Would You Rather Own: SUPER JALOP BATTLE Edition (Op. 5)

"JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7" (jayzayeighty) 01/25/2014 at 14:38 • Filed to: wyro, volvo, mercedes, 240, w123, diesel, wagon

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In !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! , American gaudiness in the form of a big block-powered 80s De Ville came second to the class and quality of a base model long wheelbase W126. Today, I bring you much less polarizing cars which actually competed for the same target buyer in the new market—in the present day used market, they are competing for (among others) we the people of Jalop pride—arguably the greatest diesel wagons ever: the Volvo 245 turbodiesel (D24t) and W123 300TD Turbo.

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Now, it would seem that one's mind would be made up on the issue of RWD diesel wagons from the very beginning. Despite what you may think about one car's superiority, which most likely is in favor of the cherished turbodiesel Benz, both cars are fantastic and equally respectable in many of the same ways. While the W123's I5 is a larger powerplant by .6L and the Volvo's is made by Volkswagen, the "D24t" variant of the D24 is also turbocharged and boasts 6 cylinders. Both, in this case, would be sporting 5 speed manuals. It should also be noted that the Volvo weighs less than 3,200 lbs, while the Mercedes tips the scales at over 3,500. Power output from the Volvo is significantly greater than that of the W123, despite its being lighter. They make 127 bhp and 203 lb/ft and 125 bhp and 170 lb/ft, respectively. Based on these figures, performance superiority can probably be attributed to the lighter and torque-ier 245. Actual performance figures are hard to come by for the cars due to their purpose being in utility and comfort more than anything else.

A category where the Mercedes takes the win for most is styling. Despite he Volvo 200-series not be as pretty of a car, you cannot fault it for lacking character. It's so Swedish, so Volvo (to use the word as an adjective), and so in between the 70s and 80s that it has garnered a following based almost totally on character. Its rival also has character in droves, and despite being a Mercedes-Benz, is quite a quirky car. It also brings up similar feelings, representing its country of origin and time of design between the 1970s and 1980s very well—not to mention its place as the epitome of its manufacturer. It would be hard to argue that one car is much more interesting than the other with these two estates.

So, where does your Jalop side lie? Which would you rather own—the ultra-reliable, efficient, neat, and useful German or the ultra-reliable, efficient, neat, and useful Swede?

(Note: despite the addition of the poll, discussion is still the best part of this crappy series.)

Previous WYROs:

Land Yachts for Different Gangsters (Op. 4)

80s TV Ferraris Edition (Op. 3)

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Manual Transmission vs RWD Edition (Op. 2)

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BMW Edition (Op. 1)

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wbizarre - OEM fetishist > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/25/2014 at 14:42

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I begrudgingly chose the Merc, but the orange color on that Volvo made the decision very hard.

Biostar01 > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/25/2014 at 14:45

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Volvo 245 all the way! Am I the only one who thinks the simplicity and mudflaps of the Volvo make it look much better than the Mercedes?

dogisbadob > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/25/2014 at 14:46

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The Mercedes has the hood ornament, easier to get more features like a sunroof, and of course I'd do the Euro headlight swap.

However, I'd still rather have a W124 wagon though, which we only got in its first year.

Slave2anMG > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/25/2014 at 14:50

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The Benz based on the utter unburstable 5 cylinder when compared to the not nearly as good VW 6 cylinder...

gmctavish needs more space > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/25/2014 at 14:58

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The Merc, because my dream W123 wagon has an oil-burner, nothing else necessary, and my dream 240 wagon has like T5 swap and a 6 speed….or a B23ET and a 5 speed….moral of the story is, gas powered, very turbocharged and roarty. That makes me think Volvo.

RMudkips > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/25/2014 at 15:57

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Brick with a stick. This was very, very hard.

Steve in Manhattan > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/25/2014 at 17:03

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Mercedes makes parts available forever, does Volvo do the same? If so, that's the one I'd have.

ADabOfOppo; Gone Plaid (Instructables Can Be Confusable) > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/26/2014 at 13:12

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I went with the Swede.

The Swedes have a better sense of humor.

Yowen - not necessarily not spaghetti and meatballs > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/26/2014 at 13:14

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Both.

Nighthawkwill7, Hoon Depot Manager > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/26/2014 at 13:22

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I'd go with the Benz, but then again I'm biased.

SpeedSix > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/26/2014 at 13:29

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Frankly, this is impossible.

Mathias Rios > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/26/2014 at 13:46

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The W123.
One time I found a build thread about someone who made a W210 diesel wagon using a E300Td and a E320 wagon. I can't find that build thread anymore and it makes me sad.

Scary__goongala! > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/26/2014 at 15:13

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sweet my car won.

DarrenMR > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/26/2014 at 20:17

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I want nothing more in life then a hideously colored turbo brick!

PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/26/2014 at 21:09

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If you switch the colors, the Volvo would've been a no-brainer.
Still picked it, though!

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > PetarVN, GLI Guy, now with stupid power 01/26/2014 at 22:33

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I was just trying to pick random photos to take up space. The car can really be whatever color. Anyways, I always love a nice Volvo wagon as well.

JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 > SpeedSix 01/26/2014 at 22:34

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I found it quite hard to choose between the two myself, so I figured (being in a sadistic mood) that I would pit them against each other and watch oppo burn.

GhostZ > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/27/2014 at 15:16

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The one with an LS swap, custom bodywork, crashbox gears, no hood, side pipe exhaust, and a big spoiler.

WhatDaFunk > JayZAyEighty thinks C4+3=C7 01/27/2014 at 15:18

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That's a tough call. Both are good options, but I chose the Volvo. I like the quirkiness and the lightness of the Volvo. Also if you drive an old Mercedes diesel around here (San Francisco) everyone's gonna think you're some sort of granola loving hippie due to almost all of them being now converted to biodiesel.