Charlie's Official Update Thread [Archive] - 3geez.com - Classic Honda Accord & Prelude Forum

mykwikcoupe

04-03-2012, 04:36 PM

Woot, went to Mike's today and:

- changed air conditioning, power steering, and alternator belts
- flushed coolant system
- flushed transmission
- installed new front-left axle (constant-velocity boot went bad)
- installed center vents!

I think that's it...

Next time:
- upper camshaft seal
- inner distributor seal
- fuel-injector o-rings
- timing belt
- head gasket

WTF? I didnt remember saying I would do a timing belt and head gasket? You messing with me? Those are pretty time consuming projects. I can do the timing belt with the water pump, oil pump and lower main seal in about 5 hours but the head gaskets is going to take a few days unless you have a reconditioned head to swap onto it.

charliekuney

04-03-2012, 08:53 PM

lolol, you said something about the head when I was up there, and the timing belt is a long-term thing as my car is close to being due. Probably not until summer, at least.

Convenienze

04-04-2012, 10:02 AM

needs mudflaps asap :)

charliekuney

04-04-2012, 01:20 PM

Haha, I used to have all four but I took them off to give the car a more updated/clean look.

-----

http://yakima.craigslist.org/cto/2936819783.html

So, am I crazy and delving into something I probably can't handle, or should I go for it?

charliekuney

04-07-2012, 07:25 PM

Updates! So, I've had this system for a little while now, but pictures!

http://i44.tinypic.com/ojgsck.jpg

Installed center vents, new deck!

http://i44.tinypic.com/358vudv.jpg

Random bay shots.

http://i39.tinypic.com/282dpok.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/n6z8mr.jpg

Yes, I got lazy with the power cable and went through the door, but Mike was nice enough to show me the one hole in the firewall behind the air filter that nothing else goes through!

charliekuney

07-04-2012, 09:53 PM

Bump for motivation. I haven't even put 5k miles on my car since the year started... It still needs some work, like the front lower control arm bushings and rotors, but it still runs and drives nice. ;)

Along with the upper camshaft seal, inner distributor seal, fuel-injector o-rings, timing belt and head gasket, I think I might do a nice exhaust (no emissions after September = straight pipe!) and cold air intake, as well as getting the windows tinted eventually.

I'm not going to put too much effort into this car as the body's condition does not satisfy me. I want to find a mint coupe before I indulge myself in a real project.

Convenienze

07-05-2012, 03:36 PM

gl man, after i pay off my miata im either going to buy another miata for a project or another 3g coupe. i miss my coupe so much i wish i never had to sell it...

charliekuney

07-12-2012, 12:52 PM

New toy for dad. We traded his '96 Ranger XLT with 340k for this '89 LX-i sedan that rolled over 160k on the way home! :)

It does have some problems that need taken care of immediately:
- Brake pedal goes to floor. Fluid was almost gone, but after being filled the brake pedal only saw so much relief.
- Weird lack-of power when you first start off in first gear (automatic) and only right after the car is started. The car will hesitate and be gutless for a second, then it will "catch" and run normal for the rest of the time. It only does this when the car is first started and put into drive. Never happens after that and it doesn't happen all the time.
- The second spark plug from the driver's side is loose.
- Eventually a head gasket because the gasket is on the outside of the block...
- Removal of cold air intake and exhaust tip (to be replaced with factory equipment).

Since these pictures were taken, I have:
- Cleaned the car considerably. The interior is much better.
- Replaced front bumper, turn signals, fog light covers, corners, and grill.
- Miscellaneous small parts replaced.

It's amazing that the car only cranks once or twice before starting. Doesn't smoke, doesn't leak. All windows, lights and electronics work.

Now for what everyone else really wants...

http://i46.tinypic.com/zoi3pl.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/1pjp1y.jpg
http://i49.tinypic.com/2dwhmyq.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/qzpxmc.jpg
http://i45.tinypic.com/33bpd86.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/ay6g7a.jpg
http://i47.tinypic.com/8z2u5x.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/5d7761.jpg

mykwikcoupe

07-12-2012, 07:34 PM

the auto trans fluid is often disregarded as a maintenance item. Hows it shift on the freeway. Do you have to let up on the gas for it to shift or is it smooth as butter? I would start with changing all fluids, PS, Brake since you need to bleed anyways, coolant, auto trans fluid and don't be a cheap skate even though its dads car, always use Honda fluids for auto and PS at least.

For a trade for any ford, that's a great trade. good deal. I'm sure you'll have it sparkling in a few days.

charliekuney

07-13-2012, 12:23 PM

The car is clean now, and we took it to Honda for the first oil change so we could get a decent look at what the car needs from their perspective. Luckily, the list is even shorter than my car. It shifts fine on the road and on the freeway, no lag or jumpy shifts.

The whole cloth part of the interior (seats, door panels, rear deck, carpet) were shot because the previous owner(s) had dogs, kids and quite the nicotine addiction. Took some OxyDeep and a shopvac to get it pretty good, but I'll have to go over the whole inside again to get it perfect.

Honda also said the rear sway bar needs new bushings, and that Honda no longer produces or even has a stock of the part. Any aftermarket choices? Other than that and what's listed above, the car is just dirty and needs small interior and exterior things.

mykwikcoupe

07-14-2012, 07:03 AM

There is alot of information on the site for using the 4th gen accord rear bar. I have a legend/vigor rear bar. Im not sure which it is from since it came from another member

obdriver6

08-04-2012, 09:03 PM

Oh nice a monterey green 3g! :D Have you thought about upgrading to a vigor rear sway bar?

charliekuney

08-31-2012, 04:09 PM

^ I have, but not really. It's my father's commuter car so he doesn't really need or want upgrades. Turns out the bushings aren't bad on the sway bar...the bar is literally broken off the chassis. It needs brake work primarily.

I picked myself up a nice set of mud flaps for my coupe! Finally. Next time I go back I'm getting at least two Integra lips.

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/6153/sam1242x.jpg

Civic Accord Honda

09-01-2012, 02:55 PM

(y)

2ndGenGuy

09-01-2012, 09:56 PM

Awesome dude. Did you get stung? :P

charliekuney

09-01-2012, 10:43 PM

I did not! The wasps were quite tame. I should be going back soon to get miscellaneous parts, but specifically Integra lips for both cars and rear mud flaps for the sedan. I should probably post some more updated pictures of the sedan because it looks WAY better than those above.

Both cars need work but first I need money. :(

2ndGenGuy

09-03-2012, 03:25 PM

Hmm, I was hoping to pick up one of those Integra lips too...

charliekuney

10-06-2012, 07:05 PM

Well, not much of an update, but the mudflaps are installed. :) I'm paying my mechanic nephew $400 to do the timing belt, head and valve cover gaskets, water pump, fuel-injectors and whatever the fuck else I can find for him to do.

I'll update with pictures of both cars tomorrow!

Ayeobe

10-06-2012, 07:28 PM

Sorry charlie! i ordered the last rear bushings after winter was over...

I'll see if my old ones are still around, they wern't actually bad, but there were noises i had to get rid of and the rear bushings were the likely suspect. I was wrong D:

2ndGenGuy

10-07-2012, 08:55 PM

Pics!

Rendon LX-i

10-07-2012, 09:54 PM

Noaw. How you been char

charliekuney

10-12-2012, 06:14 PM

Sorry guys, it's been a busy week. I finally have a job again and I work anywhere from 40 to 80 hours a week. Pictures this weekend, weather permitting.

charliekuney

10-30-2012, 07:22 PM

Easy horn upgrade?

2ndGenGuy

10-30-2012, 08:07 PM

Hella Dual Tones!

charliekuney

11-03-2012, 03:15 PM

Currently in the process of trading my car for a 1988 BMW 750iL. Updates in the morning.

Civic Accord Honda

11-03-2012, 03:42 PM

wat why ><

HON-DUH

11-03-2012, 03:47 PM

you should've gone with an 86-89 3 series coupe charlie mane or a w123 merc!!

but nice upgrade nonetheless

Civic Accord Honda

11-03-2012, 04:49 PM

w123 wagon FTW!!!

charliekuney

11-03-2012, 07:51 PM

wat why ><

Time for an upgrade. ;)

you should've gone with an 86-89 3 series coupe charlie mane or a w123 merc!!

but nice upgrade nonetheless

E30's are too small but I still really like them. I was on the market for an E32 or E34.

Dr_Snooz

11-04-2012, 08:52 AM

That is a worthy upgrade. Can't wait to see pics.

charliekuney

11-18-2012, 04:42 PM

I backed out on the 750iL. There was just too much wrong with the car (mostly wiring, of course) and the title situation was sketchy. I am still fully on the market for a manual E34 or E32 735i or a 750iL. I will continue fixing everything the Accord needs just to prepare to get rid of it. Don't get me wrong, I love this car to death and all that comes with it, but after owning five it's just time for me to get into something more luxurious. Yes, that is my preference. (:

Dr_Snooz

11-22-2012, 10:09 PM

Yikes. You avoided a nightmare. Nice work.

charliekuney

01-11-2013, 02:46 PM

Less than 800 miles until 200k! ohmyjeebus

charliekuney

02-05-2013, 12:15 PM

My car rolled over 200,000 miles last night! I'm so happy. It's weird, like when I recently turned 20. Sucks that the value depreciated.

niles

02-05-2013, 12:22 PM

Maybe in market value, but when mine hit 200K it gained sentimental value. Is it weird to have a bond with a machine?

Dr_Snooz

02-05-2013, 07:29 PM

Is it weird to have a bond with a machine?

Not if you have a Y-chromosome. Congrats on turning 200k, Charlie. Any new plans for your car?

2ndGenGuy

02-05-2013, 08:35 PM

Did you get a vid of the rollover, Charlie?

Rendon LX-i

02-05-2013, 08:38 PM

Nice post a pic or something damit lol

charliekuney

02-05-2013, 09:27 PM

No video, long story but I have a flip phone without a camera. I'm already 150 or so miles over. :) It's still hard getting used to the 200 at the beginning. I plan on getting my subs reinstalled and getting the windows tinted as soon as possible then once I get my tax return I'm getting some major mechanical work done (timing belt, head/valve gaskets, etc). Then I plan on selling it to my best friend's roommate for somewhere along the lines of $1,200 and combining that with my savings to get a 90's German sedan.

Dr_Snooz

02-12-2013, 07:52 PM

Then I plan on selling it to my best friend's roommate for somewhere along the lines of $1,200 and combining that with my savings to get a 90's German sedan.

