Future of the Performance Paddock - Page 4 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Tony H · #46 12-28-2021, 05:47 PM

As I sit here I'm trying to get motivated enough to go out the cold shed I call my shop and do some work on my project. Also from here I can see piles of building materials across the street that is supposed to be a finished home by now and it reminds me it will be a long time before I get an actual shop.

cth350 · #47 03-08-2022, 10:32 AM

I'd say the future of the Performance Paddock is pretty good considering that from the last post until today (about 74 days), 21 other threads we updated.

-CTH

Tony H · #48 03-12-2022, 12:03 AM

Well the pile of building materials across the street is now a plywood box with a roof. It should be finished in another year or 2.

mender · #49 03-20-2022, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 260DET

I put a post up here a while ago about modding my R171 SLK 350 for circuit fun, not serious but fun. No response so that's it for me here. But it's not this forum, there is zero interest generally in my project and of course after market improvement bits are very few. In my part of the world non Mercedes modding is pretty active, particularly turbo car X for circuit use.

It's an R170 and dedicated track car but maybe some things of interest:
https://forum.champcar.org/topic/17792-throttle-by-wire-and-boost-controls/

mender · #50 03-20-2022, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roncallo

I'm actually starting to see a few new posts on the Performance Paddock. Hopefully a sign of things to come.

Merry Christmas to all.

I haven't visited for a while, lot of other things happening for me.

I've been in the motorsport trade for over thirty years and have witnessed the slow but steady decline in interest in cars during that time. Significant advances in chassis and drivelines from the manufacturers have made it easier and sometimes cheaper just to buy rather than build. if the goal is a certain level of performance either straight line or going around corners, the easy button is a car that is otherwise decent but has a deficiency that can be addressed without too much cost or effort.

My race cars: I race a '95 EG Civic on the road course, mostly endurance races but will likely be switching back to sprint races. B18C1 with 220 hp, close ratio box, shifting at 8700 rpm. Tuner car so lots of parts and knowledge available. I also have an '87 Fiero track car that is in the middle of an engine upgrade to an LFX V6 that should make about 330 hp. Lots of suspension mods on both cars.

Street Mercedes: '92 600SEL, '92 300CE-24, '87 560 SEL. No track Mercedes, mainly because I would have to cut them up to take weight out. The 300CE-24 is the one that I'm thinking of putting the M120 into, and the W140 was supposed to be the donor car. I made the mistake of driving the W140 a bit to make sure it was running well, and I've decided to keep it on the road. Needs a bit of fixing but still too nice to use just for parts.

The intent was to finally have a V12 car and I thought to be able to afford one, I would have build it. Bought the W124 for cheap because of no reverse in the transmission and sourced an M120 and trans for the swap, then stumbled across and bought the complete and running 600SEL for the electronics and updated harness. The two young apprentices who had the car were a bit over their heads and were very quickly getting behind the repair curve. Turned out that the ominous suspension and brake noises and odd engine behavior that finally spooked them into selling were relatively easy and cheap to repair, so now I have my V12 car without having to build it! It will be needing exhaust work soon so maybe I'll do equal length headers with electric cutouts for that F1 sound.

I'll probably just repair the transmission on the 300CE-24 and enjoy it for what it is as well, only 75,000 miles on it and imported from Japan so it has the early 5 speed auto with the 3.69 rear gear. Pulls nicely to the 7000 rpm shift points. Probably will do a decent exhaust on it as well so I can enjoy those sounds. Some exterior body pieces with monoblocks, and we'll see if I install that quick ratio steering box that I bought for the M120 swap.

So, taking the easy way out and will have two moderately collectable and mostly stock but very enjoyable Mercedes for less than $5000 total for both. Meanwhile, the Honda and the Fiero track cars will get the mods because neither of them were particularly good cars to begin with.

So I'm not a purist but I find it much easier to cut apart cars that are on the low end of the scale rather than at the top! Maybe I'm getting old...

Pirublues · #51 10-04-2022, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony H

I think mods that diminish the prestige of the Marque are ones that are frowned upon. Like a slammed 108 with bling 18" wheels and a SBC.

