Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
redghost wrote: Owned a 95 civic for a few years. Lots of them around the block. You can always tell when they start up. Razzy little tinny sound. No authority like a diesel benz If no one has taken the muffler off and replaced it with a fart can, you can barely hear 'em idle at all. At least until they get about 60,000 miles on 'em. Then you get a bit of piston slap on cold mornings. Goes away as soon as you touch the throttle, though. I had the Si hatchback version, with variable intake valve timing. It was a blast to drive hard. It had a 7200 rpm redline; you could do 60 mph in second gear. At roughly 4000 RPM it would switch intake cam profiles and pull away nicely as the engine noise took on a more aggressive edge. There was a twisty little onramp near my house with a very short accelleration lane. I used to take the ramp at about 30 mph in 3rd, then downshift to 2nd and floor it after rounding the final 90 degree turn. It'd leap forward, I'd hit third gear just short of redline, merge into traffic, then shift straight into 5th. If driven sanely, that car would get 39 mpg. I usually got about 36. ;) Never would have sold it if the seats were better.
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
Should have just replaced them with Sparco or Recaro seats, then driven it for another 100Kmi. On 8/12/05, David Brodbeck [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: redghost wrote: Owned a 95 civic for a few years. Lots of them around the block. You can always tell when they start up. Razzy little tinny sound. No authority like a diesel benz If no one has taken the muffler off and replaced it with a fart can, you can barely hear 'em idle at all. At least until they get about 60,000 miles on 'em. Then you get a bit of piston slap on cold mornings. Goes away as soon as you touch the throttle, though. I had the Si hatchback version, with variable intake valve timing. It was a blast to drive hard. It had a 7200 rpm redline; you could do 60 mph in second gear. At roughly 4000 RPM it would switch intake cam profiles and pull away nicely as the engine noise took on a more aggressive edge. There was a twisty little onramp near my house with a very short accelleration lane. I used to take the ramp at about 30 mph in 3rd, then downshift to 2nd and floor it after rounding the final 90 degree turn. It'd leap forward, I'd hit third gear just short of redline, merge into traffic, then shift straight into 5th. If driven sanely, that car would get 39 mpg. I usually got about 36. ;) Never would have sold it if the seats were better. ___ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] For new parts see www.buymbparts.com For repairs see www.oldworldauto.com To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net -- Sunil Hari 1984 MB 300D Turbo [EMAIL PROTECTED] 513-205-7474
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
Sunil Hari wrote: Should have just replaced them with Sparco or Recaro seats, then driven it for another 100Kmi. I considered it, but Recaros are racing seats with very high side bolsters. I don't generally corner all that hard, and I don't like the way racing seats pinch my shoulders.
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
I had an '86 Camry that threw a timing belt and ate the engine. Or was it an '82? Yes, I think it might have been an '82. Anyway, nice comfortable car. On 8/9/05, Hendrik Riessen [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Hi I have heard that Toyotas have pretty good seats. Don't know if they are in the Mercedes league. Hendrik - Original Message - From: Mitch Haley [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 11:37 AM Subject: Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT) David Brodbeck wrote: LT Don wrote: Two words -- Honda Civic. If you can, take one for an extended drive before you decide to buy it. And if you can't, just sit in it for an hour. An hour is a small investment compared to the time you'll be stuck in the thing during its lifetime, or compared with the cost of dumping it to buy something you should have bought in the first place. ___ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] For new parts see www.buymbparts.com For repairs see www.oldworldauto.com To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.1/64 - Release Date: 4/08/2005 ___ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] For new parts see www.buymbparts.com For repairs see www.oldworldauto.com To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net -- If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane.
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
No it was an 86 Camrythey didn't start that line until 83 in North America
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
You be right. On 8/10/05, Jeff Zedic [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: No it was an 86 Camrythey didn't start that line until 83 in North America ___ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] For new parts see www.buymbparts.com For repairs see www.oldworldauto.com To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net -- If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane.
