Quote:
Originally Posted by pawoSD
You can't forget that despite the higher fuel cost, diesels are way less needy. The M103 needs way more attention than the 617....as I've recently learned.  I don't like engines that need several sensors and computers to keep them running properly (or at all!)....it just leaves that "hmm...if a computer or sensor dies I'd be sitting at the side of the road" feeling in your mind.....not so in a diesel.
IMHO the 617 is way stronger off the line than a M103....The M103 is weak until it gets over 2000 rpm....then it pulls quite hard. (awesome!) The off the line torque just isn't there. I've mashed the pedal in 1st in our 300E and its pretty leisurely on taking off....no tire squeal thats for sure.....but the shift from 1-2 will break the tires loose/make the car squirm on dry road....when you're going at full tilt. There's something the 617 won't do.   |
Neglected gassers like yours, sure. Well kept up are no issue. The V8s M116/7 are pretty brainless to keep up with.
They're two different motors so comparing their power at low RPM is not easy due to their combustion cycle. The 617 sure isn't fast by any means, it's a turd if you compare it to even the slow 300SEL or a 380SE. It's just a real nice economy car. If what you have driven is what's in your sig, you really need to see what else is around in terms of performance.
My SDL will pull away from my 300SEL until about 40-5mph, then the SEL pulls from it hard. My SDL has a gutted cat, removed ALDA, cranked full load, etc. My SEL has a well worn head and cats that are loaded full from my oil consumption you get with a 260k mile head.