It’s amazing how our perception of “luxury” has changed over the years. How much stuff do you really need on a car? Good a/c and heat, windows and locks that work. General comfort from a supportive seat. Reliability. A decent sound system. That’s pretty much it. I’m with you. I’ll take the Benz!
Same here definitely, touch screens and phones the most dangerous distracting stupid things ever put in cars. Those old Mercedes were wonderful and probably over their lifetime have less impact on the planet considering their longevity and the poisonous materials mined for the Tesla batteries and disposal.
If Tommy had accidentally backed that 300D into the garage as he did the Tesla, I think the biggest risk would have been to the garage itself. Wonderful, stout cars!
SRT Sorbs If Teslas don’t last it’s anything but planned obsolescence. Musk thinks his cars are going to be robotaxis so he has designed them to last 1 million miles. So if they break down it’s poor design not on purpose.
That's the same way I feel about my 1995 Ford Ranger 4 cyl. 5 speed. Rollup windows,manual door locks, Rubber floormat. Room for me and the dog is all I need.
12.2 seconds 0-100km/h in a Diesel in 1982, with non-aero styling, is AMAZING!!!! What a monumental achievement! Credit, where credit is due. Not a slow car at all.
I had a couple of these old Benz's and absolutely love them. 1st was a 1983 200 Petrol. 2nd was a 280cew and also had a 1982 G wagon. Sold them all and regret that now. All 3 are still on the road and have significantly increased in value. I agree, the main issues are rust (especially in Ireland) and the vacuum lines. Despite this I'm on the lookout again due to their incredible reliability. A number of years ago there was serious flooding near where I lived. An old Merc W123 was immersed in flood water for 1 day until retrieved. Slight tinkering with the spanners (by the owner) and it was running again. I too visited Morocco and seen 1st hand the amount of W123's being used as Taxi's. One very overweight driver got in to a very broken seat and asked where we needed to go. It was a long journey and his confidence in the old Merc proved well placed when we arrived at our destination safe and relaxed after a somewhat leisurely but rewarding trip. As for the Tesla. Marvelous and innovative but what condition will they be in after 35 years or 1 day submersed in floodwater.
Because of these videos, I've really come to appreciate these old Mercedes. I never realized just how classy, simple, and attractive the interiors are on these old cars.
Diesels do pollute but not in the same way gasoline engines do. Diesel smoke is sort of like campfire smoke-bad for the lungs but heavier than air so it sinks back to earth (and even adds nitrogen to the soil). In high density areas the particulate matter in diesel smoke will overall be bad for the population, but in a more suburban or rural area you don't have to worry too much about polluting.
The whole emission thing is a joke. Most tail pipe emit very little to no pollutants now. Even the VW scandal it was very little pollutants being emitted I mean microscopic amounts
here in morocco, we are in love of them because they are the strongest most reliable beautiful car mercedes ever made, and we mesure the distance in them by years not by million
>diesel takes less refining >with modern synthetic, my OM617 gets about 31-32 mpg hwy >40 years of usage These old cars are absolutely environmentally friendly even on standard diesel. The biggest problem they're going to face is running out of parts.
Still have a 1982 Turbo Diesel , for years growing up was kind of embarrassed by it getting picked up by my mom from school in the late 90s as it was loud and sometimes dirty. Nowadays would not trade that for a new Tesla. We are estimating it has like over 500K miles on it original engine and transmission, never even rebuilt.
I would rather have the diesel. It still runs 38 later. The Telsa will be at end of life at 10 years. Sorry, not a fan of Telsa. Did enjoy this video Tommy. Thank you. Stay healthy and safe.
I have the same year and color diesel benz. Love mine. Put dark tint, a great sound system, and lowered some. Cleans up very nice. Just hit 215,000 miles and runs better than ever.
I’d rather have that Mercedes than a Tesla in all fairness, the fact that it is still running like clockwork to this day is a true testimony to the way it was built
You were touching on the right to repair, that is biggest reason why not to buy a Telsa. :( if you did dig the 300, you could fix it yourself on the weekend. Sounds like you like driving, not just sitting a car holding a wheel.
Such a car never gonna be affordable. High build quality, durable materials and thousands of man-hours to "polish" the design are expensive. I doubt that let's say 80k ECONOMY car can ever be a big seller.
I’ll take the driver every time. I always wondered if a reverse engineered car would sell by advertising it as a true drivers car. I had a guy rear ended me on the interstate a few years back. He hit me pretty solid. Totaled his new Ford. It merely bent the exhaust pipe on my car, barely. I was driving a 1971 continental.
