Trading Mercedes for Honda....sigh - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

240Demon · #16 10-28-2010, 12:43 AM

I tried the Honda thing recently...

I had a pristine 1990 Integra...it was a great car, comfy, had good power, handled well, and got 35 mpg highway. All I had to do to it was front brakes and tires.

I sold it...and bought a 1984 300D...if that tells you anything.

digieditny · #17 10-28-2010, 01:07 AM

I also had a 1990 Integra in Los Angeles. It was burgundy. The thing was soooo rusted but it ran great! Never left me stranded. I always felt so low to the ground in that car. Kinda like driving a go kart. I finally sold it after I moved back to Brooklyn.

Now I have a 1984 300TD.

dieseldan44 · #18 10-28-2010, 09:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dropnosky

everybody ready to be pissed off by this suggestion?

If you are touring the country, Id say nix the small honda, find yourself a good used minivan.

My reasoning-
1. There are millions of the things everywhere, many of which are excellent build vehicles, but they do not hold value at all. Under a grand would get you a perfectly useful minivan. NO ONE buys a minivan because they want to, most people I know buy one because they need a big family car, and just as soon as they don't, they move on to a sexier ride, making a pretty decent pool of available vehicles.
2. Tons of room, you can sleep in the car, you can take other band members, and with the rear seat gone, can carry a ton of stuff.
3. You can find plenty of examples that would get the same fuel economy as the benz.
4. Historically, I have found minivan seats to be very comfortable.
5. Handling is very good on most, obviously not a sports car, but certainly better or as good as an old mercedes, and way better than a full size van.
6. parking is like a car, our caravan has only a slightly bigger foot print than my 123 diesel, and is just as easy to parallel park, yet seats 7 or a ton of stuff. very useful for city venues

Personally, we have a 96 dodge caravan that is up to 250,000 miles and just keeps on going. I keep looking for excuses to sell it, but its just so darn useful, that I don't. Plus, its only worth like 600 bucks.

thats a good suggestion if you have a band and gear you need to bring.

guys, there is nothing, nothing, nothing, more annoying than dealing with car/van/bus issues on tour. if something does go wrong it needs to get fixed immediately. whats going to cost more for short notice repair? a honda/minivan or a 25 year old Mercedes??? there arent exactly German auto specialty shops that know diesel around every corner.

FinnJohn · #19 10-28-2010, 09:48 AM

I don't understand what you guys are talking about re. ride comfort! My wife drives an '04 Civic and it's *much* more butt-friendly on long trips than my 240D, the seats on which are virtually indistinguishable from the ones on my dad's old '65 fintail.

As for the minivan idea ... well, yeah, like dieseldan44 said, if you need to bring band gear sure, but the best of them get 23 mpg and that civic will do 35. Plus, call any bookie in Vegas and see what odds he gives you for having a trouble-free trip in an old minivan vs. an '05 Civic. They may be boring, but they do work.

Chad300tdt · #20 10-28-2010, 09:55 AM

I sold a 2003 Acura 3.2 TL type S, a 1998 Acura 3.0 CL and a 1999 Chevy Blazer to get my 300TD, 300CD and 300SDL.

That said, if I was in your position, I would listen to dropnosky and get a minivan or a shorty G van.

snookwhaler · #21 10-28-2010, 10:44 AM

What year Honda are you comparing your failing MB too? Is it an 81 as well? Old cars need things as I am sure you know. And they will need much more as they get older.

I agree with your decision. If you do not want to take the time or cannot afford to repair a 29+ year old car, you are better off without it. I consider the Honda Civic a "driving appliance". Good if that is what you want. We all have our own opinions on this topic.

The Honda is a fine car but it will have its own share of problems too. Even the newer Civics are plagued with some bad design flaws. The worse being a poorly designed rear suspension. The rear upper control arms fail causing the tires to cup, lots of road noise and Honda will not step up to the plate on the issue. I have a neighbor with this problem and apparently it is a BIG problem (well known). There are others. But, there is not enough room here and I don't really care enough to point them all out.

Those Honda Civic seats are "lumber wagon" hard. Hopefully you will only be making short trips.

