From owner-diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Sat Feb 26 13:09:51 2011 From: diesel-benz-digest diesel-benz-digest Saturday, February 26 2011 Volume 01 : Number 3403 Forum for Discussion of Diesel Mercedes Benz Automobiles Derick Amburgey Digest Coordinator Contents: Re: [db] Mileage Challenge Re: [db] Mileage Challenge Re: [db] Mileage Challenge Re: [db] Mileage Challenge Re: [db] Mileage Challenge [db] mercedes Diesels - years to avoid? Diesel Benz Digest Home Page: http://www.digest.net/diesel-benz/ Send submissions to diesel-benz-digest@digest.net Send administrative requests to diesel-benz-digest-request@digest.net To unsubscribe, include the word unsubscribe by itself in the body of the message, unless you are sending the request from a different address than the one that appears on the list. Include the word help in a message to stag-digest-request to get a list of other majordomo commands. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 22 Feb 2011 20:28:47 -0500 From: Edward Pomeroy Subject: Re: [db] Mileage Challenge I like Nick's challenge. My Jetta TDI is averaging 43 MPG mixed city/highway at roughly 50/50. All Higway, St. Joseph MI to Dayton OH 51MPG, basically 95% hwy and 5% traffic and that was with a leadfoot. I think if I coast hills and do more downshifting instead of using brakes I can top that. As to the Benz, gotta fix the trans shift problem but it averages 31.5 on the same route the TDI does 43. Fun, wish diesel would not be selling at a 30 cent over regular rate though. Edward On 2/22/2011 7:33 PM, john wrote: > Nick, > > You one that one... my best on that same route was 39.75 mpg... but I > stopped just west of the Idaho border... had I gone > that extra 15 miles... who knows... but I stopped at Liberty Lake... ;) > > Best mpg with my '99 4.7L V8 WJ full time 4x4 is 21.3 mpg > Best mpg with my '03 Jetta TDI wagon is 52 mpg > Best mpg with my '81 Wagoneer with a 360 was 13.65 mpg... > > good job lightfoot... ;) > > john > > > > On 02/22/2011 04:00 PM, Nick Eckert wrote: >> This last Thursday I decided to challenge myself to get the highest >> mileage possible out of my 1991 W124, (really I just wanted to best John >> ;-) ) >> >> >> >> I drove from Everett, Washington to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho via I-90, a >> total of 346.7 miles on 8.377 gallons of diesel, for an average of >> 41.387 mpg. >> >> >> >> There was little wind the whole trip and for those that don't know the >> route, it is over one mountain pass. >> >> >> >> I used cruise control judiciously to keep my speed at approx 63 mph and >> used a light foot going over the pass, (no black smoke allowed, 3rd >> gear). >> >> >> >> I think 45 mpg would be possible if speed were kept below 55 mph >> >> >> >> Let me say that again 41.387 mpg out of a 1991 W124 with 277,000 miles >> on it that only cost me $3500 three years ago. >> >> >> >> Take that Prius! >> >> >> >> Some caveats, I have driven over 600,000 miles behind the wheel of a >> diesel and have routinely challenged myself to get the highest mileage. >> I once drove a VW Golf from Wyoming to Seattle on a single tank and >> drove from Seattle to Upstate New York in a weekend on only $91, >> including fuel, food, and an oil change at the end, (in a VW Golf, yes >> in a weekend...46 hours of straight through driving fun). >> >> >> >> Can you best me? Got to go at least several hundred miles, no huge >> tailwinds or drafting allowed. >> >> >> >> Go! >> >> >> >> Cheers, >> >> >> >> Nick ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:54:27 +0000 From: Stephen Rigley Subject: Re: [db] Mileage Challenge Best with : '88 W201 2.0 NA : 39mpg '85 W123 2.5tdt : 30mpg(!) '96 XJ 2.5TD : 34mpg '02 Rover 75 2.0TD Estate : 50mpg '01 CLK 200k : 38mpg '88 Citroen 2cv : 48mpg ;-) On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 1:28 AM, Edward Pomeroy wrote: > I like Nick's challenge. My Jetta TDI is averaging 43 MPG mixed > city/highway at roughly 