Is my commute long enough?
 

I just sold my '83 300d without ever driving the car on the road. I am now looking for a car that needs no major work to drive daily. I have my eye on the 1987 300d in the classifieds here but this is the problem: My commute is only 1.5 miles!
Now I know this isn't much of a problem (especially in Atlanta), but I'm not sure a diesel can get up to operating temps to be very efficient in 1.5 miles. I won't be driving it to work only. I'm often out and about during the day, but mostly I'll be driving to work. I'm on the road about 3 min. before I get there.
Any comments or observations? Should I just get an efficient gasser?

gassers and diesels do not do very well on that short of a trip. That said, if you do go out and about, the diesel should be fine. Nice highway trips on the weekends will keep them happy, gasser or diesel.

get a bicycle

thats no fun :rolleyes:! Welcome him to the diesel family!

Seriously....1.5 miles? WALK or BIKE. Leave the diesel at home.

I hate to say it, but a hybrid (or electric) car would be best for a commute like that. Or just drive around a little on the way to/from work so that its like 4-5 miles total...that would get it warmed up much better.

I've biked the 1-2 miles to work before but the idea of biking 20 miles to the other side of Fulton County doesn't seem like a whole lot of fun. I also can't buy a hybrid for $2000 or less (not that I would). And while Atlanta enjoys a generally warm climate, late December through February is usually 35-50 degrees out. Maybe Davenport has better weather in the winter. Not cycling weather.

Well if you must commute, I'd get a gasser MB and try to "extend" my route to work a bit. Most gasser MB's are fully warmed up within 2-3 miles....the diesels take a lot longer, especially if it is cold outside.

Get both, a diesel and a bike.

Lol. That's never stopped me. Though I use a ski mask when it gets colder.

Your mpg will suffer a good amount if you only drive that far.

One winter I did a lot of 2-3 mile total trips, and got only 22.5 on that tank. Eek!

Or, as other said, take the long way to work...I always do! I love to drive my car.

Yeah, I would put in my support for the bike. It's better for your health. If you're only in Atlanta, you can bike all year. I bike 6 miles to school all year in New England, unless there's more than a few centimeters of snow on the road. If you insist on automotion, motorcycle. Those outta warm up reasonably quickly, small and air cooled. Get the diesel too, just don't drive it to work.

Or a Segway, like Gob.

Are you serious?

Walk you fool! Think of the money you'll save.

I wish I had a commute that short.

Edit: I walked to school in temperatures colder then that WITH snow. One way down hill and back up again. Burn some calories and get a pair of headphones. Listen to the radio, mp3 player, and ponder the meaning of life!


I love my walks. You get to think about stuff more then you can when you drive.

Well.... We live in a "consumer based society" right? Get up earlier, drive to get a paper, drive over to Starbucks (through the drive thru) and get your Latte then head over to the park to do some reading. When your all pumped up on coffee... Head to work and "let them have it"!!:D

The car should be nice and warm by then.

If you really want to drive a car . . . get a diesel, but . . . to warm it up, just get a block heater!

A 603 won't be happy with such short trips. I used to work a mile from my house and mine was never happy. You need to take it on long rides to blow it out or it will run like crap.

The 617 in my SD never cared. I would get a 617 for all around town work.