Mercedes 220 D

May 21, 2006 26 Replies

Juergen . responds:

[...]

It isn't a matter of being late or not, but of being able to accelerate at a rate that's compatible with the flow of traffic. Who wants to be (let alone drive behind) a rolling roadblock?

There's also the need to be able to merge onto the freeway safely. I remember a road test of the 220D in one of the major American car magazines (I believe it was _Car And Driver_) circa 1973. The car's zero-to-sixty (mph) time was an appalling *28 seconds.* And mind you, that was when even the emissions-control-strangled cars of the time could typically reach 60 in about 1/3 as long.

Geoff

But I have to admit, we polaks are good drivers, maybe when we have more money we'll have Schumachers of our own... Schumanskis ;-)

cp

Yes. I was on a road north out of Warsaw a few weeks ago (albeit in a -- good -- taxi) and I am sure we exceeded 130 km/h at times without a problem.

DAS

For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling

I drove a W123 200D for two years in the early eighties. It took a week to

60 mph. So what? Fine car and I wasn't late (or in danger) either. It was my first company car and a Merc on top of that.

DAS

For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling

So you might've gotten underfoot when merging onto the motorway or "accelerating" (I use the term loosely) away from a traffic signal, or obstructed traffic generally, is what. You might've been having a ball, but the drivers behind you might've been...somewhat less happy.

Most people prefer cars with enough power to accelerate briskly and attain cruising speed within a short interval. If those things aren't important to you and you enjoyed that car, more power to you. But it shouldn't be hard to understand why others may differ on that score.

(*200*D? I didn't know they made 'em that small. When I think back to my late, lamented '85 W123 300D turbo and imagine what it would've been like to drive it in Califor- nia traffic with 1/3 less engine displacement, the little hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. I adored that car, but I it has as little power as I'd ever consider acceptable. Or safe.)

Geoff

See below.

DAS

For direct contact replace nospam with schmetterling

Join the Discussion

Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.

Didn't find your answer?

Ask the community — no account required