Good point about the Cummins. I guess my point is--maybe like yours--whether it's a Cummins, or another brand of diesel, or some type of hybrid--it may be the only way people can afford to run large trucks/suvs at some point.
I agree about Mercedes diesels. I'd be tempted to look for a used diesel E300/320 now, but I'm guessing they're scarce, & or pricey. I almost bought a new 280CD in 1979. Kind of odd to have a diesel in a 2 dr. coupe, but it would be great to have more of those kinds of choices..... I think in Europe 1/2 of all vehicles are diesel powered(?).
It kind of stinks that Americans don't have more access to diesels......like the bmw x5, or diesel bmw's in general. And if M-B is merged with Chrysler, & the Cummins isn't suitable for SUV's, why can't we have M-B diesels in Chryslers?
You can get a Grand Cherokee with a MB diesel in Europe but becasue our diesel fuel in the use is very dirty the MB diesel cannot run on it.
ULSD(Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel) is on its way now and is slowly being phased in across the country. Once it is widely avaliable you will see a few more diesels from Europe come over.
Not long after that I would hope there would be a surge in popularity for diesel cars and SUV's.
I also agree about the cummins it is much to large and complex for an SUV. It is much much to heavy for such a light weight vehicles as the Jeep. Would not even fit in the engine bay.
Maybe if they cut the cummins in half and made it a four cylinder it would be ok.
Well, I forced myself to do yardwork and other stuff outside on Saturday, so I didn't have a chance to get on eBay and fret over that St. Regis.
I did email the seller on Friday though, asking him if he had any other pics. He replied, saying that he wouldn't be able to get to the car until Monday, as it's in the repair shop about 50 miles away. He also said that he had two solid offers on it and expected it to be gone today.
So I'm guessing that means it'll either show up on eBay again, or it'll show up this year at Carlisle with some overly inflated price on it.
The past two cars I've bought from eBay, a '79 New Yorker and '76 LeMans, were both cars that didn't make their reserve OR buy it now price. I had emailed both sellers after the fact, and we worked out a price.
I guess I could try the same thing with this St. Regis. But I'm trying to learn not to fall in love with everything that even remotely catches my eye. It's hard sometimes though. Especially since now it's been over a year since I've bought anything.
Especially since now it's been over a year since I've bought anything
I feel your pain, its been over a year and a half since I've bought anything. Funny thing is even with a new truck on order I still second guess myself and wonder if I should keep the beast I have.........you'd think I'd be jumping up and down at the thought of a new truck!
I'd be tempted to look for a used diesel E300/320 now, but I'm guessing they're scarce, & or pricey.
correct on both counts. I've been looking. The newest E320 are few and far between at this point. You can save quite a bit off the new price, but that still means well over $40k.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
but I wonder if a Cummins would fit under the hood of a '79 New Yorker? It would be an interesting way to have my old pimp-barge AND get good economy out of it! I'm sure better performance, too.
Ughh I don't know what I was thinking. I am not sure if I meant to say cut it in half and make it a three cylinder or knock off two cylinders and make it a four cylinder.
I wonder if you could make a stable three cylinder motor out of the cummins?
I just wonder if the engine would shake itself apart. The four cylinder might be better. It would be a little shorter then the 4.0 inline 6 cylinder that the Jeeps used to get and probably only a little bit heavier.
I bet horsepower would be about the same at around 200 horsepower since the full sized cummins motor makes 325 horsepower. Torque would probaby be in the low 400 range or tuned for a little less since that much torque might overpower the rest of the drivetrain.
I have no idea what MPG would be though. Mid to upper 20's maybe.
I feel your pain, its been over a year and a half since I've bought anything. Funny thing is even with a new truck on order I still second guess myself and wonder if I should keep the beast I have.........you'd think I'd be jumping up and down at the thought of a new truck!
Well, you can do what I did last week - buy new tires!
OK, it's not quite the same (new tire smell vs. new car smell... yeeeah), but I bought slightly softer tires so the Maxima has a bit smoother of a ride over these crappy Michigan roads. So, uh, it's "kinda" like a new car?
If I had know that (& had a crystal ball), man I'd have bought a new one several years ago. Of course, now, if it costs double for a used diesel vs. gas version........you could probably just buy a used gasoline E300/320, & have enough left over for a Prius, right? And the gas engine I6 E300/320's aren't exactly horrible gas hogs, for their size.
But it is a good discussion, & it will be interesting to see what people in the US will do if/when gas goes to $5/$6.....like if people start selling their Corvettes cheap to buy hybrids.....