Ah. In other words, you have too much money and need a way to get rid of it all. LOL

Choose wisely. If you get the wrong car, you'll be in deeper than you ever thought possible. I sank $4k into mine in the first year. My buddy sank $10k into his the first year. Especially when you're getting an older car, there's been a lot of opportunities for other people to make a real mess of it for you. The dealer will give new meaning to the term "stealership" and most shops will do their best to hurt you. Read up and proceed carefully. The Germans do things differently and if you do something wrong with the car, it will reward you with a gigantic repair bill. The higher end ones, like the 7-series Bimmers, will be the worst of all.

Of course, if you get the right one, it will be a joy and run forever. Once I got the bugs worked out of my BMW, it ran and ran and never gave me any trouble. I'd buy another German car in a second if I weren't broke and on the verge of starvation. They are great cars, but there is a steep learning curve and they will never be cheap. When push came to shove, though, I kept the 3g and sold the BMW.

charliekuney

03-22-2013, 12:41 PM

The Accord is going to crap. I haven't kept up maintenance, they're getting fucking scarce in junkyards here, and I just want something different. Probably gonna clean it up and sell it for cheap and move on to something bigger and better.

charliekuney

03-31-2013, 12:25 AM

Picked up a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400E (E420) with 160k for $2,000.

Dr_Snooz

04-04-2013, 12:02 PM

Pics or it didn't happen.

2ndGenGuy

04-04-2013, 10:36 PM

Pics!

charliekuney

04-04-2013, 10:40 PM

Here are the ones from the posting. I will take more/better pictures when I get the car cleaned. It has quirks, it's a 90's Benz, but I love it...

charliekuney

04-04-2013, 10:46 PM

I might be picking up some OEM 17" wheels off the 2008-2012 C-Class Luxury 'cause those 15's are eye sores!

2ndGenGuy

04-05-2013, 09:11 AM

You know this means you can't come to the meet now, right? :P

charliekuney

04-06-2013, 10:14 AM

Psht, I still own two more 3G's than you do! lololz

2ndGenGuy

04-06-2013, 10:24 AM

LOL you do have a point.

HON-DUH

04-06-2013, 04:30 PM

HON-DUH

04-06-2013, 04:31 PM

charliekuney

04-07-2013, 03:41 PM

Not sure what you mean, kiddoe. lolz, I got a damned good deal, though. There is another 400E on Craigslist with similar mileage for over $6k but it's ridden with electrical gremlins. Buying this car makes me want an S-Class. :D

charliekuney

04-10-2013, 01:58 PM

I think I am going to sell the coupe to my father for $400 to pay off the Benz since he is giving the sedan to my sister! Not a bad deal considering I bought the coupe three years ago for $350.

charliekuney

05-05-2013, 11:26 AM

This is off-topic but I don't think I should unnecessarily start another thread, but does anyone on here have any Mercedes experience? Specifically for the W124? Any opinions on specific MB forums?

Dr_Snooz

05-06-2013, 02:04 PM

What's your issue?

charliekuney

05-08-2013, 02:36 PM

No issues currently, I'm just looking for parts and such I think. I got an oil change at this new Euro shop by my house and they are very nice and honest workers - they even fixed a couple of things for free as they were "as easy as the turn of a bolt" or similar.

I'm looking to get facelifted head lights and a replacement pre-facelift hood at some point because the car does have minor damage. I'm also just looking for advice and recommendations as far as what can and should be done to the car.

2ndGenGuy

05-08-2013, 03:43 PM

You should have brought it to the meet and threw it up on the dyno! ;)

Dr_Snooz

05-09-2013, 12:51 PM

Get a factory manual and read it. If you can't get a factory manual, buy a Bentley Publishers manual. You'll probably find that there isn't a lot of routine maintenance and what maintenance there is is super easy. No sense paying a shop to do any of it. Pelican Parts is the best place for parts. Stay up on the maintenance and make sure to use only OE parts. Don't skimp out or you'll have expensive problems. Always use the OE fluids specified by the factory. Yes, you can use cheap fluids from Autozone, but you'll regret it when the steering box blows up to the tune of $4,000 or the transmission starts slipping to the tune of $10k. If you do those few things, the car will run forever and cause you very little expensive trouble.

Beyond that, you'll discover all the over-engineered problems in the car. On my BMW, the windows would spontaneously stop working. The cables that move the seats all broke and needed fixing. The intake manifold gaskets liked to develop vacuum leaks that affected performance. The sealed, "lifetime fill" transmission had all sorts of fun problems. If you take this stuff to the dealer, they'll spend lots of money for you. If you find a good discussion board, you'll probably find that most of the issues can be fixed very cheaply if you know what you're doing and DIY. Spend lots of time reading about the car you have. It will develop very bizarre symptoms and do it's best to make you think it needs massive infusions of money. Just keep reading on blogs, boards and enthusiast websites to learn what's really going on. Learn about the problems you can expect and how to deal with them. You don't want to be on a date when the climate control suddenly decides to turn the heater on full blast when it's 90* outside and you can't turn it off. Be prepared for the stuff that will go wrong.

charliekuney

05-09-2013, 09:45 PM

You should have brought it to the meet and threw it up on the dyno! ;)

Awe, I wouldn't want to embarrass you guys. ;)

[long post]

Thanks for the words of the wise! I am lucky as to how good of condition this car is in, physically and mechanically, as well as having proof to the major work done. There are only a couple of electrical gremlins the car already has, I'll list them last. Damn, all I can say is this car is a beast and a sleeper...most people don't realize there's a V8 stuffed under the hood (first year of a V8 in the E-Class). I love cars of the 80's and I think I couldn't have picked a more perfect car.

#electricalgremlins
- "passenger reading light" does not work 100%...will work on and off, especially if I tap the housing (similar to the JDM Accord map light setup)
- passenger door lock seems to stick, guys at shop said it was most likely a vacuum leak
- truck lock struggles
- weird experiences with check lights on gauge cluster

Other than that, all lights and electronics work. Climate control functions 100%, as do both front power seats, both rear head rests, all exterior lights, the sunroof, all windows and auto functions, "turn-the-key-in-the-lock-to-roll-up-windows-and-close-sunroof" feature, et cetera.

Dr_Snooz

05-10-2013, 07:08 AM

charliekuney

05-24-2013, 07:54 PM

V8's are nice, especially when you have somebody in front of you who wants to drive like an idiot. It was always hilarious when they would try to teach me a lesson by racing to cut me off. There was never any race. Only humiliation. You'll really love your car at speeds above 100.

This.

If you were driving a Honda, I'd tell you to dig in and see what's up. For a Benz, I'll tell you to do some online research first. Make sure that you know how to take the stuff apart and that there aren't any hidden gotchas. Things can be put together in weird ways and it isn't always clear how to take them apart by looking. You don't want to gouge up an expensive panel by learning. Also, you can have issues that look exactly like one thing, but are actually some completely unrelated part. Doing research first can save you a lot of time and money.

I realized this very quickly. One of the two things that I have already broken on the interior is the driver's side air vent. Don't even see where to start disassembling the dash to get to it. Research is my best friend.

Owning these cars is a head game. You're basically driving around in a money bomb. If it goes off, it will take out your retirement account. You can't outspend it. You can only outsmart it. That comes with research. These cars have really enthusiastic owners who aren't made of money. They put a lot of time into keeping them running without going poor. Learn from them and you'll be alright.

The enthusiasts are what I'm trying to find. Not having a Facebook makes it somewhat more difficult, but I want to join some MB car clubs and definitely some other forums.

-----

As for the Honda, I still have it. Not sure what to do with it at this point. It needs a lot of work, and I know it's easy, but I just don't have the time or money or motivation to do anything with it anymore.

charliekuney

05-30-2013, 02:41 PM

Is it just me or is this forum fucking dead?

MessyHonda

05-30-2013, 03:12 PM

Is it just me or is this forum fucking dead?

yes. i agree

Civic Accord Honda

05-30-2013, 03:39 PM

Beyond dead lolol

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Tdurr

06-01-2013, 11:18 PM

it makes me sad. I just lurk because there isn't too much happening that's exciting imo.

charliekuney

06-02-2013, 07:30 AM

All I do anymore is lurk and copy-and-paste answers from repeated questions.

charliekuney

06-03-2013, 05:40 PM

Something weird: I parked my coupe in direct sunlight for about thirty minutes today in eighty degree heat with the hazard lights flashing, and when I returned...the turn signal "clicks" are extremely quiet...?

HON-DUH

06-03-2013, 05:51 PM

Dr_Snooz

06-03-2013, 07:19 PM

charliekuney

06-04-2013, 08:19 AM

lol, a day later it's still quiet as hell. Everything on this car is so cheesy compared to the Benz.

Tdurr

06-06-2013, 07:04 PM

idk, if it still works its cool.

charliekuney

06-09-2013, 01:47 PM

Washed both of the cars today. Went inside to grab the camera, dead. Pictures another shiny day. I almost traded the Honda for a 1995 540iA that needed some mechanical work (no body or interior work, though) but every email he sent me he seemed to add another problem to the list, so I turned it down. The next car I plan on acquiring is a white-on-black E34 manual, anything but a 525i.

charliekuney

06-30-2013, 11:18 AM

Well, things are happening differently than planned. I ended up giving my father the coupe and I will sell the sedan instead. (He likes the two-door manual better.) I no longer deliver at work so I just drive the Benz to and from, only two miles a day. More updates later.

charliekuney

08-12-2013, 05:27 PM

Daily driven.
:3

http://i43.tinypic.com/s30wee.jpg

Rendon LX-i

08-14-2013, 10:08 PM

Long time no see Charlie . Was about to give my two cents but you then said yipou have your car to your dad. So there for I have nothing to say lol.

2ndGenGuy

08-15-2013, 03:07 PM

Fuckin' classy!

charliekuney

10-17-2013, 07:07 PM

Hey, anyone know of a forum called 3geez.com? I was looking for it here, now all I find is a graveyard...

HON-DUH

10-17-2013, 07:26 PM

charliekuney

10-28-2013, 12:40 PM

Well, my dad is still driving the beige coupe. Probably well over 215k miles now. I can't believe we've owned that thing since 160k. The Benz sits nicely at 170k.

How is everyone?

2oodoor

10-29-2013, 06:31 AM

Cool. Im doing fine,weather finally cooling off enough to be outside long enough to finish sonething

charliekuney

12-25-2013, 08:33 PM

roo, I feel like a prick for ignoring you. Your post was the first post on a second page...Makes me laugh that you were glad to get cool weather to work, while I'm here waiting for the sun to reappear!