FYI, the BMW X6 was the first performance SUV who wouldn't rollover on the crash test, but aside for BMW and Tesla I don't remember anything else. And I do like and agree the logic behind recycle, reuse, fix and not replace and use resources of making a new car or any other hing. I think that Autobild, German magazine once published a study of environmental responsibility of running your current car for 15+ years or as long as it lasts no matter the exhaust pollutants, vs. getting a new super eco-friendly car every 4-5 years. They came to conclusion, it's environmentally better to run your old diesel for 15-20 years before actually replacing it for a new car. Not sure I think it was in Autobild.
Reasons why the 300D is BETTER than the Tesla 1. That diesel Benz is still around at 38 years old and has a much higher chance of still being around in another 38 years, unlike the Tesla. 2. It still doesn't create as much emissions when driving as the Tesla does when factoring in mining the materiel to make the battery and the electricity generation to charge it. And remember, Rudolph Diesel first designed the Diesel engine to run on peanut oil. At the time, it was cheaper to refine crude into Diesel fuel. So it can (in an end of world Mad Max scenario) run on bio oils. 3. You can see diesel exhaust, which is why you feel bad. See #3 (not really a reason on why the 300D is better, but you get the point) 4. You can fix it yourself 5. A good one is less than 15 grand and "low milage" means it has less than 150k on it (I'd be interested to see if a Tesla can still run as strong after 150k... much less just getting started) Don't get me wrong, those 300Ds are HORRIBLY slow and not much to look at. Teslas are fast, new, and sexy. I get it. But those old Mercedes with the hood star, build quality like a tank, and bullet proof (with proper care) engines have something that new cars just don't have anymore.
Wonderful video. I had an 85 300SD. Same engine, even heavier car. As a performance enthusiast (that’s being polite), this car was not the expected shock. It was so smooth and yet implacable in the way it gained momentum; but it wasn’t quick to accelerate. As a result it forced me to be more traffic aware and to become a far better road driver than competition driving schools ever did. I loved that car.
We are in Morocco. Our taxi is a Mercedes 240, its top speed is 220 km, most of it is 260 km We also have a Mercedes 250 model Or as you call it, you are W 124
Tommy, you’re gesturing and sounding more like Doug DeMuro with every video. Not dissing you, understand. I love your videos. Keep up the good and entertaining work.
Well done, Tommy! Excellent review and comparison of these two cars. Indeed both are dramatically opposite of one another which makes the 300D such an exciting car to drive, it’s old hat and has gone beyond it’s era of time and space but it’s still has a place in the world that fits right in with the rest of them. Being a millennial myself, I’d choose the 300D too. I am also a believer in that buying a used car is better than buying a new one. It is more sustainable and it keeps the private sector economy moving. Keep it up buddy, great video 👍
My uncle in the 90s will buy these on auction for practically nothing in Los Angeles.. at one time he had like 7 of these... now I must say the interior was to me super luxurious... coming from my dad owning a 79 crown vic at the time...
running on canola oil is better than just being organically sourced carbon, canola oil doesnt have any sulphur in it and the glycerine group doesnt breakdown completely in the cylinder so it knocks down the smoke. i did a research paper on the viability of canola for uni and i got curious so I started running my 96 mercedes on half canola and it stopped smoking. I did a back road test to find the smoke point and it was about 3000 RPM in 3rd gear while on straight diesel it was about 2500 RPM in second gear, so much higher RPM and load. im currently designing some mods to cut smoke even more.
Tommy, I’m probably not more than 6-7 years older than you and I agree with you 100% on this one. My first vehicle was a 1984 Chevrolet S-10. Owning that car taught me that less technology is better when operating a vehicle. There’s something to be said for actually hearing and feeling the environment around you when driving. The more I learn about new cars, the more I want to own nothing but “classic” cars.
Thank god someone who finally sees sense. I've been saying for ages. Keeping an older car on the road is far less polluting than to produce an new electric car. I love my 2017 E Class Cabriolet but I also adore my 1992 300SL
I was born in ‘71 and have very fond memories of my father’s Mercedes W123s. The engineering and quality was over the top at the time and designed to last forever. I wish I could buy a brand new W123 Wagon! The seats were absolutely amazing. With that being said now my father and I both have 2021 Tesla M3 LRs.
I'm with you, Mercedes Diesel. I drove a 240d (non turbo) automatic. The 300td was a rocket (uh not really) but much faster. The steering feel was so solid and precise. Most American cars had terrible steering.
Hi Tommy, it would be a great episode to do a comparison with your 300D against the second best diesel that Mercedes ever built the 2005-2006 E320 CDI.
Do a diesel purge, it will clean out a fuel system and engine internals. Result: smog practically eliminated and the car will feel snappier. Very easy thing to do. Do it when both fuel filters are changed. Love those cars!
Last year I bought a 1987 Mercedes 190D (W201) 72 HP natural aspirated Diesel I love that thing enjoy it an drive it every day to work in the months when there is no road salt
I love this mercedes, thank you for appreciating it, I remember riding it and immediately fell in love with it. its funny for a child to appreciate this mercedes but i love the way it sounds specially when the engine is angry, used to call my aunt's mercedes " angry car"
oh i forgot to mention that when i first ride it, i immediately felt the strong and sturdy body of the mercedes and it is really built to last forever.
