Diesels Across America With Mercedes-Benz
LEG 2 - Seattle, Washington To Denver, Colorado
Seattle, Washington, to Boise, Idaho
Behind the 190D'S titanic steering wheel -- seemingly so titanic it could've steered the Titanic -- I buckle the lap belt, pull the dash-mounted knob to warm the glow plugs, and, after about 20 seconds, extend the knob another notch to start her up. Without hesitation, the archaic oil burner comes to life, firing vibrations through the structure and a thick cloud of black smoke into the damp Seattle atmosphere. Though fully aware that Team 1 just traveled 1209 miles in this car, I'm nervous that its 1959 birthday means its last mile could be 1210. As we near downtown Seattle, though, I realize the 190D is running like Forrest Gump-effortlessly. Sure the powerless steering is heavy at low speeds and the drum brakes require considerable pedal effort, but the gearshift offers a smooth, easy action; the steering becomes feather light as the pace increases; and the ride is heavenly atop the hi-pro 185/80R13 Daytons.
Traveling through 3000-foot Snoqualmie Pass, the ol' Benz is consuming the steep grade at 55 mph in fourth gear. After we consume lunch, I hop in the ML320 BlueTEC just in time for a brief stop in Zillah, Washington, at an abandoned fuel station with a teapot-shaped quick mart. As the $1.79-per-gallon diesel indicates, the teapot hasn't been whistling for some time. Up the long, sheer, and twisty grade of Deadman Pass, the ML's trip computer is indicating 29 mpg and a range of over 700 miles-enough to get us all the way to Cheyenne, if we so desire. Just past midnight we enter Boise. Day one has been a long one and day two looks to be longer. But the 190D is burning strong and seems eager to reach tomorrow's destination of Vernal, Utah, where we'll visit nearby Dinosaur National Monument. After all, some 200 million years ago, the Benz's fuel and lubrication were romping around the area in the form of Jurassic dinosaurs.
- Ron Kiino
...
>>next page