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

Mattbob · #1 10-27-2010, 11:01 AM

I have kept up pretty well with repairs and maintenance the last 4 years on my beloved yellow submarine. But it leaks power steering fluid, eats a pint of oil every 250 miles , the a/c is shot, bent tie rod/alignment issue, broken trans. modulator (currently the needle valve fix per this forum) Rust is showing through along the passenger side, and despite troubleshooting still has a horrible time starting in our 0 degree Chicago winters. I'm a musician planning on a wandering tour of the country. I believe a standard trans. Civic with 69,000 miles might leave me with better chances. Sadness.

scottmcphee · #2 10-27-2010, 11:16 AM

The Civic should be a very trouble free car for your journeys if it was not abused by that mileage.

Write a song about your ol' Mercedes... and post it here!

vstech · #3 10-27-2010, 11:27 AM

if the cvcc is cheap, it'll be a decent vehicle for ya, but cramped compared to the D... no clatter... better fuel economy, any EMP will disable the car, beware of nuclear holocost.
another option is for you to find a good condition 86 and up 124, lots more modern, and powerful, and similar costs to the civic's purchase price. (depending on what year your 69K honda is.)

panZZer · #4 10-27-2010, 02:55 PM

I would walk instead.

thayer · #5 10-27-2010, 03:06 PM

wife had a civic. Great car. Small though...if you are traveling the country in it I would say goodbye not only to your benz, but to your butt as well....I do not envy your cheeks in that honda seat. I have got a completely well maintained 300sd I'll sell you. just had its everything done to it.

Kent

dieseldan44 · #6 10-27-2010, 03:16 PM

Mattbob,

I think youre reasoning is sound. If you need a car to rely on *now* with no garage time...the Honda is a good bet. Fuel is cheaper too. (We tour on WVO, that is the best...but its my hobby to keep the vehicle up and running)

If you are coming to Boston and need a gig/venue or a place to stay on your tour, shoot me a PM.

dd

Mattbob · #7 10-27-2010, 07:56 PM

Let's add 'gaping exhaust hole' to that list. Smelled exhaust in cab. No wonder trips up to Michigan were so tiring...scary.

Yup, good cars but like dieseldan said, I need it 'now' not a hobby. It's a sad thing being my first vehicle. Being that, what did the above poster mean by 'EMP'.... non diesel computer controleld vehicles are new to me

.

Quirky Mercy · #8 10-27-2010, 08:08 PM

Electrio Magnetic Pulse Generated by a Nuclear blast. Our old mercedes are somewhat immune to this as there are no electrical parts to fry that would keep it from running.

Crazy_Nate · #9 10-27-2010, 08:35 PM

Heh, I'd be worried about other things than my vehicle if there was an EMP. If everyone's cars are disabled, how'd you use a road?

The g/f has a 2005 Civic (manual). It's a GTO...gas, tires, oil. It had a factory defective transmission seal, but they covered it under warranty. The only other thing is a serpentine belt. Not bad for 5+ years, right?

The seats do kill my back on the longer trips though

dunl · #10 10-27-2010, 08:54 PM

You'll get very little for it. If possible, park it somewhere until you can get back to it.

vstech · #11 10-27-2010, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mattbob

Let's add 'gaping exhaust hole' to that list. Smelled exhaust in cab. No wonder trips up to Michigan were so tiring...scary.

Yup, good cars but like dieseldan said, I need it 'now' not a hobby. It's a sad thing being my first vehicle. Being that, what did the above poster mean by 'EMP'.... non diesel computer controleld vehicles are new to me

.

very unlikely diesel exhaust would cause you to get tired... no or extremely little CO in diesel exhaust.

the same cannot be said for a leaking exhaust in a gasoline powered vehicle...

JB3 · #12 10-27-2010, 09:40 PM

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.

Renntag · #13 10-27-2010, 09:54 PM

The honda is good for now, but the Mercedes just has so much more style.
I drove a corolla for a few weeks, while i was selling it for a family member, it was terribly uncomfortable in comparison. It was good transportation, but sadly it was very bare bones. I would never buy one. I'd rather have a few troubles and enjoy my benzos, than mess with some other boring non descript car.

Be careful and best of luck.

pawoSD · #14 10-27-2010, 11:30 PM

You wonder why it is hard to start at 0F and it eats a pint of oil per 250 miles?

I think you solved your issue there. That car sounds like a parts car that sighs every time you force it to start and drive.

Retiring it sounds like a good idea....ick to a honda though, they are like a washing machine with wheels. A true appliance with 0 soul.

vstech · #15 10-28-2010, 12:26 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.

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.
OP, you did know the 300TD wagon will seat 7, and has oodles of cargo room, and hydraulic leveling suspension, and 4wheel disc brakes, and, well, it's a mercedes... they can be had for cheap under the right circumstances, (cheap wagon club???) diligence is key, but moving to a used honda from an MB is just asking for complaints.