Full circle 240D

[Clunker]

I made a comment to dieseldog that nothing compares to an air car. Minutes later I received a call from a friend that he would sell me an old 240D that I sold 2 years ago to him in exchange for plumbing work he had done. I rebuilt the cars suspension. I bought it back for $150.00 It is a 1976 240D. At 70 mph, it truly is magical! As long as I can feel weight in the front end It has that Mercedes feeling!

[gmask]

I made a trip today with a 120lb box in the back seat and a trunk load of tools and the car felt like it hugging the road like never before and the shocks really liked the extra weight in the back...I guess these cars were meant to be driven with passengers.. touring cars?

[300SDog]

Clunker, you are again in possession of the most humble, durable and maintenance-free automobile that has been built in the last 30 yrs!! Anybody who has ever worked on one will swear its the most sensible engine ever built.

Owning and driving this car will change your driving habbits forever...... no more jack-rabbit starts - instead you'll be filing flight plans to cross busy intersections..... bugs will get stuck to rear windshield as they overtake this slowly accelerating vehicle..... gas station attendants will run for the fire-extinguisher when the car rattles up to the pumps...... ordinary (non-diesel) mechanics will swear the engine is on its last legs - as it works in ordinary diesel fashion, makin a racket, blowing some smoke, and blackening the oil for typical 800 mile/qt. consumption.

Also, owning and operating the 240D is lesson in tolerance, patience and forgiveness of piss-poor driving habbits of others - as you will occasionally get tail-gated.....But here's your retaliation:

First let up on the throttle, then hammer down, then let up on the pedal again - pumping the accelerator usually puffs a fart of smoke in their face that causes them to back off! With practice, this defense mechanism works very well.

Irregardless, wherever you go you will mostly be treated with dignity and reserve. Basically you'll be putting to shame any car that your old diesel benz is standing next to, especially at red lights where melody of idling diesel clatter causes others to literally turn their heads in admiration.

Welcome back to the wonderful world of diesel junkies.... the neighboring "diesel forum" tells me you can run regular home heating oil through the engine and also recylce 2nd hand french fry oil poured through a filter directly into the fuel tank. Never has a more hilarious vehicle ever been designed.

Best thing about getting a car for free? You've got zero guilt about spending a few dollars to make it perfect. What you've got is a Mercedes model that people will be seeing on the road for another 20 years.