That one time when my SD's alternator died, battery went flat, and I have 0 volts of power in my car. So I just refused to turn it off at the gas station, refueled and drove 2 hours home, with no electricity at all. YEP the Ultimate Extreme Opposite To A Tesla.
I once had a 1979 300CD, that was one of my favorite cars I had ever owned, sadly I sold it in 2005 when everything on it started to break all at the same time and I didn't want to dump anymore money into it... I would love to own another W123 car just for the simplicity factor...
An older co-worker got his Mom's 84?? Mercedes Diesel when she died and he has been driving it since the mid 90s and it currently has over 800,000 miles and still runs like new and has had only minimal repairs since the Mom got it new, nothing big. 25-30 mpg all day long. What amazing cars that will still be going strong 100 years from now.
Bravo Tomas. I am with you on this. Old is where its at. 20-40 year old trucks are my passion . just can't bring myself to buy or drive something that has gadgets that break and cost a fortune to fix!
The instant starting says really good things about your engine's compression. Really, the only major negative for an enthusiast like you is that you are very young with many decades ahead. You deserve air bags and lots of them.
Dad's neighbor always had this type(?) of Mercedes. Ran out of gas once and had to buy kerosene to make it home, since no diesel was available at night where he was. Of course, that was the 70s...
my friends first car was the station wagon of the benz and it was to this day the most comfortable car I,ve driven in, literally like a boat with a sofa as driver seat...
TFL always does an incredible job on these videos. A new 300D Turbo was my first Mercedes. They are a tank, built to last forever. Simple to fix, even changing light bulbs. Some have gone millions of miles. I followed this with a number of the large SEL sedans and a couple of SL's. All were great vehicles that surpassed everything on the market. Too bad those days are gone. The current cars are no comparison and are even surpassed by less expensive vehicles. I have have a new Rubicon, which has gone in the opposite direction. Much better than ever but a pricey money maker for Fiat. Keep up the great work on honest detailed reviews of vehicles.
Hey there bud! I totally agree! I have a 84 300d euro non turbo( also no USA emission kit) and just bought a Mazda CX-5 turbodiesel 2.5. The Mazda is awesome and in my opinion one of the best crossovers to date! But I LOVE my old boy Klaus and always get thumbs ups and offers to sell him. Would be happy to loan you both cars for a comparison of new tech vs old school diesels to see which one you like. Let me know! 👍🏽
Mercedes for me please.These cars are simply a drivers car per excellence. Mine ran great on BioDiesel. And the sounds...oh the sounds. I love them like my kids. Thanks for the great videos.
Great Comparison! I have owned several of these mid 80's Mercedes, and they are slow, but steady. Really liked how you comically compared their acceleration differences!
ExTrumpet, no, try an old 60s-70s gasser they get about 5-6mpg. If anything the 7.3 in the excursion, & the w123, & my 95 7.3 are probably the most fuel efficient vehicles you can buy, the excursion can get up to 20mpg, the w123 can get 50mpg, & my 7.3 can get 20mpg. The new diesels are just plain choked out with emissions that causes them to get such poor mpg.
I couldn't help laughing out loud throughout the video - well done! Thank you for the video. If you do a future update to this video, consider as of September 2018 approximately 49% of the electric power generated in the state of Colorado at coal-fired power stations. Just how much cleaner is that Tesla than a diesel-fired Mercedes 300D? (Yes - I do own a 1984 Mercedes 300D. I park it beside my Kentucky made Toyota Camry Hybrid.)
Tommy, great videos on your Benz and you're right on all counts. You seem slightly guilt-ridden about the "pollution" emitted by your 300D.... I have three beautiful Benz's, two 300CDs (one Turbo) and a 350SDL "land yacht" with 3/4-milion miles between them. All are zero-emission vehicles..., much more so than the beloved Teslas and other new cars running around with 2,000 lbs of Cadmium, Cobalt, Zinc, Manganese, Lithium. and other ghastly chemicals nestled within their frames. The battery cars burn coal and gas out of town somewhere to get their energy. For the last 17 years I have run all three of my wonderful "oil burners" on 100% biodiesel which is available in Commerce City, Boulder, and a few other places. No, it's not some kid mixing stuff in his garage, it's ASTM-D-6751 certified commercial fuel made from soybeans. It pulls it's carbon-dioxide out of the air in the farmer's fields and returns it the air when it burns... not pulling it out of the ground. It's available from some dealers in the area. It's a great fuel, much higher Cetane rating, engine runs much quieter, produces much less soot so I can triple the miles I get on each oil change... and what little odor emitted from the car resembles barbeque. The downside?... it costs more, and in the winter you want to mix with maybe 50/50 diesel here in Colorado since pure biodiesel gels at a higher temperature than the dino-fuel. NO modifications are needed to the cars. BTW, carry a spare fuel filter in the glove box because the biodiesel will kill the millions of bugs that are currently living in your diesel tank. They will die and head for the filter clogging it. This will happen one time about a week after switching, then you'll never have to change it again. Dennis
Puting a water methenol injection kit to your old mercedes would Help it Run better an Cleaner . Just a thought to reduce whats coming out the Tail Pipe an make It a little more eco friendly.