---

The time has come again for me to sell the coupe. The sedan sold to a friend's friend (his sister came back from college and took back her '93 EX sedan, same color) so my house was down to the Benz, the coupe for my father, and my mother's Intrepid. The other day the Intrepid's fuel pump went out (I dare you to Google the Chrysler EER 2.7L V6) and once my mother got the idea for getting a different car, my father did as well. I'm looking into older Germans for the both of them, mainly for safety, and because gas mileage is no longer a factor as they both commute less than fifteen miles per day each. Plus, older Germs with maintenance records seem to be just as reliable as a Japanese car without them. lol

Anyway, what I'm getting at is...I need an experienced, real-world value for the coupe. If you don't remember: it's a 1988 Misty Beige LX-i with 210k miles that I bought two years ago with 160k miles. I have no records of before I owned it, but all of them since I have, and the car does need work as it sits (not major but not minor, either). The car squeals (deafening) and shakes (all speeds) but it always starts and stops and it has always gotten us where we need to go. I have taken the car on several 500+ mile trips without hesitation. I have it posted on Craigslist right now for $1,500 or best offer. I am extremely flexible but I still believe my car is as good as it gets for fifteen Benjamins. Most '86-89 Accords are similarly priced with higher mileage and severe problems, or they are just down right beat to crap. My car is still somewhat "nice" for its age.

What'd'ya think?

Dr_Snooz

12-26-2013, 09:39 PM

Is this the one you wrecked? If so, 1.5 seems pretty steep to me.

charliekuney

12-27-2013, 09:19 PM

No sir! I have owned four CA6 coupes, first two were '89 Seattle Silver, second two were '88 Misty Beige, middle two unfortunately had aftermarket sunroofs. The car I am selling is in good shape, better than most I see here and on the road. There are some pictures of it at the beginning of this thread.

MessyHonda

12-29-2013, 03:32 PM

yeah 3gees are like that. I still remember your original 3gee. that was clean. too bad it was totaled.

charliekuney

01-01-2014, 08:15 PM

The time has come for Charles to withdraw completely from the 3G scene (creeping is always warranted) but the coupe sold tonight for $1,100. I paid $350 for it almost four years ago and now it is gone. I will miss the damned thing, made me fall in love with Honda and 80's cars alike. Odd that I'm typing this and I recall buying my first 3G 1/1/2009!

charliekuney

01-01-2014, 08:27 PM

Photo montage!

~Enjoy

http://i41.tinypic.com/2wrqo0n.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/244v8g5.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/123wlz4.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/wtf4nn.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/2usctcl.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/2ro48lw.jpg
http://i42.tinypic.com/15ouhj9.jpg
http://i48.tinypic.com/38riu.jpg
http://i50.tinypic.com/riui6w.jpg
http://i46.tinypic.com/zoi3pl.jpg

charliekuney

01-01-2014, 08:27 PM

http://i41.tinypic.com/14o189f.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/11sky2q.jpg

Tdurr

01-02-2014, 12:19 AM

Dr_Snooz

01-04-2014, 08:48 AM

Oh. You bought a German car and now you're too good for us. LOL. Just remember the little people when you're living the high life. ;)

charliekuney

01-05-2014, 12:23 PM

I still tell everyone I know to get a Honda for their first car. I even still reply to CL ads for 3G's "car won't start; will crank" and let them know about the relay and that good stuff.

I just don't have valid sh*t to post anymore. Wait a minute...

charliekuney

01-20-2014, 10:36 PM

Just purchased a 1992 Mercedes-Benz 600SEL (6.0L V12) with 90k original miles for $2,000. Pretty stoked.

charliekuney

01-20-2014, 10:50 PM

Here are the pictures from the Craigslist posting. The car needs some work, no more than the 400E. I'm pretty proud of myself for being 21 and owning a twelve-cylinder. I hope it doesn't cause me too much trouble...

http://i44.tinypic.com/2rm9u7c.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/332xro5.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/102rocj.jpg

2oodoor

01-21-2014, 05:03 AM

You rocking a MB Charlie, lucky biast-tudd :) thats swag fur sure

charliekuney

01-24-2014, 07:52 PM

This particular example with an MSRP of $127,500, having the orthopedic front seat option, being a California car (as opposed to a 49 stater) plus taxes (including gas guzzler) and delivery fee, was just shy of $160,000! The sedan was the first V12 Mercedes; the SEC coupe and SL convertible came out one model year later. I love that it has the analog cell phone, six disc changer and parking antennae. The windows roll up and down with the remote access fob. Front seats go so far back that I can't reach the pedals. Four-zone climate control, front and rear heated seats, rear seats recline, original first-aid and tool kits, factory stereo deck, factory floor mats, all windows auto up/down with safety withdrawal feature, power rear view mirror (the one in the window and on the doors); not a single part is missing or malfunctions. One owner up to 85k with all service records from MB of Palm Springs. Three memory settings for each front seat, and the driver's memory also controls all three mirrors, steering wheel up/down and in/out, lumbar/thoracic/cervical/bolster/thigh support and the height of the seat belt opening. I can't get over the backwards windshield wipers. My favorite: soft-close doors and trunk. I'm already so used to it that I forget I have to fully shut the doors of cars at work. So many features for a car in 1992, the list goes on forever. This thing really had to compete with the Rolls-Royce Silver Spirit/Silver Spur/Silver Seraph/Mulliner Spur/Flying Spur/Silver Dawn/Park Ward and Bentley Brooklands/Mulsanne/Eight. Apparently having a V12 with the "individual rear seat delete" option is pretty rare as all V12's were 2+2 while all other models have the bench in the back - I'd rather have seating for five, anyway. Pretty rare altogether, too. Of 432,732 examples of the 140 series, 406,710 being sedans, 35,910 having V12 engines, 3,413 being imported to the United States, 1,047 being 1992 model years. (Oddly, they got more rare as time went on; only 14 imported in 1999.) The 1992 model year V12 has 402hp and wide-open-throttle-enrichment, yet 1993-1999 had 389hp and no WOTE.

charliekuney

01-26-2014, 02:41 AM

It's always interesting finding a two-year-old advertisement at a dealership down the street for the car you just bought with only 5,000 less miles...I wonder what happened to the V12 badges on the c-pillars and how the scratch appeared on the hood.

http://i39.tinypic.com/dws7lt.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/2m6x55u.jpg
http://i43.tinypic.com/bi874k.jpg
http://i39.tinypic.com/2ufr880.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/30ixqhz.jpg
http://i40.tinypic.com/25rgfbr.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/rs4yzp.jpg

Edison Carasio

01-27-2014, 01:49 PM

I haven't been here in like 2 years and this is the first thread I come back to.

Amazing Benz. How did you manage that for $2000????

Dr_Snooz

01-27-2014, 06:28 PM

How did you manage that for $2000????

Through the magic of depreciation. LOL

charliekuney

01-27-2014, 08:23 PM

I bought my 400E (175k) for $2,000 and did a straight-accross trade.

Through the magic of depreciation. LOL

Also, this.

charliekuney

01-27-2014, 08:33 PM

By the way; I must say that I dearly miss the simplicity, reliability and fuel economy of the Accords. 10/14/12mpg city/highway/combined is pretty tough; about $100 per week to fill the tank.

2ndGenGuy

01-29-2014, 07:24 PM

Damn. I used to spend $100/wk driving TO OLYMPIA every day.

charliekuney

01-29-2014, 07:34 PM

To Olympia from where? Damn, this car is starting to get really scary. Every replacement part from Mercedes has a comma. Being the first year of the V12 (WOTE, other differences), only available as a sedan, already twenty-three years old; used parts are hard to come by. I have to get the electronic throttle actuators (drive-by-wire throttle bodies) and hydropneumatic rear suspension accumulators rebuilt. Lovely.

2oodoor

01-30-2014, 08:02 AM

I dont know who makes tbose TB for Mercedes but that seems to be a common problem with bunch of MB models.
Slightly off topic, back in the 80's there was an upfitter aftermarket business in Jacksonville that sold SB Chevy powertrain swaps for Jaguars that came right off the ship at port, there was little confedence in the Jag reliability/maitenance affordabity.
I forget the model MB it was but Ive seen that swap done to a good looking full size 2 door from that era as well.

Not suggesting a swap, yours would be a nightmare theres so much more integral rather than component

HON-DUH

01-30-2014, 01:30 PM

Should've went with reliable luxury mane

http://s1.cdn.autoevolution.com/images/gallery/ACURALegendCoupe-1254_1.jpg

charliekuney

01-30-2014, 06:06 PM

^ Instead I went with actual luxury, mane.

HON-DUH

01-31-2014, 12:42 PM

You'll be regretting it when you end up spending more on it in maintenance than what you paid for it lol

charliekuney

01-31-2014, 07:21 PM

One owner up to 85k with all service records from MB of Palm Springs.

You'll be regretting it when you end up spending more on it in maintenance than what you paid for it lol

Eh, someone else already did and I have no other bills to pay so I'm good. :) Plus, it's worth every penny to me.

Dr_Snooz

01-31-2014, 08:17 PM

Damn, this car is starting to get really scary. Every replacement part from Mercedes has a comma. Being the first year of the V12 (WOTE, other differences), only available as a sedan, already twenty-three years old; used parts are hard to come by. I have to get the electronic throttle actuators (drive-by-wire throttle bodies) and hydropneumatic rear suspension accumulators rebuilt. Lovely.

That's why I didn't go with a Benz when I bought my Bimmer. I kept hearing horror stories about how really expensive components would crap out to the tune of thousands. Also, every Benz gave me this creeping feeling that it was just waiting to break down and wipe out my wallet. I never got that from a BMW. I knew that whatever happened, the thing would always get me home.

With a Benz, you shouldn't ever have trouble getting replacement parts. The company keeps extensive parts inventories and keeps even more info on aftermarket suppliers. They even have a service to specially machine parts that aren't made any more. You can literally find parts for any Benz ever made. That's why you see so many perfectly restored Benz's. It doesn't take any skill, just deep pockets. If you can't find a part, call Stuttgart or wherever the heck they are.

^ Instead I went with actual luxury, mane.

Don't get cocky. You're in the big leagues now, driving a serious money machine. Plenty of doctors have sold those cars because they couldn't afford them. You can very easily get a five-figure bill for a basic service from a cut-rate shop. Even when I was making money, I wouldn't get the flagship models. They are too complicated to work and too expensive to fix.