*The 96-99 300 diesels and >99 turbodiesels are worth about twice their gas counterparts. And yes they are extremely rare to boot.*
Well, you can do what I did last week - buy new tires!
LOL, well, Zippy needs new tires, but since we are trading her in I don't want to replace them. I'm hoping there will be just enough tread left on them to make it through until July.
We are going to look at a car tomorrow, might be picking it up this weekend. I'm sure hoping so, would be a WONDERFUL replacement for Zippy!
Personally, I can't see spending ~$10-13k on a ten year-old Mercedes diesel mostly in an effort to save on fuel costs (aka 'money'). If fuel ($) savings were actually your main goal, why not just buy a new Fit/Scion/Corolla/Civic/Yaris and have a warranty to boot? If having the MB name/status or a car that large aren't 'musts', I don't see any benefit. You could also pick up a newish Taurus or Impala, if you wanted a mid-sizer, with some warranty left for the same price, though re-sale wouldn't be the same. Still, a new or two-year old car versus ten years old holds obvious benefits.
Oh jeez, I sat in the back seat of a Jeep Commander at the Chicago Auto Show--awful. I hit my head going in (I'm 6'0", 180-ish, 32-34" inseam, not particularly long in the torso nor legs), despite the boxy doors, and had no legroom; it reminded me of the LR Discovery.
I think it's because: There are Mercedes owners. There are bmw owners. And there are Civic/Corolla owners. It's just the "nature of the way things woiks".....
People can get really spoiled after owning a couple of bmw's or M-B's, & often would rather pay the maintenence on a 10 y.o. one than drive a little economy car. And get the added safety & driving comfort of the expensive Euro makes.
*Personally, I can't see spending ~$10-13k on a ten year-old Mercedes diesel*
People can get really spoiled after owning a couple of bmw's or M-B's, & often would rather pay the maintenence on a 10 y.o. one than drive a little economy car. And get the added safety & driving comfort of the expensive Euro makes.
Yup. I fall in that category ... well, ok, i've only ever owned one benz, and it was quite old and i only had it for a short time. But, anyway, even having any kind of comfort in a car (like my volvo or lincoln) spoils you quickly. Now, if they would just make an economy car that I could fit comfortably in (6'5") for long trips (my daily commute is technically a long trip), I could make the sacrifice in the name of gas savings.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Back in January, my FIL passed away. He owned a '92 Legacy L AWD wagon with about 135K on it. At the time, my wife let her sister keep the car, since she doesn't own one. My SIL was to get it titled and insured, then she would be able to drive it.
Well, the SIL has decided not to follow through with that plan and is considering selling it. Instead, we might take it off her hands and sell one of our other cars.
It's purple, stick shift and pretty well loaded - AC, Cruise, PW, PDL, PM. When I drove it (briefly) in January, it needed some exhaust work and there was a small problem with the door locks - I think the drivers door wouldn't lock at all.
My thinking is that before doing anything I would take it to a mechanic and have them check out the car from stem to stern and see what needs to be addressed now, and what kinds of things to expect in the next 6-12 months.
If I sold the Focus, I could get a bit of profit out of it and save the $321/mo in payments. Heck, if I drove the Subaru for a couple of years, it would be worth it.
If it were me, I would have the car checked as you said and as long as the repairs were $500 or under, I'd take it, sell the Focus and pocket the profit. Then, drive the Subie until the end of the year, catch a year end deal and use it and the Focus profit money as a down payment on something you really want. Don't know what it would bring as a trade, but Subies hold their value pretty well especially if you are in an area where AWD is more of a requirement than a luxury.
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
We have people here today working on our basement but hopefully they will get done in time for us to make it downtown. I want to take a look at the Fit, RDX, CX-7, GTI, and the new Altima. I won't be in the market for a couple of more years though ... seriously.
The Accord is now out of warranty. It is at 36,300 miles. Gee loves his Civic. I like it but I would be willing to trade it for a Fit if only the Fit had a sunroof. Besides, the basement is taking up the portion of our discretionary income that would normally be used to make impulse car purchases.
what happened to the cheepo ALtima lease? Already moved onto the next big thing?
I say grab the Sube if it checks out, and flip in when something too good to pass up comes along.
Also, put the $321/mo. into an account (that is, make payments to yourself) along with the Focus profit. That way, you have the DP all segregated when it is time.
