In recent years, there has been a big push for cars with the best mileage ratings and appliances that are "green" and boasting low fuel costs. My belief that we are all losers in this game, particularly the consumer.


I have done nothing to my car in the last year except to replace the driver door window switch. The more I drive the car, the more I like it. Think about this. As far as I am concerned, this is still the best car ever built. Any car that gets better mileage than my 240D (other than you 300D owners) does it at a cost to the consumer. Yeah, maybe you can get 40 MPG or more, but you end up losing it to repairs. Look at the Prius for example. I saw that the batteries were lasting more than the warranty, some even pushing 15 years, so I took another look. If you search complaints about Prius or problems with Prius, I found a few revealing posts. Some people have reported that the power in the power brakes failed after they hit a bump in the road. I have also seen number of complaints about failed technology, such as the navigation system on the dash. These problems were occurring while under warranty or shortly after warranty. What does your gas mileage look like when your navigation system goes out in four years (I saw a number of a $2,300 repair)? Who needs this? Many people have suffered worse problems because the dealer could not explain what was happening and you keep having to come back. Don't you just love bringing the car in multiple times for the same repair?
When you take away the weight of the Prius batteries from its overall weight, there is only one logical conclusion that one can make. It is built like a tin can. Prius has gone from a "feel good" technology (where the cost of ownership was a break-even to a regular gas-efficient car), to a loser (a slight plus on the mileage/ estimated cost of ownership comparison) because of greater than anticipated repairs. SHORT STORY HERE; my neighbor's three year old C coupe, took off on its own, went over the curb in the parking lot, and landed on another car down below. Imagine my thoughts when he told me he traded it in for a Prius. And don't try to sell me that a computer does well in my minus 10 degree (and often 130+ degree) and often damp garage.

The higher you push the envelope (say 2,000+ psi in the TDi), the more "routine" service you need. When you factor in these costs, you as a consumer gain nothing, but you lose big with inconvenience and frustration. The dealer repair shop is not your friend. One could also argue that high technology is less green in the manufacturing process (driving up the costs of rare earth minerals used in computers and cell phones) and far less green in its disposal (as in batteries and the plastic used in construction). And having the high-tech car with the least repairs, is no better than being King of the dung heap.


Manufactures of boilers and furnaces have done the same thing. For years, boilers and furnaces were 80% efficient, but when the manufacturers started pushing 90 and 95% efficient heating plants, the repair and "routine" maintenance bills went way up. Other than checking the height of the flame (as stated in the manual), vacuuming the dust out, and changing the filter, many of these 80% appliances will go 20-30 years without a repair. With a little reading online, many homeowners could maintain these things on their own until they need a repair. If they need a repair, there are only about 5 things that can fail, so even your repairman, Ernie from Alabama, can "diagnose" the problem. The loser has mainly been the consumer, as nothing has been gained in overall savings, and some even ended up paying more for fuel. Imagine that, a more "efficient" boiler or furnace, and the gas cost went up. NEVER BUY A HEATING APPLIANCE WITH AN EFFICIENCY RATING HIGHER THAN 84%, preferably 80%. You will often be without heat, your "routine" maintenance is much higher, and that costly computer will only last so long, but it is a big cost to replace. The technicians will argue that 95% is better, but the reality is that they do not want to carry a 350 pound boiler down into the basement. They will also argue that they saved their customers 25% on their gas bill after installing a 95% efficient boiler. The reality in this case, is that the industry has made even greater strides in designing the "near-side" piping (than boiler tech.) with total reliability, which accounts for most of the savings. Finally, Burnham boiler has suggested everything stated above is true, right on their website.


I like heat in the winter, and I demand a car that its reliability can be described as bullet-proof. I don't like brakes "by wire" or whatever it is. I don't like little birdies flapping around the corners of my car while it parks itself. I want mechanical knobs and not "auto" temperature control. Wasn't it Hyundai that just gave back millions because no one was getting 40 MPG? Imagine this, a 30 year old, 3500 pound, 240D getting 29 MPG driving only short trips around town, and with better mileage on the highway. You have to be driving a tin can to do better. Most of these lite-weights can, at best, match the mileage, but how many can ride like a cloud, hands free at the wheel, over that dreaded, maintenance deferred railroad crossing?