2oodoor

02-01-2014, 05:04 AM

HON DUH that Acura beast coupe looked disturbedly like an old fox body Thunderbird.

You got a really nice car Charlie, hopefully it works out well for ya, youre in it right side up so far so at best you could flip it for profit at some point before youre upside down. Heh flip it..mmm...upside down, thats Merica

charliekuney

02-01-2014, 09:33 PM

That's why I didn't go with a Benz when I bought my Bimmer. I kept hearing horror stories about how really expensive components would crap out to the tune of thousands. Also, every Benz gave me this creeping feeling that it was just waiting to break down and wipe out my wallet. I never got that from a BMW. I knew that whatever happened, the thing would always get me home.

With a Benz, you shouldn't ever have trouble getting replacement parts. The company keeps extensive parts inventories and keeps even more info on aftermarket suppliers. They even have a service to specially machine parts that aren't made any more. You can literally find parts for any Benz ever made. That's why you see so many perfectly restored Benz's. It doesn't take any skill, just deep pockets. If you can't find a part, call Stuttgart or wherever the heck they are.

I see more junker Bimmers than Benz on Craigslist every day. BMW's don't age well, MB's definitely do. I never see old diesel BMW's with 500k+ either... I know what you mean, though; big bodies require deep pockets, but as much as I love MB and I love this 600, I don't think I'll have it for more than a year because I get bored of cars fast.

Don't get cocky. You're in the big leagues now, driving a serious money machine. Plenty of doctors have sold those cars because they couldn't afford them. You can very easily get a five-figure bill for a basic service from a cut-rate shop. Even when I was making money, I wouldn't get the flagship models. They are too complicated to work and too expensive to fix.

Not getting cocky, just my usual response to HONDUH's usual comments. We always give each other crap, nothing new. If I had to pick any Japanese luxury car, a second-generation Legend coupe with a 6-speed would be at the top of my list. He's got taste.

HON DUH that Acura beast coupe looked disturbedly like an old fox body Thunderbird.

You got a really nice car Charlie, hopefully it works out well for ya, youre in it right side up so far so at best you could flip it for profit at some point before youre upside down. Heh flip it..mmm...upside down, thats Merica

I'm already looking into purchasing another one or two of them; I found one down the street for sale for $2,000 from the original owner's daughter with 65k original miles and all documentation. Good deals for days. I was always told by my local shop to steer clear of the 600's but a V12 with this build quality is hard to step away from. My next beast should be a 8-Series V12 6-speed.

HON-DUH

02-01-2014, 10:23 PM

Not getting cocky, just my usual response to HONDUH's usual comments. We always give each other crap, nothing new. If I had to pick any Japanese luxury car, a second-generation Legend coupe with a 6-speed would be at the top of my list. He's got taste.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4k6etQi4l1rw0h05o1_250.gif

Yep pretty much sums it up.

Check this awesome Legend out: over 500k (http://drivetofive.wordpress.com)

Tho I miss my 3G...sometimes

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/instances/500x/45532719.jpg

2oodoor

02-02-2014, 09:06 AM

I think you see more bmw on CL because sales were probably higher, and for sure plenty of 3 series beat to hell and 5 series automatic cars.
MB owners may not frequent CL , probably a lot of trade ins back to the dealer on those too, surplus may not make auctions and are liqudated by other means than other cars. Speculative guess...

charliekuney

02-02-2014, 02:56 PM

^ Can't argue with that logic. BMW's are more common because they are cheaper, and honestly a different crowd of buyers. Mercedes are luxury-luxury, BMW's are sport-luxury. A 760iL will never compete with an S600, but I'd take an M3/M4 over a C63 any day. You are spot-on with MB owners trading in; Mercedes has one of the highest customer loyalty rates of any manufacturer. Once you get one, everything else seems cheap. They try hard to make you feel that way.

Is there any way to move this thread to off-topic without fucking it up? I mean, I don't own an Accord anymore so yeah...

2oodoor

02-02-2014, 03:09 PM

Edison Carasio

02-03-2014, 06:43 AM

Since it was only $2k, and if it runs decent, just drive it until it gives out. If it's an extensive repair, I'm sure a quick sale would net back most of the money you spent on it.

I'm not balling too hard yet myself so repair bills on a European luxo car scares me off, but only because I am very hard headed when it comes to parting with a vehicle.

charliekuney

02-06-2014, 09:35 PM

I love the "old German cars fix themselves" thing. Since I've been driving her daily, the throttle bodies haven't been malfunctioning and the stereo started working.

'A20A3'

02-07-2014, 09:55 AM

Word. I love my volvo S70. Had it 3 years and all I do is change oil. Its a damn tank. Its great that I can build the accord and save miles on it cause I have a good DD

HON-DUH

02-10-2014, 08:45 PM

Word. I love my volvo S70. Had it 3 years and all I do is change oil. Its a damn tank. Its great that I can build the accord and save miles on it cause I have a good DD

Volvo's are Swedish bro not Deutsch...and I totally agree, those Volvo's are freakin tanks, what year is it?

charliekuney

02-16-2014, 09:52 PM

Volvo's are Swedish bro not Deutsch...and I totally agree, those Volvo's are freakin tanks, what year is it?

Bitch, don't be threajacking my update thread. loljk, I've seen a coworker of mine who "lives by" Volvo's that has had three (yes, three) of them towed from work over the past two weeks. Five-cylinder engines scare me, just like a three-cylinder Metro.

So, the throttle bodies on my 600 have been going in and out over the past few days so it has been sitting in my driveway. I want to get them rebuilt but I don't want to find out that they just need to be cleaned...

charliekuney

03-11-2014, 04:56 PM

So, yeah.

Averaging 14.5 miles per gallon downhill to work. Averaging 9.5 miles per gallon uphill back home. $175 for an oil change - 10.5 quarts of full synthetic.

This car is fuuun.

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/005/742/sweetjesus.jpg

I'm already halfway into looking to a) not own a vehicle at all or b) get something old, simple and reliable.

Dr_Snooz

03-11-2014, 08:16 PM

Yeah, you're gonna be strapped just keeping gas in it. Then the pneumatic suspension will go flat and you won't be able to drive it until you spend $5,000 to repair it. Or the steering box is going to puke out all its fluid on your driveway and demand $4,000 to stop. Or the A/C will go berzerk and start blowing hot air on everyone in the back seat and need $700 to fix. You'll be lucky if a loom doesn't melt and turn the car into an extravagantly expensive paperweight. You're sitting on a money bomb. I wouldn't touch a Benz with someone else's bank account. Unload that thing while it still runs. Trust me, it is going to stop in a shockingly expensive way soon. When it does, you'll be lucky to sell it for scrap metal.

I think you'd be happier with an older 3-series. I wouldn't trust the newer BMWs myself. Nothing past about 1995. The lower models tend to be more rationally engineered and don't require a post-grad in AI to fix. A 325 would be a solid car that would give you years of good service. A 330 would put a big grin on your face and not tear your balls off when you go to get repairs. Maybe a 525 if you just HAVE to be better than everyone else. It will still be German, of course, and give you that knot of constant money worry in the pit of your stomach. It will still randomly demand infusions of large bills, but it won't be devastating like what you have.

Dr_Snooz

03-11-2014, 08:36 PM

http://repairpal.com/mercedes-benz/600sel

1993 Mercedes-Benz 600SEL Reviews and Owner Comments (http://repairpal.com/mercedes-benz-600sel-1993)

Mercedes engine wiring harness rebuild (http://www.restoreyourmercedes.com/mercedes%20engine%20wiring%20harness%20rebuild.htm l)

Expect any of these issues to be fantastically expensive. The evaporator costs $3,000. The MAF sensor costs $1,500. On a BMW, you can ignore a lot of stuff and be okay. On a Benz, ignoring a costly repair usually leads to a parabolic rise in costs as the failing system destroys other systems. For instance, the MAF sensor issue causes a rich condition. Expect that to wreck your cats. Those will probably be well over $1,000. And there are probably two. A radiator failure will cause overheating, risking a head gasket failure. And if I know German cars, you won't know the radiator failed until the car overheats. Etc. The wiring harness issue is especially scary.

Do not walk. RUN from that car!

charliekuney

03-13-2014, 05:27 PM

Pneumatic suspension is already out, car still drives perfectly fine. Steering box has been rebuilt by Mercedes. Air conditioning, and climate control for that matter, works flawlessly. All three wiring harnesses have been replaced with non-biodegradable versions. E30's aren't safe vehicles, I won't touch them. Safety is an issue for me. MAF's are in good shape as are the ETA's, both checked last night. Your second link is for a '93 model year so it might as well be for a different vehicle altogether. BMW's do not age well, especially compared to a Mercedes-Benz. I know what kind of vehicle I own. I know the common issues and which of them I have to deal with. I have had a multi-point inspection done at two European shops, both listing the same issues, and now all I need is one from Mercedes themselves. The car only has 90k miles and is in much better shape than most left on the road. It isn't all that bad of a car. It's a comfortable ride and it's faster than just about anything else on the road over 60mph. Most of all, it's safe. Look at the IIHS crash tests of a 1992 S-Class versus a 1992 Golf...it tears the Golf in half, long-ways.

$2,000 for the 400E. Probably $1,500 in repairs and maintenance over a year. Around $500 so far for the 600SEL to get it licensed and inspected. I'm hardly $4,000 into a car that I could sell as-is on Craigslist for $6,500 and get a quick sale. They're still $10,000 or more with more miles. If I spent another $2,000 on the car it would be perfect and a real road machine.

HON-DUH

03-17-2014, 08:44 PM

http://img.pandawhale.com/60981-Third-Party-Facepalm-meme-extr-McI2.jpeg

Bro sell that shit and get a MT UA6...:slap:

charliekuney

03-18-2014, 06:05 PM

Bro sell that shit and get a MT UA6...:slap:

I cannot go back to front-wheel-drive...I just can't. I want a diesel W123 or W124.

It has been posted on Craigslist.

Dr_Snooz

03-19-2014, 06:58 PM

If you have the German bug, then stay German by all means. Just stay away from the flagship models. They will hurt you bad.

charliekuney

03-19-2014, 08:39 PM

How old do I have to go to get a simple German car? Do they even exist?

LewZur

03-20-2014, 04:10 AM

How old do I have to go to get a simple German car? Do they even exist?

Only simple German cars I know of are air-cooled VWs.