Even if modern cars have all the things like hi tech infotainment systems or electronics that help in adjusting seats or other fancy electronics ,still those old cars appear to be more classy! Wood polished interiors ,beautiful leather seating ,a solid good looking bodywork,etc !
What a great video! Just brilliant. This old classic Merc; Built to last and last it does. And I fully agree, the involvement of driving an old car is incredibly higher than a modern car. The sweet spot, I think, is an 80s car. Modern enough to be comfortable and old enough to be enjoyable.
Sorry but at least in Marrakech, the cabs are no longer mercs. I was there in October, LOTS of Dacias! I got to ride in a sandero with an old 1.5dci with 937.000km. Bumpers all tied up with copper wires, missing door cards and the most scary part was that You could see that the airbag section in the steering wheel was hot glued back in place!
Love that this seems to knock the 300d, and everyone in comments would rather own it. Owned 6 of them, currently restoring a wagon. Teslas are throw away cars. Once battery is gone so are they.
All things considered, there is one great big difference. Having had a W123 in our family for a long time, the old Merc will put a great big smile on your face every time you go for a drive. It's special and brings a sense of occasion. The Tesla, while a technical marvel, just isn't anywhere near as special.
Yep I agree, I would take the Mercedes Diesel any day. Give me one in good shape with a stick shift, run it on biodiesel, and take good care of it. It will out live the laptop on wheels by 20 years. I want one now.
Great video! Really love all the subtle nods to the Clarkson era of Top Gear, very entertaining to watch.
I agree!
Couldn’t put my finger on it but this video reminded me of top gear. Maybe the drive-by shots.
Me too, I agree 😁
The Benz will still be running long after those Teslas have been recycled...
I agree people still drive 300td's 38 years later. No one is going to be driving a 38 year old tesla
That was literally the first thing that crossed my mind, before I even watched the video.
Tesla will be the Asbestos of the car industry.
When it comes to cool and class the Benz will always be in a higher league.
A lot of those Tesla’s will be running for a very long time but yes the Benz can probably last longer
There is a w123 taxicab in the Canary Islands with SEVEN MILLION Kms, and it is still working daily.
Back when "German car" meant more reliable. Love it.
yeah now it just means expensive
It’s amazing how our perception of “luxury” has changed over the years. How much stuff do you really need on a car? Good a/c and heat, windows and locks that work. General comfort from a supportive seat. Reliability. A decent sound system. That’s pretty much it. I’m with you. I’ll take the Benz!
Seats were better back in the day also.
I hate touch screens in cars - I would definitely take the tesla, sell it and buy a couple of these W123 Mercs !
Thats exactly what i would do too!
Same here definitely, touch screens and phones the most dangerous distracting stupid things ever put in cars. Those old Mercedes were wonderful and probably over their lifetime have less impact on the planet considering their longevity and the poisonous materials mined for the Tesla batteries and disposal.
Hopefully you are the only one to do so, because it creates a lot of smog
Carmine DAuria-Gupta sure... few 300d are going to kill the planet...
I think it’s the opposite... sell few tesla and buy a W123 benz...
0-60 MPH in 12.2 sec is faster than I expected for a an old Turbo Diesel Mercedes.
Tom Kato Yeah I was actually blown away too off camera!
Should've taken the 200D in order to get the total opposite of a Tesla :D
@@andrewolff708 Yes, try that one for a 0-60 time.
Especially in Colorado at high elevation.
@@nielsdebakker3283 27 seconds 😎
If Tommy had accidentally backed that 300D into the garage as he did the Tesla, I think the biggest risk would have been to the garage itself. Wonderful, stout cars!
Built like a tank.
Tommy, how can we make a replica of the 300D when we can't even buy toilet paper?!
I’d still rather own the Mercedes even after 38 years. Tesla’s are like a laptop. Planned obsolescence.
SRT Sorbs If Teslas don’t last it’s anything but planned obsolescence. Musk thinks his cars are going to be robotaxis so he has designed them to last 1 million miles. So if they break down it’s poor design not on purpose.
four doors,four wheels laptop!
That's the same way I feel about my 1995 Ford Ranger 4 cyl. 5 speed. Rollup windows,manual door locks, Rubber floormat. Room for me and the dog is all I need.
the nineties pickups were great! Ford Rangers, Toyota Hilux and Nissans were the most reliable vehicles and can run forever
Amen to that. I used to own an 84 Chevy S-10 as my first vehicle (this was about 10 years ago).