In Colorado, Subarus are pretty hot commodities .. I found the following for sale via cars.com:
--> '91 Legacy L wagon (didn't specify AWD) with 224K - $2988 --> '93 Legacy L wagon AWD with 176K - $3688 --> '91 Legacy L sedan AWD with 134K - $2500
So, I figure that I can easily get $2500-$3500 out of it should I decide to sell. However, I would have to split the sales price with my sister-in-law.
I decided to pass up on the Altima lease. Just not comfortable with leasing anymore .. I like the idea of being able to put as many miles on my cars as I like and not having to worry about parking lot dings, etc.
The Subaru is in a garage at the moment, so there's no rush to do any of this. My sister-in-law will get it titled in her name, then we can transfer it over to us whenever we want.
Registration is something like $30/year for any car over 10 years old, and I can't imagine insurance being much more than a few hundred dollars every 6 months.
Maybe you like the Focus too much to sell it? I understand not being crazy about leasing, but if I had a choice of paying $321/mo for a Ford Focus, or $79/mo to lease an Altima.......(??)
It's not that I like the Focus more than the Altima ....
First, I've only got 22 more payments on the Focus and then I own it free and clear .. and it should be worth, I dunno, maybe $3-5K at that time. After 24 months of Altima lease payments, I would still owe something like $11-13K if I were to buy it or I would have nothing and need a new car.
Second, I've averaged about 1300-1400 miles per month on the Focus. With the lease, I'd rack up a grand or two in mileage charges.
Maybe it's the fact that I'm starting to think logically about my financial decisions .. God knows I didn't do that nearly enough 7/10/15 years ago.
So, while I want a new set of wheels, I don't necessary need them. That, in a nutshell, is where I stand.
But, it's quite fun to look and dream and ponder and price things on-line and discuss and kibbitz with all of you in these forums.
Second, I've averaged about 1300-1400 miles per month on the Focus. With the lease, I'd rack up a grand or two in mileage charges.
Well, you could do a 15,000 mile/year lease, but that would drive up your price a respectable amount. Plus, you'd have to keep it around 1250 miles/month, which is still slightly below what you're driving.
Personally, I'd ditch the Focus and just buy the Altima outright. Screaming deals on those suckers, both lease and buy. :shades:
So, while I want a new set of wheels, I don't necessary need them. That, in a nutshell, is where I stand. But, it's quite fun to look and dream and ponder and price things on-line and discuss and kibbitz with all of you in these forums.
I couldn't agree more. Just like how I pondered the $199/mo 24-month lease deal on a new CTS I saw in the paper this weekend. I was thinking I could trade my currently-for-sale Volvo and my Lincoln and walk away with a new Caddy for about $100/mo. for 2 years. After that, I'd be free and clear to start shopping all over again.
I couldn't work up the courage to call about it, though. The 2.8 engine didn't exactly fire me up.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
While I don't disagree with either of you in principle regarding the Altima, there are larger agendas in play.
The wife and I have been thinking about a new house, and after many, many months of looking, we might have found something that we both like.
To pull the trigger this fall and move in next spring - the house is in a new development - we'd have to do a bit of rearranging with the cash flow, so standing pat with car payments (or, ditching the Focus and driving the FIL's inhereted Subaru for a while) might be the way to go.
The good news is that even if I do nothing, we'll still free up almost $1000/mo by the end of next year - no more child support payments and the Saturn L will be paid for. OTOH, I do have a kid going off to college this fall, and we don't have a clear picture of what those costs are going to be.
My latest plan (as of 2PM MDT today) involves selling the Focus, driving the Subaru around for a 12/18/24 months, then selling the Subaru outright and getting a frugal commuter car like a Yaris or Fit.
Regarding the CTS lease, I've seen some ads for that as well. The details that I've seen are that it's a 39 month lease and .25/mile in excess of 32,500 miles (10K per year, just as au1994 says).
Given that I live in a semi-rural area about halfway between Denver and Colo Springs, there is no way a 10K per year lease would work. In the leases that we've had in the past, 15K was barely enough. Each car averages 16-18K per year - mine with the commute, the wifes because we use it as the 'vacation' vehicle.
With 2 kids in college and the 3rd about to graduate from prep school, the $ goes very fast. I kinda feel quilty about spending my gift $ on a new car, when I really don't need it, but even the wife said to go ahead & do it. Would love to wait till the '07's come out and have it narrowed down to the Volvo S40 or the Civic EX.