LewZur

03-20-2014, 07:30 AM

They're definitely not luxurious or super fast (I saw an old ad once for a beetle that said 40hp at 40mpg). And I personally hate them for the lack of room/comfort they offer, but they are super easy to work on and do get great gas mileage. I'm half joking when I say VW anyway, because I don't really think that would be something you would want. Although they're simple, they're like every other German car I've dealt with that was more than 15 years old, they constantly require work. What are your thoughts on BMW? I thought I read some negative thoughts on those in this thread somewhere, but I could be mistaken. My parents have owned 4 BMWs, 1 Mercedes, and my dad has a 67 VW Beetle/Baja. The BMWs never had major issues, I think the most expensive thing they did to it was replace a convertible roof, the transmission went out on the Benz and holy shit I could have bought 3 really nice cars for that price. My dad's VW was rebuilt (complete tear down) in 98 and it's still going strong, though he constantly has to adjust carbs or some other stupid little maintenance. It does break down, don't get me wrong, but 16 years as a DD on the same rebuild is pretty awesome in my book.

HON-DUH

03-20-2014, 08:16 PM

Bro I'd stay away from German cars until you're 30 lol

Get a:

AT or MT Legend
MT RSX
AT or MT TSX (06+)
MT TL Type S for second gen or AT or MT TL for third gen
CL Type S MT second gen

I wanted an e30 or e46 but just reading about maintenance and cost for OEM parts on forums I was like

http://cdn.memegenerator.net/images/189795.jpg

Hondas and Acuras make me feel like

http://i2.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/newsfeed/000/380/373/03a.jpg

charliekuney

03-22-2014, 04:59 PM

I don't like BMW for two reasons: First, they do not age well. I mentioned this above. Second, specifically for the E30, is that they are not safe. I don't know how the E32 and E34 were among the safest cars in the 80's and 90's but the E30 just wasn't.

I'm slowly heading towards three options:
1) Sell the 600SEL and get something extremely economical, like a Civic HX/VX or CR-X HF, Metro XFi, et cetera.
2) Sell the 600SEL and not own a vehicle at all. bike&bus
3) Buy these two 600SEL's I see on Craigslist for $1,000 each and have oodles of parts.

HON-DUH

03-22-2014, 10:23 PM

http://www.quickmeme.com/img/86/860546ec816052ae17827d96d3c9690455ec88b8c267066204 eb91034f6123ca.jpg

If you're talking bout safety, neither choices listed on #1 are any safer than an e30 lol but then again....dat CRX tho...

I'd stay in the Honda family...stay away from a Metro -__-

charliekuney

03-23-2014, 01:36 PM

Ever since I saw the Top Gear episode about Saab's safety running deep, I will never be able to buy an E30. They dropped an '84 Saab 900 and an '84 BMW 318i from ten feet upside down. The entire roof of the BMW collapsed. The Saab bounced...

I've become rather obsessed with car safely lately. Little did I know that even Mercedes-Benz has sold cars that weren't all that safe. When Daimler bought them in the 90's they cheaped out on materials. The 1996-1997 W210 E-Class received a poor front crash test rating because the a-pillar would bow-out at 35mph.

charliekuney

03-24-2014, 06:56 PM

Take all of the pictures! Got Bae washed and tidy for a photoshoot...for Craigslist, lol. Man, I'm gonna miss this car, if it ever sells.

http://i60.tinypic.com/11qie03.jpg
http://i62.tinypic.com/1z57y3q.jpg
http://i60.tinypic.com/9icqe1.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/v2r1tw.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/ngbjnm.jpg

charliekuney

03-24-2014, 06:56 PM

http://i62.tinypic.com/2posl6v.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/25gf2xl.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/2zpl6hv.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/2a8i4cj.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/117rdjt.jpg

charliekuney

03-24-2014, 06:56 PM

http://i57.tinypic.com/29lcjgp.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/v7qvq0.jpg
http://i62.tinypic.com/1zyix5i.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/2ro6cdt.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/2zrf2bp.jpg

charliekuney

03-24-2014, 06:57 PM

http://i59.tinypic.com/2i269zn.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/ipuq39.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/2q9z1u0.jpg
http://i61.tinypic.com/fjgjf6.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/r8blzr.jpg

charliekuney

03-24-2014, 06:57 PM

http://i62.tinypic.com/142hibm.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/2wgg139.jpg
http://i59.tinypic.com/347hda8.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/o8e6j6.jpg

Dr_Snooz

03-24-2014, 07:40 PM

I don't think you have to go very old, just stay away from the flagship models. They get all the bleeding edge advancements. There are lots of bugs that come with that, and no one really knows how to fix them. Not even the engineers who build them. The cars are chock full of useless technology like iDrive and whatnot that does nothing but crap out and make you crazy. The bleeding edge stuff trickles down from the flagship models slowly and tends to be less buggy by the time it gets to them. The mid-range models (like the E-class and 5 series) are the closest I would get to the flagship models. Also, the smaller engines within the model ranges will tend to be simpler with less exotic engines and less pointless technology. For instance, my 540i had all the bells and whistles and big problems like the engine blocks that failed. The 525 wasn't nearly as exciting, but didn't have the engine block issues. The 540 shared its engine with the flagship models. The simplest cars will be the 318i and the 190E. They have four-bangers, get good mileage, even have timing belts I think, but they aren't really what I would want from a German car. Buying the biggest cars with the biggest engines is like putting a target on your wallet.

I'll second the opinion on Benzes. Stay away from them. My dad had one Benz in his whole life and he couldn't talk about Benzes without swearing. My uncle was a big Benz guy and finally gave up because they are so unreliable. Now he drives Fords. (Still hasn't learned, I guess). My BMW was badly abused by a clueless lout. It required a lot of money to get all the bugs worked out, but it didn't require any major repairs. Once it settled down, it drove like a dream and never caused me any trouble.

Also, if you're going to get a model newer than say, 1995, ignore the maintenance schedule. The German cars have all been throwing in free maintenance if you buy their cars. Thus, because they are paying for those $300 oil changes, suddenly 15,000 miles is a perfectly acceptable interval for oil changes. Transmissions get "lifetime" fluid and are sealed up with no filler cap or dipstick. "Free maintenance" is an abomination from the marketing department. The engines sludge up something fierce and the transmissions fail at 100k. It's a terrible thing to do to such remarkable machines.

HON-DUH

03-26-2014, 08:44 PM

Listen to the wise words of Dr. Snooz Charlie mane...also GLWS :flip:

charliekuney

03-28-2014, 05:45 PM

I'm sticking to my guns. I will put a little (read: little) amount of money into the car to see if I can get the issues resolved. If I cannot I will sell the car as soon as possible. The only problem with selling it is that the only person who would buy this car is specifically looking for it and would probably know quite a bit about it and not fork up the cash I want.

Civic Accord Honda

03-28-2014, 06:53 PM

W123 diesel will outlast the stands of time...hell in other countrys they are still using them as taxis with over 1 million miles on them. original engine lol... and they dont have as much to go wrong on them...parts cost is not that bad on them as well....try to find a turbo diesel 4 speed though lol the auto non turbos are scary slow .

but i laugh at you not wanting a E30 due to safety. then considering a CRX HF. did you know the 88 CRX HF did not even have safety beams in the doors to save weight? and the thick steal bumper supports were replaced a thin tin strip again to save weight... after i saw images of wrecked CRX hfs i listed mine for sale. and im not a big safety guy . but seeing 15mph side impacts that pushed the door almost to the center console scared the living crap out of me!!!!. geo metros are far from being the safest cars on the road. but they did meet the required safety ratings to be sold in the 90s which was stricter then the 80s lol...and ive seen some of them take some big hits where the driver walks away fine....you want safe. simple to fix . RWD? get a old truck lol

Dr_Snooz

03-28-2014, 08:06 PM

I'm sticking to my guns. I will put a little (read: little) amount of money into the car to see if I can get the issues resolved.

LOL. The siren song of the German car lures newbs to their doom.

charliekuney

03-30-2014, 01:05 PM

I clearly understand that the E30 is safer than a similar-era, similar-sized American or Japanese vehicle. While the CR-X and Metro are unsafe, so is the E30, just to a lesser degree. It's just too small and too old. E32's have enough girth to withstand a decent impact. The crash test video on YouTube for the W140 shows a '92 model practically tearing a '92 Golf in half. Thanks for the information on the lack of buttressing in the CR-X...that is officially crossed off my list.

Now I just don't know what to do.

Dr_Snooz

03-31-2014, 07:17 AM

The 3g crash test videos are pretty frightening too.

charliekuney

03-31-2014, 06:22 PM

My crash test in a 3G was pretty frightening. I have been told that I could have died. As far as the Benz goes; I posted it on Craigslist for $4,500. The car is practically unable to be driven and I want nothing more to do with it. I am having an extremely difficult time finding a car to meet my needs. Shit is fucked. Shit is just fucked...

HON-DUH

04-01-2014, 11:03 AM

Get a BB1/2 Prelude bro

charliekuney

04-01-2014, 05:37 PM

I don't want a car at all at this point. I'm tired of them breaking.

Dr_Snooz

04-04-2014, 06:57 PM

What crapped out on the Benz that has you so bummed out?

charliekuney

04-05-2014, 05:05 PM

Something went wrong with the air-to-fuel ratio and it was dumping so much fuel onto the cylinders that it was overflowing into the manifold and building up in the catalytic converters...where it then was combusting.

Dr_Snooz

04-06-2014, 06:09 AM

Oh dude. It got you. Sorry to hear it.

That is classic Benz. Basically, you take what would be a minor failure on any other car, magnify it to the 10th power through cataclysmically stupid engineering and voila! You have a Benz repair. Take a minor fault and add three zeroes to the price. The only way Benz stays in business is through the emperor's new clothes routine.

On my Dad's Benz (his one and only Benz that he couldn't mention without swearing) the fuel pump was designed in such a way that if the seal failed, and it was known to, it would dump raw gas into the crankcase. I swear that kind of stupidity requires postdoc training. Bimmers don't pull that kind of sh!t.

What's the plan now? Have you gotten any repair estimates? You'll have to stage your own death to afford new cats. Just call the scrapyard to come pick it up, drink a bottle of scotch, break out all the windows and go cry yourself to sleep. When you wake up in the morning, get rid of any other Benzes still floating around your house. They aren't worth the trouble.

6109

HON-DUH

04-06-2014, 05:42 PM

I don't want a German shitbox at all at this point. I'm tired of German shit breaking.

