RE: Going diesel - cost/benefits
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RE: Going diesel - cost/benefits - 9/8/2005 7:03:32 PM
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uberwgn
Posts: 135
Joined: 6/21/2005
From: New England
Status: offline
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I always like to ask the questions:
- how big is your tool box?
- how are you mechanical skills?
- are you looking for a new hobby?
You're going to need to dedicate either time or money to keep an old car reliable if you intend to use it as a daily driver. Some may be better off just getting a much newer car and bypass the issues related to a high mileage car.
Just my $.03
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RE: Going diesel - cost/benefits - 9/8/2005 10:03:06 PM
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Kajtek1
Posts: 772
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Bay Area CA
Status: offline
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Those 78-85, 3-liters are probably the best engines manufactured in the 20-th Century.
If you can keep up with replacing aging gaskets, the car is still having potential to outlive you.
Economy of those is not too great. My 83 wagon averaged 20 MPG in mostly freeway driving. But I have heavy foot.
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RE: Going diesel - cost/benefits - 9/9/2005 9:00:47 AM
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vrathore
Posts: 2
Joined: 9/2/2005
Status: offline
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Just thought I'd share my two cents on the cost of ownership of diesels. Your mileage may vary.
My fathers 1985 300 diesel (european non-turbo) gets 25-26 mpg on average. Mostly city driving. On the highway it would hit 30, but only if you stayed under 70 mph. It was a little noisy, but for an engine that cannot be killed, I think the economics work out quite well. Maintenance is limited to fluid replacements - oil (s), brake, transmission, etc and tires, brakes. Going on 150K, thats all. One glow plug recently went bad, but for $6, that was remedied pretty easily. Still starts in -10 degree days and runs like a workhorse. Purchase price <$20K, Maintenance cost over 20 years <$300 yr = cost per mile cannot be beat. And its still worth about $4K. Total Cost of Ownership (excl fuel) = $20000 + $6000 maintenance -$4000 resale = $22000 for 20 years. Thats about $1000 a year or 14.7 cents per mile
On my 1995 E300 Diesel, much quieter, cleaner and more gizmos. I got 26 mpg combined mileage (50/50) and <30 on the highway. I purchase for $41K, drove for 100K and sold for $11K in 2004. Maintenance cost was about $400/yr cause I did a lot of preventative stuff. But the car was much nicer, quieter and faster. Total cost of ownership $30000 + $3600 = $33600/100000 = 33.6 cents per mile. I can't justify why I sold the car, so I won't try. Suffice it to say that I regretted every minute after selling it.
My father in law purchased a used 1995 E300D in 1997 with 25K at $27000. He gets 33 mpg on average, mostly country roads. He has no intention of selling. He now has 180K on the car and spends about $500 year cause his mechanic is more costly than mine out in rural florida. I'd say his residual value is still >$5k. Total cost of ownership so far = $22000 + 4000 = $26000/165000 = 15.75 cents per mile.
I just bought a new E320 CDI for $50K. I expect to keep it for over 100K miles. As you can see the longer you own the car, the cheaper it is per mile. I've found that old mercedes do keep their value. And as you've seen from the boards, there are some models to avoid.
If you do a basic cost of gas and diesel at $3.00 per gallon a 27mpg diesel costs 11.1 cents per mile. If we assume the same gas car would average only 20 mpg, the cost per mile is 15.0 cents. If you drive 15000 miles a year, the cost savings is 2250 - 1665 or $585 a year, which means the savings in gas pays for your average annual maintenance costs. Its like driving for free.
Hope this helps.
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RE: Going diesel - cost/benefits - 9/9/2005 11:15:38 AM
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SL600_Cruzin
Posts: 558
Joined: 3/30/2005
From: California, SF Bay Area
Status: offline
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quote:
ORIGINAL: vrathore
Just thought I'd share my two cents on the cost of ownership of diesels. Your mileage may vary.
