Post by: jeepster on July 07, 2016, 01:43:38 PM
The VW is a nice driver, but has zero room, and horrible visibility, gets stuck in the driveway too.... Can you go wrong with a heavy steel rear wheel drive diesel powered German sedan?
Post by: Buckewe on July 07, 2016, 01:48:04 PM
Post by: huntnphool on July 07, 2016, 01:50:41 PM
I am thinking about getting out from under our 2008 VW Jetta, and into something else. We own the VW outright, but it totally doesn't fit our lifestyle. We are debating what to get next, and my wife is in love with the idea of an older Mercedes Benz turbo diesel, and to me, getting an engine and car that I can acctually work in, kind of makes sense. We figure 3500-4000$ should get us something reliable with not many issues. I like the idea of a diesel Mercedes as, well, those engines go forever.
The VW is a nice driver, but has zero room, and horrible visibility, gets stuck in the driveway too.... Can you go wrong with a heavy steel diesel powered German sedan?
Finally got rid of my wife's Benz (W211 Sport), I'll never own another! We didn't go with the TDI but it wasn't the engine that had issues, it was so many other things.
It was a very nice, comfortable car, but holy cow was it in the shop all the time for this or that.
If any of you ever consider a Mercedes, be well advised to make sure you have a bumper to bumper warranty, or else be prepared to pay premium service fees often. :twocents:
Post by: jeepster on July 07, 2016, 01:54:58 PM
Post by: Special T on July 07, 2016, 02:43:21 PM
Post by: RatRodMike on July 07, 2016, 03:20:16 PM
Post by: Happy Gilmore on July 07, 2016, 08:51:42 PM
Post by: 7mmstalker on July 07, 2016, 09:16:21 PM
It was a bit shabby and became a maintenance headache. There are no inexpensive parts on that car, but you have owned a late model VW, I hear that about them as well. It was fairly easy to work on though.
I did really admire the build quality of that car, it had well over 100k miles on it when I got it, but was still pretty solid as far as drivetrain. The power windows, glow plugs and timer/relay, glass seals, heater control module (vaccum operated), and some other stuff I have forgot, not so much.
Edit: after we sold that one, my neighbor loaned me his 240D (non turbo) for a trip over the pass. What a slug! MPG just OK, don't remember it being anything remarkable. Constant down- shifting,hardly enough power to maintain 65mph. My 6ft 4 frame was suffering for comfort.
Literally half the car that the 300SD was!
Post by: jeepster on July 07, 2016, 11:31:45 PM
There are no inexpensive parts on that car, but you have owned a late model VW, I hear that about them as well. It was fairly easy to work on though.
I did really admire the build quality of that car, it had well over 100k miles on it when I got it, but was still pretty solid as far as drivetrain.
Yeah, I too have heard late model VWs are spendy as hell to fix.... I can check the oil and put air in the tires, and that's about all the plastic covered engine will let me do to it... Maybe some fluids, but other than that, I have zero desire to pay a mechanic 100$ an hour, and buy over priced parts for something g I can't work on.... We have had a few dings and and bruises on the VW, but, it's time to let it go, before I have to fix anything... Runs great, burns oil, ac doesn't get cold cold, and needs a new bumper and headlight assembly.... Bye bye vw, hello something old and made of iron that a joe dirt like me can fix
Did I mention a chap offered me a 27 foot racing sailboat with a diesel engine in trade for the VW? I figure snag the sailboat, and sell the boats I have now and get the Benz, nut sure which order, but....
Post by: headshot5 on July 08, 2016, 06:49:22 AM
*Edit to add, Generally they all burn a little oil. No big deal, lots of them drip a little oil underneath as well...
Post by: Alchase on July 08, 2016, 10:51:04 AM
They were extremely comfortable, good mileage, never had engine issues,
But, for three years, one or the other has Nichol and dimed him to death. Parts are hideously expensive, and can take weeks to get.
Post by: Happy Gilmore on July 08, 2016, 11:12:18 AM
Post by: Special T on July 08, 2016, 02:39:39 PM
Post by: jeepster on July 08, 2016, 03:01:14 PM
With mechanical injection the best alternative fuel is a blend of 80-20% used motor oil gasoline filtered. The main reason is you can pull up to a pump anywhere and add diesel to the mix and be OK. Veggie oil and normal fuel don't mix. You can build a filtration system cheaper than you can make a vegetable oil conversion and you still have to filter it.
A guy here in Anacortes buys mineral oil in bulk, gets it for 9 cents a gallon and runs it in his 240D, ready to use fuel, delivered to you for less than a dime a gallon. He fills his Mercedes up for about $1.30, only modifications he made to his car are a small 2 gallon diesel tank for winter starting, and a fuel heater for the mineral oil and swapped out fuel lines
Post by: Special T on July 08, 2016, 03:15:10 PM
Post by: Special T on July 08, 2016, 03:19:03 PM
Does a land cruzier in 4wd interest you?
Post by: jeepster on July 08, 2016, 03:54:26 PM
I just see a Mercedes being on par with our VW as cost of parts go, I just like the idea of fixing it myself, and owning a vehicle that was designed to be fixed and meant to run forever vs a modern throw-away that is only meant to last 10-15 years before it goes to the crusher for recycling
I acctually have a landcruiser turbo diesel engine all tore apart on the shelf at work. A Yanmar 6-LP is a land cruiser engine they marinized, and stuck in boats, but has a Toyota emblem on the valve cover, a crank that accepts a clutch, basically just needs an automotive injector pump, exhaust manifold for headers and a radiator. Yanmar got the licences from Toyota, so, it is an authentic Toyota engine but with boat parts all over it. They put the wrong prop on a go-fast boat and burned out the #5 piston, so it got tore apart, but only needs one piston, the bores are fine, head ok, just needs a piston and some gaskets and a bunch of spare time...puts out about 300hp, and would easily fit in my Jeep......