Fixed it for ya ;)

charliekuney

04-06-2014, 05:59 PM

I think I have a decent plan. I want to keep this car. I should be purchasing a 1992 Geo Metro XFi tomorrow which allows me to keep the Mercedes. Down the road I will purchase a parts car that is as close to identical as can be. I will use parts from that to get the Benz in top shape, then scrap the parts car and get another one. Repeat. I don't really have any other interests in life. No children. No travel or vacation. No hobbies. No drug habits. Cars are the only thing I have to spend money on until I move out (yes).

Dr_Snooz

04-06-2014, 06:29 PM

Well, if you don't learn the lesson the first time, it will give you more... LOL

HON-DUH

04-07-2014, 05:28 PM

Get a real girl(s) to dump money on, she'll reward you a lot better than that Merc ever will bro lol :rofl:

Some things never change eh Snooz?

charliekuney

04-09-2014, 05:56 PM

Picked up a one-owner 1992 Geo Metro XFi (52mpg+) with 110k for $1,500! Now I can drive this to save gas (and save the Benz mechanically) until I can afford and find a parts car for the 600.

LewZur

04-09-2014, 06:10 PM

Picked up a one-owner 1992 Geo Metro XFi (52mpg+) with 110k for $1,500!

Is that the one that's just like the swift?

charliekuney

04-09-2014, 07:42 PM

HON-DUH

04-09-2014, 07:53 PM

Post pics bro

charliekuney

04-09-2014, 08:15 PM

First two are from the Craigslist posting, the last one is from today, before I washed it... Yes, the front corner lenses do not match. One is pre- and one is post-facelift. I want to get a new one for the driver side so they are both solid amber.No power steering. No power brakes. No power windows. No power locks. No intermittent wiper settings. In 1992 it had 49hp. I can only imagine what it has now!

http://i60.tinypic.com/mwdwyv.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/fnspz5.jpg
http://i57.tinypic.com/2lc9no2.jpg

LewZur

04-09-2014, 09:03 PM

The Geo Metro, Suzuki Swift, Pontiac Firefly, Holden Barina, Chevrolet Sprint, Subaru Justy and Isuzu Geminette are all a rebadged Suzuki Cultus. So, yes. The Metro is the only one that received the super economy model (XFi) that had several unique parts to give it better fuel economy.

They made a high performance model of the swift. I remember a guy in high school had one brand new and thought it was the poo and I guess it was kinda cool, but back then we were all into muscle cars. Just had to look it up the Swift GTi is what I was thinking about.

LewZur

04-09-2014, 09:05 PM

BTW, it looks really good bro. I haven't seen a metro that straight in years, probably the aforementioned one (swift).

Civic Accord Honda

04-09-2014, 09:40 PM

dude i fucking hate you so jelly lol....i drive 150 miles a day to go to work (At walmart lol) . im saving my paychecks up to buy my 3rd geo metro. i had a 94 with a 3cyl 5 spd 2dr. and a 97 4cyl auto 4 door with ac....they have a lot more pep then you think they would... check out Geo Metro Forum - got mpg? (http://geometroforum.com/site/) and Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com (http://ecomodder.com/) also TeamSwift • Index page (http://www.teamswift.net/) .

when it comes time to needing a set of tires do the vented disk brake upgrade and larger wheel studs (10mm vs 8mm iirc) and then you can run the 13" wheels . also any 4x114 rim will fit it but dont change from the 12s unless you do the larger wheel studs or bad things happen lol...finding 12" tires is a huge pain in the ass now a days ...

theses things will last forever (tons with over 300k miles). just make sure the timing is not to far advanced or you will burn a valve (most common issue on theses cars) and if she ever needs a rebuild the little 3 banger can be lifted out by hand... no hoist ever needed! FTW.... congrats man though ...im still jelly :P

LewZur

04-10-2014, 04:31 AM

finding 12" tires is a huge pain in the ass now a days

Tire distributors, such as the one I work for, still stock 12" tires. I think we usually keep 2-3 sets in stock and they're Chinese tires, but they can still be found.
A quick search of tire rack shows they still stock a set too.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSearchResults.jsp?tireIndex=0&autoMake=Geo&autoYear=1992&autoModel=Metro&autoModClar=&width=145%2F&ratio=0&diameter=12&sortCode=30450&skipOver=true&minSpeedRating=S&minLoadRating=S&tab=All

charliekuney

04-10-2014, 08:58 PM

If that is true about the 12" tires I am pretty lucky as the car has brand new matching rubber all around! I cleaned the front lenses out because they were full of mold and muck. I know this car sat for 3-5 years but I think it was garaged most of the time. I need to detail the engine bay and interior as the engine is covered in old oil from a previous leak and the interior had mold and mildew. I need to get the oil changed since it sat for so long and I believe the oil is old. Fresh gas and a few drives did the beast some good. I haven't had any issues with it, yet. When it runs for a long time it will do the surging idle (dirty IACV?) a few times but it will calm on its own every time. The front-passenger brake also squeals under hard use. Does anyone know if these things have disc all around? Drums in the rear? Just drums? lol, I love the damned thing, though. I missed having a simple car. This thing is barbaric compared to a 3G LX-i!

Civic Accord Honda

04-11-2014, 01:43 AM

yeah you can find a 12s a couple places but its gotten harder and not many options (and personally china tires scare the living crap out of me. and caused me to wreck my 95 accord) .
glad to hear yours has a new set though! yeah my 3gee smelled like mold when i got it as well...lots of freebrez and carpet cleaner and it still has a tad bit of mold and mildew smell lol

never had a surging idle on my geos but i would say its a vac leak or something.

front brakes are disks . yours are non vented . rear brakes are drums. going to vented is a hugeeeeee upgrade in brake power on theses cars but wait until you need new tires as the 12s wont clear lol

vented left non vented on the right
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_QZFIOYuA6xE/SfwGYY0RtkI/AAAAAAAAAQQ/3ovGb2-pAU0/s800/IMG_7939.JPG

and they really are fun cars arent they? i miss the fuck out of mine lol...and sooooooo simple to work on. engine bay has nothing to it!

LewZur

04-11-2014, 03:34 AM

A lot of tires are made in China now. They have gotten a lot stricter on what is allowed on the road these days, since 2008. Always check the DOT on them before buying them, especially the Chinese tires. All tire places will want to move their old stock first, but it is against the law to sell tires more than 5 years old. And since not many people are in the market for 12" tires I'd be extremely careful. 13s, 14s, and 15s aren't as bad since they are still being mass produced by most manufacturers, the only downside is the limited height and width that is produced. I'm sure it won't be too much longer until we see all sizes below 16" become as scarce as the 12", but as long as these sizes are on the road someone will make them, even if it is the Chinese. I'm a Cooper/Mastercraft guy myself. Since I don't have a car that is built for speed, I can buy their TR tires with 80,000 mile tread warranty. Plus they are made in the USA, and lets face it, our economy can use all the help it can get. Congrats, on having new rubber all the way around!

HON-DUH

04-11-2014, 09:12 AM

Looks clean Charles, congrats

http://media.tumblr.com/tumblr_md3qkl9tss1qf1mhe.gif

Dr_Snooz

04-12-2014, 07:53 AM

When I had my Bimmer, I often thought how remarkably similar it was to having a really bad girlfriend. The drama never ended, but for some reason, you couldn't walk away from the relationship. LOL

Buying a second, reliable car is a good choice. That's why I got my 3g. The stupid Bimmer kept giving me fits, so I bought a loyal car instead. I still have the 3g, but the Bimmer has probably long since gone to the crusher by now. The bitch.

charliekuney

04-12-2014, 05:35 PM

Perks to working at a dealership: Free alignment, free oil change, free detail, free parts. Got the little devil running in top shape. By the way (if I haven't said this already), I love the fact that the Metro is so small that I can park it sideways behind the Benz.

Civic Accord Honda

04-14-2014, 08:45 PM

if ya havent got the idle fixed this may do the trick IAC Repair (http://geometroforum.com/topic/4804867/1/)

and post more pics already! lol u posted a ton of pics of benz but not enough of the awesome metro!!!!

charliekuney

04-21-2014, 03:45 PM

CAH, do you know what would cause the left turn signal to not work? It works intermittently but most of the time it flashes so fast that the "tick" sounds more like hissing and the bulbs will not flash. Left side also does not work with the hazard lights. Bulbs are fine. Sometimes this happens to the right side, but rarely. (Opposite of how the left side works rarely.) Also, with the door panel removed, is there a way to further take apart the door to access the manual window regulator? The top of the "X" that connects to the rail ("track") along the bottom of the window popped off and I cannot get enough access or leverage to pop it back in. Any help is great. Pictures soon, after I wash it again now that the window is rolled up.

Civic Accord Honda

04-22-2014, 10:39 PM

could be the flasher in the fuse box? just a guess though my friend has a issue on his 93 swift where the left turn single is always on very dimly and when he turns the turn single on it just goes bright soild. he hasn't had a chance to bring it by to figure out whats up with it yet lol.

and unfortunately as far as i remember there is not much more room to get in to the doors on them. i know i remember seeing some members dremeld out a bit of the inner door skin to get more access . working on window regulators on any car sucks though lol

charliekuney

05-06-2014, 11:38 AM

I must say, passing anyone in traffic in a ~49hp Metro XFi is just awkward.

Dr_Snooz

05-06-2014, 06:21 PM

How many Metros would you need to give you what that 600 put out?

charliekuney

05-10-2014, 11:22 AM

1992 600SEL had 402hp. Eight times 49hp is 392hp. (Imagine an 8.0L 24-cylinder engine.)

charliekuney

05-16-2014, 08:22 AM

Inching my way closer to never owning a car again in my life.

Dr_Snooz

05-16-2014, 07:25 PM

Uh oh. What blew up now?

charliekuney

05-20-2014, 09:09 PM

I was having brake issues. The car sat for four years before I bought it and I knew it needed brake work but I did not know the extent. Now after paying $475 to have both front disc brakes rebuilt and both rear drums cleaned this 1,600lb beast stops shorter than a dime! The new rotors look so pretty... Also, I fixed the head lamp and left turn signals just by pulling the wiring harness behind the fuse box under the dash. Why can't everything be so simple to fix?

HON-DUH

05-22-2014, 08:11 PM

Nice man!

charliekuney

06-28-2014, 10:09 PM

The 600SEL has been sold. The beige coupe I sold blew up. The green sedan I sold was t-boned. The Geo Metro has been quite the interesting daily driver. It has made me realize, though, that no matter how simple a machine may be it will still have problems.

Dr_Snooz

06-29-2014, 05:54 PM

Nice job!

