My newest diesel burner

[fool32696]

Sold the 2002 GMC diesel 4x4 earlier this month. Was looking for something other than a truck to drive when I got off work. I've averaged 30mpg since I picked it up last thursday and that's with some spirited driving and 100+mph runs:cool2:. The trip computer said I was getting 35mpg cruising at 80mph. I've been driving for 9yrs and this is the first car I've ever owned. This thing rides and drives better than I ever would have imagined. I'm wondering why I kept that 4x4 lifted monster around as long as I did.

[NIXRAY]

*drool* me likey

[shawn d]

Looks nice, What year is that?

[fool32696]

It's a 2005

[greendoctor]

Sweet car. Living well does not mean you need to be an obnoxious greedhead. 35 MPG is admirable in a luxury car. This car is quite the torque monster isn't it? That is what a Mercedes is known for.

[Ben's Landscape]

WOW nice car.

[2brothersyardcare]

wooooooooooooow

[MysticLandscape]

Does it roll coal?

[fool32696]

Not like my Duramax with a tuner that would fog out a lane of traffic. It burns really clean but will put out some light smoke under heavy acceleration. The amount of smoke is directly related to how much fuel you're burning. Driving it hard it's still only burning one third to one half of the fuel as the Duramax.

[Lawn Freak]

Nice car..

[slamjamrockinman]

Beautiful car. That is a sweet ride for sure. My brother's got a c320, I think? I know what you mean though, the way the car rides is superior to other cars! Congrats on the purchase!!

[SimonCX]

Nice car, I have a couple friends with the c and e class. The only thing they ever complain about is very high maintaince and service costs after the warranty runs out.

[4.3mudder]

Wow, going big time, high roller.

[bonddude]

Trying to convince my mom into a blue tec but my grandpa worked for forty years in a gm plant as a dye maker so she will probably go with a cts. I absolutly love diesels though, the new bmw 335d is really something else, I'd take it over an m3 anyday for pure torque and originality.
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[Gatewayuser]

My wife and I just bought a VW Jetta TDI and get about 55 mpg highway and about 48 city...with me driving it goes down to 37 city. :dancing:
Our car is pretty slow but I didn't buy it for speed and it's still fun to drive.

So do you get any odd looks when people see you putting diesel in it?

[E.L.Co]

stop low balling,learn how to profit! i like that too funny...
oh and very nice car, clean non coal blowing diesels will be driven by desperate housewives everywhere in a few years. i will get one as well

[Pastaboy62]

both my parents of Jetta TDI's and they love them. My dad has a 5spd manual and averages like 45. My mom's auto 6spd gets like 42.

[fool32696]

Greenmonster, the car is quite torquey. I think it puts down almost 400 ft/lbs. It pulls very hard and feels like a gas V8. Mine is the CDI. The new bluetecs are nice. I test drove a brand new 08 and it was very smooth and powerful. The new bluetecs with the emissions crap aren't getting near the same mileage as the CDI's though. Just finding out today that my car requires $6 per quart Mobil 1 0w 40 MB229.5 spec, but the bluetec requires $10 per quart Mobil 1 ESP Formula M 5w 40 MB229.51 spec available from dealer only. I will be attempting most maintenance items myself and have been doing lots of studying over at mbworld.org

[greendoctor]

Another good site that has literally saved me thousands on my 300D is mercedesshop.com. The pre Bluetec diesels are easier to maintain. The non CDI ones like mine are probably the simplest. I do not get 400 ft lb of torque out of the old 5 cylinder turbodiesel, but the low end torque is perceivable. That car sounds like a tractor and pulls like one as well. My neighbors hate my Mercedes. TS, I laugh all the way past service stations because of the good fuel mileage.

[JShe8918]

nice car now go to TS performance and get the chip they have for the mercedes LoL. Mercedes diesels are one of the best on the planet

[dwost]

Nice choice, welcome to the Euro family :)

[Smithco Lawncare]

I dont think ill ever have a car again

[fool32696]

Thanks for the welcome dwost, is that an Audi on the right? As for never wanting a car again, what car were you driving? I preferred my 2500hd to most cars on the road, but after driving a nice car, I don't know how I got by without one. I'm loving how effortlessly this car cruises at 80mph getting three times the fuel mileage as my 2500 duramax. I just got done doing my first oil change on the car and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The I reset the service indicator and it's telling me that I have 13,000 miles until the next change!

[TBB]

Not like my Duramax with a tuner that would fog out a lane of traffic. It burns really clean but will put out some light smoke under heavy acceleration. The amount of smoke is directly related to how much fuel you're burning. Driving it hard it's still only burning one third to one half of the fuel as the Duramax.

You might want to read up on this a little. The amount of smoke is directly related to the amount of fuel you are burning, true. The smoke comes from the fuel that is sent through un-burnt. Hence, diesel trucks that are "straight-piped" have a tendency to smoke more because they don't have a cat or muffler to burn up the unused fuel. All the fuel doesn't burn completely because of a lack of compression. When you romp on it the exhaust level is not high enough to spool the turbo to the point where it has enough compression to have a complete burn. Watch any diesel run the track or pull a sled. The smoke like a train from the launch and by the time they get down the track its all clear.

[Hanau]

Wow that is a nice car.

What's it like when you go do an estimate for a customer in it? I'd imagine you get a good reaction when you pull into a clients driveway, after all you must know what you're doing if you have a car like that. Do you find that it puts you on an even playing field right off the bat?