Something to be said about simplicity.
12.2 seconds 0-100km/h in a Diesel in 1982, with non-aero styling, is AMAZING!!!! What a monumental achievement! Credit, where credit is due. Not a slow car at all.
These are such elegant cars. My favorite thing about these cars is how easy it is to see out of them.
I had a couple of these old Benz's and absolutely love them. 1st was a 1983 200 Petrol. 2nd was a 280cew and also had a 1982 G wagon. Sold them all and regret that now. All 3 are still on the road and have significantly increased in value.
I agree, the main issues are rust (especially in Ireland) and the vacuum lines.
Despite this I'm on the lookout again due to their incredible reliability.
A number of years ago there was serious flooding near where I lived. An old Merc W123 was immersed in flood water for 1 day until retrieved. Slight tinkering with the spanners (by the owner) and it was running again.
I too visited Morocco and seen 1st hand the amount of W123's being used as Taxi's. One very overweight driver got in to a very broken seat and asked where we needed to go. It was a long journey and his confidence in the old Merc proved well placed when we arrived at our destination safe and relaxed after a somewhat leisurely but rewarding trip.
As for the Tesla. Marvelous and innovative but what condition will they be in after 35 years or 1 day submersed in floodwater.
Because of these videos, I've really come to appreciate these old Mercedes. I never realized just how classy, simple, and attractive the interiors are on these old cars.
Diesels do pollute but not in the same way gasoline engines do. Diesel smoke is sort of like campfire smoke-bad for the lungs but heavier than air so it sinks back to earth (and even adds nitrogen to the soil). In high density areas the particulate matter in diesel smoke will overall be bad for the population, but in a more suburban or rural area you don't have to worry too much about polluting.
ähm, no. Put it in the Museum where it belongs but do`nt use it anymore...
The whole emission thing is a joke. Most tail pipe emit very little to no pollutants now. Even the VW scandal it was very little pollutants being emitted I mean microscopic amounts
@@heikopanzlaff3789 No
Words no car enthusiasts will ever say about your Tesla "I love the old school simplicity"!
Run the MB into a wall at 5-10 MPH and the wall may be ruined...
i totally agree with you Tommy, the driving pleasure is silently dying with autonomous and people driving on influence
I would take that old Mercedes in a heartbeat. Especially one in that condition!
here in morocco, we are in love of them because they are the strongest most reliable beautiful car mercedes ever made, and we mesure the distance in them by years not by million
Hi Tommy, I share your love with the w123, I drive one daily and it is a joy. Best car ever made, only an owner will know.
>diesel takes less refining
>with modern synthetic, my OM617 gets about 31-32 mpg hwy
>40 years of usage
These old cars are absolutely environmentally friendly even on standard diesel. The biggest problem they're going to face is running out of parts.
Still have a 1982 Turbo Diesel , for years growing up was kind of embarrassed by it getting picked up by my mom from school in the late 90s as it was loud and sometimes dirty. Nowadays would not trade that for a new Tesla. We are estimating it has like over 500K miles on it original engine and transmission, never even rebuilt.
I would rather have the diesel. It still runs 38 later. The Telsa will be at end of life at 10 years. Sorry, not a fan of Telsa.
Did enjoy this video Tommy. Thank you. Stay healthy and safe.
True
I have the same year and color diesel benz. Love mine. Put dark tint, a great sound system, and lowered some. Cleans up very nice. Just hit 215,000 miles and runs better than ever.
I’d rather have that Mercedes than a Tesla in all fairness, the fact that it is still running like clockwork to this day is a true testimony to the way it was built
Thank you! The W123 is a fantastic machine. Full of character and quality. Two things lacking in many modern cars.
You were touching on the right to repair, that is biggest reason why not to buy a Telsa. :( if you did dig the 300, you could fix it yourself on the weekend. Sounds like you like driving, not just sitting a car holding a wheel.
I wish they mixed this old Mercedes technology with the new Tesla technology. But simple, affordable and low maintenance, durable and just classy
Such a car never gonna be affordable. High build quality, durable materials and thousands of man-hours to "polish" the design are expensive. I doubt that let's say 80k ECONOMY car can ever be a big seller.
@@ldmtag how did the w123 then became the best selling mercedes?
Ok. You’ve convinced me. Looking for a 300D now.
I’ll take the driver every time. I always wondered if a reverse engineered car would sell by advertising it as a true drivers car. I had a guy rear ended me on the interstate a few years back. He hit me pretty solid. Totaled his new Ford. It merely bent the exhaust pipe on my car, barely. I was driving a 1971 continental.
FYI, the BMW X6 was the first performance SUV who wouldn't rollover on the crash test, but aside for BMW and Tesla I don't remember anything else.
