Ok I'm going to let you all decide which car I take to autocross this weekend since both my regular car and the backup car eliminated themselves from going this week.

The regular car, my 300D, started knocking and I don't have the time or the parts to figure out whats causing it before sunday.

The backup car, my 500SEC performed great today untill the ride home when something inside the transmission decided to not shift out of second gear anymore.

So I'm down to a few choices:

My 2006 R350, my 1983 380SEC, or my 1984 300TD.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

Oh the TD of course.

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You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows - Robert A. Zimmerman

I vote the TD also. That WOULD be a change of pace!

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1983 123.133 California
- GreaseCar Veg System

I bet the R350 will outhandle them

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

I said the 380SEC because I don't know ***** about it and have no ability to control posting opinions on subject with which I am completely ignorant.

So follow my advice!

B

PS I think T Walgamuth probably has the most experienced opinion with autocross on OD. Therefore, avoid his opinion at all costs.

While starting over with a Toyota would probably make you more competitive, I went with the SEC. As much as I would've liked to take my 300TD to autox, I figured I'd probably have more fun running the course than driving it.
It's a total guess, but I'd bet the R350 is a pig. Heavy cars are no fun to try and get around the tighter corners. I can't imagine how crappy a decreasing radius turn would be.

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1984 300TD

Holy crap R350 weighs damn near 5000 pounds.

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1985 CA 300D Turbo , 213K mi

Option 4!

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

R350, you never drive that anymore.....

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

sec, man.

No contest.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Actually there was a guy with an R500 that came out last year a few times, he had my 300D by almost a full second (when I had street tires still )

I need to stick with a diesel if I want to stay on top in my class.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

Whats a thread without pictures?
Here's each of the cars listed:

R350:


380SEC:


300TD:

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

If you are running scca all of them will be h stock. Of them I would choose the sec for the lower center of gravity and the special feature on the shifter that allows you to hold it in first and second (using B iirc) and the tranny downshifts itself as soon as it can without exceeding redline on the engine. It will help slow the car down without using brakes.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

scca rules, but they split the MB's into further groups.

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1980 500SE/AMG Euro
1981 500SEL Euro
1982 380SEL
1983 300TD
1983 500SEC/AMG Euro
1984 500SEC
1984 300TD Euro
1986 190E 2.3-16
1986 190E 2.3
1987 300D
1997 C36 AMG
2003 C320T 4matic

past: 1969 280SE 4.5 | 1978 240D | 1978 300D | 1981 300SD | 1981 300SD | 1982 300CD | 1983 300CD | 1983 300SD | 1983 380SEC | 1984 300D | 1984 300D | 1984 300TD | 1984 500SEL | 1984 300SD | 1985 300D | 1986 300E | 1986 560SEL | 1986 560SEL/Carat | 1987 560SEC | 1991 300D 2.5 | 2006 R350

Just for grins take the 300TD. Can you put the wheels from the 300D on it?

What wheels are on it now, they look really good on that car! -- too bad I am stuck up in NY now I was looking forward to see you run the course.

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"I have no convictions ... I blow with the wind, and the prevailing wind happens to be from Vichy"

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