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Good technical advice below so no need to add more...so here's a similar story.
I loaned our 240 to my mother and her second husband years ago for a trip. "Ed" was a self-made guy who seemed to have plenty of nuts-and-bolts know how. My first clue was when he tried to start the car in the garage without checking for trans in neutral or putting the clutch in. Fortunately, the handbrake kept the car from doing more than a little lurch fwd when he hit the starter. Next event was after backing out and attempting to drive off - the high revs followed by a lurching car and loud knocking/rattling noises from the engine as he took off in third instead of first.
Dilemma - run after him and offer to rent a car for them (they had flown to our town)? This would have resulted in a major strain in my relationship with my new stepfather. My hesitation gave him the time to sort things out and get around the corner. A week and 1000mi later the car reappeared and looked and drove OK. But my mother said that Ed didn't like the way the car "sounded" in OD, so had not bothered to use that on their (90% highway) trip. No harm done, I guess, just a few extra revolutions on the engine.
But now when it comes to cars I believe in Polonius' advice to Laertes (in 'Hamlet')..."...neither a borrower nor a lender be."
--
Bob (81-244GL B21F, 83-244DL B23F, 94-944 B230FD; plus grocery-getter Dodge minivan, MGB, and numerous old motorcycles)
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