| Author | Message | ||
     Danger_dave |
Well, well. They wrote off the Co-pilot's car. The S600 with the Buell sticker on the back window is gone.  It's been off the road for 6 of the 12 she's owned it and when it Fried its third computer the warranty insurance company said 'enough'. Mechanical write off. On the replacement table is an '05 S500 or E55 AMG She's going for the S500 (sensibly - magnificent car) - but we have the E55 currently. **** me! Supercharged 5.5ltr around 470hp and 516 ft lbs. 12.39s - It accelerates like a Hyabusa. I hit the freeway and pumped The Motels 'Total control' on the Harmon Karden force 11 earlier tonight. In my best moto-journo speak: **** me! The two vehicles evaluated.  Nothin to do with me - she runs and maintains them - so I'm happy with the S for the same reasons I'm glad I still have my licence when I return a Hyabusa. But...**** me!  | ||
| Bill0351 |
Why would you buy another Mercedes after this one turned out to be such a POS? Bill | ||
| Danger_dave |
It's a replacement vehicle for the one they have written off. They reckon they were fixed by 05s. | ||
| Tramp |
Most of the ECU issues have been NA-compliance related, this is nothing new w/MB. Driving, esp. owning a Benz is like flying first-class. Once you've been there, coach poses a difficult return | ||
| Bill0351 |
Good luck. It is sure a good looking car. It has got to be totally irritating to get to the point in your career where you can afford the buy "the best" only to find it doesn't measure up. I hope they hooked her up with something at least as high-end for a loaner. My buddy had a loaded Ford F150 that was about as reliable as your wife's car. Ford always gave him a loaner, but it was either a Taurus or an Escort. He was PI**ED and never bought another Ford again. Bill | ||
| Danger_dave |
Mercedes and the dealer have been outstanding with the loaners actually. I'm now quite an expert on them. The first time it broke down we got a C180. By the fifth time it died she had the demo CLS500 for 6 weeks.  That blue C55 AMG was the best sounding car I've drived. | ||
| Tramp |
In Germany, the say the "C" stands for "Compromise"...as in de-engineered for the NA mkt. | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>Driving, esp. owning a Benz is like flying first-class. << It stared for her with an ex-consulate SE450 in the mid 80s. It could fit 4 people on each bench seat. I used to fill it up with da boys and we'd all talk like Guido. 20 year scrub nurse got her masters degree while she raised the family - has her at good order, ex-lease vehicles. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I traded my Saturn SC2 in for a high milage (but good shape and great price) Saab 9-3. You are right, it would be REALLY hard to go back... especially in my case because the Saab may actually end up being the cheaper of the two cars to own (and the Saturn was already scary cheap). (Disclaimer: Some Saabs are really bad deals, others are really good deals... don't go there without knowing how to tell the difference...) | ||
| Danger_dave |
I had a 900 as a company car once. The ignition used to fill with lint. It did however have a sound system that could make your ears bleed. Job done. | ||
| Josh_ |
I really like my Bimmer (06 330i, 6spd, Sport pkg), but the original dealer screwed me over good. We might get another when the lease is up, but I just keep thinking how many more bikes I could have for that payment ... | ||
| Ceejay |
I have a 9-5 aero. Despite the electrical gremlins which seem to rear thier head every six months, the car drives awesome-cloverleafs at 70-80 mph will all four squealing is way fun-like dd said it gets even better with some sabbath on the day of... Seems that the Saab owners that have a gremlin free one don't get rid of them. Never driven a Merc though | ||
| Tramp |
The big difference is which set of wheels does the driving: Do you prefer conventional Rear Drive (as do formula 1 drivers, horseriders and motorcyclists) or fwd (as do housewives in minivans) On the flip-side, running with Josh's point- I used to be very heavily into sporting euro cars, until a friend put it best for me: "A car is a box with a wheel on each corner, for getting from point A to point B. Motorycles and planes are for true sport" | ||
| Danger_dave |
Yeah - I rarely get in them - I even go to the supermarket on the bike. | ||
| Ceejay |
before this car I had never driven a front wheel drive one. It still throws me for a loop when I first get on it in a turn. I mostly drive a truck, and while I can get the back end to step out on occasion it's not much for "sporting" but like you stated that's what the bike is for-I'd have to include playing hockey though | ||
| Tramp |
me too, however, There is something indescribably great about throttle-steering a 323 through hairpins at slimerock or laguna.... ...or two-pedaling an ur-quattro down a logging road | ||
| Ceejay |
I live in Ohio-roads straighter than a preacher and not a log waiting to happen in sight.  | ||
| Reepicheep |
Oh, and kinda - sorta - back - on - topic... Slapped a trailer hitch on the Saab 9-3, and it worked like a champ. Even pulled about 24 MPG (two bikes, 65-70 mph sustained, in the mountains). Rarely touched the boost except when passing. Leather heated seats and a good stereo go a long way towards covering any sins... and if I am honest with myself they did 80% of the job on selling me on the car. 210 HP, 33 MPG highway and 4 door hatchback did the rest. My ignition switch is a crumb-catcher... now that you mention it. 210 HP of torque steer gets pretty exciting. Whack the throttle, and steer left to go straight Just don't get a sludged one... update the PCV system to revision 6 (no kidding), and run full synthetic and change it less then 5k miles. And don't buy a used one without having a mechanic first drop the sump pan and inspect (and pull one big end shell bearing and inspect if the pan looks like it has been cleaned before). | ||
