The Carmudgeon Show

This Unicorn Diesel Manual Slicktop Wagon Is One of Sacco’s Best — Carmudgeon Ep 240 w Jason Cammisa

June 8, 2026·1h 0m
Episode Description from the Publisher

You know the saying - the grass is always greener on the other side. Well…that same grass might be covered in diesel soot - but we don’t care!  Many American car enthusiasts will forever desire the forbidden European diesels we were never offered here in the US. Derek decided he’d had enough - and went some lengths to acquire his new unicorn wagon - a 1998 Mercedes-Benz C250 Turbodiesel (S202). And the level of unicorn doesn’t stop at diesel station wagon - this one is also has a 5-speed manual, a slicktop, cloth seats, AND a Bruno Sacco design - making it 100% Carmudgeonation-proof. Our hosts Derek Tam-Scott and Jason Cammisa discuss why the S202 Mercedes-Benz C-Class is such a desirable package even 30+ years after it debuted. Moreover, Derek and Jason discuss why diesels are much more enthusiastic than others may think - citing examples like the euro-only BMW M550d and Audi S6 TDI Avant. Also discussed are the endless variants of Mercedes diesels and their tune-ability, primarily discussing the OM605 and OM606 “superturbo” builds found on a variety of different Mercedes-Benzes from the 1980s to the early 2000s, from W123 to W210 and beyond. All this and more, on this episode of The Carmudgeon Show. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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