Fuel burn: Truck vs diesel Mercedes - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Hatterasguy · #1 05-08-2009, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pawoSD

Its the Vortec 4.3 V6.......not a bad engine for durability/power, but it seems very loud and unrefined especially when you push it much over 2500rpm....I've driven one in a truck just like Hattie's....and in a Blazer....the blazer was geared better and was much quicker. Still don't hold a candle to the 300E though. 1.3 less liters and WAY more speed.

Oh, and the 4.3 is quite thirsty for what it is.

Well GM got the power band right so you never really have to push it over 2k, at least I never see the need to. It is a little rough at idle, I'll give it that, but other than that its not a bad motor.

I don't find it thirsty, it gets 2-3 mpg better than my dads F150. Though the F150 has more balls, but they are similer motors.

GM geared my truck perfectly, I have to see what kind of rear it has but its high. I'm turning 1,800 at 70.

Your 300E is a car of course a smaller engine is going to drive it faster.

I'd love to see your 300E carry a Scag mower, 30 sheets of plywood, or 1,200 pounds of shingles.

Hatterasguy · #2 05-08-2009, 01:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by POS

$5 more a week, times $52 weeks is $260 a year. I budget $1000-$1500 a year in repairs for the older MBs, and I budget $0 for repairs for my 2003 GMC and my 2005 GMC. You'd be better off selling the MB and driving the "fuel sucking truck over the holy grail diesel Mercedes", if you want to know the truth.

Very true, the extra $260 a year is more than offset through other means.

Still the Mercedes are more fun to drive.

derburger · #3 05-08-2009, 01:54 AM

I like my little origami death trap Subaru XT for the low(er) maintenance engine and decent mileage. It gets 26 mpg on the highway at 70+ speeds, my 300cd gets 21 mpg on diesel, no matter highway or city, A/C on or not.

My Subaru is much more fun to drive and my Mercedes sits in the garage even though diesel is cheaper here. I'm sure it would be different if I could source a replacement seat pad for the MB's front seat, which was crushed by a series of obese previous owners.

I'm still working on the diesel's laundry list of maintenance, in the past few days I've adjusted the valves, removed and cleaned fuel sender, replace air cleaner mounts, next is transmission fluid & filter, rebuild vacuum pump.

But so far the MB is winning as the lowest cost car in my maintenance spreadsheet this year vs. my Subaru

Ara T. · #4 05-07-2009, 09:23 PM

Diesel is actually a bit cheaper than 87 octane gas around here, and has been for a coupla months now. Dunno why, haven't seen that for a good 5 or 6 years.