Was reading this thread because Mercedes forums in general are dying as the most active members are starting to die off and they've been pushing away young enthusiast with statements like the above quoted.

cth350 · #52 10-05-2022, 12:30 AM

I think the slow decline of forums is because the medium isn't all that hip for the young kids (the under 50 crowd

). And heavy posters like me get fatigued answering questions after a decade or two. We need other reasons to visit these forums and that means finding interesting things to talk about, like the threads in this section. Also, we have to remember from time to time to talk about our own successes and failures to keep the conversations going.

My son, 17, has taken to my odd collection of cars in a major way. But he's totally uninterested in reading forum posts and has been scouring YouTube posts for every little thing he needs to do.

He managed to mostly reassemble a 230CE interior based on a pile of parts in boxes (thanks Al!). So he's making progress.

-CTH

Tony H · #53 10-05-2022, 03:03 AM

Yea I think social media is pulling people from the forums. A fellow forum member I communicate with has moved to Facebook. I think the forums are kind of like CD's-they work but are old skool.

Roncallo · #54 10-05-2022, 09:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony H

Yea I think social media is pulling people from the forums. A fellow forum member I communicate with has moved to Facebook. I think the forums are kind of like CD's-they work but are old skool.

I see plenty of small stuff on Facebook but no build threads.

Tony H · #55 10-06-2022, 03:43 AM

For me this is still the go to place to see what people are up to.

JayRash · #56 04-06-2023, 01:19 PM

What happened is that life just got harder and harder. I work 60 hours a week every week for the last 12 years now. I run my own auto repair / mod shop. I barely have time for my family let alone my self. I do miss this forum and I do miss the connections we had among the veteran members here.

rwd4evr · #57 08-29-2023, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roncallo

I'm not familiar with those communities. But it sounds like your saying they are just as active as they were 10 years ago. That's good to know that the younger generation is still actively working, but I guess they shifted platforms. Probably because more performance per $ is available from the Japanese cars. But its always been that way. Why haven't the 203's, 210's, 211's, 140's etc filled the place of the 126's 124's 123's 107's.

The computers. That simple. Those cars freak out if you do stuff to them and the not at all simple HVAC and everything else craps out and you have an unpleasant car to drive. The early 2000 Chrysler crap you can't get replacement keys so they are all bricked and junked. I like the chassis but the only way I would build a post 1990 car would be a gut and start over. Simple switch's for a blower. Hot and cold knob or slider. Anything after 1996 is basically useless unless you can get it through inspection and antique it so it never has to see an OBD2 scan again. They are souless plastic bumper and door handle disposable crap basically. My rusty 220b may get a chassis swap with a multilink rear and r107 front(I don't want strut crap). The tuner scene is definitely weakened since a new camary will destroy a hot Honda from the 90's unless it's very serious. Kids are lame for the most part. They would rather get attention for being offended than by being creative.

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Tony H · #58 09-01-2023, 12:52 AM

You said it so eloquently. My personal fav is the "fart can". I like my 2003 Tacoma 4x4 because it's newish but old school. We are still driving a 2000 Odyssey but it looks pretty new and runs fine. Not looking forward to the day it needs to be replaced. Here there is no smog check so there are some pretty ratty loads running around.

Rital24 · #59 11-18-2023, 03:43 PM

My thought is that everything has changed with covid 19, our lives are changed, the world is going bad with wars and new agenda is coming very fast here in Europe. The "green" agenda is imposing to use the car less and less...
Anyway I'm 49 and still love to drive fast and put my hands under the hood!

Tony H · #60 11-25-2023, 04:24 PM

I think over time as things change there will always be "collector" cars but maybe not hobby cars. I don't think petro will go away as soon as some want it to. Maybe younger people will see the change, but I think it is decades away. As older cars become more expensive to restore/maintain it will reduce the people willing to put the $ into it and I don't see that many younger people doing that. Also different Marques fall in and out of favor and appeal over time.