Well, the diesel-heads and other sensible drivers are probably going to jump all over me for this, but here goes.

I feel like I've got minimum performance parameters for a car.

I feel like I need a car to run 0-60 in less than 10 seconds, and be able to crack off a 60-90 mph pass on a two-laner with ease. Uphill. On a short straightaway.

I'm power spoiled (if I lived in Europe, I probably wouldn't be able to justify the fuel cost of such a car on a limited student's budget that I've got to adhere to) and I know it.

Furthermore, in the future, I'm willing to sacrifice ultimate durability for performance. (i.e. no manual-tranny 220D for my grocery getter).

Anyone have any thoughts on this?

-Sam

LOL.......Sam, your choice of cars is what it is, I smile when I read your posts. You are a true gentleman.

You do need to get behind the wheel of something with some power, 65 to 110, take's less than 6 seconds, and then you just launched into high gear ZoooooooooooooM now you need to slow down!

That is in a well cared for, 30 year old 4.5

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Tim
300CE
280SE 4.5
Sandals (size 11)

I must admit that I love speed and the 300CD Turbodiesel does a good job at keeping me away from speeding.

On the highway I feel that it has enough power to pass other cars between 65-80mph. However in the city I could definitely feel the need for more power.

It only sucks when my friends think it's cool to race me and beat my Mercedes?!@# Maybe I should take the stars off and wonder how people would react.

I'm sure most people would still know what it is

My next car will definitely be a V-8 powered Benz, but I do not wish to sell this thing. It gets a lot of curious questions (diesel in a BenZ?!,etc.)

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2008 BMW 335i Coupe

Well, the 450SL does 1-60 in about 10-ish, is a rocket on the highway, and can pull this off while looking great as a convertible...

in that case... want mine? It's for sale! and it only has 64K miles on it now... (couldn't pass up the opportunity for a sales pitch)

Minimum performance standards are at best subjective, and highly dependent on what you face on a day-to-day basis.

If your commute is on the Autobahn...well, nothing short of an E500 or anything badged with AMG will do.

Trips limited to occasional jaunts to the general store on a long stretch of gravel country road? ML320 (or ML500 if towing livestock or bushels of produce).

Regular rendevous with the ricer crowd or other car nuts? Definitely V8 as a minimum requirement.

So where does a diesel fit? Head of household with a long commute to work, and two kids in private school!

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

A 98-99 E300 turbodiesel should do all that plus get 30+mpg in a body much more accommodating than a Jetta.

Sixto
91 300SE
87 300SDL
83 300SD

mine is a V8 but drives like a 4 cylinder!

It is not bad on city streets but the only complaint on hwy driving is that this thing cant handle headwinds and the economy has to be planted into the red or you will come to a dead stop!

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99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

Headwinds on the level are okay. I just wish the 380SE trans would downshift more readily on hills, you'll easily have the Economy needle pegged loooong before it downshifts.

-Sam

hehe you have that problem too Sam? I thought something was wrong with my trans!! I just shift the lever into 3 and it goes better than to lug the engine lug that. stupid car.

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99 C43
98 S420
99 C230K
01 C240

I think my 528e is the slowest car I will ever buy. The 533i is as slow as I would go unless I bought a truck. The thing that bothers me is when you need to go and you can't get out of your own way.