2ndGenGuy

07-03-2014, 09:04 AM

Wow dude. You went from a 600SEL to a Metro. I gotta give you some huge credit on that one.

charliekuney

08-12-2014, 07:59 PM

Any suggestions on where I can weigh my car? It has been fully gutted down to just the dash and front seats and I want to know how much it weighs with me in it. Garbage transfer station?

Dr_Snooz

08-12-2014, 08:11 PM

Any self-serve wrecking yard should have a scale. You can also hit the truck scales on the interstate.

charliekuney

08-13-2014, 09:28 AM

Every truck scale in Washington is closed, I swear. I'll call WSP and DoE and a couple junkyards. Thanks!

charliekuney

08-25-2014, 01:01 PM

Just to remind you folks of my suffering! What do y'all think about the 8.0L V10 Ram from the 90's?

http://i59.tinypic.com/x4v7p.jpg
http://i58.tinypic.com/34eoy2s.jpg

Dr_Snooz

08-25-2014, 06:26 PM

Good lord! Is this a stolen/recovered kinda thing or are you hypermiling now? I guess not if you're thinking about 8L V10s. LOL. It must be punishingly loud inside that Metro now.

MessyHonda

08-31-2014, 06:57 AM

HA! so you sold the benz. i figured after you posted the MPG. now to a metro. my co worker has one and it gets great MPG but it has like 49 squirrel power

charliekuney

08-31-2014, 06:21 PM

Good lord! Is this a stolen/recovered kinda thing or are you hypermiling now? I guess not if you're thinking about 8L V10s. LOL. It must be punishingly loud inside that Metro now.

Hypermiling king! It is definitely louder than the Mercedes was - by a long shot - but it's surprisingly quieter than I thought it would be. Removing the carpet and headliner added more noise than any of the interior paneling or the two (COUNT THEM, TWO) squares of sound damping behind rear speakers (or where they would be in the "upscale" models).

HA! so you sold the benz. i figured after you posted the MPG. now to a metro. my co worker has one and it gets great MPG but it has like 49 squirrel power

Fuel economy isn't what killed her; fuel-injection system did. After owning a (once, I know) $130k German tank and then a $6k Japanese shopping cart... LUXURY > ALL !!! I don't give two sh*ts about reliability and fuel economy anymore. I had my midlife crisis at age twenty. I want a luxury car for the rest of my life.

MessyHonda

09-01-2014, 10:24 AM

i know the feeling. My other co worker has the 2013 civic Si coupe and i got to drive it in the rain. that limited slip and power was fun but new cars feel like plastic to me.

charliekuney

09-17-2014, 07:01 PM

Blew the head gasket in the Metro. I think God is subliminally telling me that I should never own a vehicle.

Dr_Snooz

09-17-2014, 07:24 PM

charliekuney

09-22-2014, 05:33 PM

Damn, sold a gutted Metro with a blown head gasket for $600! Now time to get a 1987 Mercedes-Benz 300E!

Dr_Snooz

09-22-2014, 08:39 PM

You may be bipolar if.....

charliekuney

09-23-2014, 05:52 PM

The only reason I set my mind on that 300E is because it's only $600 and it's owned by an older German gentleman. It's either that or a $2,200 1993 300SL.

charliekuney

09-26-2014, 06:39 PM

Woot! 1998 S320 long-wheelbase!

Dr_Snooz

09-26-2014, 07:16 PM

Good grief Charlie. I see you need some remedial education. That car has 228 HP in a 4500 lb. car. You can buy a Civic with more horsepower at 1/4 the weight and it won't have a 40' turning circle. They claim 0-60 in 8.5 seconds, but I'd only believe that if they strapped a jado rocket to the top of it. Get an E-class with a big engine (not an E190!). It will get 20 MPG, won't make you lose bowel control when you take it in for repairs and will take your breath away when you put the hammer down. And you'll still be able to pick up chicks.

charliekuney

09-28-2014, 06:36 PM

Remedial education? How about this: 40' turning circle? The W140 S-Class pioneered Mercedes' Servotronic steering. It has a smaller turning circle than the W124 and W210 E-Class models. Barely any larger than my Metro. I can still flip a bitch on my two-lane street. 20mpg? Try 25mpg from the newer S320's with the 5-speed automatic. 190E is not an E-Class, it was the predecessor to the C-Class. You people forget that even a 4500lb Benz puts 228bhp to the ground as well as any American or Japanese car with 350hp+. I might not beat an SI or WRX to 60mph ("streetlight hoppers") but at highway speed they don't stand a chance. I'm not looking for a fast car; I wanted something comfortable with better gas mileage than the V12. Thanks for your input.

/remedialeducation4DrSnooz

Dr_Snooz

09-29-2014, 07:13 PM

Get over yourself. According to Edmunds.com that car has a turning circle of 41' (1998 Mercedes-Benz S-Class S320 LWB Sedan 3.2L 6-cyl. 5-speed Automatic Features and Specs (http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/1998/features-specs.html?style=14179)), which puts it in the same class as my long bed crew cab. The turning circle for a 1994 (W124) E-class coupe is 36' (1994 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E320 Coupe 3.2L 6-cyl. 4-speed Automatic Features and Specs (http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/1994/features-specs.html?style=14505)). For the 1998 W210, it's 37.1' (1998 Mercedes-Benz E-Class E300TD Sedan 3.0L 6-cyl. Turbodiesel 5-speed Automatic Features and Specs (http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/e-class/1998/features-specs.html?style=17415)). So I don't know where you're getting your info, but it might not be accurate. Again, Edmunds puts the gas mileage at 15/22 (1998 Mercedes-Benz S-Class Sedan Review | Edmunds.com (http://www.edmunds.com/mercedes-benz/s-class/1998/?style=14179&sub=sedan#specs-pod-anchor)) for your S320. Yet that's missing the point. I said you'd get 20 MPG with a top of the line E-class, not the S320. And of course, "highway speed" tends to be in excess of 60 MPH, thus no longer being a 0-60 time. That whaling vessel does have a top speed of 150 or so, so of course it's going to be faster at speeds where the rice rockets wind out. It's just that they are going to be a long, long way ahead of you before you start gaining on them.

If you like the car, rock on. It just seems to me you're getting everything bad about German cars (ponderous handling, overly complicated, way too expensive), without any of the good (power!!!). Congrats on the new ride. Post pics when you can.

charliekuney

09-29-2014, 10:24 PM

I get your points man, but in my experience turning around on my street a dozen times per day, it is much tighter in the S-Class. I don't even come close to the fence across the street. In my 400E I had to go slow to make sure I wouldn't hit it and sometimes I would have to back up. I don't get why you're still hounding the performance of the S320 when I clearly stated that I wasn't looking for a high-performance sedan - I learned my lesson with the V12 - and the 3.2L with the 5-speed gets 25mpg and better on the highway (at 60mph). I'm using a chart to record my fuel economy, not the gauge on the cluster that wanders between 15mpg and 40mpg.

Listen, I got the car because I wanted something safe. I need something with a road presence. I was tired of getting pushed around in the Metro. This car is safe, the newest I've ever owned, cheap to insure and not so terrible on gas (compared to 14mpg highway for the 1992 V12).

Dr_Snooz

09-30-2014, 06:20 PM

If you like it, that's all that matters. I do think the 3.2 will be loads more reliable than the V12. Have fun and post pics for us.

charliekuney

11-26-2014, 09:59 PM

Lo and behold, a first-generation Lexus GX with a roof rack full of camping gear came flying around a corner and since the early GX's were top-heavy and prone to rollovers and leaning into corners came around and went into the lean and all of the stuff from the roof came crashing down onto my car. Tool box, cooler full of food, miscellaneous camping gear. It did over $9,600 in damage to the FRONT of my car. Just the front. My insurance totaled the car out for cosmetic damage but it still runs and drives fine. Sometime between now and Friday they will show up with a tow truck and a check for anywhere between $3,500 and $10,500. I hope I get enough to get another Mercedes. I want a 1999 S500 or a 2000-2002 CL500.

Dr_Snooz

11-27-2014, 09:28 AM

Picsssssssssssssssss!!!!

You have the most extraordinary luck with cars, my friend. Better luck with your next.

Are you okay?

charliekuney

11-29-2014, 12:44 AM

You will be extremely disappointed to see what $10k worth of damage looks like on an S-Class...

Dr_Snooz

11-30-2014, 08:09 AM

I don't doubt it. On my BMW, I was impressed by how heavy the sheet metal body panels were. If you pushed against them, they didn't flex. They were much thicker than the panels you get on any other car. That much steel isn't going to come cheap though. Everything else is built the same way. A simple alternator will be $700. Brake caliper is $320. It's not gouging either. It's simply built to last forever. Don't worry about the alternator costing so much because you'll never need to replace it. When you start breaking a lot of stuff in a crash, however, it gets expensive very fast.

charliekuney

12-05-2014, 12:18 AM

Insurance bought the car for $6,000 which is three times what I paid for it, so I'm happy. I should have bought it back for $700 and sold it on Craigslist for $2,000 but that was a headache I wasn't ready to deal with. I'll post the pictures from the insurance once I get them. On the hunt for another Mercedes-Benz! I'm on the market for a clean W140 S-Class, W124 or W210 E-Class, or W202 or W203 C-Class. I really want something all-wheel-drive after test driving a 5-speed 2002 BMW 325ix today, but Mercedes never made any manual all-wheel-drive cars, ever!

charliekuney

12-10-2014, 12:46 AM

Picked up a 1999 Mercedes-AMG C43 with 125k. New transmission at 115k. Full racing coolant system? Original owner is now serving time in Florida for armed robbery and attempted murder. Black on black. 18" AMG Monoblocks. 245 rears. ESP. E55 brakes. Is nice. >:) I think I read that they only imported ~1,200 over 1998-2000. Black on black is the second rarest color combination. Leather doesn't have any creases. It's not as floaty as the S320 but it is definitely way more sporty!

2oodoor

12-10-2014, 06:03 AM

Charlie youre an incredibly skillfull broker for your "fleet". MB AMG ? Omg I hope things work out how you want.

Dr_Snooz

12-10-2014, 07:58 PM

Big pimpin' in Seattle. Just get rid of the thing before the guy gets out and sees you in it!

charliekuney

12-16-2014, 11:49 PM

oh ma gaw so faaaaast

Dr_Snooz

12-21-2014, 10:21 PM

Heh heh. Let me guess. You found a nice level, straight open road and put the hammer down. The car threw you back in your seat and slapped you around for awhile. It was perfectly smooth and quiet as everything went streaking by. It pulled like a mother right up to red line, never ran out of power, never strained, wobbled, vibrated or anything. The sound was exquisite and the sensation of power and speed was indescribable. The faster it went, the more planted it felt. When you stopped, your pulse was pounding and you wanted to do it again.