Went and looked at that car this morning. Its a 1997 Chrysler Sebring LXi coupe, red with grey leather and 50k miles. Price is $650........why so cheap? Well, ya see, about 2 years ago it had a little run in with a tree and hasn't been driven since. Its no doubt fixable and since my brother works at a junkyard which happens to have another 97 Sebring as a donor so parts aren't a problem.
I'm probably picking it up on Saturday (have to go get our car hauler trailer first) and hauling it up to my brother, he's going to look at it, then we'll go from there. Damage is limited to the driver's side rear quarter panel and that rear tire (suspension is bent). Airbags are blown also.
According to what I know about it the car runs fine with no prior issues. If I can get it fixed and going for under $1000 I'll probably take it. Cheap car that should get decent gas mileage and go for a while. Title is clean, not salvage.
Sometimes its good to have little brother's who are mechanically inclined and sometimes its not, lol.
My neighbor just drove home with a brand new Volvo S40 in black last night. It is a truly gorgeous looking car. The black gives it an air of sophistication.
If it was me though, I would probably save the $10k to $15k and get the Mazda3. I think it looks as nice and I don't need the bigger engine and bigger Volvo maintenance bills.
I know you have back problems so the seat is you main concern. As usual the Volvo seats are excellent.
yup. definitely a low mileage lease. Most of those screamer ads seem to be. And, yeah, you just reminded me of another reason I decided not to inquire about it, the .25 per mile overage would KILL me in the end.
So ... onto my thought of the day. I spotted an '03 Altima 2.5s 5-speed in the local auto shopper with only 30k miles for $12,999 at a Saturn dealer. It got me thinking again about trading my 2 cars, lowering my monthly payment, getting cash out of the deal, AND getting much better gas mileage. And, of course, getting back into a manual transmissioned car, which I sorely miss.
edit: ok, scratch that "much better mileage" bit. I'm amazed to learn that the 2.5s is only rated at 23/29. So I'd probably average only about 5 mpg better than my V8 Lincoln. Not exactly the stellar jump I was imagining for a lighter, less luxurious car with FAR less power.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I have done the downsize to save money deal (the opposite pendulum swing from buying something expensive that I don't really need. Yet, I digress..)
It is a nice feeling eliminating a payment/insurance/driveway clog, and actually getting money back. Plus, it makes you feel flush, so you can start shopping again!
I yoyo between the basic car for commuting/errands, and a fun car for when you can use it, or just having one nicer car for both duties (with some compromise on each end). Right now my Accord seems to be doing nicely, but theres always the chance another toy could fall into my lap..
I really need a 3rd garage bay, or at least a parking spot that isn't in front of a garage door, if I am going to have a 3rd car. I hate parking my car outside, which is one of the reasons I got rid of my Miata.
Well, I've been mulling over the numbers and it just doesn't look good in this particular instance.
Do all of us CCB'ers get this detailed?
Anyway, I figured the gas savings of the Altima in question over my Lincoln would amount to about $50/mo (at current prices). A 4-year loan on the Altima would be about $100/mo cheaper (I have 4.5 years left on the Lincoln). SO, we're looking at $150/mo savings.
HOWEVER, in order to do this, I'm trading in 2 cars and walking away with maybe $3k cash. Even if I firesale my Volvo, I should get $4500 out of it on the street. SO, in essence, the 2-for-1 trade is costing me $1500 out-of-pocket. It would take me almost a year to recoup that initial loss. Just doesn't seem worth it.
On the other hand, I have also been pondering still selling the Volvo outright and THEN selling the Lincoln outright (i could get what I owe) and starting from scratch. But, then again, I'd lose a big chunk of change in tax credit. UGH! The life of a CCB'er is a tough one.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I yoyo between the basic car for commuting/errands, and a fun car for when you can use it, or just having one nicer car for both duties (with some compromise on each end).
yup. that's always the problem. I had it worked out pretty nicely when I had the Z and Volvo ....
I like the Lincoln. Its nice, fast, etc .... its just not FUN! Sure, it can melt the tires, but that's only a fraction of the equation. I just don't feel passionate about it like I did my Z.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
You sound like me--needing to identify your car buying/selling ideas by not only date, but time of day. The old Subie idea sounds promising. The only thing I'd say is, I'd budget a certain amount of $$ for unexpected repairs--$1K to $2K maybe? I know Subies are reliable, but at that age & miles, anything "could" happen.....
It sounds like you're paying almost zilch for it tho (?), so it might be a great way to lower your monthly Nut by $321. Nothing like Paid For Cars, IMO.
