Originally Posted by LUVMBDiesels

I have an '81 300SD. The car is built like a panzer and is very nice to own. It comes with the turbodiesel so you get that extra 40 hp over the normally aspirated engines. The only potential drawback is that it is a full size car. It does not 'feel' as big as a Buick Roadmaster but it can be tight to parallel part, etc. The upside is a nice sized cabin with plenty of room for five people and a large trunk. The model is the W126. The five cylinder engine went in it from '81 to '85 and then it got the six cylinder engine from '87-'90. From what I have heard, the six is much more tunable to get more horsepower. If you are looking for a smaller sportier car, as if any 1980's diesel could be called sporty, take a look at the W123 300D cars. They have the same turbodiesel five cylinder, but is a mid size car. The drawback is that they can be tight inside and the trunk is smaller. For my needs, which are long commutes and trips the W126 was literally a better fit.