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
If one of my cars threw a timing chain that ate the engine I wouldn't be nearly as mellow about it, Don. On 8/10/05, LT Don [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: You be right. On 8/10/05, Jeff Zedic [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: No it was an 86 Camrythey didn't start that line until 83 in North America ___ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] For new parts see www.buymbparts.com For repairs see www.oldworldauto.com To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net -- If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane. ___ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] For new parts see www.buymbparts.com For repairs see www.oldworldauto.com To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
Two words -- Honda Civic. My son, a year ago, freshly married and starting a job paying a salary that is more than I EVER earned per year (and I was mid-level military officer) chose a Honda Civic. Previous vehicle was an Acura Integra. He has NO regrets. Fun, amazingly roomy, economical, and reliable. And very slow depreciation. I tried to talk him into the hybraid, but engineer that he is he pulled out his slide rule, bounced cost against fuel prices (then), and said that it was almost a wash.
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
LT Don wrote: I tried to talk him into the hybraid, but engineer that he is he pulled out his slide rule, bounced cost against fuel prices (then), and said that it was almost a wash. It's only a wash if you get your batteries for free. $4k for a battery pack in 5 years or so really skews the calculation. Make mine a CRX HF please, 65mpg and only one $30 battery. I saw a 2000 Insight advertised nearby for $6k last week. high miles, the ad said. How much you wanna bet the owner noticed that the battery charge falls off much faster than it used to, checked with the dealer on replacement, and then decided to sell? Remember the GM electric, I believe it was called Impact? If you went to that extreme to optimize a gas engined car of equal performance and range, your fuel economy would be triple digit, maybe even 200mpg, and the cost of the tiny gas engine would be a fraction of the electric stuff.
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
What was that figure on the Federal tax credit? On 8/9/05, Mitch Haley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: LT Don wrote: I tried to talk him into the hybraid, but engineer that he is he pulled out his slide rule, bounced cost against fuel prices (then), and said that it was almost a wash. It's only a wash if you get your batteries for free. $4k for a battery pack in 5 years or so really skews the calculation. Make mine a CRX HF please, 65mpg and only one $30 battery. I saw a 2000 Insight advertised nearby for $6k last week. high miles, the ad said. How much you wanna bet the owner noticed that the battery charge falls off much faster than it used to, checked with the dealer on replacement, and then decided to sell? Remember the GM electric, I believe it was called Impact? If you went to that extreme to optimize a gas engined car of equal performance and range, your fuel economy would be triple digit, maybe even 200mpg, and the cost of the tiny gas engine would be a fraction of the electric stuff. ___ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] For new parts see www.buymbparts.com For repairs see www.oldworldauto.com To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net -- If we couldn't laugh we would all go insane.
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
David Brodbeck wrote: LT Don wrote: Two words -- Honda Civic. If you can, take one for an extended drive before you decide to buy it. And if you can't, just sit in it for an hour. An hour is a small investment compared to the time you'll be stuck in the thing during its lifetime, or compared with the cost of dumping it to buy something you should have bought in the first place.
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
Hendrik Riessen wrote: Hi I have heard that Toyotas have pretty good seats. Don't know if they are in the Mercedes league. Don't know, I haven't ridden in one. Volvos have awesome seats, though.
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
Mitch Haley wrote: What's the modern Subaru system like? My old 1977 wagon differed from the 2WD in: 1. not having fifth gear, the fifth gear shift fork was hooked up to a separate gearshift lever and engaged a driveshaft for the rear wheels. 2. Datsun (Nissan now) 280Z diff in the back, with an extra set of halfshafts. So, the added complexity in that case was three driveshafts and one diff, all rated for far more power than my 1.6L boxermotor ever dreamed of producing, and one extra shift lever. The modern systems are full-time and more complex, but I don't know the details. AFAIK Subaru doesn't sell a 2WD car anymore.
