How many rude encounters have you had because you drive a diesel?
 

How many rude encounters have you had because you drive a diesel?
It seems that everyone thinks that diesels are too slow to follow. I get people trying to cut in front of me way too often even if there's plenty of room behind me. I've been driving long enough to tell who will try. Fortunately I drive a turbo-diesel and when I see some SOB trying to cut in front of me I just speed up. I'm tired of their crap because if they do succeed cutting in front of me, they are on their brakes trying to avoid hitting the poor schmuck in front of them.
What have you encountered?

Many encounters
 

Probably the most common is at the gas station when the attendant comes running out screaming "You are putting diesel in your car mister!!".:)

Guess that is more weird than rude.

I used to get that all the time ... that "diesel... slow... must go in front of him"-attitude! I did the same thing u do... I accelerated :D I'm sure they didn't think of it much but the TurboD's pace is really allright once it moves!

Definitely get less of that in the E420 - except from like Audi A4s, BMW 3s, etc. driven by college kids...

This is interesting. I used to get that a lot with my "300SD turbodiesel". Now that I drive a "350SD Turbo" and "300SDL Turbo" nobody knows they're diesels. Most people don't know what the "D" stands for. But they certainly know what DIESEL or TURBODIESEL mean.

If sombody is riding your tail, just do what I do and many other dieselers do. Flutter the pedal a bit to stir up some carbon, then apply heavy throttle and belch it out the tailpipes to engulf their vehicle in "diesel smoke"!

I never knew this one. It looks like it should be a lot of fun to send a smoke-fart at someone like that.

Right. But your car has the turbodiesel badge on the back! I'd rather have one of those. I want people to know I drive a diesel when they try to pass me.

I bet you'd make a lot of people angry if you decided not to give in!

People cut me off all the time.

But hey, I drive a 220Diesel. 0-60 in about 27 seconds. They deserve to cut in front of me, because I am seriously the slowest car on the road. It doesnt make me angry.

I've experienced a few smart-a$$ remarks from self-appointed "environmental experts" who think I'm some kind of "horrendous executioner of the ozone layer." Luckily a couple of them have actually been willing to stop, listen, and be educated on the environmental and economic benefits of diesel.

"What do you mean it puts out way less carbon monoxide?..."
"Biodiesel?...What's that?..."
"It'll last >500,000 miles?...Really?..."
"You got it for how much?..."

Mike

Yep, the jokes on them.

Do you get tax breaks on older cars in US? In UK we do, but only for <1973. Originally they introduced it as anything older than 25 years, but then backtracked & fixed at 1973. It makes environmental and economic sense, and might even win some votes, so I don't understand why this isn't common policy.

It varies from state-to-state, but it's usually taxed on the book value of the car. My tax and tag renewal on my 79 300SD is less than $50US per year.

There's also gas-guzzler taxes, "environmental impact fees" and such on some cars. Ridiculous.

Mike

Ever thought that maybe the reason people cut you guys off, is rather to get the hell away from the rear where they get a wiff of exhaust fumes? I know I do. Everytime I'm behind an old MB diesel, I Can't breathe, so I get the heck outta there quick.

Never understood that one either. I find the smell of diesel fuel and diesel exhaust MUCH less noxious than gasoline or gas exhaust. And I felt that way LONG before I ever thought of owning a diesel-engined car.

You're not likely to ever die from carbon monoxide poisoning in a diesel either! So if you're thinking of closing your garage door and kissing the world goodbye, don't try it with a diesel. You'll most likely just get a very bad headache, followed by years of therapy!

Mike

You can smell gasoline when you drive? I drive around w/ the air on, I smell nothing. Then I drive behind a school bus or an old diesel, and then I smell it. Weird, maybe you're immune to diesel fumes :D

I meant smelling gasoline at the pump, etc...and no, I usually don't smell anyone's exhaust when I'm driving, gas or diesel...Unless it's a REALLY, REALLY smoky truck or bus. But that still doesn't bother me as much as gasoline exhaust does.

Mike

I find fumes from non-catalyst gas powered cars to be far worse than that of any diesel be it a VW Rabbit or a bus. Worse yet is a gas powered (with or w/o catalyst) car that's not tuned up right and is running rich. I can be in a long line of cars at the end and smell one of those beasts at front of the line. I personally love old cars, (pre-1968) and own one myself, but I wouldn't want to follow one.