231 replies to this topic

[EagleAce]

Lift Dinosaur, on Nov 30 2007, 09:59 AM, said:

Have an inexpensive dream?

Dino

yeah, I guess you could dream of it running!

[lastchair_44]

mjturley34, on Nov 30 2007, 12:14 PM, said:

Someday I want to buy a monster truck like Bigfoot or maybe Gravedigger, and then maybe I'll drive a Ferrari or a Lamborghini when the weather is nice. When I don't feel like driving I'll build a helicopter to fly except when it's raining then I'll build a transporter like the ones on Star Trek that way I could travel all over the universe and look for bigger tires for my monster truck.

Careful you don't end up like Peter Griffin if you build your own helicopter!
http://www.cartoonfeed.com/videos/Family_G...The_PeterCopter

Or if you decide to build a blimp...
I love that clip!

[Lift Dinosaur]

mjturley34, on Nov 30 2007, 12:14 PM, said:

Someday I want to buy a monster truck like Bigfoot or maybe Gravedigger, and then maybe I'll drive a Ferrari or a Lamborghini when the weather is nice. When I don't feel like driving I'll build a helicopter to fly except when it's raining then I'll build a transporter like the ones on Star Trek that way I could travel all over the universe and look for bigger tires for my monster truck.

...I think the pain killers are kicking in...

Dino

[poloxskier]

Snoqualmie guy, on Nov 29 2007, 07:16 PM, said:

For some reason I have always been drawn to small cars such as Hondas and Volkswagens. I guess this way I can have a dream car for only $300 and have a small gas bill unlike EagleAce

The less you spend up front the more you will spend down the road.

I don't have a great gas bill but I do have a very practical vehicle that allows me to get to work despite the conditions. My chosen vehicle is a 2001 Dodge Dakota, 4WD of course for winter weather, and I get 18-22 MPG with a V8 so I'm still able to haul anything I need to. All in all its been a very practical vehicle which has served me well for the last 6 almost 7 years with no major problems even after 130,000 miles, and it passed its last emissions test with almost zero readings on harmful emissions.

This post has been edited by poloxskier: 30 November 2007 - 04:15 PM

[Emax]

At risk of stretching this topic a bit, I'd like some (sage) opinions on a car-buying subject.
My wife has been pounding me with great deals on "older" (far back as '95) luxury cars - Mercedes S500 in particular. I must admit that many of them have been immaculate, fairly low-mileage (69k) examples... at very attractive prices. Yes, the fuel economy is rotten - but one cannot deny the quality gap between them (all of them) and the average Ford or GM.

I've had a Mercedes before - bought it from the VP of Lift Engineering. It was ten years old, but had been maintained by a practicing engineer for all of its life. It was NICE! When confronted with a $5000 ticket for a valve job, I traded it in for a Subaru. I've always regretted that.

At one time - when Jan's money was flowing freely - new cars (in multiples) were a bi-annual thing. But now that I'm "in the trenches" so to speak, things are a lot more down to earth, car-wise. For example, I still drive the 1989 GMC van that I bought new (yes, there are a few other cars in the fleet - but that's the one I use). Still works great.

To live with a beautifully-executed piece of machinery is a technical dessert - even if it's old. And frankly, I not too keen on many of the "modernizations" that seem to occur on all of the new cars. The propeller-heads have gone berserk with useless (mostly electronic) twists that rapidly turn to crap in your frustrated hands. Some lift controls are like that...

The latest: '95 S500. 69k miles. $10,500

This post has been edited by Emax: 04 December 2007 - 02:36 PM

[LiftTech]

Emax, on Dec 4 2007, 05:29 PM, said:

At risk of stretching this topic a bit, I'd like some (sage) opinions on a car-buying subject.
My wife has been pounding me with great deals on "older" (far back as '95) luxury cars - Mercedes S500 in particular. I must admit that many of them have been immaculate, fairly low-mileage (69k) examples... at very attractive prices. Yes, the fuel economy is rotten - but one cannot deny the quality gap between them (all of them) and the average Ford or GM.

I've had a Mercedes before - bought it from the VP of Lift Engineering. It was ten years old, but had been maintained by a practicing engineer for all of its life. It was NICE! When confronted with a $5000 ticket for a valve job, I traded it in for a Subaru. I've always regretted that.

At one time - when Jan's money was flowing freely - new cars (in multiples) were a bi-annual thing. But now that I'm "in the trenches" so to speak, things are a lot more down to earth, car-wise. For example, I still drive the 1989 GMC van that I bought new (yes, there are a few other cars in the fleet - but that's the one I use). Still works great.

To live with a beautifully-executed piece of machinery is a technical dessert - even if it's old. And frankly, I not too keen on many of the "modernizations" that seem to occur on all of the new cars. The propeller-heads have gone berserk with useless (mostly electronic) twists that rapidly turn to crap in your frustrated hands. Some lift controls are like that...