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
Owned a 95 civic for a few years. Lots of them around the block. You can always tell when they start up. Razzy little tinny sound. No authority like a diesel benz On Tuesday, August 9, 2005, at 06:56 PM, David Brodbeck wrote: LT Don wrote: Two words -- Honda Civic. If you can, take one for an extended drive before you decide to buy it. I found out the hard way that my back is incompatible with Civic seats, which are firm and have a very pronounced lumbar bulge. ___ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] For new parts see www.buymbparts.com For repairs see www.oldworldauto.com To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net -- Clay Seattle Bioburner 1972 220D - Gump 1995 E300D - Cleo 1987 300SDL - POS - DOA
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
did the long drives in the 'yota. My butt fell asleep long before anything else on the drive to CA. The w124 had my steering arm asleep hours before bumm complained On Tuesday, August 9, 2005, at 07:34 PM, Hendrik Riessen wrote: Hi I have heard that Toyotas have pretty good seats. Don't know if they are in the Mercedes league. Hendrik - Original Message - From: Mitch Haley [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Mercedes mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 11:37 AM Subject: Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT) David Brodbeck wrote: LT Don wrote: Two words -- Honda Civic. If you can, take one for an extended drive before you decide to buy it. And if you can't, just sit in it for an hour. An hour is a small investment compared to the time you'll be stuck in the thing during its lifetime, or compared with the cost of dumping it to buy something you should have bought in the first place. ___ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] For new parts see www.buymbparts.com For repairs see www.oldworldauto.com To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Anti-Virus. Version: 7.0.338 / Virus Database: 267.10.1/64 - Release Date: 4/08/2005 ___ For used parts email [EMAIL PROTECTED] For new parts see www.buymbparts.com For repairs see www.oldworldauto.com To Unsubscribe or change delivery options go to: http://striplin.net/mailman/listinfo/mercedes_striplin.net -- Clay Seattle Bioburner 1972 220D - Gump 1995 E300D - Cleo 1987 300SDL - POS - DOA
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
AFAIK never having worked on one, they're similar to most other systems in that they're all electronically controlled. Most AWD systems use a viscous coupling between the front and rear ends. Its not my opinion that the components are not robust, Subaru of course does very well in Rally racing. My worry is that when something inevitably fails, because it will, because everything fails sometime, that it'll be hideously expensive to fix. I prefer to have to just have fewer components to fail. Thats why I sort of wish Hammie had manual windows. At least if a manual window breaks you KNOW the problem is in the door. With electric windows, is it the switch, the wiring or in the door? -Curt Date: Tue, 09 Aug 2005 17:02:28 -0400 From: Mitch Haley [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT) To: Mercedes mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] Message-ID: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Curt Raymond wrote: AWD is just something else to break and from all accounts is a serious PITA to fix. What's the modern Subaru system like? My old 1977 wagon differed from the 2WD in: 1. not having fifth gear, the fifth gear shift fork was hooked up to a separate gearshift lever and engaged a driveshaft for the rear wheels. 2. Datsun (Nissan now) 280Z diff in the back, with an extra set of halfshafts. So, the added complexity in that case was three driveshafts and one diff, all rated for far more power than my 1.6L boxermotor ever dreamed of producing, and one extra shift lever. That car was much abused before I got suckered into buying it, and suffered many failures in the three months I drove it, but none involving the drivetrain, and no evidence that it had ever been touched. - Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
Federal Tax Credit will soon apply to clean diesels. (according to Fox News) That puts a $18K Golf or Jetta TDI (I got 48mpg out of my 03 Jetta wagon, driving it like a rental car for 40K miles) a whole lot further ahead than a hybrid in my mind. no weird 400 lb battery pack or high-voltage computer controlled relay junk. The interior feel of a Jetta rivals anything M-B has put out in recent years. and VW uses thicker sheet metal than the Japs so no door dings. That said, I love my Hondas and my Benzes. -Sealover Hondas: 95 Odyssey, 76 CB750F, 03 lawnmower Benzes: 83 300D, 77 and 84 300D parts cars On Tuesday, August 9, 2005, at 07:59 PM, LT Don wrote: What was that figure on the Federal tax credit? On 8/9/05, Mitch Haley [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: LT Don wrote: I tried to talk him into the hybraid, but engineer that he is he pulled out his slide rule, bounced cost against fuel prices (then), and said that it was almost a wash. It's only a wash if you get your batteries for free. $4k for a battery pack in 5 years or so really skews the calculation. Make mine a CRX HF please, 65mpg and only one $30 battery.
[MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
What will $5K get ya nowadays? Redhead's Plymouth Breeze is in need of more work than it's worth, and she commutes 70 miles a day. We're not going to take out a loan to buy a car so the cap is about $5K. less would be much better. Safety, Fuel economy, reliability without much maintenance, and drivability are the key shopping points. Early C classes are starting to fall into this price range, although I doubt they're reliable at that price. late 80's, early 90's E classes are right about there. Subaru Legacy / Outback are great AWD contenders. 90's Accord / Camry are boring as anything but easy to find. She wants an airbag, AC, automatic, and ABS. That's really all she requires as features. She doesn't mind riding in my 123, but has no interest in driving a diesel, or any car requiring a ritual to start it or turn it off. any opinions? -Rob York PA
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
Rob, No contest... late 80's, early 90's E-class (W124 chassis). You can even get AWD if you can find a 4Matic that had the transaxle replaced. I'd shoot for a 1990 300D 2.5T, the only 'ritual' is waiting a few seconds for the glow light on a cold start. Hard to argue with 30-34mpg and all the Mercedes features...! (OK, ok, I am a wee bit biased... I have three W124's plus one parts car and there are 2 others in my family.) Although I might get flamed for this, I'm not a big fan of Camrys or similar recycled beer cans... economical and reliable yes, safe in a major crash, no. That's one of the major reasons I drive Mercedes... anything short of a ready-mix truck with 12 yards of concrete on board, and the odds are heavily in your favor! I kind of like Subaru (especially the WRX STi) but I don't think they fare much better in the crash survival metric. :-) Dave M. Boise, ID -- Date: Mon, 8 Aug 2005 22:39:35 -0400 From: Rob S. [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT) What will $5K get ya nowadays? Redhead's Plymouth Breeze is in need of more work than it's worth, and she commutes 70 miles a day. We're not going to take out a loan to buy a car so the cap is about $5K. less would be much better. Safety, Fuel economy, reliability without much maintenance, and drivability are the key shopping points. Early C classes are starting to fall into this price range, although I doubt they're reliable at that price. late 80's, early 90's E classes are right about there. Subaru Legacy / Outback are great AWD contenders. 90's Accord / Camry are boring as anything but easy to find. She wants an airbag, AC, automatic, and ABS. That's really all she requires as features. She doesn't mind riding in my 123, but has no interest in driving a diesel, or any car requiring a ritual to start it or turn it off. any opinions? -Rob York PA
Re: [MBZ] preferred $5000 car? (kinda OT)
What Dave said -- - On 8/9/05, Dave M. [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Rob, No contest... late 80's, early 90's E-class (W124 chassis). You can even get AWD if you can find a 4Matic that had the transaxle replaced. I'd shoot for a 1990 300D 2.5T, the only 'ritual' is waiting a few seconds for the glow light on a cold start. Hard to argue with 30-34mpg and all the Mercedes features...! (OK, ok, I am a wee bit biased... I have three W124's plus one parts car and there are 2 others in my family.) Although I might get flamed for this, I'm not a big fan of Camrys or similar recycled beer cans... economical and reliable yes, safe in a major crash, no. That's one of the major reasons I drive Mercedes... anything short of a ready-mix truck with 12 yards of concrete on board, and the odds are heavily in your favor! I kind of like Subaru (especially the WRX STi) but I don't think they fare much better in the crash survival metric. :-) Dave M. Boise, ID -- OK Don, KD5NRO Norman, OK '87 300SDL '81 240D '78 450SLC
