That 603 is a pretty gutsy engine once the turbo comes up. Quite a surprise to the folks that automatically pass a diesel no matter how fast you are driving (as 15 over the limit!).

Where you will get most hotshot drivers with you diesel Benz is when the road gets rough or twisty -- you don't need to slow down, but they sure do! Japanses cars aren't too bad, but anything American (including Toyota trucks) will go out of control very rapidly, while the Benz just glides along. I love to drive the road home from town at night with someone pushing me at lights -- typical ridgetop winding road once I get out of town, including two negative bank curves, that I can run at 65 or so. Never have a problems with tailgaters there.

While not a diesel story, I had an old coot in a Mercury Grand Marquis tailgating me on Highway 57 last year -- short old bugger, was peering out between the steering wheel and the dash about 1 1/2 car lengths back and wouldn't stay off my bumper (the 300TE). I figured he was going to hit me sooner or later, so since slowing down didn't do anything but get him closer, I tried gradually speeding up to see just how fast he wanted to go. He finally made a sharp, flat curve on the worng side at about 85 and backed off fast. Obviously NOT looking at the dash.

Passed me at the next little town -- burned rubber to get around me! I waved, would MUCH rather have him tailgate the car in front than me -- I suspect he can't see anything, so just runs up the tailpipe of the car in front to drive on the highway. Scary.

Peter

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1972 220D ?? miles
1988 300E 200,012
1987 300D Turbo killed 9/25/07, 275,000 miles
1985 Volvo 740 GLE Turobodiesel 218,000
1972 280 SE 4.5 165, 000 - It runs!