Don't know if this has been posted here before, but those who have a 300SD will be glad to see it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw6VUwG9nOo

__________________
1984 300Sd 210k

Former cars:
1984 300D 445k (!!) (Strider) Original (and not rebuilt) engine and transmission. Currently running on V80 ( 80% vegetable oil, 20% petroleum products). Actually not, taking a WVO break.
1993 300d 2.5 275k. Current 120/day commuter
1981 300SD 188k (Hans) Killed by a deer

Wow, that's incredible. You know, I've flirted with the idea of buying my wife a Honda Fit in the last year or two, especially when the 240D (her daily) was giving us some trouble, but could not get over the nagging feeling that it would be a little death-can in an accident. Thanks for posting this - it validates exactly what I was thinking!

__________________
1973 280 - Current Project Car
1979 240d - 100% Stock
1982 380sl - 100% Stock
1985 190e 2.3 - Heavily Modified

The best car to be in, in an accident is an S class. Combind the weight with the spare no expense safety features and you are about as safe as you can get.


Notice the front crumple zone worked perfectly, not bad for a late 70's design!

I'd like to see what a W221 would do.

Small cars are good on fuel but they are death traps.

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

The big S class cars can allow the occupants to WALK AWAY from (as opposed to just survive) a really, really bad accident that would maim or kill occupants of lesser vehicles.

That was the compelling argument that turned me away from a new Lincoln Towncar and a Volvo 960 , when shopping for a car, in favor of a few years old S class instead. They are so safe and tank like, and those doors really thunk when you shut them. Oh do they thunk. Bank vault like solidity.

__________________
1991 560 SEC AMG, 199k <---- 300 hp 10:1 ECE euro HV ...

1995 E 420, 170k "The Red Plum" (sold)

2015 BMW 535i xdrive awd Stage 1 DINAN, 6k, <----364 hp

1967 Mercury Cougar, 49k

2013 Jaguar XF, 20k <----340 hp Supercharged, All Wheel Drive (sold)

I think there's part of a Yugo in my grill. Didn't know anything happened at the time.



Ken300D

__________________
--------------------------
1982 300D at 351K miles
1984 300SD at 217K miles
1987 300D at 370K miles

how safe is an 85 300d in comparison??

It would be worse (in looks) but better (in absorbing the impact).

I ment by how the passangers would fair. With the more modern crumple zones the damage would be worse but the passangers would probably be much better off. Who cares about the car, cars are easly replaced. Not so if you get hurt...

__________________
1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Bingo. That's precisely what I meant.

The IIHS has a video of the W210 in an offset frontal crash that doesn't do at all well by previous Mercedes standards. That's the spring perch failure car I think. So I'd be weary of the S-class that replaced the W140. Just dont think their engineering was what it used to be. Of course I'd be happy to be proven wrong.

- Peter.

__________________
2021 Chevrolet Spark
Formerly...
2000 GMC Sonoma
1981 240D 4spd stick. 347000 miles. Deceased Feb 14 2021
2002 Kia Rio. Worst crap on four wheels
1981 240D 4spd stick. 389000 miles.
1984 123 200
1979 116 280S
1972 Cadillac Sedan DeVille
1971 108 280S

Best thing to drive in an accident: Semi
Second best: Mercedes

I've been backed into so many times at school, cars fine, except for needing a new front bumper, but I'll leave that for after graduation. Should have seen the car that hit it, back ends destroyed! It was a hit and run too, but its obvious when you drive a car where the metal on the back is the same shape as my bumper to school the next day... I didn't even bother confronting the guy, my bumper was already messed up anyway, and his cars needs a new rear end..

__________________
Ich liebe meine Autos!

1991 Mercedes-Benz 560SEL | Megasquirt MS3-Pro | 722.6 transmission w/ AMG paddles | Feind Motorsports Sway Bar | Stinger VIP Radar | AntiLaser Priority | PLX Wideband O2 | 150A Alternator | Cat Delete
1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD | Blown engine, rebuilding someday...
1981 Mercedes-Benz 300SD | Rear ended, retired in garage.
2009 Yamaha AR230HO | Das Boot

Excessive speeding? It ain't excessive till I redline!

THAT is one of the top reasons I drive a Benz friends....

That little gray car was un-recognizable!

__________________
-Matt

EPA Section 609 Certified MVAC Technician
-----------------
Oil Burner Kartel Member #10

Ahh the smell of Diesel Fuel, it's like coffee in the morning!

My Car:

1982 300SD Turbo Diesel (231,500 miles!) RIP

1984 300SD Turbo Diesel Custom (235,500 mi on driveline.) - On Road!!

www.icsrepair.com

Awesome. It's like having the B-52 of automobiles, even with the older design. And for the price...wow!

__________________
Der Panzermann und Fraulein Fahrvergnuegen

1991 420SEL 201K "The Big Blue One"
1985 300DT 205K chassis/285K engine nee California emissions "Goldbug"
1983 300TDT 255K "The Womble"
1983 300 DT 214K "Sea Sprite"-Rear-ended a truck
1983 300SD 285K "The Donor" Gave his life so that others can live
1980 500SL Euro 105K "Der Panzer"

Princess Di was in a W140 I believe, and they all would have survived had they been wearing seat belts. For the high rate of speed, and hitting a bridge support, the car did pretty well.....

__________________
Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

notice how none of the 20 year old glass broke....
tank!!!!!!!!

__________________
82' 300SD