Frank,

I think you missed my point. I can troubleshoot all those doodads as good as the next guy. That's not the point. My point is that I am perfectly capable of winding up my own windows, giving a tug at my own manual sunroof, I even have enough since to lower the temperature when I'm hot, and I am not too lazy to shift my own gears. Therefore, I don't need all these doodads. If they are not on the car, that is the only way I can avoid the need to spend time fixing the junk.

Also, it is much less frustrating and more time effective to do most anything under the hood of a 240D.

As far as power goes, I KNOW that my manual 240D will outrun my daughters normally aspirated 300D with the mandatory automatic. A later model turbo would, of course, be a different story. Even then, I would rather have simplicity and reliability than the extra power. You don't have to drive a 240D for very long to acquire the necessary patience. As a matter of fact, driving a 240D is probably the best lesson in patience you will ever get.

As far as California freeways go, I have driven A LOT on California freeways, Southern AND Northern California. California does not have the market cornered on aggressive freeway drivers. I've driven on freeways, autobahns, autostradas and motorways in many different cities all over North America and Western Europe. They're all very similar, with similar needs for acceleration. There again, you just have to learn how to use these acceleration challenged engineering masterpieces to their fullest.

I am not in any way ridiculing those who like all the doodads. They made different cars available because there are different people with different likes and dislikes. I was merely curious if the people who prefer the doodads have to keep them all working by themselves as I do.

Have a great day,