Diesels Across America With Mercedes-Benz
LEG 1 - Irvine, California To Seattle Washington
Representing BlueTEC is a fully loaded ML320, since it's the first platform to launch with the new powertrain as a 2009 model. For a 190D, we had only to go as far as the Mercedes-Benz Classic Center in Irvine, California, and its enthusiastic staff led by manager Mike Kunz. He sourced a restored example nearly identical to our original tester (it's really a 1960, but same thing): four-on-the-tree transmission, 13-inch wheels with hubcaps, a single-speaker AM/FM radio, and no A/C. Perfect.
That original 1959 trip followed a haphazard route from Seattle to Manhattan; reading the story doesn't really tell you exactly where our forbears traveled, so we can't recreate the route exactly. Instead, we've endeavored to inject historical perspective, making several diesel- and oil-related stops along the way. Something else that can't be duplicated is 1959's fuel tab: just $32.27. Total. They got about 40 mpg averaging just 41 mph. We've broken down the route into four legs, the first beginning at the Classic Center in SoCal, the last destined for the Big Apple.
How much fun can you possibly have in a car that has just 54 horses? Tons. The spirit of this machine, indeed this era, is understood when settled into that big, comfy seat, one hand draped around the 190's giant Bakelite steering wheel, watching America roll by at a less frenetic pace than you would in any cruise-controlled, satellite-radioed, radar-detector-protected ride. Our 190D isn't fast-but it's charming.
I chose to drive my entire stint in the 190, so let's see how editorial intern Carlos Lago is doing up front in the ML320 BlueTEC.
- Matt Stone
Well, Stone, while you're waiting for the glow plugs to warm up in that 190D, I've already got the iPod playing my favorite playlist through the stereo, the navigation system pointed to the next hotel, the air suspension set to comfort mode, the lumbar support adjusted, and the climate control at a cool 74 degrees. The BlueTEC-powered ML320 joins our journey to represent the changes brought about by 50 years of diesel technology advancements.
While camera-toting spectators flock around the merlot-colored 190 at stops, the ML goes largely unnoticed. When we explain our road trip to an onlooker in Medford, he shrugs off the ML with, "I don't care about that one." As pleasant, efficient, strong, and smooth as the ML320 BlueTEC is, he should.
- Carlos Lago
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