Roadtrip Statistics...L.A., California to Healy, AK

[ak300td]

Love this car!

The background...I bought a 1984 300d from a guy in Long Beach, CA (near LA) for $1,250. My first MB diesel! The car had 202,400 miles, the blower motor was dead, none of the windows or sunroof function (no beans for me!) and the drivers seat bottom sags badly on the left side.

My wife and I flew into Long Beach last Friday (16 Jan, 1:00pm), paid for the car, signed the papers and headed east to visit some friends in Jackson, WY. We skied in Jackson Hole for a day (Sun) and left early Monday for Missoula where Karen flew home. I continued north through Kalispell, Jasper, Whitehorse, Fairbanks and home to Healy (120 miles south of Fairbanks). I changed the oil in Utah, replaced the blower motor brushes and shimmed the seat bottom in Missoula, and adjusted the coolant ratio in Dawson Creek. Otherwise the car ran great! 75mph except over the passes...

The statistics:

Total distance: 4,150 miles (6683 Km)
Total days driving: 7 (does not include ski day)
Longest day: 750 miles (1207 Km) (Whitehorse to Healy)
Fuel used: 166.7 gallons (631.4 liters)
Average MPG: 24.9 (10.6L/Km)
Highest Speed: 85 mph (137 kph) passing tractor trailer trucks
Slowest Speed: 30 mph (48 kph) over the mountain passes
Mountain Passes crossed: I can't remember, at least 6...
Total Cost: $1275 ($1657 Canadian), includes the following:
Fuel: $320 USD ($415)
Hotels: $195 ($257) (four nights in hotels, two at friends in WY, one in the car in a Jasper campground with a plug in for the car)
Misc: $201 ($261) includes food for driver
Car expenses $559 ($727) includes new studded tires, extension cord, floor mats, snow scraper, extra fuel jug, anti-gel etc.
Highest fuel price: south of Fort Nelson, BC $2.74/gal ($0.94/L)
Lowest fuel price: Cedar City, UT $1.52/gal ($0.52/L)
Wildlife seen (large mammals):
Caribou: lots
Bison: 45
Moose: 33
Deer: 5
Wolf: 1
Fox: 1
Vehicle damage:
Windshield chips: 2 very small chips (2.5 Canadian)
Paint Chips: 1 small one

Would I do it again? YES, it was great, even in the winter with good tires and a car like the 300d!