Returned to L.A. Sunday afternoon after spending two weeks near Mt. Shasta, fly-fishing and pushing my car to the limits. I drove nearly 2500 miles total during the trip, 1200 miles round trip just getting there and back, the balance was spent driving to different parts of the Upper Sacramento River and also the McCloud and Pit Rivers.

The day I drove to the Pit River, I was on gravel road for close to 20 miles - and I'm not talking about groomed gravel - these roads are traveled by logging trucks and heavy equipment. In fact, most of my daily sojourns were driven on dirt or gravel, steep grades with plenty of brush and brambles to scrape along the sides of the wagon. I've had that car further off-road than 98% of SUVs in L.A. will ever go. I only got into one spot where I was unable to back the car up a steep grade, I turned around, punched the accelerator and cruised right up.

The second week of my trip, I was joined by my wife and her girl-friend, both avid fly-fisherwomen, who took the train to meet me, with plans of riding back in the car. We had four rods between the three of us, three nine footers and one eight foot, assembled and carried inside the car along with waders, boots, vests and a large cooler for the after fishing tail-gate party; micro-brews and good wine. And Oh, the beauty of a station wagon - you don't need to break down your rod each time you get into the car.

The 600 mile trip home was without incident. After loading the entire back of the car with clothing and fishing equipment for three adults we drove through the central valley's triple-digit heat back to L.A.

I laugh at SUVs! Oh yeah, I'm heading back up north next month for the October Caddis hatch.

__________________
Dave
1995 C280
1999 Triumph Daytona 955I - my speed fix.
1982 300TD - Gone, but not forgotten.

I understand your experience. These cars are incredible, and yes if you know how to drive on a pasture road, you can take one of these cars to places that an unknowledgable SUV driver couldn't go.

Glad you had a fun and safe trip,

Yep, these diesels will go places other cars/SUV's fear to go! My cousins have a ranch with a really bad hill inside the front gate that has to be climbed to access the rest of the ranch. The hill is called the "Rock Hill" because it is all loose rock from baseball to softball size and larger. Put my '77 300D auto trans into 1st and climbed right up it (albeit very slowly to avoid damaging the underside). The Rock Hill is about 1/4 mile long and climbs about 200 feet with the last 100 yds the steepest with the worst rock. Everyone has to get a full-bore running start at the Rock Hill and most have to try it several times to make it over the top - even SUV's and 4 wheel drives. I am cussed at regularly because of the ease my 300D has climbing the Rock Hill! According to the owner's manual the 300D with the auto trans can climb a 42% grade in 1st gear. Also, I've taken my 300D onto all kinds of National/state Forrest/Park roads as well as numerous other ranch roads with no trouble!!

Tom

I take all my newly aquired MB's on "safari", kind of like their initiation with me. We have a 200 acre tract of land next to us, lots of very steep hills, narrow cut passes and the like.
Even when its wet out, these cars perform great off the paved road. This coming from someone who has owned two new (96 & 99) Jeep Grand Cherokee's.

People often think I'm crazy for taking these old cars to those extremes, but like I tell them, "These cars were engineered with every square inch of the world in mind, mountains, deserts, jungles, places with no repair / fuel facilities for miles or days..."
I wouldn't dare try it with any other brand of car that has 260+ K miles & 20 + years under its belt, I wouldn't dream of it. Long live the W123's!

I love the wagons the most, they handle the best on or off road. We haul a lot of stuff too, so a wagon is a necesity for us. Its because we got the first wagon that we no longer need to lease a new Jeep every three years, and I like that.

~George~

Attached Thumbnails

 

Go George Go! I LOVE hearing about putting these cars through the paces. My wife doesn't even bat an eye anymore when I go tearing down a gravel road. It's great to drive up beside some idiot er... I mean someone with a so-called luxury SUV that's waxed and spotless when my car(which looks real nice when it's waxed and spotless) is covered with dust and tree branches. I wonder if they ever get the irony. I really like to see those BIG SUVs when they're loaded with gear and the back ends are sagging several inches. I just smile knowing my wagon could haul all their crap without looking loaded down at all.
BTW, I went to a local book store this past week and parked beside a W123 sedan that was absolutely beautiful! The thing looked like it came off the showroom floor last year! The odometer showed 46,000 miles! The interior was perfect except I noticed the wood trim on the glove box door was loose - same as mine. Made me want to get the wagon detailed. I should have left my phone number on that car asking if the owner wanted to sell.

__________________
Dave
1995 C280
1999 Triumph Daytona 955I - my speed fix.
1982 300TD - Gone, but not forgotten.

Bravo! great to hear that there are other MB drivers going into rough country with there cars. We live in the Coastal Mts. of Oregon
(Siuslaw National Forest ) I put a good set of snow tires on my 74 240D and go where others fear to tread, sometimes get rather odd looks from other hunters when they see a classic baby blue Mercedes on a jeep road, I love it old "Pearl" will growl up steep grades with the best of them.
I keep Goldie my 81 SD shined up for town trips....
William Rogers.....