And, my 30 year old Mercedes will still be around when they take that tin can to the yard for burial. Some may say that they love the gadgets in their cars, but you will find them hiding behind their newspaper at the repair shop (after telling you how much they like their new car).

Or just keep some hardwood and a fireplace around for when the furnace epicfails at an inconvenient time. This being said, the computer is probably the last thing that's likely to fail -- those computers are bone-simple. I'd be more worried about the mechanical parts controlled by the computer failing.

This being said, one of our rentals has a gas water heater with a pilot light. At least the tenant could still take warm showers when the lights went out due to Sandy.

You haven't driven a w124 diesel have you?

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Jim

Granted, but I did have a nineties MB with a trap-oxidizer that failed every 25,000 miles ruining the turbo, and costing a retail (warrantied) $2,500 repair.

Sorry to leave you out.

No problem. In my opinion (excluding the engine wiring harness and head gasket) the 95 E300 is as good as it gets.

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Jim

Many of the computers are more simple many are not. There is also the dreaded "lock-out" where the computer shuts down the boiler for no reason at all, and you call the repairman to fix it.

You also said it yourself, the "epic" failed. The more complex it is, the more it has a need for what I called "routine maintenance," maybe mistakenly so. These things need annual "tune-ups" costing a few hundred dollars. An 80% furnace or boiler does not have that requirement.

My 70s 280S went nowhere when I pushed the pedal at 55-60, and when I first got it, it stalled when I slowly went around a right turn. Mercedes had the car for three weeks to figure this one out, and I never heard a reason, even thought when I got it back, it did not do this again.

My second MB was a 1980 300D. Other than my mistake of buying a BMW (the head failed for no discernable reason in less than four years), I was all diesel until I retired.

As a Mercedes driver for about 25 years, I still believe that the 240D and 300D are the most dependable best mileage (considering weight) cars ever built.

I agree with this. I have owned many 123 cars and the one I sold that I regret was the 1985 300TD. I got spoiled with the 95 E300 on long trips on the interstate at 80 mph.

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Jim

Oh yea, one negative about the older cars is the fact that they don't have cup holders. This is the one, single complaint from the wife in regards to the 95 E class.

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Jim

Nonsense, modern vehicles are plenty reliable. Its the old stuff that enslaves you with constant wrenching because its 30 years old.

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2006 CL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2026 Genesis GV70
2007 Tiara 3200

Most of the stuff you get in drive-thrus isn't worth imbibing anyway. Eating while driving also bothers me, since there's no way to keep the surfaces clean if you're also touching a burger or donut.

This. 30 year old German rubber and plastic scares me.


How is the vacuum system on your 123?

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-Justin

91 560 SEC AMG - other dogs dd
01 Honda S2000 - dogs dd
07 MB ML320 CDI - dd
16 Lexus IS250 - wifes dd

it's automatic.

Speaking to my 123, actually fine apart from one door lock actuator that I haven't got around to fixing (so I just keep the doors locked when the engine is running). But my car has the manual/mechanical climate control, not vacuum controls. And a real transmission, not an autotragic designed for one-legged fools.

exactly! thats why the wife got a new ford focus. i had plans of putting 2k +into the benz. complete suspension and steering rebuild, timing chain, injectors,brand new a/c compressor with full flush and r12 refill, interior repairs, new fuel sending unit, tires, ect ect. i was putting my parts order together on fastlane when i stepped outside and saw it leaking at the waterpump. that one $80 part was enough for me to say eff this and buy the focus. spent 2k buying the focus, put a window regulator in it and have done very minor odds and ends since.


The only pre obd2 (thats pre 1996) vehicles i will own are 70s and earlier

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have no worries.....President Obama swears "If you like your gun, you can keep it

Apparently, you forgot the W126 with under 100K that you gave away.

Even I regret not purchasing that one.............