*My latest plan (as of 2PM MDT today) involves selling the Focus, driving the Subaru around for a 12/18/24 months*
woodyvw .. yeah, the Subaru would cost nothing to acquire beyond registration costs. My sister-in-law will take care of the ownership transfer into her name, so she may have to take care of the smog issues.
Then, we would transfer the ownership to me and the wife .. a no-cost transaction, since we inherited the car in the first place. I would have to pay a small amount for the county registration and plates (something like $30, I think), plus whatever amount of money it would take to get the car into decent condition.
As I mentioned, it needs some exhaust work ... one of the two tailpipes has rusted off at the rear muffler so it sounds really loud at the moment.
I would also have a complete inspection done to see what else needs to be done and what kinds of things I could expect to fail in the next year or two .. if it's not too many things, then we'd do those repairs and keep it. If it is too many things, then we'd probably sell it as is and split the money with the SIL.
I would also like to put some decent wheels on it as well as replace the OEM stereo with something that includes a CD player, but not sure the wife would go for that.
qbrozen --- I agree with you. In an ideal world, I would love to have a car to commute in, a car for vacations (wife's VUE would suffice in this role) and a fun car for weekends.
Ironically, the house we are thinking of does include a 3 car garage, so there would be space to park a toy should one find its way into our lives.
Depending on your budget constraints, you might have been better off with a G35 instead of the Volvo/LS. It is basically a 4 door Z car! Particularly fun with a 6 speed if you are into that kind of thing.
Budget was exactly the problem. Back when I bought the Z, it made sense to get the pure sportscar. When it became necessary to trade it, I decided on a max budget of $20k, which ruled out any used G35 I could find (and, yes, I was looking for a 6-speed, which is akin to a hen's teeth).
But, on a side note, I would NEVER call something as ugly as the G35 sedan a Z of any configuration. Not only did the Z stir great driving passion in me, I drooled everytime I looked at it in my garage.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
In my experience, the cars "that inspire passion", are either very impractical, very expensive, &/or have big maintenence bills. But if you can afford one as a 2nd car, can be worth it.
My amateur advice: enjoy the Lincoln for what it is, & enjoy the memories of the Z. It's very tough being a car nut, & not being able to afford to own (at the same time) at least 2-3 cars that really Turn You On.....it drives me crazy sometimes.
*I just don't feel passionate about it like I did my Z.*
KBB, my truck which was already six (model) years old in January, has since dropped FOUR THOUSAND DOLLARS in value, or approximately 29%. That's in four months, on a vehicle that was already more than 5 years old? That sucks, and has to be unprecedented. I have driven it about 4000 miles in that time.
I only just bought it, so the payments are nowhere near done (originally 4 years to pay, I have been accelerating the payments), and basically this means that a vehicle I was right-side-up in at Christmas now has me upside-down in the loan? Something is very wrong there. The money I put down has vanished. :-(
Clearly there won't be any trades for me in the near future - I had told myself I would not trade the Echo until I had a very comfortable margin in the 4Runner, which now looks like it may be a year out. Or more!
So much for my CCB-itis.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
We already have a Mazda3s in the stable. The seats just aren't that comfortable yet it's a blast to drive. Now with the youngest about to start college in the fall and his scholarships & loans dependent on our income, buying a car might not be doable. I also just found out that the money I inherited is mostly in stocks & not cash and selling it would hurt us financially with the capital gains and the bump in income...my wife's a CPA so she really wants me to just sit tight for a few years. Decisions decisions!!!!
I could be worse, you could own a V10 and even when its paid off next month we'll still be basically upside down, lol. Its worth less than an anvil on Jupiter, but that's ok, its a great truck and does what we need it to do, plus the gas it sucks down is a write off since it only goes out for business stuff.
I'm curing my CCB-itis by shopping at the junkyard......that's where I'm getting that 97 Sebring (well, its not there at the moment, but they own it). I figure if I can pick up one cheap easy fix wreck a year, fix it, then drive it for a while, I can keep my CCB habits in check. Sometimes its good to have a little brother working at a junkyard.
Yeah, I figure the only way I am going to be able to get my CCB fix in the next 12 months is to fix up the Echo a bit. I do like the Echo overall, but there are definitely some tweaks it could use, starting with proper rims. :-)
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
I yoyo between the basic car for commuting/errands, and a fun car for when you can use it, or just having one nicer car for both duties (with some compromise on each end).