My fathers 1985 300 diesel (european non-turbo) gets 25-26 mpg on average. Mostly city driving. On the highway it would hit 30, but only if you stayed under 70 mph. It was a little noisy, but for an engine that cannot be killed, I think the economics work out quite well. Maintenance is limited to fluid replacements - oil (s), brake, transmission, etc and tires, brakes. Going on 150K, thats all. One glow plug recently went bad, but for $6, that was remedied pretty easily. Still starts in -10 degree days and runs like a workhorse. Purchase price <$20K, Maintenance cost over 20 years <$300 yr = cost per mile cannot be beat. And its still worth about $4K. Total Cost of Ownership (excl fuel) = $20000 + $6000 maintenance -$4000 resale = $22000 for 20 years. Thats about $1000 a year or 14.7 cents per mile
On my 1995 E300 Diesel, much quieter, cleaner and more gizmos. I got 26 mpg combined mileage (50/50) and <30 on the highway. I purchase for $41K, drove for 100K and sold for $11K in 2004. Maintenance cost was about $400/yr cause I did a lot of preventative stuff. But the car was much nicer, quieter and faster. Total cost of ownership $30000 + $3600 = $33600/100000 = 33.6 cents per mile. I can't justify why I sold the car, so I won't try. Suffice it to say that I regretted every minute after selling it.
My father in law purchased a used 1995 E300D in 1997 with 25K at $27000. He gets 33 mpg on average, mostly country roads. He has no intention of selling. He now has 180K on the car and spends about $500 year cause his mechanic is more costly than mine out in rural florida. I'd say his residual value is still >$5k. Total cost of ownership so far = $22000 + 4000 = $26000/165000 = 15.75 cents per mile.
I just bought a new E320 CDI for $50K. I expect to keep it for over 100K miles. As you can see the longer you own the car, the cheaper it is per mile. I've found that old mercedes do keep their value. And as you've seen from the boards, there are some models to avoid.
If you do a basic cost of gas and diesel at $3.00 per gallon a 27mpg diesel costs 11.1 cents per mile. If we assume the same gas car would average only 20 mpg, the cost per mile is 15.0 cents. If you drive 15000 miles a year, the cost savings is 2250 - 1665 or $585 a year, which means the savings in gas pays for your average annual maintenance costs. Its like driving for free.
Excellent Info !
Thanks for that
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RE: Going diesel - cost/benefits - 9/9/2005 12:27:10 PM
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Kajtek1
Posts: 772
Joined: 9/29/2004
From: Bay Area CA
Status: offline
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Great story. It compares ownership of diesels bought new, or almost new.
I bought my 85 , 300 tdt for $2900. Drove it for 3 years, about 40k miles spending about $200 for filters and gaskets and lot of my time on cleaning and fixing small stuff. I did it 80% because I like it.
Sold it for $3400
The 92, 2.5 l 300D I bought on the road for $5000. Put over 30,000 miles on it, spending about $400 on oils, filters, serpentine belt, breathing tube and gaskets. About 20 HR of my time. Car averaged 36 MPG at 70 MPH, 28 on my usual driving in 80-90 MPH range. Sold for $6300.
Dare to calculate cost per mile?
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RE: Going diesel - cost/benefits - 9/9/2005 3:19:54 PM
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tonkyman
Posts: 35
Joined: 3/24/2005
Status: offline
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I'm working on a 1980 240D that my daughter drove until she wrecked it about a month ago. Her 240D would average around 25mpg around town and around 30 on the highway. The 240D has 360K+ miles on it and is still going strong. About 3 weeks before her wreck I replaced the timing chain because it was starting to make a bit of noise but other than that regular oil changes are all I've had to to to it.
I can't wait to get it back together again, I really want to go half a million with it.
I live in the south and diesel is MUCH cheaper than gas ------ better than 30 cents.
Have fun,
Tony T
< Message edited by tonkyman -- 9/9/2005 3:21:44 PM >
_____________________________
Tony Turner
'80 Mercedes 240D 360K (the Phoenix), '82 Mercedes 300D 187K (R.I.P), '89 Volvo 240 260K, '91 Volvo 745 112K (it's just a baby)
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Just noticed diesel prices in my hometown at $3.49 gallon, premium gasoline at $2.89. Something doesn't seem right, does it. 