Very Frustrated! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

BenzOnline · #1 10-26-2002, 06:03 PM

Ok....I think you all know that I am 19 and go to school and have a part time job. Today I had a nervous breakdown in the car because of the gasoline payments I have to make to feed this tank I drive. The car was passed down to me from my father and was greatful for that and also greatful that it is quite reliable and took me where i needed to go. This year I have transferred to a different school and it is a little bit farther but not much from my older school (its 25km from home one way) but I cannot take these gas payments anymore, thats all I work for! I mean $55 a week for me is too much!!

I am thinking of selling this thing because today I couldnt take it anymore when I watch this gauge go closer and closer to R! Its a nice car and stuff but this is not economical and the performance it delivers is not acceptable and cannot handle "headwinds" on the highway at all....the economy is in red the whole time while my face goes red at the same time from frustration that my wallet will be empty by the end of the week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ARRRGHHH!!!

I think Honda is calling my name! $20 for 400km doesnt sound to bad for me!

thanks for letting me vent!

engatwork · #2 10-26-2002, 06:27 PM

you will not go wrong as far as gas mileage is concerned.

Glen · #3 10-26-2002, 08:55 PM

So you're paying roughly $220 per month on gas vs. about $80 with a Honda? And I presume you have no car payment? And possibly just liability insurance. Guess what? Your monthly car payment will probably be over $300 plus gas and insurance for that Honda.

Do the math. It's ALWAYS cheaper to keep an older car running then buying a new one...consider depreciation too. So, the question is what do you really want?

BlueBabyBenz · #4 10-26-2002, 09:22 PM

Glen has it right. The gasoline costs will pale in comparison with the car payment of the Honda.

What about the option of carpooling with other students?

Transit?

What school is it, by the way, and where in T.O. do you live?

#5 10-26-2002, 10:48 PM

How many miles does your car go on a tank of gas Benzonline?

#6 10-26-2002, 11:27 PM

Benzonline,

I did something similar to what people are advising you to do, but with reverse cars.

Several years ago I had a nice newer Honda CRX SI with car payments that were killing me on a $20,000 or so annual salary. I sold the Honda, paid it off, and bought my 240-D from my brother with an extra $500 left over to upgrade the stereo. I lost the monthly payment and the comprehenive insurance and loved the car.

I think you should sell your Benz (sorry, you'll have money later in life to get a newer one) and buy a dependable used car such as a Honda or a Toyota. I'd go with the Honda myself, having owned both in previous lives. Don't take on a car payment, you'll be worse for wear than the gas payments you're making now. If you have NO cash for a used car, you could get a personal loan for an older (over four years) car from a bank. The rates are higher, so talk it over with your parents. My first ever "real loan " from a bank was for $3000 for an '83 Celica. The three year loan gave me monthly payments of about $100 or so. Not too hard.

Good luck. Remember, advice here may be great, but your parents will give you the best.

Talk to them. Who knows, maybe you can "work something out" for some extra gas cash every month.

#7 10-26-2002, 11:29 PM

AS I JUST TOLD YOU HONDAS BAD BAD BAD!
Pay the gas if you ever get in a wreck you will be glad.

BenzOnline · #8 10-26-2002, 11:31 PM

My dad pays for insurance and I pay for gas and I think the same thing would go for the civic but I may have changed my mind again to keep it. I fill it with gas that costs me 85 cents per litre cause its premium and I do 500km which is about 80%highway during the tank consumption. Sounds good but still!

Snibble · #9 10-27-2002, 02:11 AM

I too was/am getting ticked off with the gas payment and I have supposedly the most effecient w126. I am considering finding a w123 diesel which I hear has good gas milage, easy to maintain, and still has the Mercedes name tag

But i can't consider it yet untill some place decides to finally hire me!!!!!!

BenzOnline · #10 10-27-2002, 12:40 PM

I am stuck now and not really sure what to do but maybe I will just keep this thing and somehow manage. Its hard to let it go but frustration of not having much money is worse. I think i will just put more hours at my work. My parents help me out but I am a person where I dont like to borrow or get money from people cause then I feel like I "owe" them all the time.

BenzOnline · #11 10-27-2002, 05:11 PM

maybe it would be cheaper if I didnt wait till the tank got to empty every week? I just came back from filling gas and I was filling it from half and it costed me $35.

Trelinski · #12 10-27-2002, 05:19 PM

I have a similiar situation. I live in Toronto (GTA), and go to university in Waterloo, about 150 - 170km. So during the week I'm here in Waterloo, but I like to come home on most weekends. This costs me around $30 round trip, thats around 90 bucks if I go 3 times a month. I make around $50 - $100 a month selling computers, and this usually doesnt cover it. Sometimes my mom will pay if she really wants to see me

So far I've never been stranded here, but its just a matter of time before I have a bad month, and run out of gas $.

The most improtant thing is to buy gas on monday and tuesday, I buy 87 octane, and save 6 cents a litre (I usually buy 50 litres, so it becomes sgnificant) if I buy mon/tues vs fri/sat/sun.

Since your trips are frequent, but fairly long, a diesel would suit you great.

And if you dont mind me asking, what school do you go to?

BenzOnline · #13 10-27-2002, 05:26 PM

I live in Etobicoke which is the west side of Toronto and I go to Sheridan College in Brampton for Mechanical Engineering Design and Drafting.

You must be a genius in math if you're at U of Waterloo!

Trelinski · #14 10-27-2002, 05:30 PM

Heh, I wish I was a genius in math

But sadly I'm not, so I'm here for accounting, not engineering.

Kuan · #15 10-27-2002, 05:34 PM

Someone help him drop in a 0.7:1 final drive.

Kuan