Hello everyone, looking into a couple of diesels to purchase. My choices: 1981 300GD in perfect mechanical condition($19k) or a 1993 300sd in decent shape ($4500) any thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thinking of making a move this week.

Buy the '93.

The '81 has an asking price set by an escaped mental patient.

For $20k you can get a 2000 or newer G class.


If you want a car the 1993 would be a good buy, if its in good shape with reasonable mileage.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Thanks for the response and the laugh! I thought it was pretty high, but I know how rare the GD's are specially in Socal. A 2000 GD? for 20k?

With the price of diesel, I'd have to say "Not to diesel". Your fuel savings are being eaten up by the higher diesel prices.

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01 Ford Excursion Powerstroke
99 E300 Turbodiesel
91 Vette with 383 motor
05 Polaris Sportsman 800 EFI
06 Polaris Sportsman 500 EFI
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Red
03 SeaDoo GTX SC Yellow
04 Tailgator 21 ft Toy Hauler
11 Harley Davidson 883 SuperLow

Im going to convert to run Bio or Veggie...

Then get the SD. It would be best not to destroy the rare GD with veggie and hack conversions.

That's why i'm here. From what I read, a two tank system is the best way. Hope you guys have some advice?

It would be best not to destroy either one with veggie.

I would love to get my hands on an 80's GD, but $20K is a little too much for that car unless it is very close to perfect condition.

Diesel Fuel should come back down to be in line with 87 Octane unleaded in a month or two. The refineries will be switching over to Summer Gas (which causes gas prices to go up) and the demand for heating oil will dry up (leaving more Diesel grade fuel).

Heating oil consumption is up this year because of the very cold winter. I know people who have spent $1500 in heating oil (about 500 gallons) over the course of this winter (which is not over yet) so far....heating a house they own but do not live in. And they only keep the house around 55-60ish! Not a "huge" house either. 500 gallons of diesel essentially burned away for nothing. Scary. They had their 250ish gallon tank topped off in mid January, and today I checked it and it was just above half.....in less than 2 months!

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-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

More likely, the price of gas will catch up with diesel before to long. Either way, I wouldn't decide which car to buy based on the price of fuel at the moment. They will both continue to increase, so if you care about fuel cost buy something (gas or diesel) that gets very good mileage.

Exactly. Gas cars...yuck. My fiance's rav4 is still more expensive to drive at its measly 18mpg than my car which has been averaging over 25 lately. I just did a 80mph freeway trip this weekend and got 27.3mpg. Amazing. Drove 55-60 on the way back....probably got around 28-29. Awesome for such a big car, and the trunk/back seat had a bunch of stuff in them, and 2 people in the car....so it was not "empty" either.

I will drive a diesel until the day diesel costs 55% more than gas. And that will never happen.

__________________
-diesel is not just a fuel, its a way of life-
'15 GLK250 Bluetec 118k - mine - (OC-123,800)
'17 Metris(VITO!) - 37k - wifes (OC-41k)
'09 Sprinter 3500 Winnebago View - 62k (OC - 67k)
'13 ML350 Bluetec - 95k - dad's (OC-98k)
'01 SL500 - 103k(km) - dad's (OC-110,000km)
'16 E400 4matic Sedan - 148k - Brothers (OC-155k)

thanks for jinxing us pawosd

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1981 300SD 512k OM603

LOL, anything is possible with the current energy market.