That's impressive, you have your wants narrowed down to one or two vehicles in the stable! I'm thinking it would be nice to have a fun car, a people hauler (van/SUV), a cargo hauler (pickup), and a reliable, cheap-to-operate sedan. I could also see the need for a luxury barge on occasion. Variety is the spice of life!
I just told my son that the Sebring will be his first car because I figure there's no chance he can hurt it. He gave me a horrified look, lol.
I suppose I could get the side fixed eventually and make it look decent again. Its really a very pretty car on the pass side, interior is nice, has grey leather, sunroof, infinity system. My grumble with it is its got a 163 hp V6........that's like 33 hp more than Zippy, I can't imagine how lethargic it will be.
Guess I'll get a taste of it when I drive it up the ramps on to the trailer Saturday.
Comments
The Cummins is complete overkill for light-duty applications. All that complexity and engineering costs a bunch of money.
Of course, if common sense had anything to do with this, we wouldn't be having a discussion about 14 mpg SUVs doing family duty.
-Mathias
I agree about Mercedes diesels. I'd be tempted to look for a used diesel E300/320 now, but I'm guessing they're scarce, & or pricey. I almost bought a new 280CD in 1979. Kind of odd to have a diesel in a 2 dr. coupe, but it would be great to have more of those kinds of choices..... I think in Europe 1/2 of all vehicles are diesel powered(?).
It kind of stinks that Americans don't have more access to diesels......like the bmw x5, or diesel bmw's in general. And if M-B is merged with Chrysler, & the Cummins isn't suitable for SUV's, why can't we have M-B diesels in Chryslers?
You can get a Grand Cherokee with a MB diesel in Europe but becasue our diesel fuel in the use is very dirty the MB diesel cannot run on it.
ULSD(Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel) is on its way now and is slowly being phased in across the country. Once it is widely avaliable you will see a few more diesels from Europe come over.
Not long after that I would hope there would be a surge in popularity for diesel cars and SUV's.
I also agree about the cummins it is much to large and complex for an SUV. It is much much to heavy for such a light weight vehicles as the Jeep. Would not even fit in the engine bay.
Maybe if they cut the cummins in half and made it a four cylinder it would be ok.
Well, I forced myself to do yardwork and other stuff outside on Saturday, so I didn't have a chance to get on eBay and fret over that St. Regis.
I did email the seller on Friday though, asking him if he had any other pics. He replied, saying that he wouldn't be able to get to the car until Monday, as it's in the repair shop about 50 miles away. He also said that he had two solid offers on it and expected it to be gone today.
So I'm guessing that means it'll either show up on eBay again, or it'll show up this year at Carlisle with some overly inflated price on it.
The past two cars I've bought from eBay, a '79 New Yorker and '76 LeMans, were both cars that didn't make their reserve OR buy it now price. I had emailed both sellers after the fact, and we worked out a price.
I guess I could try the same thing with this St. Regis. But I'm trying to learn not to fall in love with everything that even remotely catches my eye. It's hard sometimes though. Especially since now it's been over a year since I've bought anything.
Go to the back of the class.
1/2 a Cummins would be a 3-banger.
Sheesh.
It proabably WOULD be a heck of an engine.
-Mathias
I feel your pain, its been over a year and a half since I've bought anything. Funny thing is even with a new truck on order I still second guess myself and wonder if I should keep the beast I have.........you'd think I'd be jumping up and down at the thought of a new truck!
Should I assume we're talking about a different MB diesel engine than is currently available in the E320?
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
correct on both counts. I've been looking. The newest E320 are few and far between at this point. You can save quite a bit off the new price, but that still means well over $40k.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
I wonder if you could make a stable three cylinder motor out of the cummins?
I just wonder if the engine would shake itself apart. The four cylinder might be better. It would be a little shorter then the 4.0 inline 6 cylinder that the Jeeps used to get and probably only a little bit heavier.
I bet horsepower would be about the same at around 200 horsepower since the full sized cummins motor makes 325 horsepower. Torque would probaby be in the low 400 range or tuned for a little less since that much torque might overpower the rest of the drivetrain.
I have no idea what MPG would be though. Mid to upper 20's maybe.
Supposedly he got around 15-16 mpg with it, which I guess ain't bad at all for something that probably weighs about 5-6 tons empty.
The 96-99 300 diesels and >99 turbodiesels are worth about twice their gas counterparts. And yes they are extremely rare to boot.
Well, you can do what I did last week - buy new tires!
