Your Primary Car - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Skippy · #16 06-15-2011, 02:18 AM

In town: '71 250

Likes:

40 years old and still doing the daily driver thing. Nice straight 6 rumble. Good brakes and suspension.

Dislikes: Oxidized paint. Was lightly hit in the RR quarter panel and repaired by a novice with a bucket of bondo, some different shade of blue paint, and ten thumbs. Blower works when it wants to (not often) and dash lights sind kaput. Auto trans works as well as any from that year, but leaves much to be desired. 15 mpg on premium just plain sucks.

Longer trips:

83 300D

Likes: Cool diesel clatter at idle. Adequate power. Decent handling. Good brakes. 29 mpg average since putting in the manual transmission. Looks great for its age. Getting to tell people I drive a Mercedes-Benz.

Dislikes: Blower and dash lights have been giving me problems. Not loud enough when punching it.

New ride (as of today):

06 Kawasaki Ninja 250

Likes: Light, quick, handles great. Good acceleration. Good mileage (I think-not checked yet), more fun than a barrel of strippers.

Dislikes: Unlikely to last 300,000+ plus miles. Not much cargo room (as in none). Likely to get me creamed by some cell-phone yapping moron in an SUV. Don't have it registered yet.

sixto · #17 06-15-2011, 02:20 AM

87 300D

Like - paid for, cheap to keep running, 23/28 mpg for its size and heft, tight u-turns, easy to park

Dislike - it's not a 140

When wifey takes the 300D, 97 C2500 'burb td

Like - also paid for, PMD hasn't failed (touch wood), 17/20 mpg, 'Go ahead distracted and clueless drivers, make my day!'

Dislike - 3/4 ton suspension for 150 lb load, wimpy AC in traffic (no room for an aux fan)

Sixto
87 300D

SwampYankee · #18 06-15-2011, 05:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike D

The W126 is just sitting because I don't want to ruin the leather seats (I'm a truck maintenance mechanic).

Psssst...Mike...seatcovers.

benhogan · #19 06-15-2011, 06:47 AM

Volvo 240 wagon- the lawn mower hauler aka the money maker.

Botnst · #20 06-15-2011, 07:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tbomachines

Hey, I'm selling my 300E if you're interested....safe car, but slow as its an m103. Seems like the perfect "youngest" car. Shameless plug.

If you were 1,000 mi closer, maybe. But probably not. I'm a pi$$-poor wrench-turner so I need something newer.

Angel · #21 06-15-2011, 08:05 AM

daily driver - mine - 2001 Subaru outback wagon - 116 kilomiles.

likes-
-awd and ABS is excellent in the snow. good times if you want, or just a good guarantee that you'll make it home
-will fit a 4x8 sheet of plywood/drywall if you dont mind scratching up the interior
-higher trim includes roof rack, 6-disk CD changer + tape player (good for my retro tape collection or an MP3 player input.
-Outside temp display - always nice to see how cold it is outside
-A/C has never needed touched.
-reliability has been wonderful so far...
-refined/quiet interior compared to my prior cars ('81 240D and '97 Jetta)

Dislikes:

-18-24mpg from a 2.5l 4cyl - its all with weight and AWDness
-automagic transmission - rather have a stick, but the wife needs to drive this sometimes...
-more machine (space, materials...) than I need to commute everyday (95% of it's job)
-Power Windows feel/sound cheap.
-frameless windows get bent by non-car people (incl wife =)
-interior has been heavily stained by our children, between that at the few dings/scratches on the side, its resale value is pretty low.
-as I found yesterday, I'm about to hit the 'have your airbag inspected by a dealer after 10 years' which I'd normally not care about, but it IS the airbag, and the dashboard still tells me that they work...

Wife's daily driver - 2009 Kia Sedona LX

Likes - 250hp with VVT and manumatic transmission

dislikes - teenaged fuel economy
-2nd headlight bulb failure at 33k miles (do they always last 2.5 years ?

I could go on forever about each machine...

SwampYankee · #22 06-15-2011, 09:07 AM

Daily Driver 1: Estate sale purchased Specialized RockHopper hard tail

Likes:
~ Great fuel mileage. Even though beer is more expensive per gallon than gas, I can go a lot further on that gallon.

~ My fat @$$ gets a little smaller with every commute. I do take the long way to work so it's a 7 minute ride rather than a 1.5 minute ride via the direct route.

~ Wind in my hair and face, or at least face

, feeling is pretty hard to beat.

~ I can park it right next to my office rather than all the way across the parking lot.

Dislikes:
~ Despite ample aforementioned incorporated padding on the posterior, the seat isn't the most comfortable to extended driving.

~ Can be very hot, cold or wet depending on weather conditions.

~ Ride can be harsh. A suspension fork might alleviate that a bit but it's supposed to be a low-budget ride for me so unless I come across a freebee it's probably not going to happen.

~ Tow and carrying capacity is negligible.

