Best DD for the money?

[Kumi]

my E30 is my DD usually, but a great alternative would be a Acura RSX.

[redsubdivisions]

+1 w123, have one... only the 300D, 300SD 300SDL, NOT the "240D" unless you like driving slow, better mpg tho...

+1 Eta, had one... great gas mileage and still an e30!

+1 for Corolla's or Camry's, not that I would ever own one, but I did recommend a Camry recently for my sister.



That is incorrect. I've had many, including the w126. They can easily get 25-28mph if they are maintained. I get way better mpg with my 300d than my e30. Even on Waste vegetable oil. It may not beat an eta...but it beats my 325i.



Are you sure it's the 6 cylinder? Not all w126's have a 6 cylinder, only the 300SDL does, and those are becoming hard to find. All the other w126's or "300sd" have the EXACT same 5 cylinder engine as the w123.


IMHO...The 1981-1985 300d 300sd/l is the strongest most reliable car ever made/on the road. You can read more online about it. Very little electronics, all vacuum powered. Two alternator/fan belts. Cast Iron block AND head. Timing chain. Vacuum adjusted transmission. If you start slipping gears, a simple adjustment of the vacuum cable will fix it 90% of the time, long before a rebuild is needed. They can run on diesel, wvo, tranny fluid and used engine oil. The engine was made out of melted down German tiger tanks...so the legend goes. Easy 500k before rebuild if you care for it. My 82 had 390k original miles when I sold it.

The w123 and w126 have notoriously weak rear ends. Definitely not good for towing. You can make upgrades to the rear end though, I have seen it done.

Op, Toyota/Hondas are like disposable cameras. They would need less attention. You have to look after the diesel like a locomotive "or maybe that's just me" But my w123 is the only car i'd want during the Apocalypse.

I've driven my w123 to Texas and back 5 times, and Washington DC once. Never a single issue. Many people who have these cars don't know what they have, that is why you see so many in disrepair.

Edit:
I should add, the w123/126 is SUPER easy to work on and maintain, parts are plentiful and affordable.

+1 times infinity. Everything that I wanted to say is in this quote.

My grandfather was a diesel mechanic and he had a W123 and a W126 for a long time. Had a white W123 for 500k miles and still sold it for an excellent price. He now has a minivan because my grandmother bitched enough to where he didn't want to hear it anymore. It is the biggest headache known to man and yes, it is a fucking piece of shit Chrysler. Worst car brand to exist, imo.


Back on topic, Mercedes-Benz diesels are indestructible powerhouses, especially the W126 chassis. I have been searching frantically for one because of rising gas prices, not to mention I would love to get my E30 boosted in the near future.

[nomansland92]

I have a Subaru impreza for a dd... it sucks haha

[GoKahth8ter]

I DD my 2011 GTI, or my 1969 MGC.... My 1986 es is just a silly project.

[nando]

I can't see myself DDing a car I don't love.

Why buy a car if you aren't going to drive it?

And why drive a car if you aren't going to love it?

E30
E21
BMW 2002
240SX
280Z/ZX
Datsun 510
Actually, any late 70's Japanese car.
60's VW Type 3

There are so many good cars, as long as they aren't new.

Reliability is all about what you put in it. Buy any solid old BMW/VW/Nissan/Honda/Toyota, put good parts in it, solid motor, it'll last.

this is pretty much how I feel. Why have a super awesome car that you only look at once in a while when you peek under the cover or walk by it in the garage?

[canadiankid]

I was going to say sunfire. I drove one for three years, then I thought about everything I replaced on it.

Parts were cheaper than dirt, and I know how to turn a wrench so it didn't cost much, but I replaced a TON of parts. Never actually broke down and left me stranded. It is a long list of parts though. I miss that car a lot. It died of cancer(rust) RIP. Always started, always ran and always enjoyed me driving the living piss out of it.

[graphikg]

My 5 series touring from 93 was the best! Sold it to a happy man at 291,000. Great car that I kinda wish I didnt sell.

[MR E30 325is]

I dd a 95 Cherokee when the E30 is preoccupied.

Big enough to tow the E30 easily, gas mileage is nothing to write home about (I dont really care, my daily commute is rather short) and the 4.0 is a very very strong engine.

I honestly still prefer the E30 though. Especially with the S52. Doesnt take much to get going, and in turn the gas mileage is pretty decent. regularly pull 29+mpg on long road trips.