Now you understand why I was baggin' on the 320. Once you've had a taste of German speed, nothing else will satisfy. You'll never be able to drive another 320 again.

charliekuney

12-24-2014, 09:35 PM

All true, all true; but the C43 does not have the road presence or ride of the S-Class. I miss floating around and being one of the largest sedans on the road with a Suburban's footprint. The C43 is definitely faster than the 600SEL I had. It makes me want a 1998-1999 S600 or CL600 or a newer V12. The Top Gear episode for the 2003 CL65 AMG was a good one. Or an E55 AMG. I definitely love the passing and braking power of this car, though. It just makes me want something faster, like when a CTS-V or SRT8 or newer Germ fucks around with me.

charliekuney

01-20-2015, 08:51 PM

How crazy would I be if I got an older (1980's or early 1990's) Rolls-Royce or Bentley? I know maintenance is the definition of a bitch, and parts do not exist, but as with all cars I probably wouldn't keep it forever anyway. Just something to tinker with and show off

Hazwan

01-21-2015, 02:34 AM

That would be interesting even though you know how bad they can be reliability wise. If you think your previous German(s) are bad then...

Dr_Snooz

01-21-2015, 08:11 PM

Hazwan

01-21-2015, 08:21 PM

I can't say for Rolls or Bentley, but generally, the British can't build a car that runs for longer than a few months at a time without taking a $2,000 pit stop at the shop. You know the old joke about Jaguars. You buy two: one to drive and one to keep in the shop. British cars are terrible.

What he said. I've worked on a couple of Jags and Range Rovers. They're just.. what even I can't even explain.

At least the Germans built their car to last. British are like lets hope it would last a month without spontaneously burst into flames

Hauntd ca3

01-21-2015, 08:26 PM

gp02a0083

01-22-2015, 09:34 AM

What he said. I've worked on a couple of Jags and Range Rovers. They're just.. what even I can't even explain.

At least the Germans built their car to last. British are like lets hope it would last a month without spontaneously burst into flames

IIRC The Jag/Rover division I think have been owned by an Indian company, TATA motors since around 2008 when Ford was trimming themselves down. I agree, British cars have never been known to be highly reliable mechanically. Problem with those cars IMO is that they are hand built, built in squeaks/ rattles. However, with that being said they also have had some beautiful cars made, for instance the Eagle speedster.

almost every make has had their highs and lows over the decades, others flopped for one reason or another. It really depends on the style and function you are looking for. Personally i'm partial to the Oldsmobile's up into the muscle car era of the late 60's, but mainly the 30's and 40's. The 70's with the gas crisis and all that stuff going on the American cars really started to decline. I'd have to stick with the late 70's into the 80's for the asian makes. Not many of the American makes had a good run in the 80's. I cant really critique the European stuff, the late 80's into the early/mid 90's seem to have been decent, I'd still look for a mid 80's audi quattro. Oh and can't forget the german's with the beetles.

HON-DUH

01-22-2015, 01:04 PM

Woah, Charlie mane still on this forum?

How in the fuck did you get $6,000 from the insurance?

Please do share your tips and tricks :D

Dr_Snooz

01-23-2015, 08:28 AM

come on snooze!
i grew up with English cars, jags, austin, morris, Daimler etc and they are fine.
just got to know what you are doing with them.
rather a 50s or 60s jag than a 50s or 60s anything US.
and don't even get me started on racing.

Well, I haven't owned a British car, but the word on the old MG's was that they were great fun...when they ran. Which apparently, was rare. The old Jags from the '70s or so were renowned for being complete garbage. You'd look inside an older one and all the trim would be falling off the dash and the wood veneer would be peeling off the door panels. A boss of mine had a Range Rover for awhile and the thing was literally in the shop every month. Not for maintenance, but for some problem. He'd make his secretary make all the calls for it and she'd roll her eyes whenever we'd catch her calling.

American cars have always been low-tech and unsophisticated. They are riddled with flaws because the corporate brass thought a few dollars profit per car was worth more than human lives (think Ford Explorer or Ford Pinto). Nevertheless, the cars run. They may be 25 years old, with 200k miles, have had an engine fire, no maintenance and be held together with duct tape and coat hanger wire, but by God, they still run and will still pull your trailer to the job site. There isn't anything you can't get from the aftermarket and there are a billion scrapyard parts for those who can't afford new. It just depends on what's important to you, I guess.

I'll mention that Charlie isn't asking about MG's or Jags, but Rolls and Bentley. James May, of Top Gear, had an old Bentley and he made a video about it. He doesn't mention a lot of mechanical problems, but there are challenges to owning a Bentley.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lc-WGyeSO-U

charliekuney

01-25-2015, 01:33 PM

Woah, Charlie mane still on this forum?

How in the fuck did you get $6,000 from the insurance?

Please do share your tips and tricks :D
Yes, I am still here. If you really want to know what I found out about totaling a vehicle: When your insurance calls you back to let you know how much they're paying and to find out if you're going to buy it back for cheap (totaled/salvage) or when they're going to pick it up, you have to tell them what options your car has. They don't look it up by your VIN like they do when they are insuring you. They just look at market value, which if any of you have learned anything in your lives, is not NADA, KBB OR the price you can get for it on Craigslist... It's the government's website for value. They were going to give me something like $5,400 for it but then I told them that my S320 had optional brake support and that the W140 S-Class was the first car in the world to have it although the S600 was the only model before 1999 with BAS standard. They gave me an extra $600 for brake support, something that made my premium less because it saves lives.

Yes, you are all correct. I saw the Top Gear episode where they had to buy the best brand new car and best used car they could buy with like $8k. They bought a brand new Toyota that was smaller than a Yaris/Echo, and they also bought like a 1991 Bentley sedan that was immaculate and more than a proper daily driver. This hideous idea of mine has already passed. I have long promised myself that I will never purchase a vehicle from another manufacturer as no other brand of car can provide the driving experience of a Mercedes-Benz, and by that I mean in traffic, where most of us actually spend most of our driving time. I am set on a W220 2003-2006 S500 4Matic with ALL of the options. ESP, BAS, ABC, AWD, ACC, NAV. :D

HON-DUH

01-29-2015, 06:06 PM

And what's this government website thou speak of?

charliekuney

02-01-2015, 11:05 PM

I forget what the lady at the DMV showed me. You can go there and ask. I wouldn't recommend calling unless you can get a hold of one out in the boonies.

charliekuney

05-14-2016, 11:13 AM

Charles now owns an Astral Silver W123 1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D 4-speed sedan with a black MB-Tex vinyl interior. 225k miles, third owner, California car, no rust, no accidents. Oddly optioned: manual windows, but power locks (standard) and sunroof (optional), air conditioning but no climate control, locking glovebox, manual transmission but no tachometer, cruise control - that's it. Had all of 67hp back in 1982, not sure what she has now! It's definitely slower off the line than my Metro was but once it has momentum it can keep up with traffic (so long as there is zero incline). It's actually a very relaxing vehicle to drive. It's so slow that I cannot have road rage: If someone cuts me off or does something of the like I can't rush up to them to do an instant payback. She isn't a showroom-worthy garage queen but "the original owners were an elderly couple from Cali and the previous owner was a German man who owned a 240D before he moved over here." I wouldn't hesitate to drive this car from Seattle to Miami to Boston to Los Angeles and back, or even to the tip of Chile and back and then all around the other continents. It's slow, cheap to own, gets decent gas mileage on the highway where it's flat and starts right up on the coldest days after sitting for a week. Power steering and power disc brakes but no ABS or traction control or anything of the sort. Floats at 50mph as it does at 85mph+ (speedometer stops there haha). I have a set of rare factory aluminum steelie look-alikes with the soon-to-be paint-matched wheel covers, as well as a set of the factory bundt-style alloy "sport" wheels. I have every intention of keeping this one as long as I possibly can to save money to start a side project of the car that I want, still undecided since I'm the most indecisive person I know.

Anyway, how goes?

conozo

05-14-2016, 12:50 PM

I read some of this thread, how many cars have you owned total? Looked like you were going through cars every 2 months.

charliekuney

05-17-2016, 12:39 PM

I bought four nearly identical 1988/1989 Misty Beige/Seattle Silver LX-i coupes over a period of about 18 months, kept my last one around for about three years before letting my dad drive it daily and then selling it to my neighbor, which they still drive daily. I'm on my fifth Mercedes and I also owned a Geo Metro XFi right after the 600SEL, so ten cars total over the past seven years:

Seattle Silver 1989 Honda Accord LX-i coupe manual $900 - bought from Craigslist from original owner, then totaled. (~180k)
Seattle Silver 1989 Honda Accord LX-i coupe manual $300 - bought from Craigslist "not running" with high mileage but swapped out fuel pump main relay from totaled car. Sold gutted. (~280k)
Misty Beige 1988 Honda Accord LX-i coupe manual $500 - bought from Craigslist, lower mileage than previous but worse body condition. Still see it driving around almost every single day. (~180k)
Misty Beige 1988 Honda Accord LX-i coupe manual $350 - bought from Craigslist "not running" but all it needed was a cap for the battery post so the cable clamp wouldn't shimmy off while driving. (~180k)
Arctic White 1992 Mercedes-Benz 400E $2,000 - bought from Craigslist from second owner, maintained at dealership since new. (~178k)
Smoke Silver 1992 Mercedes-Benz 600SEL (traded for 400E) - traded from Craigslist. Previous owner smashed around in it without proper maintenance, sucked air filters into throttle bodies, choked catalytic converters. (~91k)
Aqua Blue 1992 Geo Metro XFi manual $1,400 - bought from Craigslist from original owner. Gutted it and drove the shit out of it until the head gasket blew. (~113k)
Brilliant Silver 1998 Mercedes-Benz S320 LWB $2,000 - bought from Craigslist, probably the nicest car I've ever owned and got me started on the silver exterior / black interior charm. Got hit by the contents of a Lexus GX's roofrack that came flying around a corner, insurance payed me $6,500. (~180k)
Black 1999 Mercedes-AMG C43 - bought from sketchy people on Craigslist at night (learned my lesson). Drove the shit out of it until the transmission's conductor plate went out, sold it to my best friend when I moved to Miami. (~134k)
Astral Silver 1982 Mercedes-Benz 240D Diesel manual $1,800 - story is above.