america.

Because when you drop it from fourth to third, the idiot tailgating you recedes quickly, and that's not due to any acceleration on your part.

One night we were watching a movie were somebody pulls up in a 'million mile taxi' and while it is sitting there idling in that oh-so-lovely, Mercedes, klatta, klatta, klatta, sort of way, Molly the dog-beast perks her ears up, looks right at the TV speakers and starts up with her distinctive bark that announces: "Hey everybody Mom and Dad are home!!"

And who said that dogs couldn't tell the difference between a diesel and a gasser.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.