50/50. All Higway, St. Joseph MI to Dayton OH > 51MPG, basically 95% hwy and 5% traffic and that was with a leadfoot. I > think if I coast hills and do more downshifting instead of using brakes I > can top that. As to the Benz, gotta fix the trans shift problem but it > averages 31.5 on the same route the TDI does 43. Fun, wish diesel would not > be selling at a 30 cent over regular rate though. > > Edward > > > On 2/22/2011 7:33 PM, john wrote: > >> Nick, >> >> You one that one... my best on that same route was 39.75 mpg... but I >> stopped just west of the Idaho border... had I gone >> that extra 15 miles... who knows... but I stopped at Liberty Lake... ;) >> >> Best mpg with my '99 4.7L V8 WJ full time 4x4 is 21.3 mpg >> Best mpg with my '03 Jetta TDI wagon is 52 mpg >> Best mpg with my '81 Wagoneer with a 360 was 13.65 mpg... >> >> good job lightfoot... ;) >> >> john >> >> >> >> On 02/22/2011 04:00 PM, Nick Eckert wrote: >> >>> This last Thursday I decided to challenge myself to get the highest >>> mileage possible out of my 1991 W124, (really I just wanted to best John >>> ;-) ) >>> >>> >>> >>> I drove from Everett, Washington to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho via I-90, a >>> total of 346.7 miles on 8.377 gallons of diesel, for an average of >>> 41.387 mpg. >>> >>> >>> >>> There was little wind the whole trip and for those that don't know the >>> route, it is over one mountain pass. >>> >>> >>> >>> I used cruise control judiciously to keep my speed at approx 63 mph and >>> used a light foot going over the pass, (no black smoke allowed, 3rd >>> gear). >>> >>> >>> >>> I think 45 mpg would be possible if speed were kept below 55 mph >>> >>> >>> >>> Let me say that again 41.387 mpg out of a 1991 W124 with 277,000 miles >>> on it that only cost me $3500 three years ago. >>> >>> >>> >>> Take that Prius! >>> >>> >>> >>> Some caveats, I have driven over 600,000 miles behind the wheel of a >>> diesel and have routinely challenged myself to get the highest mileage. >>> I once drove a VW Golf from Wyoming to Seattle on a single tank and >>> drove from Seattle to Upstate New York in a weekend on only $91, >>> including fuel, food, and an oil change at the end, (in a VW Golf, yes >>> in a weekend...46 hours of straight through driving fun). >>> >>> >>> >>> Can you best me? Got to go at least several hundred miles, no huge >>> tailwinds or drafting allowed. >>> >>> >>> >>> Go! >>> >>> >>> >>> Cheers, >>> >>> >>> >>> Nick ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 15:30:05 +0000 From: john Subject: Re: [db] Mileage Challenge Are these adjusted to Us gal or Imperial? Y'all have 1.1 gals vs our 1.0. Read an article from australia where a full size jeep got 25 mpg! Turned out it was 19 or 20. :) john at http://wagoneers.com - -----Original Message----- From: Stephen Rigley Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 12:54:27 To: Edward Pomeroy Cc: ; john; Nick Eckert; Subject: Re: [db] Mileage Challenge Best with : '88 W201 2.0 NA : 39mpg '85 W123 2.5tdt : 30mpg(!) '96 XJ 2.5TD : 34mpg '02 Rover 75 2.0TD Estate : 50mpg '01 CLK 200k : 38mpg '88 Citroen 2cv : 48mpg ;-) On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 1:28 AM, Edward Pomeroy wrote: > I like Nick's challenge. My Jetta TDI is averaging 43 MPG mixed > city/highway at roughly 50/50. All Higway, St. Joseph MI to Dayton OH > 51MPG, basically 95% hwy and 5% traffic and that was with a leadfoot. I > think if I coast hills and do more downshifting instead of using brakes I > can top that. As to the Benz, gotta fix the trans shift problem but it > averages 31.5 on the same route the TDI does 43. Fun, wish diesel would not > be selling at a 30 cent over regular rate though. > > Edward > > > On 2/22/2011 7:33 PM, john wrote: > >> Nick, >> >> You one that one... my best on that same route was 39.75 mpg... but I >> stopped just west of the Idaho border... had I gone >> that extra 15 miles... who knows... but I stopped at Liberty Lake... ;) >> >> Best