Mercedes Diesel 4 speed manual

When gas prices spiked a few years ago, cars like this 1979 Mercedes-Benz 240D were suddenly very much in demand. Virtually indestructible and capable of pulling down some rather impressive fuel economy, they're always the first go-to vehicles when times get tough. The fact that you can enjoy Mercedes-levels of luxury while you save money is simply icing on the cake. Yes, I'd call these fun cars, if not collectable, because good ones never remain on the... market for long. This one shows 141,948 miles, and since Mercedes odometers go to a million before rolling over, we'll interpret that as a sign of their reliability. It would also be a mistake to bet against this car eventually running a million miles because these are perhaps the most reliable machines ever devised by man. The W123 series cars were notorious for rusting in northern climates, but this one has lived its entire life in a warm, dry climate, so the sheetmetal is as well-preserved as the mechanicals. The Light Ivory paint is factory enamel and shows minimal signs of age, another sign of quality materials and great care over the years. It's very nicely preserved overall and original paint means no injuries or problems lurking under the skin. The chrome and stainless trim remains very good as well, including the familiar Mercedes-Benz grille, which is still one of the most recognized symbols of wealth and quality on the road. The tan MB-Tex interior has been recently and comprehensively freshened, so it is in excellent shape. The bucket seats show no notable signs of wear (MB-Tex wears like iron) and there aren't many cars that are better long-distance cruisers than this, as long as your bladder can withstand the miserly fuel economy and range. It is still a Mercedes, after all, so you get a beautiful walnut instrument panel and console, a giant steering wheel, and big, round gauges that should look familiar to anyone who has driven one of these in the past few decades. There's also a Becker Europa AM/FM radio that's fully operational, which is a nice surprise. There's also automatic climate control, a sunroof, and a 4-speed manual transmission, so this affordable Benz is hardly stripped down. Plenty of room in back and the trunk will handle all the luggage you can carry. The 240D nomenclature suggests a diesel 2.4 liter 4-cylinder diesel, which was a mainstay of Mercedes-Benz production for many years. If you see a Mercedes in Morocco pulling taxi duty, this is what's powering it. Indestructible, easy to maintain, and with fuel economy that will rival the best of today's cars, it's all about having your cake and eating it too. They're legendary for their durability and should run practically forever with basic maintenance. This one has been very well maintained along the way, but you'll probably find that oil changes and an occasional wash and wax are all it asks. It starts easily and idles with a familiar diesel clatter, and while the horsepower and torque figures are modest, this car will cruise all day at 75 MPH with the engine just purring away up front. You can also thank the 4-speed manual transmission and tall 2.88 rear gears, which certainly help in the economy department, and the suspension and brakes make it feel lively yet comfortable on the road. Like I said, there aren't many better road trip vehicles. Standard steel wheels with color-matched hubcaps look great and carry relatively recent 195/70/14 whitewall radials. A Mercedes is always a Mercedes, but when it's so affordable and will pay you back with astounding fuel economy and reliability, you can count it as a double win. Call today!