Yes, the Golf/Jetta TDI gets good fuel economy BUT you'll realise that a 20-y/o MB is a BARGAIN the first time you pay $100 for a set of front brake pads for the VW, or when you replace the $300 MAF sensor for the 3rd or 4th time, or when it needs yet ANOTHER window lifter, or when it won't start because the intake manifold is clogged with soot, or when you get the bill from the chiropractor b/c the seats are HORRIBLE, or when the rear brake pads wear out AGAIN after only 20k miles, or when the coolant level sensor seal fails and coolant is pumped into your wiring harness destroying your entire electrical system, etc etc.
Idiotically, I gave up my 1979 300TD for a new 2002 Golf TDI. It took me about a week to start hating it, and almost two years to ditch it -- for a 1984 300TD. D. >On Feb 13, 2008 2:16 PM, carbucks <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: >> Thanks, John. Nice looking TD. >> >> Fuel is the other cost I'm factoring in. According to >> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/noframes/3565.shtml the 300td will get up >> to 25 mpg and for 15000 annual miles @ $3/gal cost you $2239 per year. >> >> For a few thousand more, I can pick up a Jetta Wagon TDI ($mid-teens) >> which according to >> http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/2008car1tablef.jsp?id=19905 gets up to 42 >> mpg and costs $1407 per year. >> >> So paying $10k for a twenty plus year old car that only gets about half >> the fuel mileage of a five year old Jetta does not add up. Factor in >> rising fuel costs as well as the higher costs to maintain the Benz and >> the arithmetic is even less in favor of the Benz. >> >> Unless, of course, I can find one like yours. :-) >> >> Martin -- David Bruckmann, Palo Alto, CA Current Reality: 1970 Citroen DS21 Pallas (170,000 km) "Goettin" 1972 Mercedes-Benz 280 SEL 4.5 (150,000 km) "Blauer Engel" 1976 Citroen 2CV6 (145,000 km) "Piaf" http://dolly.bruckmann.com/ 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300D (390,000 km) "Brown Betty" Shady Past: 1971 Citroen DS21 Pallas (137,000km), 1972 Citroen DS21 Pallas (502,000km) 1978 Mercedes-Benz 300D (1,200,000 km or thereabouts) "Sieglinde" 1979 Mercedes-Benz 300TD non-turbo (260,000 km) "Diva" 1981 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston (120,000km), 1988 Merkur XR4Ti (209,000km) 1981 Peugeot 505 GRD (350,000km), 1984 MB 300TD (385,000 km) "Gertraud" 1985 Toyota Camry "The Slamry" (330,000km) 1986 Renault 9 1.7L (155,000 km) 2002 VW Golf GLS TDI "The Hated Golf" (74,000 km) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- _______________________________________ http://www.okiebenz.com For new parts see official list sponsor: http://www.buymbparts.com/ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://okiebenz.com/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_okiebenz.com