OK, it's not quite the same (new tire smell vs. new car smell... yeeeah), but I bought slightly softer tires so the Maxima has a bit smoother of a ride over these crappy Michigan roads. So, uh, it's "kinda" like a new car?
:P
Of course, now, if it costs double for a used diesel vs. gas version........you could probably just buy a used gasoline E300/320, & have enough left over for a Prius, right? And the gas engine I6 E300/320's aren't exactly horrible gas hogs, for their size.
But it is a good discussion, & it will be interesting to see what people in the US will do if/when gas goes to $5/$6.....like if people start selling their Corvettes cheap to buy hybrids.....
*The 96-99 300 diesels and >99 turbodiesels are worth about twice their gas counterparts. And yes they are extremely rare to boot.*
LOL, well, Zippy needs new tires, but since we are trading her in I don't want to replace them. I'm hoping there will be just enough tread left on them to make it through until July.
We are going to look at a car tomorrow, might be picking it up this weekend. I'm sure hoping so, would be a WONDERFUL replacement for Zippy!
Oh jeez, I sat in the back seat of a Jeep Commander at the Chicago Auto Show--awful. I hit my head going in (I'm 6'0", 180-ish, 32-34" inseam, not particularly long in the torso nor legs), despite the boxy doors, and had no legroom; it reminded me of the LR Discovery.
People can get really spoiled after owning a couple of bmw's or M-B's, & often would rather pay the maintenence on a 10 y.o. one than drive a little economy car. And get the added safety & driving comfort of the expensive Euro makes.
*Personally, I can't see spending ~$10-13k on a ten year-old Mercedes diesel*
I am about the same height as you just longer torso and shorter inseam and I fit fine back there.
Yup. I fall in that category ... well, ok, i've only ever owned one benz, and it was quite old and i only had it for a short time. But, anyway, even having any kind of comfort in a car (like my volvo or lincoln) spoils you quickly. Now, if they would just make an economy car that I could fit comfortably in (6'5") for long trips (my daily commute is technically a long trip), I could make the sacrifice in the name of gas savings.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
Well, the SIL has decided not to follow through with that plan and is considering selling it. Instead, we might take it off her hands and sell one of our other cars.
It's purple, stick shift and pretty well loaded - AC, Cruise, PW, PDL, PM. When I drove it (briefly) in January, it needed some exhaust work and there was a small problem with the door locks - I think the drivers door wouldn't lock at all.
My thinking is that before doing anything I would take it to a mechanic and have them check out the car from stem to stern and see what needs to be addressed now, and what kinds of things to expect in the next 6-12 months.
If I sold the Focus, I could get a bit of profit out of it and save the $321/mo in payments. Heck, if I drove the Subaru for a couple of years, it would be worth it.
Thoughts?
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
The Accord is now out of warranty. It is at 36,300 miles. Gee loves his Civic. I like it but I would be willing to trade it for a Fit if only the Fit had a sunroof. Besides, the basement is taking up the portion of our discretionary income that would normally be used to make impulse car purchases.
I say grab the Sube if it checks out, and flip in when something too good to pass up comes along.
Also, put the $321/mo. into an account (that is, make payments to yourself) along with the Focus profit. That way, you have the DP all segregated when it is time.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
--> '91 Legacy L wagon (didn't specify AWD) with 224K - $2988
--> '93 Legacy L wagon AWD with 176K - $3688
--> '91 Legacy L sedan AWD with 134K - $2500
So, I figure that I can easily get $2500-$3500 out of it should I decide to sell. However, I would have to split the sales price with my sister-in-law.
I decided to pass up on the Altima lease. Just not comfortable with leasing anymore .. I like the idea of being able to put as many miles on my cars as I like and not having to worry about parking lot dings, etc.
The Subaru is in a garage at the moment, so there's no rush to do any of this. My sister-in-law will get it titled in her name, then we can transfer it over to us whenever we want.
Registration is something like $30/year for any car over 10 years old, and I can't imagine insurance being much more than a few hundred dollars every 6 months.
We'll see.
First, I've only got 22 more payments on the Focus and then I own it free and clear .. and it should be worth, I dunno, maybe $3-5K at that time. After 24 months of Altima lease payments, I would still owe something like $11-13K if I were to buy it or I would have nothing and need a new car.
Second, I've averaged about 1300-1400 miles per month on the Focus. With the lease, I'd rack up a grand or two in mileage charges.
Maybe it's the fact that I'm starting to think logically about my financial decisions .. God knows I didn't do that nearly enough 7/10/15 years ago.
