Well boys & girls,

I posted this in the diesel forum because it kind of started there last year but I guess, since it wasn't specifically MB related, no one commented.

Last year I had a line on a nice 1980 300TD, in good shape and reasonably priced. Unfortunately, the owner apparently didn't want to part with it. With the price of gas well over $4.00 here in California and my commuter Honda approaching 300K miles and starting to have issues I had to do something. The Honda was still giving me 24.5-25 MPG and costing me $550+ a month cash for fuel.

On March 17 I woke up and went to the VW dealer, left there a couple hours later with a 2012 Jetta SportWagen TDI. Had a whopping 18 miles on it when I left the dealership. I just am starting my 4th fill up since getting, have a touch over 1800 miles on it now and this mornings fill up showed an average 40.93 MPG. On Tuesday, on my commute to work the instant computer showed I got 50.2 MPG average for my 65 mile one way drive. Once this thing breaks in I think my average will settle in better than 45 MPG regularly. And, even though diesle runs about $0.15 more than RUG does here, I expect my monthly fuel costs to drop by about 40%.

It isn't a Benz by any means, but at least its German. The Jetta runs quiet, hauls butt and accelerates like no diesel I have every driven, to be honet it accelerates like a gasser when you mash the go pedal. When I get the chance to snap a picture I'll post it up to show it off.

I guess I'll have to wait till I reture to finally get me one of the Benz diesels to tinker on.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Sweet ride. However, I think it might be time for you to consider living closer to work or finding a job closer to home.

__________________
Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 401,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 26,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.
99 Mazda Miata 183,xxx miles.

I want a modern diesel car.

__________________
1984 300SD Orient Red/ Palomino
1989 560SEC
2016 Mazda 6 6 speed manual
1995 Ford F-150 reg cab 4.9 5speed manual

It's amazing how "undiesely" new diesel engines can be. Some of the new direct injected rigs don't even need a glow like our older Mercedes, just hop in at 25*f and crank it up like a gasser, all while getting 50mpg; very impressive. It's a shame the EPA has a lot of auto maker's nuts in a juicer, I'd sure love to get my hands on a new Hilux diesel with a manual trans and four full doors, or an Outback diesel, but I never see those coming to fruition. Makes me want to gut the cat in my 95 E300d just out of pure spite.

Glad you're enjoying your new rig, VW makes a nice little diesel that holds up to the test of time very well.

The VW has glow plugs, but they glow plug light in the dash only glows for a couple seconds (longest was less than ten the other morning at 38*F). Basically, turn the key and go but i always wait a few seconds before turning the key. From what I've read the system heats the plugs fast, then cycles them on/off until the engine comes up to temp.

This one is equipped with the DSG (direct shift gearbox) tranny. Most call it an automatic. It has the manual shift option like the slushbox in the CLK320 plus a sport mode, which holds the shift off for 1K rpm, shifting at 3K rather than 2K. When slowing for a stop light you can feel it gear down like a manny tranny but the upshifts are almost imperceptable.

I do have one beef though. While VW has finally opted to put in cup holders (very un Benzlike) but, they aren't big enough to hold my coffee cup - a 16oz ceramic mug. They will hold a 24oz paper/styrofoam cup but not a real cup. I wonder if they only put them in for the North American market?

Skippy, this commute isn't that bad...my last commute was 3,000 miles home to work. Did that once a month for 3 years.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Don't know your profession Mike, but is there any way you can put an office in your home and deduct "inter-office" travel??
Have Uncle Sam pick up 30-35% of that $550?

Believe it or not the 126 350SDL, which cost 55,000 in 1990, has no cup holders, so I keep a clean heavy shoe on the passenger seat and stick my cup in that.


Yeah, I know....

__________________
Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

I don't think it has a cat to gut. Most you can do is disable EGR.

Mike, don't MBs have cup holders now? It was that or concede the market to Lexus.

Sixto
87 300D

Sixto

My 2004 C Class has what passes for a cupholder.


Mike

Pictures. We need pictures.....

__________________
Palangi

2004 C240 Wagon 203.261 Baby Benz
2008 ML320 CDI Highway Cruiser
2006 Toyota Prius, Saving the Planet @ 48 mpg
2000 F-150, Destroying the Planet @ 20 mpg



TRUMP .......... WHITEHOUSE
HILLARY .........JAILHOUSE
BERNIE .......... NUTHOUSE
0BAMA .......... OUTHOUSE