Date:         Sun, 30 Dec 2007 09:11:29 -0800
Reply-To:     Zeitgeist <gruengeist@GMAIL.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Zeitgeist <gruengeist@GMAIL.COM>
Subject:      Re: I did the ultimate upgrade for Christmas!
In-Reply-To:  <000601c84b02$3916c330$6d01a8c0@DADSTOSHIBA>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1

In case you were wondering...

The version of your car ('92 300SD -- W140 chassis) with the six cylinder
3.5L turbodiesel* engine is capable of getting up to 27-28 mpg on the
highway.


*Unfortunately, it's also one of the few fatally flawed diesel engines
Mercedes ever produced -- the infamous "rod-bender".  The 300SD/S350 with a
factory repaired version of this engine is supposed to be a wonderful car.

Casey
'87 300TD
'89 Wolfsburg Edition


On Dec 30, 2007 8:37 AM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote:

> I don't know about that. I spend almost 2 hours/day driving to and from
> work. I recently acquired a 1992 Benz 600SEL. Yes V-12. I enjoy this car
> so much that I look for excuses to drive it. Do I really need the power?
> Heck no! But just normal acceleration is so smooth and that 5,000 pound
> car actually feels nimble and I just smirk starting it up. And I often
> enjoy not having to pedal it. Weekly gas impact is ~$20 if I do not do a
> bunch of short trips as compared the Fox. Yes it is still wasteful but the
> 16 mpg is no different than my Vanagon anyway. Yes, I took the Benz to
> Florida at turkey time and it averaged 16.33 mpg over almost 3,500 miles
> of driving some of it at high speeds. Hopefully that V-10 TDI will shine
> in the fuel economy department.
>
>