Nobody sells the car I want - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

lupin..the..3rd · #1 10-18-2010, 04:30 PM

Is it such a bizarre request? I want a wagon, so I can haul stuff. I want rear wheel drive. I want a diesel engine. I want a manual transmission.

Those are my only four requirements. I don't give a crap about stereo systems or cup holders. Heck, I don't even need working A/C. Just a RWD diesel wagon w/ manual gearbox.

As far as I can tell, no manufacturer, foreign or domestic, has ever sold such a car here in the US. No, the odd gray-market Citroen doesn't count. I'm talking about cars that I can actually get parts for.

Is it really too much to ask??

Kuan · #2 10-18-2010, 04:41 PM

300TD?

Chad300tdt · #3 10-18-2010, 04:51 PM

The Mercedes diesel wagons didn't come with a manual trans. so you have to find one that someone already converted or convert one yourself. The other option is to look for a Volvo or a VW. You can find manual trans. diesel wagons in both makes.

Skid Row Joe · #4 10-18-2010, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kuan

300TD?

X 2 - These are great cars.

pj67coll · #5 10-18-2010, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lupin..the..3rd

Is it such a bizarre request?

Yes actually. I can sort of understand the desire for simplicity, but most people simply don't want that. For me such a vehicle would be unpleasant to live with. Why not get a small pickup and put a canopy on the back if you really want that kind of simplicity?

- Peter.

#6 10-18-2010, 05:14 PM

I don't think it's bizarre, but it would be too small a market for anyone to build a car for. It sounds like you really want a truck.

The Clk Man · #7 10-18-2010, 06:06 PM

Chad is correct, a Volvo 240 DL Wagon is a great car, I had one for 10 years and hauled anything and everything in it including a pallet of printing paper, a printing press and several Coca Cola machines. I drove that car for 10 years without engine of tranny problems.

compu_85 · #8 10-18-2010, 07:22 PM

The 760GLE TurboDiesel wagon was available with a 4+OD manual transmission. Finding one will be tough though, moreso one whose engine isn't worn out due to lack of maintenance.

The 240 was only sold with the NA motor. I don't know how slow it would be but I'd much rather have the turbo.

-J

aklim · #9 10-18-2010, 07:25 PM

Can you get the vehicle in auto? Why must it be stick? Why must it be diesel?

Can you get the vehicle body and cobble together transmission and engine into it?

Kinda like destroked.com does. Take a Ford body and shove a Cummins engine in it because people like to go fast with less money spent.

Hatterasguy · #10 10-18-2010, 08:17 PM

Why not just a small pickup truck? Manuals are dead, no one makes manuals anymore and when they do its an afterthought.

Stretch · #11 10-19-2010, 05:02 AM

If you are talking new cars - can't you guys get a BMW 5 series estate (wagon) with a diesel engine and a manual transmission over there?

They are all over the place over here - sometimes hard to find an auto!

Same for Mercedes, Volvo, Subaru (I think), possibly even Jaguar...

To the best of my knowledge all French cars are front wheel drive these days - I can't see why anyone would buy one...

Antony · #12 10-19-2010, 07:35 AM

I've not checked, but, doesn't the VW tdi wagon offer a manual geargbox?

Angel · #13 10-19-2010, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Army

If you are talking new cars - can't you guys get a BMW 5 series estate (wagon) with a diesel engine and a manual transmission over there?

They are all over the place over here - sometimes hard to find an auto!

Same for Mercedes, Volvo, Subaru (I think), possibly even Jaguar...

To the best of my knowledge all French cars are front wheel drive these days - I can't see why anyone would buy one...

no offense Army, but.....

American history lesson: When Jaguar, BMW and MB started selling cars in the US, they marketed themselves as cars for the rich- which in the 70's and 80's meant that we only got Automagic transmissions and all the options (no cloth-seated W123's here !) Not sure why MB sold diesels here, but BMW only tried to sell a 528TD here in the mid 1980's. We got a 240D in the W123 style but never the 200D that sold elsewhere.
More than that, the utility of a wagon never caught on - if you needed that much room, you'd just get a pickup truck - We sell them in 3 sizes (F150, Dodge Dakota and Ford Ranger) and again, sticks are for poor people (lol) so the automatic transmissions (only $400 option) were very common. You can find trucks with manuals, but they are not the norm.

Notable exceptions include the late 90's 5-series (M5's ?) available with a 6-speed stick and the 1986 300E available with a 5-speed and various volkswagens (which never competed with MB/BMW or volvo for sales)

The closest we have to what the OP wants is a Passat Wagon TDI from the laet 80's - 4cyl VW diesel economy but also their front-wheel drive platform. I would argue that you lose some economy when you go to a rear-drive platform, so the Passat TDI wagon is your closest bet.

-John

Stretch · #14 10-19-2010, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Angel

no offense Army, but.....

American history lesson: When Jaguar, BMW and MB started selling cars in the US, they marketed themselves as cars for the rich-...

-John

No offence taken - they are also considered to be cars for the rich / well off / wanna be rich here too!

I think as soon as you go down the road of rear wheel drive you jump up into the "luxury" market these days anyway...

In summary I guess you could say that manufacturers do make 'em but if you live in the US you can't easily get 'em. I do find this strange in, what I consider to be, the land of choice.

R Leo · #15 10-19-2010, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Army

I do find this strange in, what I consider to be, the land of choice.

It was the land of choice. Used to, one could buy a Ford or Mercury, a Plymouth, Chrysler or Dodge, or a Chevrolet, Buick, Pontiac, Oldsmobile or Cadillac. All choices, just the same ones over and over and over.