And I do like and agree the logic behind recycle, reuse, fix and not replace and use resources of making a new car or any other hing. I think that Autobild, German magazine once published a study of environmental responsibility of running your current car for 15+ years or as long as it lasts no matter the exhaust pollutants, vs. getting a new super eco-friendly car every 4-5 years. They came to conclusion, it's environmentally better to run your old diesel for 15-20 years before actually replacing it for a new car. Not sure I think it was in Autobild.
Reasons why the 300D is BETTER than the Tesla
1. That diesel Benz is still around at 38 years old and has a much higher chance of still being around in another 38 years, unlike the Tesla.
2. It still doesn't create as much emissions when driving as the Tesla does when factoring in mining the materiel to make the battery and the electricity generation to charge it. And remember, Rudolph Diesel first designed the Diesel engine to run on peanut oil. At the time, it was cheaper to refine crude into Diesel fuel. So it can (in an end of world Mad Max scenario) run on bio oils.
3. You can see diesel exhaust, which is why you feel bad. See #3 (not really a reason on why the 300D is better, but you get the point)
4. You can fix it yourself
5. A good one is less than 15 grand and "low milage" means it has less than 150k on it (I'd be interested to see if a Tesla can still run as strong after 150k... much less just getting started)
Don't get me wrong, those 300Ds are HORRIBLY slow and not much to look at. Teslas are fast, new, and sexy. I get it. But those old Mercedes with the hood star, build quality like a tank, and bullet proof (with proper care) engines have something that new cars just don't have anymore.
Wonderful video. I had an 85 300SD. Same engine, even heavier car. As a performance enthusiast (that’s being polite), this car was not the expected shock. It was so smooth and yet implacable in the way it gained momentum; but it wasn’t quick to accelerate. As a result it forced me to be more traffic aware and to become a far better road driver than competition driving schools ever did. I loved that car.
We are in Morocco. Our taxi is a Mercedes 240, its top speed is 220 km, most of it is 260 km We also have a Mercedes 250 model Or as you call it, you are W 124
Tommy, you’re gesturing and sounding more like Doug DeMuro with every video. Not dissing you, understand. I love your videos. Keep up the good and entertaining work.
Tesla is the Ken doll of the automotive world. Given a choice been the two, Mercedes all day. The Tesla is a toy, not a real car.
Angry Panda And the W123 is G.I. Joe
It's a phone that drives you around.
Well done, Tommy! Excellent review and comparison of these two cars. Indeed both are dramatically opposite of one another which makes the 300D such an exciting car to drive, it’s old hat and has gone beyond it’s era of time and space but it’s still has a place in the world that fits right in with the rest of them. Being a millennial myself, I’d choose the 300D too. I am also a believer in that buying a used car is better than buying a new one. It is more sustainable and it keeps the private sector economy moving. Keep it up buddy, great video 👍
My uncle in the 90s will buy these on auction for practically nothing in Los Angeles.. at one time he had like 7 of these... now I must say the interior was to me super luxurious... coming from my dad owning a 79 crown vic at the time...
running on canola oil is better than just being organically sourced carbon, canola oil doesnt have any sulphur in it and the glycerine group doesnt breakdown completely in the cylinder so it knocks down the smoke. i did a research paper on the viability of canola for uni and i got curious so I started running my 96 mercedes on half canola and it stopped smoking. I did a back road test to find the smoke point and it was about 3000 RPM in 3rd gear while on straight diesel it was about 2500 RPM in second gear, so much higher RPM and load. im currently designing some mods to cut smoke even more.
Tommy,
I’m probably not more than 6-7 years older than you and I agree with you 100% on this one. My first vehicle was a 1984 Chevrolet S-10. Owning that car taught me that less technology is better when operating a vehicle. There’s something to be said for actually hearing and feeling the environment around you when driving.
The more I learn about new cars, the more I want to own nothing but “classic” cars.
Thank god someone who finally sees sense. I've been saying for ages. Keeping an older car on the road is far less polluting than to produce an new electric car. I love my 2017 E Class Cabriolet but I also adore my 1992 300SL
I'd rather drive an old school car also. I currently daily drive my 96 mustang iv had for 15 years and love it. Keep up the awesome videos love them!!
I was born in ‘71 and have very fond memories of my father’s Mercedes W123s. The engineering and quality was over the top at the time and designed to last forever. I wish I could buy a brand new W123 Wagon! The seats were absolutely amazing.
With that being said now my father and I both have 2021 Tesla M3 LRs.
I'm with you, Mercedes Diesel. I drove a 240d (non turbo) automatic. The 300td was a rocket (uh not really) but much faster. The steering feel was so solid and precise. Most American cars had terrible steering.
Hi Tommy, it would be a great episode to do a comparison with your 300D against the second best diesel that Mercedes ever built the 2005-2006 E320 CDI.
