I like the ability to smoke tailgaters, the whine of the turbocharger, and the scent of diesel fuel.
-Joe

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'81 MB 300SD, '82 MB 300D Turbo (sold/RIP), '04 Lincoln Town Car Ultimate

Sooner or later every car falls apart, ours does it later!
-German Narrator in a MB Promotion Film about the then brand new W123.

I love the looks that I get from people (good, appreciative looks), and the occasional comment about how much people like my car.

One time I was going through a drive thru when a girl that wasn't even working the drive thru window came up to the window while I was waiting just to compliment the car. My wife likes to tell this story about how she was driving it, and while out in the middle of a parking lot somewhere this girl came running at her to tell her how much she liked the car. I love that kind of stuff.

Another thing I like is that people generally keep their distance because they're afraid of the "diesel" badge on the back of the car, and can't handle the oh-so-sweet fragrance of my exhaust.

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'78 240D

the sound of the engine

the thrust provided by the turbocharger

the refinement of the vehicle

my fellow diesel owners

The sound!!

boy I miss the 300CD. I am pretty sure it's even prettier now though

I really liked getting the compliments from people because they were not like "man, what an awesome car *jealous*"
but more like.. appreciative compliments.

once a cabbie drove next to me, and gave me a thumbs up and was like "they dont make em like they used to!" It's so true..

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

Coolest thing...

Is getting 30 MPG on american-made biodiesel in a model of Teutonic engineering.

Smoking tailgaters!

Is getting a note on my car the first week after I bought it asking if it was for sale!

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Aaron
'84 300D 267,000 - Running WVO - Rice Bran Oil - Mmmmmm, fishy...
==========================

ROFLMAO!!!! If you think that a 123 is like industrial machinery (and I agree) you should try a 115. 115 diesels have a KNOB that you have to pull to start the engine and push to shut down. It reminds me of a farm implement every time I give it a yank!

Nobody will ever steal this car.

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Never a dull moment at Berry Hill Farm.

Now that I think about it, because I grew up with a good diesel I've just accepted diesel engines as a vieable option for most applications. Had I grown up with something like an imfamous GM diesel, that would probably not be the case.
I think what I love most about our 300D is the solid precision of the build. It seems that the American approach to making something strong enough is to make it heavier until it doesn't break, the Japanese approach is to engineer it until it doesn't break, and the German (or Mercedes at least) approach is to do both until it'll last far longer than anyone would expect it to. Some people love to brag about their 250,000 mile Japanese cars (which proceed to fall apart 10,000 miles later), but I'd rather work with German cars that are built to really last, or older American cars that are simple enough that you can make them last despite their crudeness.

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Once and future king:
'64 Ford Fairlane w/approx 238,000 - looks rough, but amazingly reliable if you know how to look after it; I will soon begin work to totally restore and modernize it.
Family vehicles that I lay some claim to:
'78 300D w/approx 350,000 original, '62 Ford F100 4x4, '90 Ford E150 w/171,000 original

1) the solid bank-vault "thunk" when you close (not slam) the door,

2) the ergonomics, everything is at hand, no effort required

3) the industrial-grade brake release knob

4) the grease fittings on the door hinges

Ok, You can have the same stuff on a W123 gasser, but how many of those are left at 294,000 miles? It's the Diesel that gives us the dependability to go the distance.

Oh. BTW, it'll burn stuff that would kill a gasser.

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Nate Stanley
(Currently Benzless)
1985 F-250 6.9l 170K
2009 SCION XB 36.5K
2003 LS430 78K
2012 Kubota B 2320

The incredible comfort of cruising the highway in a 123.

Smoking some idiot taligater.

The classic lines and chrome.

The sound at idle.

The lack of computerized stuff-- it's a car, not an appliance.

That huge trunk.


Oh yeah.......... I don't have one anymore.

Someday again.....

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Current:
2014 VW Tiguan SEL 4Motion 43,000 miles.

2016 Hyundai Santa Fe Sport (wife's).

Past:
2006 Jetta TDI 135,970 miles. Sold Nov. '13.
1995 E-320 Special Edition. 220,200 miles. Sold Sept. '07.
1987 190-E 16 valve. 153,000 miles. Sold Feb. '06.
1980 300-D 225,000 miles. Donated to the National Kidney Foundation.
1980 240-D manual, 297,500 miles. Totaled by inattentive driver.

1. Pedal to the IP. No drive by wire nonsense.
2. Turbo power fully utilized when called for. Trans shifts up to next gear when boost is around 15 psi.
3. Man and the beast is connected with loads of torque.

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Shane83SD

Getting 30 mpg consistently in a V126. Most V126's get half the mileage. I have to laugh,....:p :p

enough to have experienced every attribute mentioned here, many times.

The '80s diesels are the last "permanent cars" that will ever be built. Twenty year old samples show almost no wear, if the owners and maintainers have done their parts. They cost almost NOTHING. And there is a substantial body of knowledge accumulated (as shown by this forum) on how to keep these cars on the road...not something that you see with cars that wear out.

It's very cool to sit for a brief quiet moment while the glow plugs warm up.

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1977 Mercedes 240D. 4-speed transmission. Windows, A/C, and sunroof: all manual. Medium Red. 204K miles.
1988 Subaru GL wagon. Dual range 5-speed 4X4. Daily driver w/ twin parts car.
1994 Subaru Loyale wagon. 5-speed 4x4
1966 International 3/4 ton 4X4 truck. Ooh yeah!
1952 Ferguson TO-35 farm tractor.
1984 Snapper rear engine riding mower. Just like Forest Gump.
1988 Nimble 20 sail boat
--Older stuff is built better--