recommendations for a cheap vehicle for a friend - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

surfblau · #1 08-25-2004, 06:14 PM

I have a friend who just toasted the motor on his crummy old tercel. New engine will cost $1300. Car has 140k on it.

Does anyone have a solid opinions on what my friend should do?

Considerations-

He is not mechanical and is responsible for the untimely death of his engine - "I drove for a couple of days with no oil. I had a lot on my mind"

If he gets an MB he has me to assist with relatively heavy repair work.

He only has 2000 or so to spend.

I have seen numerous 190s for sale in his price range. Tercels 7 years younger are in the same price range. Hondas are about 1000 more.

All comments welcome.

thanks

Snibble · #2 08-25-2004, 06:17 PM

I wouldn't recommend a benz. I suggest something like a 90's Honda Civic. Incase it needs work.. there will be TONS of mechanics capable of working on them.

kerry · #3 08-25-2004, 06:52 PM

Cheap solution:
Go to the local pick and pull and find a wrecked Tercel with a good engine. ($125--regular price $60 on sale) Pay someone else working in the pick and pull $100 cash to pull the engine and put it in your truck.
Take the engine to a mechanic and have him install it in your friend's Tercel. ($500???) Maybe the friend you make at the pick and pull will install it for $250.
Have the mechanic replace the oil idiot light with a siren.

KirkVining · #4 08-25-2004, 06:56 PM

Tell him to spend the 1300. Otherwise you will be an accomplice in the murder of a Mercedes Benz some time in the future, and you will spend eternity in hell. SO take your pick, $1300, or your eternal soul.

jpb5151 · #5 08-25-2004, 08:44 PM

Maybe the friend could use an old Olds or Buick. Get him that 3800 engine, and it should last pretty well. The 1988 Olds 98 I used to own is still going strong today.

KirkVining · #6 08-25-2004, 11:02 PM

I've been buying my teenagers Mazda Proteges in that price range. They are indestructable and I have yet to have a major repair bill after owning three of them, and the drivers are all testostorone-crazed boys who beat the living $hit out of those things.

blackmercedes · #7 08-25-2004, 11:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KirkVining

I've been buying my teenagers Mazda Proteges in that price range.

I agree. 88-92 626's and pretty much any Protege are bullet-proof cars. They are priced much lower than comparable Toyota and Honda cars, and are every bit as durable, if not more so. If equipped with a manny-tranny, it's not unusual to see a 15-18 year old Mazda with 400K and going strong. Rattles? Yup! Rust? Yup! Reliable car? Yup!

suginami · #8 08-25-2004, 11:54 PM

Ditto on the Mazda Protege.

We had a 1994 Protege, and put 160,000 trouble-free miles on it. The Protege has regularly been Consumer Report's Recommended pick in the compact class. It is not a Toyota or a Honda, so it gets overlooked by many consumers.

Ours was an "LX" model, and came equipped with the hot DOHC 1.8 liter engine that is / was used in the Miata.

Jason Beal · #9 08-26-2004, 12:29 AM

I never knew that about the protege....

Honda is my pick. I have sold maybe 5 of them and all of them were wonderful cars. I was thinking of one today that I sold a while back...it had 239k on it and was still a great/zippy little car. I have seen many of them in the high 100's/low 200's and still running great. With owners who didn't take great care of them either.

#10 08-26-2004, 12:49 AM

What is it about Mazda's? My dad loves them after years of loyal US stuff. Everyone seems happy with them. I would have recommended a used Saturn. A friend bought one as a second car, and it was cheap (3K), has held up well and has about 80K, and its like a 95 or 96. Very no frills and ugly as hell, but it works.

KirkVining · #11 08-26-2004, 01:31 AM

I love them. Here's another secret: Ford Escorts built from 1990 to 1995 are really Proteges. Because they carry the dreaded Escort name you can pick them up for a song, about half the price of a branded Protegem and they are the same darn car.

In answer to your question, they simply run forever and require no work other than a regular oil change. They will go to 200,000 miles without needing a ball joint, a water pump, you name it, they simply do not need any repairs. You just keep slapping tires on em. The 5 speeds get phenominal gas mileage, and they are fun to drive. If they get hit, you can beat them back into shape with a hammer, pick up a hundred bucks worth of body parts at the junk yard and you are back in business. There is no better car for someone with limited funds. Of the three I've owned, the most major repair I had was a worn bushing at the top of the rear shock tower on my wagon. 70$, at Firestone, to fix. Another one wouldn't start once, needed a new set of battery clamps. Best bargain around for a cheap car.

Lebenz · #12 08-26-2004, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kerry edwards

Cheap solution:
...Have the mechanic replace the oil idiot light with a siren.

Brilliant! Funniest thing I’ve read all week! :p

surfblau · #13 08-26-2004, 10:50 AM

I really hadn't thought about the protoge. Seems like mazda is a good alternative to honda and toyota. I know the honda is a good cars, but like I said before, I just cant see how a 15+year old car with 150k+ is worth on the order of $3000. I will also look into the mitsubishi, and who know maybe subaru and nissan also.

I also hadn't considered the engine replacement my self. With my new job and pair of kids, my free time is worth a premium, so I am leaning towards not learning how to pull an engine on his car. If it was a benz, maybe it would be worth it, but I really don't want to learn all about compact japanese front wheel drive cars.

I am surprised (or maybe not) how nobody seems to think much of the 190s. Could they really be that bad? It seems like the basic mechanics must be pretty solid, especially if you get a manual. Who cares if the power sunroof or ac eventually don't work....

thanks

The Warden · #14 08-26-2004, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tkamiya

I definately do NOT recommend any Benz if budget is an issue.

I beg to differ...I live on a shoestring budget (broke college student), and my Benz has been the most economical vehicle I've ever owned. Maybe g@$-powered M-B's are different, but I don't see my diesel as being any less reliable than the econoboxes out there (in the same price range), and she's a heckuva lot safer (and easier to work on, too!) and feels like she's built much more solidly.

That said, unless you're willing to do all the basic work for your friend (oil changes, valve adjustments, etc), it doesn't sound like that would be a good idea. Other people have said good things about the g@$-powered 201's, but I haven't had any firsthand experience, so I can't comment.

Just my $.02...good luck!

yal · #15 08-26-2004, 05:46 PM

I second the protege suggestion. My sis has a 1.6. If you can get the 1.8 or 2.0 engine even better!
Bullet proof. Only thing you have to look out for is some annoying suspension clunks that are easily fixed AND the MAS sensor failure that is fixed for free by the dealer on the 99-01 protege.
Mazda protege's and 3's are a best kept secret...shhhhhh don't tell anybody