There still is a place in my heart for my old 300 D. Mine was a 1975.
During my collage time I was using it. Sold car and love it as it is.
Had it gas and not diesel.
Do a diesel purge, it will clean out a fuel system and engine internals. Result: smog practically eliminated and the car will feel snappier. Very easy thing to do. Do it when both fuel filters are changed. Love those cars!
Last year I bought a 1987 Mercedes 190D (W201) 72 HP natural aspirated Diesel I love that thing enjoy it an drive it every day to work in the months when there is no road salt
My dad's 240d from 83 used as a taxi in Morocco since 92 and its still running only god know the real km
I was born in 92 I'm feel old by now lool
What a great video. I love the Mercedes too. And you get good mpg's, don't forget.
I love this mercedes, thank you for appreciating it, I remember riding it and immediately fell in love with it. its funny for a child to appreciate this mercedes but i love the way it sounds specially when the engine is angry, used to call my aunt's mercedes " angry car"
oh i forgot to mention that when i first ride it, i immediately felt the strong and sturdy body of the mercedes and it is really built to last forever.
The Benz has way more character! Excellent choice Tommy!
Yep, I am on your side...the Mercedes, all day, every day.
I had a 1981 MB 240 D for my first car back in 2003....now I drive a 2018 Model 3. This videopretty much brings it home for me lol
That one time when my SD's alternator died, battery went flat, and I have 0 volts of power in my car. So I just refused to turn it off at the gas station, refueled and drove 2 hours home, with no electricity at all. YEP the Ultimate Extreme Opposite To A Tesla.
Thanks Tommy, your speed in Mercedes Diesel reminded of blazing speed of my 89 Suzuki Sidekick (1.6 4cyl 80hp), 0-60 in 12 seconds
Thank You for saving this old one, they are perfect!
Great video Tommy!! Keep doing more of these types of videos and keep up the great work!
I once had a 1979 300CD, that was one of my favorite cars I had ever owned, sadly I sold it in 2005 when everything on it started to break all at the same time and I didn't want to dump anymore money into it... I would love to own another W123 car just for the simplicity factor...
An older co-worker got his Mom's 84?? Mercedes Diesel when she died and he has been driving it since the mid 90s and it currently has over 800,000 miles and still runs like new and has had only minimal repairs since the Mom got it new, nothing big. 25-30 mpg all day long. What amazing cars that will still be going strong 100 years from now.
The old merc is for car enthusiasts, the tesla is a forgettable form of transport.
Bravo Tomas. I am with you on this. Old is where its at. 20-40 year old trucks are my passion . just can't bring myself to buy or drive something that has gadgets that break and cost a fortune to fix!
The instant starting says really good things about your engine's compression. Really, the only major negative for an enthusiast like you is that you are very young with many decades ahead. You deserve air bags and lots of them.
Dad's neighbor always had this type(?) of Mercedes. Ran out of gas once and had to buy kerosene to make it home, since no diesel was available at night where he was. Of course, that was the 70s...
my friends first car was the station wagon of the benz and it was to this day the most comfortable car I,ve driven in, literally like a boat with a sofa as driver seat...
TFL always does an incredible job on these videos. A new 300D Turbo was my first Mercedes. They are a tank, built to last forever. Simple to fix, even changing light bulbs. Some have gone millions of miles. I followed this with a number of the large SEL sedans and a couple of SL's. All were great vehicles that surpassed everything on the market. Too bad those days are gone. The current cars are no comparison and are even surpassed by less expensive vehicles. I have have a new Rubicon, which has gone in the opposite direction. Much better than ever but a pricey money maker for Fiat. Keep up the great work on honest detailed reviews of vehicles.
Be thankful you have a turbo. The standard 80 horsepower is I M M E N S E in my 300d.
All your subscribers already know why a 300D is exponentially superior to a Tesla. Keep up the great work. I love your channel.
Hey there bud! I totally agree! I have a 84 300d euro non turbo( also no USA emission kit) and just bought a Mazda CX-5 turbodiesel 2.5. The Mazda is awesome and in my opinion one of the best crossovers to date! But I LOVE my old boy Klaus and always get thumbs ups and offers to sell him. Would be happy to loan you both cars for a comparison of new tech vs old school diesels to see which one you like. Let me know! 👍🏽
Spot on mate 👍. Easy vid to watch I managed 340,000 miles in my old merc and wish I’d kept it lol Thanks 👌
Mercedes for me please.These cars are simply a drivers car per excellence. Mine ran great on BioDiesel. And the sounds...oh the sounds. I love them like my kids. Thanks for the great videos.
Great Comparison! I have owned several of these mid 80's Mercedes, and they are slow, but steady. Really liked how you comically compared their acceleration differences!
What a great car, don’t get rid of it, had many of them and still love them. Have moved on to more modern but still have a Mercedes diesel.