~ While the straight bars allow me to cruise in style, my 40yo back would prefer a more upright riding position so I'm on the lookout for some cruiser bars. Or maybe ape hangers...

Daily Driver 2: 2000 Jeep Wrangler TJ Sport 4.0L, 5 sp.
Likes:
~ Top down and doors off is hard to beat for spring, summer and fall driving.

~ It really is a good little workhorse. It's paid for itself by plowing snow in the winter. Low range is great for pulling stumps and brush around the yard.

~ Very maneuverable and off-road capable. Great in the snow, mud and sand; even in stock form with only slightly oversized tires.

~ When it gets muddy and dirty inside, I just take a hose to it.

~ Ride is a little bouncy but not too harsh (I grew up driving ratty old pickups so that opinion will certainly vary by user). The heavy-duty sway bar with the Sport package keeps it from rolling over from a light breeze in CJ-type fashion.

~ It's too small to take the whole family along with me.

Dislikes:
~ For such a small vehicle, it really gets pretty crappy mileage for a 6 cylinder with a manual transmission that's not FT 4wd. I'm lucky to get 16 mpg highway and 14 mpg city/mixed. I only put about 10K miles/year on it so mileage isn't that important to me, but it still kinda sucks.

~ Crappy Chrysler fit-and-finish. Cheap materials, they look it and they've worn like it. Some electrical gremlins have showed their face already at less than 70K miles. OTOH they are cheap to replace.

~ I've tired of manual transmissions for my DD. I'd prefer a manual for play use but my next DD will be an auto.

~ It's too small to take the whole family along with me.

SirNik84 · #23 06-15-2011, 01:31 PM

Daily Driver '84 300SD.

Likes...
-The simple fact I'm driving it again after a years worth of rebuild.
-Manual Transmission!

-good fuel economy.
-I live with a house full of Mercedes nerds so when something does go wrong I get encouragement and help to fix it.
-Looks amazing.

Dislikes...
-Speedo cable keeps braking. No speedo at the moment.
-Switch for the drivers seat controls is wearing out and i don't wanna mess with it.
-Wheel rubs every so often... I think the solution to this problem is for me to loose about 40 lbs. The car looks to good and I look to fat... thus the problem must be with me.
-NO WORKING AC this is a big down side especially after driving the Dodge last summer... if the Americans can do anything right its AC. I called the Dodge the fridge on wheels.

Stretch · #24 06-15-2011, 02:12 PM

Well here's what I did to our primary driver:-

It doesn't use much fuel at the moment.

Luckily we've got back up plan #1 for the twins and the eldest and the shopping!

SwampYankee · #25 06-15-2011, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Army

Luckily we've got back up plan #1 for the twins and the eldest and the shopping!

That's freaking cool! I could probably buy a car for what it costs, though.

sixto · #26 06-15-2011, 03:29 PM

Do the twins need that much legroom?

Do you remember to slow down for turns or does it have a sway bar?

Has the palomino turned pink?

Sixto
87 300D

Mr.Kenny · #27 06-15-2011, 03:51 PM

>99 Maxima 5 speed.<
Silky smooth engine.
Lots of silky Power; it just gets up and goes. No drama.
25 -30 MPG
Reliable & reliable...

>1991 Miata<
FUN!
Reliable
Economical
& FUN!

>1972 280sel 4.5<
Sits in garage looking beautiful & costs nothing, becaue I don't drive it.
27,0000 original miles
Bragging rights....("Hey, wanna see a 1972 Mercedes with only 27,000 miles")

2000 ford Exploder...
Likes..I hate it.
dislikes....Yes i hate it. I hate everything about it.

Kpmurphy · #28 06-15-2011, 03:55 PM

1970 220D

Likes
Great brakes and suspension
Good looking car
The sound of the engine
Not just any buddy can drive one
Giving to my from my dad when he was done driving it. It has been in the family a long time, it was the only car that always ran so every buddy bowered it growing up.
Rides very smooth
No problems keeping up with traffic I live in a small town
Fuel is mileage is ok, I get on it most of the time
Vent windows not sure what you call them

Dislikes
No A/C
Sometimes it is hard to find parts
Automatic shifts too late in a school zone engine reeves to hi
RUST
RUST
And more rust.
RPMs are too high on high way

retmil46 · #29 06-15-2011, 03:58 PM

2005 Jeep Liberty Sport 4WD CRD (Common Rail Diesel) -

Likes - VM Motori 2.8 L diesel - enough torque to put a small V8 to shame, manages 25/30 mpg in a 4300 lb brick.

Dislikes - all the cheap a$$ DaimlerChrysler parts surrounding the engine.

I've said it before and I'll say it again - putting that engine in a DC vehicle was akin to shoving the Hope Diamond up a goat's anal orifice.

Jim B. · #30 06-15-2011, 04:12 PM

2011 Subaru Outback 2.5i Premium PZEV with CVT automatic.

likes:

New car smell

rear seat folds down with room for air mattress to use on dates.

it does not get stuck in the snow