mpg with my '99 4.7L V8 WJ full time 4x4 is 21.3 mpg >> Best mpg with my '03 Jetta TDI wagon is 52 mpg >> Best mpg with my '81 Wagoneer with a 360 was 13.65 mpg... >> >> good job lightfoot... ;) >> >> john >> >> >> >> On 02/22/2011 04:00 PM, Nick Eckert wrote: >> >>> This last Thursday I decided to challenge myself to get the highest >>> mileage possible out of my 1991 W124, (really I just wanted to best John >>> ;-) ) >>> >>> >>> >>> I drove from Everett, Washington to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho via I-90, a >>> total of 346.7 miles on 8.377 gallons of diesel, for an average of >>> 41.387 mpg. >>> >>> >>> >>> There was little wind the whole trip and for those that don't know the >>> route, it is over one mountain pass. >>> >>> >>> >>> I used cruise control judiciously to keep my speed at approx 63 mph and >>> used a light foot going over the pass, (no black smoke allowed, 3rd >>> gear). >>> >>> >>> >>> I think 45 mpg would be possible if speed were kept below 55 mph >>> >>> >>> >>> Let me say that again 41.387 mpg out of a 1991 W124 with 277,000 miles >>> on it that only cost me $3500 three years ago. >>> >>> >>> >>> Take that Prius! >>> >>> >>> >>> Some caveats, I have driven over 600,000 miles behind the wheel of a >>> diesel and have routinely challenged myself to get the highest mileage. >>> I once drove a VW Golf from Wyoming to Seattle on a single tank and >>> drove from Seattle to Upstate New York in a weekend on only $91, >>> including fuel, food, and an oil change at the end, (in a VW Golf, yes >>> in a weekend...46 hours of straight through driving fun). >>> >>> >>> >>> Can you best me? Got to go at least several hundred miles, no huge >>> tailwinds or drafting allowed. >>> >>> >>> >>> Go! >>> >>> >>> >>> Cheers, >>> >>> >>> >>> Nick ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 08:35:00 -0800 (PST) From: Jim Hoffman Subject: Re: [db] Mileage Challenge Well, it wasn't a Mercedes but I have yet to meet anyone who can best my trip to FL in 1989 in my 1987 Ford Escort 2.0l Mazda diesel. Remembering that the national speedlimit back then was 55 I set the cruise @ 59-60mph. I averaged 61mpg for the whole trip. Went from SE Wisconsin to FL and back on $60 worth of fuel! And that was with the Escort loaded to the gills with my wife and I in the front and two young children in the back. Top that... ;) Jim - --- On Tue, 2/22/11, Nick Eckert wrote: > From: Nick Eckert > Subject: [db] Mileage Challenge > To: diesel-benz-digest@digest.net > Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 6:00 PM > This last Thursday I decided to > challenge myself to get the highest > mileage possible out of my 1991 W124, (really I just wanted > to best John > ;-) ) > > > > I drove from Everett, Washington to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho > via I-90, a > total of 346.7 miles on 8.377 gallons of diesel, for an > average of > 41.387 mpg. > > > > There was little wind the whole trip and for those that > don't know the > route, it is over one mountain pass. > > > > I used cruise control judiciously to keep my speed at > approx 63 mph and > used a light foot going over the pass, (no black smoke > allowed, 3rd > gear). > > > > I think 45 mpg would be possible if speed were kept below > 55 mph > > > > Let me say that again 41.387 mpg out of a 1991 W124 with > 277,000 miles > on it that only cost me $3500 three years ago. > > > > Take that Prius! > > > > Some caveats, I have driven over 600,000 miles behind the > wheel of a > diesel and have routinely challenged myself to get the > highest mileage. > I once drove a VW Golf from Wyoming to Seattle on a single > tank and > drove from Seattle to Upstate New York in a weekend on only > $91, > including fuel, food, and an oil change at the end, (in a > VW Golf, yes > in a weekend...46 hours of straight through driving fun). > > > > Can you best me? Got to go at least several hundred > miles, no huge > tailwinds or drafting allowed. > > > > Go! > > > > Cheers, > > > > Nick ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2011 09:59:25 -0800 (PST) From: john Subject: Re: [db] Mileage Challenge you may have the prize here... I know chuck was claiming 60 mpg with his Jetta... but 61 tops that. ;) john ----- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 si vis pacem, para bellum http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ On Wed, 23 Feb 2011, Jim Hoffman wrote: # Well, it wasn't a Mercedes but I have yet to meet anyone who can # best my trip # to FL in 1989 in my 1987 Ford Escort 2.0l Mazda diesel. # Remembering that the # national speedlimit back then was 55 I set the # cruise @ 59-60mph. I averaged # 61mpg for the whole trip. Went from # SE Wisconsin to FL and back on $60 worth # of fuel! And that was with # the Escort loaded to the gills with my wife and I # in the front and # two young children in the back. # # Top that... # # ;) # # Jim # # --- On # Tue, 2/22/11, Nick Eckert wrote: # # > From: Nick Eckert # # > Subject: [db] Mileage Challenge # > To: # diesel-benz-digest@digest.net # > Date: Tuesday, February 22, 2011, 6:00 PM # > # This last Thursday I decided to # > challenge myself to get the highest # > # mileage possible out of my 1991 W124, (really I just wanted # > to best John # > # ;-) ) # > # > # > # > I drove from Everett, Washington to Coeur d'Alene, Idaho # > # via I-90, a # > total of 346.7 miles on 8.377 gallons of diesel, for an # > # average of # > 41.387 mpg. # > # > # > # > There was little wind the whole trip and # for those that # > don't know the # > route, it is over one mountain pass. # > # > # > # > I used cruise control judiciously to keep my speed at # > approx 63 mph and # > # used a light foot going over the pass, (no black smoke # > allowed, 3rd # > gear). # > # > # > # > I think 45 mpg would be possible if speed were kept below # > 55 mph # > # > # > # > Let me say that again 41.387 mpg out of a 1991 W124 with # > 277,000 # miles # > on it that only cost me $3500 three years ago. # > # > # > # > Take that # Prius! # > # > # > # > Some caveats, I have driven over 600,000 miles behind the # > # wheel of a # > diesel and have routinely challenged myself to get the # > highest # mileage. # > I once drove a VW Golf from Wyoming to Seattle on a single # > tank # and # > drove from Seattle to Upstate New York in a weekend on only # > $91, # > # including fuel, food, and an oil change at the end, (in a # > VW Golf, yes # > in # a weekend...46 hours of straight through driving fun). # > # > # > # > Can you best # me? Got to go at least several hundred # > miles, no huge # > tailwinds or # drafting allowed. # > # > # > # > Go! # > # > # > # > Cheers, # > # > # > # > Nick # ------------------------------ Date: Sat, 26 Feb 2011 13:09:20 -0800 (PST) From: john Subject: [db] mercedes Diesels - years to avoid? I'm waiting to get the call to drive 75 miles to look at the '86 190D... the pictures I've seen indicate it's in decent condition for it's age, and the price is right... but with a handful of buyers eager to buy my Jetta TDI I have a budget that permits a newer mercedes... up to about $7k... there's a '95 or two out there, and a '96... what is the year where quality takes a big dump? I know '99 is a very bad year, thank you Mike Frank for sharing your suffering... I know the 124's are good, the 201's are fine... but the 210s and 140s should be avoided? I'm eager to get out of a VW with it's rubber band and manual gearbox and back into a Benz, but I want the best economy possible... hence a 190D... thanx, john ----- - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Snohomish, Washington -o|||||o- where Jeeps don't rust, they mold http://AMSOIL.com/redirect.cgi?zo=283461 si vis pacem, para bellum http://johnmeister.com http://wagoneers.com http://fotomeister.us - ------------------------------------------------------------------------ ------------------------------ End of diesel-benz-digest V1 #3403 **********************************