The latest: '95 S500. 69k miles. $10,500 MB.jpg

I’d say, as with all, if the body looks good there’s something to work with.
Dennis

[Kicking Horse]

Bud,

YOU CANT go wrong with a benz. Just dont get the 2.5L Rod bender engines. If you want a wonderful site with Benz info and what not take a trip over to http://www.mercedess...forum/index.php

There is BUTTloads of info over htere.


One thing. Make sure there is ZERO BODY rust underneath and make sure the vacuum system is working 100%. Otherwise you will have a lot of headaches.

I would say more about these cars but I'm packing my shit up to go on a Trip to AMS for 10 days.

[liftmech]

Emax, on Dec 4 2007, 03:29 PM, said:

To live with a beautifully-executed piece of machinery is a technical dessert - even if it's old. And frankly, I not too keen on many of the "modernizations" that seem to occur on all of the new cars. The propeller-heads have gone berserk with useless (mostly electronic) twists that rapidly turn to crap in your frustrated hands. Some lift controls are like that...

The latest: '95 S500. 69k miles. $10,500 MB.jpg

'Automatic this' and 'automatic that'. You have a good point. My Pathfinder has an automatic climate control system which always keeps the car too hot. This is in the winter, even- I imagine it would be broiling were I to use it in the summer.

For the money one would spend, an older European 'luxury' car such as a Mercedes or similar would seem to be a good investment. From all I've heard, they're well-designed, well-constructed, and should last for a long time. I've seen many older Benzs out on the road, and member KZ can attest to their reliability. '95 S500, 69k, $10,500? If I had the funds I'd jump on it.

[RibStaThiok]

I am not speaking on fact here with what I am about to say so please do not go jumping down my throat, but I do believe the German Auto Makers, VW and Benz in particular have suffered from much lower reliability ratings over the past few years. I remember seeing in the Consumer Reports as well as hearing/seeing on various news soruces the reliability of these brands dipping down quite a bit. If someone subsribes to Consumer Reports perhaps they can confirm or deny this, not that it is important. I've always gone with what has worked well for me in the past. My old 00 Silverado gave me 230,000+ miles of fairly reilable service (never a major mechanical breakdown other then the alternator, battery, and leaking water pump) until the tranny started to go out, which is why I just got a 2007 GMC Sierra not too long ago.


Here is a picture that looks like my new one, though mine is a Ext. Cab not a Crew Cab. Sorry, loaned my digital cam to a friend for the week.






And here is my old gal that I sold on E-Bay.. may she serve her new owner as well as she served me.

This post has been edited by RibStaThio: 08 December 2007 - 12:55 PM

[Emax]

RibStaThio, on Dec 8 2007, 01:35 PM, said:

I am not speaking on fact here with what I am about to say so please do not go jumping down my throat, but I do believe the German Auto Makers, VW and Benz in particular have suffered from much lower reliability ratings over the past few years. I remember seeing in the Consumer Reports as well as hearing/seeing on various news soruces the reliability of these brands dipping down quite a bit. If someone subsribes to Consumer Reports perhaps they can confirm or deny this, not that it is important. I've always gone with what has worked well for me in the past. My old 00 Silverado gave me 230,000+ miles of fairly reilable service (never a major mechanical breakdown other then the alternator, battery, and leaking water pump) until the tranny started to go out, which is why I just got a 2007 GMC Sierra not too long ago.


Here is a picture that looks like my new one, though mine is a Ext. Cab not a Crew Cab. Sorry, loaned my digital cam to a friend for the week.






And here is my old gal that I sold on E-Bay.. may she serve her new owner as well as she served me.

I too have heard some of the negative reports you're referring to. Even if I could afford one, I'm so sure I'd buy a new Benz. This one is nearly 13 years old - the '95 technology didn't bother me much. My biggest worry is the possibility of something major going wrong with it. Some MB repairs cost more than this car does!

Oh - I went down to look at it. It's $9500, not $10,500 - and I can't find a blemish on it anywhere.

[liftmech]

If you hold out for it to go lower, will it disappear? $9500 sounds even better, though...

[2milehi]

I got a '98 Subaru Impreza RS over two years ago and added all the turbo fixings from a WRX. First power adder that kept my mileage the same (when I keep my foot out of it).

[EagleAce]

looks good! Man, not much room under the hood! With the GMC K2500 I'm driving for the winter you can practically sit next to the engine!

[EagleAce]

how's the leg doing, mjturley??

[EagleAce]

looks sore!

[2milehi]

mjturley34, on Dec 16 2007, 10:54 PM, said:

What brand of intake is that ? Where did you get the rest of the parts ? I like the blue tubing. We have an 05 Forester XT but it doesn't look as nice under the hood !!

Thanks! The intake starts with an Autozone washable filter (like K&N), the factory AFS, a silcone reducer hose, then mandrel bend piping into the inlet of the turbo.

The turbo and intercooler are from a WRX. Not pictured but also from a WRX (exhaust manifold, up-pipe, down-pipe, water pump). I got the silicone hoses from here.

This post has been edited by 2milehi: 18 December 2007 - 08:45 AM