I'm a novice driver and was wondering what the best way to get the car moving might be. It's a big, heavy coupe with a heavy 6 cylinder inline motor rated at 177 hp. I would prefer this engine in the 300SL or something but since it's what I've got and it's now running great, thanks to DR. MB Motors who rebuilt and set the throttle linkages, what's the way to accelerate off the line?
From drive and into 3rd and then hit the switch under the pedal? Or drive, hit the switch and then into 3rd?
Thanks for any and all info. I don't want to hurt this car. I'm not one to punch out an old Mercedes but I do enjoy taking it up Pacific Coast Highway at 80mph so far. Not sure what it can really do. 80 seems like its just getting warmed up. Definitely after more maintenance and tuning I would like to take it faster, perhaps up the 5 freeway. Car only has 110K miles and I'm the 3rd owner. The pedal is long and slow, can this be easily adjusted? But in reverse it sure is quick to apply power to those rear wheels.
BTW, what's 2nd gear good for? Mine is high rpms when not loaded. Up hills it seems to load nicely. I dont have the manual with this car. It did come with all other original documents. Only thing missing is the manual. Thank you.

Jason

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1988 300CE 120K RIP(Midnight Blue/Parchment)
1987 300E 202K (Arctic White/Palomino)


Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons. It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth. ~Song of The Open Road

Bringing the lever all the way down and shifting manually up the spectrum is best. Other than a closer final drive ratio (search if interested-personal preference is the 3.69 from a 129 sl/140 300S or 320 whatever so I hear did not know that before a week ago). Thats teh way it is, try to start your races at like 65.

really kicks butt. i love it. but it guzzles gas faster I think. Sure feels great to have way more control at low speed. And its great under load going uphill. It also is great for take-offs on flats. it gets the car moving. 3rd just slides it back or is ready to really get going. thanks for straightening me out on the shifting thing.
now i'm looking for either a 1995 SL320 roadster or a 1995 E320 coupe or better still an S500 coupe or SL500. man, I love these Mercedes cars. They are the best designed machines on the road.

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1988 300CE 120K RIP(Midnight Blue/Parchment)
1987 300E 202K (Arctic White/Palomino)


Now I see the secret of the making of the best persons. It is to grow in the open air and to eat and sleep with the earth. ~Song of The Open Road