Just because the TD is an automatic doesn't mean you can't move the control stick out of 'D'. Just returned from almost a week in Colorado, and I guarantee I did a lot of stick moving on my auto equipped 300D. You have to keep the rpm at or above 2000 or it is a slug, but if you do it is fine!

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1961 190Db retired
1968 220D/8 325,000
1983 300D 164,150