| Reepicheep |
Cool! Force 11 huh? Mine only goes up to "10". | ||
| Danger_dave |
 Really? All my stuff goes to 11.  even my site | ||
| Danger_dave |
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| Nevrenuf |
the folks had a 240d mercedes back during the 70's and they ran that thing to death but it took a long time to do it. there also used to be a guy in the neighborhood that had a 2stroke saab back during the same time. and if i remember right i think it was like a 4 speed on the column. (i could be wrong on that part.) | ||
| Tramp |
"Oh, and kinda - sorta - back - on - topic... Slapped a trailer hitch on the Saab 9-3, and it worked like a champ. Even pulled about 24 MPG (two bikes, 65-70 mph sustained, in the mountains). Rarely touched the boost except when passing. Leather heated seats and a good stereo go a long way towards covering any sins... and if I am honest with myself they did 80% of the job on selling me on the car. 210 HP, 33 MPG highway and 4 door hatchback did the rest. My ignition switch is a crumb-catcher... now that you mention it. 210 HP of torque steer gets pretty exciting. Whack the throttle, and steer left to go straight : ) Just don't get a sludged one... update the PCV system to revision 6 (no kidding), and run full synthetic and change it less then 5k miles. And don't buy a used one without having a mechanic first drop the sump pan and inspect (and pull one big end shell bearing and inspect if the pan looks like it has been cleaned before)." ..or, just avoid all the drama and torque-steer and get a proper RWD vehicle, like a BMW or MB | ||
| Rah7777777 |
My day job is a mercedes tech and can't say im surprised to hear you had troubles with it........  but in all honesty the 04+ 600's have been okay cars. have your normal suspension issues, and oil leaks, but other then that can't say ive replaced too many M.E's on them. What did they say caused it? I know the ME harness will get oil in it sometimes. The E55 is by far my favorite. the new 63 is nice, but you can not beat the exhaust/supercharger note of the 55. But that new C63........mmmmmmm that ones fun! The CLS's do nothing for me, being a biker I think they are very UNSAFE!!!! there are too many blind spots and the windows are too damn small to see much, especially a bike! The S500 is a pretty good car, once again the suspension has its share of prob's and oil leaks, but for the most part its a good daily driver (if you can afford the gas, but hell if you had a 600 it will be a gas break for you) good luck! but I have to ask, have you looked into Lexus? they are very good cars! | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>..or, just avoid all the drama and torque-steer and get a proper RWD vehicle, like a BMW or MB<< What are the high performance all wheel drives like? Audis and Subarus etc. What happens when they light up? | ||
| Danger_dave |
cheers Rah - my old man has a new Lexus. Personally I prefer etchings by Picasso. :-) | ||
| Tramp |
They stomp all over the comp, hence the 'unfair advantage' phrase associated with the early quattros. being as they feature AWD, much of the hassle of torque steer is gone, esp. with a centered differential. forgetting even torque steer for a moment, how stupid is it to have articulated drive axles? stunted steering radius, short-lived CVs, etc. There's much to be be said for RWD and AWD, but front wheel? just not my cupppa...looks good one 'sum-a-youze, though | ||
| Rah7777777 |
Just gotta say this.......... over the weekend i finally rode in my buddies slightly modded subaru STI. He was driving very conservative when all the sudden he says....... "this is what these cars are made for" I'm thinking what???? then off the light he floors it through first, then floored into 2nd then out of no where (still freaking floored) he busts a full left hand turn!!!!!! threw me into the door, but it was cool as hell. Tires made lots of noise, but didnt loose traction!!!! I was amazed! AWD is the coolest! sharp, full 90+ degree turn at W.O.T! very nice. my FWD would have lost it half way through and plowed straight ahead! | ||
| Tramp |
That's the beauty of AWD...i was hooked after my first Quattro (1981)- no understeer (FWD) No Oversteer (RWD)...just that crazy all-wheel drift with no bias. | ||
| Danger_dave |
>>What did they say caused it? I know the ME harness will get oil in it sometimes. << Sorry missed that. Unknown. My guess is Poltergeists. | ||
| Nevrenuf |
we got rid of the pt turbo last week and got the outback sport(imprezza) to replace it. haven't had it in the rain yet but the turning radius is incredible. so far i like it. just the idea of having awd makes me feel better that she's driving it. | ||
| Reepicheep |
No doubt AWD or even RWD would be more fun for a performance car... Just point me to one that can get $1000 in depreciation per 10,000 miles, and I'm sold! (Got the 2001 Saab 9-3 with 92k miles for $7k... 160k should be easy on the original turbo) The Saab 9-2 is a WRX with some of the high end STI parts and better interior features BTW, a great deal. Even if Rocket doesn't like them It would have been on my short list, but the 9-3 had more room and was cheaper. | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Tramp, I had a few Mazda 323s back in the 80s up til the last of the twin carb fwd ones. I have to say though that my favourite one was an old 'puke green' rwd 4 door one. It was a shopping trolley & when the old 4pot lump started chucking out too much smoke, me & my mate replaced it.... with a 3.5 Rover V8! The rear axle lasted 2 weeks! I think the replacement axle came out of a ford, we never worried much, just went down to the scrapper's with a tape measure & looked for something to fit. |