Is this a resume for a job on Top Gear? Good Work!
Ford Excursion turbo diesel is even more extreme!
ExTrumpet, no, try an old 60s-70s gasser they get about 5-6mpg. If anything the 7.3 in the excursion, & the w123, & my 95 7.3 are probably the most fuel efficient vehicles you can buy, the excursion can get up to 20mpg, the w123 can get 50mpg, & my 7.3 can get 20mpg.
The new diesels are just plain choked out with emissions that causes them to get such poor mpg.
Tommy, Nice Job! Keeping it on the funny side. Keep them coming.
That's right Tommy! Become one with that diesel. 👍👍
I couldn't help laughing out loud throughout the video - well done! Thank you for the video. If you do a future update to this video, consider as of September 2018 approximately 49% of the electric power generated in the state of Colorado at coal-fired power stations. Just how much cleaner is that Tesla than a diesel-fired Mercedes 300D?
(Yes - I do own a 1984 Mercedes 300D. I park it beside my Kentucky made Toyota Camry Hybrid.)
Tommy, great videos on your Benz and you're right on all counts. You seem slightly guilt-ridden about the "pollution" emitted by your 300D.... I have three beautiful Benz's, two 300CDs (one Turbo) and a 350SDL "land yacht" with 3/4-milion miles between them. All are zero-emission vehicles..., much more so than the beloved Teslas and other new cars running around with 2,000 lbs of Cadmium, Cobalt, Zinc, Manganese, Lithium. and other ghastly chemicals nestled within their frames. The battery cars burn coal and gas out of town somewhere to get their energy. For the last 17 years I have run all three of my wonderful "oil burners" on 100% biodiesel which is available in Commerce City, Boulder, and a few other places. No, it's not some kid mixing stuff in his garage, it's ASTM-D-6751 certified commercial fuel made from soybeans. It pulls it's carbon-dioxide out of the air in the farmer's fields and returns it the air when it burns... not pulling it out of the ground. It's available from some dealers in the area. It's a great fuel, much higher Cetane rating, engine runs much quieter, produces much less soot so I can triple the miles I get on each oil change... and what little odor emitted from the car resembles barbeque. The downside?... it costs more, and in the winter you want to mix with maybe 50/50 diesel here in Colorado since pure biodiesel gels at a higher temperature than the dino-fuel. NO modifications are needed to the cars. BTW, carry a spare fuel filter in the glove box because the biodiesel will kill the millions of bugs that are currently living in your diesel tank. They will die and head for the filter clogging it. This will happen one time about a week after switching, then you'll never have to change it again. Dennis
I'd still go for the Mercedes
Great Video Tommy.
11:25 I used to drive a 1977 Ford LTD with a 460cu engine. It was a pretty comfy ride!
Puting a water methenol injection kit to your old mercedes would Help it Run better an Cleaner . Just a thought to reduce whats coming out the Tail Pipe an make It a little more eco friendly.
Or convert to run on old fry grease!
Even if modern cars have all the things like hi tech infotainment systems or electronics that help in adjusting seats or other fancy electronics ,still those old cars appear to be more classy! Wood polished interiors ,beautiful leather seating ,a solid good looking bodywork,etc !
What a great video! Just brilliant.
This old classic Merc; Built to last and last it does.
And I fully agree, the involvement of driving an old car is incredibly higher than a modern car. The sweet spot, I think, is an 80s car. Modern enough to be comfortable and old enough to be enjoyable.
Sorry but at least in Marrakech, the cabs are no longer mercs. I was there in October, LOTS of Dacias! I got to ride in a sandero with an old 1.5dci with 937.000km.
Bumpers all tied up with copper wires, missing door cards and the most scary part was that You could see that the airbag section in the steering wheel was hot glued back in place!
I love my '82 300D. I laughed so hard I spewed beer on my laptop. lol
Loved every thing about the video. Couldn't have done it better. Bravo Tommy.
If you clean and balance the injectors and adjust the valves, it will quiet it down quite a bit
Loved this one Tommy. Keep that 300D forever and don't ever regret driving it.
Love that this seems to knock the 300d, and everyone in comments would rather own it. Owned 6 of them, currently restoring a wagon. Teslas are throw away cars. Once battery is gone so are they.
omg I love the sound of the om617 engines
Well done and brings back memories.
1- my bathroom door have the same sound.
2- This can can turn to be a good bathroom.
Very good video, I fully agree with Mr Tommy on this.
All things considered, there is one great big difference. Having had a W123 in our family for a long time, the old Merc will put a great big smile on your face every time you go for a drive. It's special and brings a sense of occasion. The Tesla, while a technical marvel, just isn't anywhere near as special.
Yep I agree, I would take the Mercedes Diesel any day. Give me one in good shape with a stick shift, run it on biodiesel, and take good care of it. It will out live the laptop on wheels by 20 years. I want one now.