[JShe8918]

You might want to read up on this a little. The amount of smoke is directly related to the amount of fuel you are burning, true. The smoke comes from the fuel that is sent through un-burnt. Hence, diesel trucks that are "straight-piped" have a tendency to smoke more because they don't have a cat or muffler to burn up the unused fuel. All the fuel doesn't burn completely because of a lack of compression. When you romp on it the exhaust level is not high enough to spool the turbo to the point where it has enough compression to have a complete burn. Watch any diesel run the track or pull a sled. The smoke like a train from the launch and by the time they get down the track its all clear.

A stock duramax (cant speak for cummins or powerstroke) will not smoke with a straight pipe. But once you go to EFI live or a canned tuner (aka POS) like bullydog or edge they will smoke like hell. When it comes to smoke on the pulling track. The classes range mainly by turbo size and they don't regulate fuel but to an extent. So a 2.6 or 68mm charger class would push as much fuel as possible with out damaging the motor and on the track people with large singles will smoke very heavily. I am a duramax nut and i have done alot of research and independent study's on parts. As a matter of fact i have 13G into parts on my truck right now just for performance. It is still running a slow time but ohhhh well. Best to date is 11.89 at 116 as of last weekend. :cool2: My truck could fog out the entire interstate before it would spool. I was one of the few Duramax people to try on a Aurora 6000 which is HUGE as a single.... Got rid of it. It was to laggy for daily driving and i couldn't tow so now i am back to the HTT 71

[fool32696]

Hanau, I've only done two estimates in the car. They were not by choice, but out of necessity because my F150 was being used. The first one was a residential customer that wanted some stamped concrete done. During the estimate he made a comment that my price seemed high and when I left, I put the samples in my trunk. When I walked to the car he asked if it was mine and I replied yes and he gave me the "I'm not calling you for this job look".

The other estimate I did for the city of Orlando. I met with the contractor and the city engineer. I feel like it gave them the impression that this kid must know what he's doing. I signed the job at full price on the spot. I feel like at 25 if I drove up in a beater Honda Civic, they may have gotten a totally different impression about me.

From my limited experience I think it's a no-no for residential clients because it says I'm overpriced. I feel like contractors look at it differently, like maybe this guy must do good work and lots of it.

TBB, as far as the smoke I completely agree with everything that you said. I know my diesels, but oversimplified for the sake of not writing an entire paragraph.

[razor1]

Sweet Ride! As a kid we used to run around in an old old 240D and we beat the snot out of that car but couldn't kill it.....I think it had close to 300k before we traded her in.

I know they keep talking about it but when is the US and Japan gonna offer us some diesel power in cars and small trucks?

Does the IRS allow cars as a business expense?

[greendoctor]

Hanau, I've only done two estimates in the car. They were not by choice, but out of necessity because my F150 was being used. The first one was a residential customer that wanted some stamped concrete done. During the estimate he made a comment that my price seemed high and when I left, I put the samples in my trunk. When I walked to the car he asked if it was mine and I replied yes and he gave me the "I'm not calling you for this job look".

The other estimate I did for the city of Orlando. I met with the contractor and the city engineer. I feel like it gave them the impression that this kid must know what he's doing. I signed the job at full price on the spot. I feel like at 25 if I drove up in a beater Honda Civic, they may have gotten a totally different impression about me.

From my limited experience I think it's a no-no for residential clients because it says I'm overpriced. I feel like contractors look at it differently, like maybe this guy must do good work and lots of it.

TBB, as far as the smoke I completely agree with everything that you said. I know my diesels, but oversimplified for the sake of not writing an entire paragraph.

Having a Mercedes quickly weeds out the tire kickers and price shoppers. If they have their mind set that I cost too much before I give a price, I do not want their business. Associating with too many people like that then forces you to be a tire kicker and price shopper. I do not want to ever live my life that way. Therefore, my business is based on serving people who appreciate nice things and are willing to pay for them.

[greendoctor]

Sweet Ride! As a kid we used to run around in an old old 240D and we beat the snot out of that car but couldn't kill it.....I think it had close to 300k before we traded her in.

I know they keep talking about it but when is the US and Japan gonna offer us some diesel power in cars and small trucks?

Does the IRS allow cars as a business expense?

Yes they do. However, you need to document mileage. It is not as if you can buy a $75,000 and write the whole thing off either.

[fool32696]

I haven't talked about it in detail with my accountant, but she let me partially write off my last personal vehicle. I'm hoping she'll let me classify this one the same (65% business, 35% pleasure). Do you guys think I'd ever get checked for running off-road in it?

[JShe8918]

i run off road all the time. i haven't ever been checked. it depends on the station it is actually the gas stations responsibility to report it but i am nice to all the workers so they are nice to me. If u have emission check points in your area i would not risk it. Lots of people don't think about diesel cars just pick ups and 18 wheelers. The fine in AL is 2500 or 3000 i think.

[RHooper]

Nice ride ! It would make a statement pulling a 7 x 16' tandem with a couple of Zs and a Walker mower on board, however, your customers would feel like they are paying you way too much !
RH

[fool32696]

Just got some new wheels! http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270470388841&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[mikes landscaping]

ATS is absolute garbage

[fool32696]

What is ATS?

[Furness & Sons L&L]

Congrats!! Im happy when i see the "lawn guy" driving nicer cars then most of their customers. It just makes me all warm and fuzzy inside. Nice car, have u figured out how many lawns it took to buy it yet??