[Asbradley21]

+1 times infinity. Everything that I wanted to say is in this quote.

Back on topic, Mercedes-Benz diesels are indestructible powerhouses, especially the W126 chassis. I have been searching frantically for one because of rising gas prices, not to mention I would love to get my E30 boosted in the near future.

Absolutely.
As my e30 moves further and further away from a comfortable DD to a bone-jarring autocross/hpde/funtime car. I'd like to have something that will get me where I want to go in comfort, with decent gas milage and most importantly without worrying about expensive repairs due to high miles.

But they are increasingly hard to come by. I'm now mainly looking for a 300SDL(with the OM603 6 cylinder) which are even harder to come by because nearly every OM617 car I find is rather beat-up in one way or another or asking a very high dollar, while it seems that most SDL's I come across are in fairly good shape with a reasonable price. While the 603 certainly is not as robust as the 617, they're still incredibly reliable and long-living engines.

[Kershaw]

you can find 190es very cheaply. usually arent diesel though.

[alB5]

you can find 190es very cheaply. usually arent diesel though.

that would be the 190d

i'm looking at an older golf/gti as a daily, the 8v's or the vr6's are very strong motors.

[schröe30er]

Absolutely.
As my e30 moves further and further away from a comfortable DD to a bone-jarring autocross/hpde/funtime car. I'd like to have something that will get me where I want to go in comfort, with decent gas milage and most importantly without worrying about expensive repairs due to high miles.

But they are increasingly hard to come by. I'm now mainly looking for a 300SDL(with the OM603 6 cylinder) which are even harder to come by because nearly every OM617 car I find is rather beat-up in one way or another or asking a very high dollar, while it seems that most SDL's I come across are in fairly good shape with a reasonable price. While the 603 certainly is not as robust as the 617, they're still incredibly reliable and long-living engines.

Yea they are becoming hard to come buy because dumb Americans don't buy them thinking they are junk. So they are going straight to the junkyard. It's freaking sad. Unlike in Europe, or the middle east (where they still drive diplomats around in them.) There is a reason they drive these in those dusty desert climates, they really are nearly indestructible. I want to get another one and just garage it.

I wish you luck finding an SDL. Where I use to work we converted w123/126's to run biofuel, and bought and sold them as well. We barely ever saw SDL's. When one came in the owner kept it. Out here hipsters were over paying for converted ones and they ruined a lot of them, since they didn't realize they are like locomotives and need to be maintained...idiots. Funny thing is, they sold or junked them and their new car they bought probably wont even last as long.

you can find 190es very cheaply. usually arent diesel though.

Maybe your thinking of the 190D? and if so, they are pieces of crap. The transmission in the 81-85 w123/126 alone is a reason to go with it over the 190d. I don't know how the 190e performs, but the 190d is shite.

Edit:
I shouldn't say the 190d is a piece of crap haha!, it's not. That is strictly my opinion between the w123. Many would disagree with me. But I have seen less 190d's on the road and a lot more 190d's with issues.

[Morrison]

Stay away from the 7th generation Civic. I had a 2003 EX Coupe for about 5 years and had more problems with it than any previous car. Ball Joints were shot to the point of clunking at 71k. ABS sensors in the seat would randomly glitch out and illuminate the light on the dash requiring a reset. The front rotors warped before 50k. The gas door release cable broke so I had to manually open it by reaching in through the trunk liner everytime it needed gas. Rear wheel bearings were growling by 110k. The shield around the catalytic converter partially rusted away and was rattling. It always suffered from insane torque steer. Snow, wet, or dry traction was non-existent.

And the coup de gras was when the head gasket blew - it overpressurized the whole cooling system and blew one of the end tanks right off the radiator spraying coolant everywhere. @ 123k

Older Honda's I've owned were much more reliable and better built including an '89 Accord and a '92 Prelude. In my opinion they are just relying on their hard earned reputation for quality from years ago but just putting out junk now.

[James Crivellone]

I don't see the point in newer cars for DD's.. If i'm driving something every day I want the drivetrain to be cheap, suspension to be soft, and seats to be comfy.

I drive this thing most of the time, love it, 24mpg city / 30mpg highway

[chappys4life]

I would love an xj for a dd but my 87 325e is my dd and it has been great. Even in a wreck and semi gimped it just keeps going. Its been an on and off driver for like 10 months and only things that broke where fuel relay and tps.