JB3 · #22 10-28-2010, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

as an astro van nut, some of your points have merit, but traveling cross country in a carovan? nah. those things are fine for local transportation, but with the front wheel drive joints, and other issues, long distance is not in the cards.
.

Front wheel drive joints? Ive still got the original axles on my caravan, which has been to Alaska twice, and the west coast repeatedly. The rest of it is a macpherson front suspension with front wheel drive, which is on LOTS of cars. That setup is perfectly fine for highway and long distance use.

On this specific van, all that stuff is still original after 250,000 miles too, and still rides just fine on the highway (shocks are needed). The only thing thats been replaced apart from wear items has been the sway bar links and a rebuilt tranny at about 170,000 miles. (Chrysler is not known for trannys, as I am sure is common knowledge

)

My personal feeling is that pretty much any car thats been maintained is fine for the highway and distance if its got the gearing for it and the comfort and noise level handled. As long as I can set the cruise contol at 70-75, sit back comfortably and listen to music with relative ease without taxing the engine and with good control and road comfort, is a good highway car.
there are tons of cars that would fit those parameters, even most full size vans and trucks fit that bill these days.

In reality, vehicles like the 240D, which I love, do not meet these parameters, and I find to be very taxing for long distance drives because of the speed limitations, noise level, and very old seat design. The ride is great, don't get me wrong, I LOVE my new 300D which is plenty fast and comfortable for me, but even it has limitations on cargo capacity.

A 300TD has more space, but you have to make compromises. For example, you can carry a lot of cargo and make it a two seater, or you can have smaller cargo space and carry 4 or 5 passengers, or almost no cargo and 7 passengers. Its not really comparable to even a minivan for cargo capacity. Its very good for a station wagon, but its a different design parameter.

The van suggestion was just that, only a suggestion.

There is no sex appeal or fun to driving something like that, but the utility can be very useful.

Biodiesel300TD · #23 10-28-2010, 12:23 PM

I think you need a TDI Jetta Wagon. Then your still part of the German diesel world. With milage ranging from the mid-30s up to the low 50s you can't beat that with a stick. Part are cheap. I recently sold my 300TD and bought a 04 TDI wagon. It's my wife's commuter, it's a good car for a couple people and a bunch of gear. Rides well on the road, comfortable, and had more get-up-and-go than any 123 I've ever driven.

vstech · #24 10-28-2010, 12:25 PM

yeah... but try and find any year tdi for the price of a 65K honda...

snookwhaler · #25 10-28-2010, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

yeah... but try and find any year tdi for the price of a 65K honda...

Exactly.... That and the fact that those particular wagons are already "needles in the haystack". Especially in good shape and with low miles. The sticks are ever rarer.

vstech · #26 10-28-2010, 11:47 PM

... I am currently restoring two turbo 123 wagons to be sold when I am done.
I'm courting a third too... so... if you decide you want to stay MB, and you can wait until spring... I think I can get you in a reliable needs nothing mb wagon for less than you can get a 65K Honda...

one has leather seats...

thayer · #27 10-29-2010, 07:53 AM

If someone drops an EMP, will the 617's start? I know if I disconnect my battery while its running my engine doesn't even blink, but will the starter engage?

Actual question, does an emp have any effect on an electric motor or a battery?

snookwhaler · #28 10-29-2010, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thayer

If someone drops an EMP, will the 617's start? I know if I disconnect my battery while its running my engine doesn't even blink, but will the starter engage?

Actual question, does an emp have any effect on an electric motor or a battery?

Hmmm.... Your preparing for the "Zombie Apocalypse" too huh?...

vstech · #29 10-29-2010, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thayer

If someone drops an EMP, will the 617's start? I know if I disconnect my battery while its running my engine doesn't even blink, but will the starter engage?

Actual question, does an emp have any effect on an electric motor or a battery?

I believe so. emp damages electronics, and operating electrics. the battery is chemical, so it should not be affected, and the starter would not be in operation when the emp strikes, so it also should not be affected. the alternator likely will be toast as the regulator is electronic. also, your climate control (assuming it's working now...) would be toast. and your cruise actuator/amp also toast.

Mattbob · #30 11-04-2010, 10:09 PM

Gosh vstech that sure is tempting. I think the ability to get parts while on the road is a strong sway for me. I'll keep it in mind though.