Mercedes 190D

[Milford Cubicle]

I've found a super 'taxi spec' Mercedes 190D 2.0, to run on all kinds of alternative fuels... Just one question, are they completely grim to drive?

It's fairly irresistable as it's on a local numberplate and I've never owned a car that's GR8 4 DRIFTIN (75bhp )

 

[Richard]

Make sure it's got a Bosch pump if you're planning to run it on veg. Not that veg is significantly cheaper now.

[Milford Cubicle]

Don't all Mercedes diesels have Bosch pumps? I made an error buying my 405TD, I assumed wrongly that all of them had Bosch pumps.I don't plan to run it on new veg oil.

[AnthonyG]

although my 190 was a 2.6 auto, it certainly was OK to drive, the massive steering wheel gets a bit of getting used to!

[r.welfare]

GR8 FOR GEAR SHIFTING LIKE A TRUCKER!Got to be worth a punt if it's cheap enough, I say. How much are you asking for the 405?

[Milford Cubicle]

The 405 is too useful to get rid of at the moment, GR8 4 SHIFTIN TAT 2 THE DUMP.Might just keep this 405 and try to find a tidy better-spec wagon with a Bosch pump. Hmm.

[ashmicro]

Great car, brick slow. The build quality is astonishing, but the engine noise was described by CAR Magazine as "100 ball bearings rolling down a sheet of steel"Stuff a 5-pot turbo D in her.

[Milford Cubicle]

100 ball bearings rolling down a sheet of steel, sounds ace!I'm sick of the noise of 4-cyl diesels, as I have to listen to the vehicles at work all day, which have drony 4-cyl Perkins diesels - something with 5 or 6 cylinders might be a bit lovelier.

[r.welfare]

Dunno what it's like in your neck of the woods, but half-decent 405 TD wagons (and atmo diesels as well) down here are beginning to make mental monies, despite the increase in veg oil. A 1-owner, short MOT '94 GTX with 160k made £771 on the Bay a couple of weeks back...and a Cat C Hunter with two minutes' MOT and a huge gash in one of the sills made £360! Mind you, if you have one to sell the "cost to change" doesn't have to be huge.I say - get the Merc and keep the 405 as well. I did GR8 TIP TRIPS today, as you say it's very useful. Surely a 190 that old should qualify for classic insurance. And if the sound of the engine bothers you, earplugs are a cheap remedy

[Jazzy Jeff]

Embrace the sound of the Engine by pretending you are on Holiday in the Mediterranean and you are in a Taxi!! You will need to get a beaded seat cover, wear sunglasses constantly and drive erratically with your arm hanging out of the window without wearing a seat belt and go around treating speed limits with complete disregard to achieve the full effect though.

[Milford Cubicle]

I got my '96 405 wagon for £500 - with just under 120k, and 4 months T&T. It's not mint but it's tidy enough and the last owner had it for over 10 years.

 

Decided not to go for that Merc, bit too shite, but a W123 or W124 estate with a 5 or 6 cylinder engine would be good 'n' smart.