So, while I want a new set of wheels, I don't necessary need them. That, in a nutshell, is where I stand.
But, it's quite fun to look and dream and ponder and price things on-line and discuss and kibbitz with all of you in these forums.
Well, you could do a 15,000 mile/year lease, but that would drive up your price a respectable amount. Plus, you'd have to keep it around 1250 miles/month, which is still slightly below what you're driving.
Personally, I'd ditch the Focus and just buy the Altima outright. Screaming deals on those suckers, both lease and buy. :shades:
But, it's quite fun to look and dream and ponder and price things on-line and discuss and kibbitz with all of you in these forums.
I couldn't agree more. Just like how I pondered the $199/mo 24-month lease deal on a new CTS I saw in the paper this weekend. I was thinking I could trade my currently-for-sale Volvo and my Lincoln and walk away with a new Caddy for about $100/mo. for 2 years. After that, I'd be free and clear to start shopping all over again.
I couldn't work up the courage to call about it, though. The 2.8 engine didn't exactly fire me up.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2024 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Limited Velvet Red over Wicker Beige
2024 Audi Q5 Premium Plus Daytona Gray over Beige
2017 BMW X1 Jet Black over Mocha
The wife and I have been thinking about a new house, and after many, many months of looking, we might have found something that we both like.
To pull the trigger this fall and move in next spring - the house is in a new development - we'd have to do a bit of rearranging with the cash flow, so standing pat with car payments (or, ditching the Focus and driving the FIL's inhereted Subaru for a while) might be the way to go.
The good news is that even if I do nothing, we'll still free up almost $1000/mo by the end of next year - no more child support payments and the Saturn L will be paid for. OTOH, I do have a kid going off to college this fall, and we don't have a clear picture of what those costs are going to be.
My latest plan (as of 2PM MDT today) involves selling the Focus, driving the Subaru around for a 12/18/24 months, then selling the Subaru outright and getting a frugal commuter car like a Yaris or Fit.
Regarding the CTS lease, I've seen some ads for that as well. The details that I've seen are that it's a 39 month lease and .25/mile in excess of 32,500 miles (10K per year, just as au1994 says).
Given that I live in a semi-rural area about halfway between Denver and Colo Springs, there is no way a 10K per year lease would work. In the leases that we've had in the past, 15K was barely enough. Each car averages 16-18K per year - mine with the commute, the wifes because we use it as the 'vacation' vehicle.
That should swallow up the $1000/month you are freeing up with no difficulty.
The Sandman
I'm probably picking it up on Saturday (have to go get our car hauler trailer first) and hauling it up to my brother, he's going to look at it, then we'll go from there. Damage is limited to the driver's side rear quarter panel and that rear tire (suspension is bent). Airbags are blown also.
According to what I know about it the car runs fine with no prior issues. If I can get it fixed and going for under $1000 I'll probably take it. Cheap car that should get decent gas mileage and go for a while. Title is clean, not salvage.
Sometimes its good to have little brother's who are mechanically inclined and sometimes its not, lol.
If it was me though, I would probably save the $10k to $15k and get the Mazda3. I think it looks as nice and I don't need the bigger engine and bigger Volvo maintenance bills.
I know you have back problems so the seat is you main concern. As usual the Volvo seats are excellent.
So ... onto my thought of the day. I spotted an '03 Altima 2.5s 5-speed in the local auto shopper with only 30k miles for $12,999 at a Saturn dealer. It got me thinking again about trading my 2 cars, lowering my monthly payment, getting cash out of the deal, AND getting much better gas mileage. And, of course, getting back into a manual transmissioned car, which I sorely miss.
edit: ok, scratch that "much better mileage" bit. I'm amazed to learn that the 2.5s is only rated at 23/29. So I'd probably average only about 5 mpg better than my V8 Lincoln. Not exactly the stellar jump I was imagining for a lighter, less luxurious car with FAR less power.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
It is a nice feeling eliminating a payment/insurance/driveway clog, and actually getting money back. Plus, it makes you feel flush, so you can start shopping again!
I yoyo between the basic car for commuting/errands, and a fun car for when you can use it, or just having one nicer car for both duties (with some compromise on each end). Right now my Accord seems to be doing nicely, but theres always the chance another toy could fall into my lap..
I really need a 3rd garage bay, or at least a parking spot that isn't in front of a garage door, if I am going to have a 3rd car. I hate parking my car outside, which is one of the reasons I got rid of my Miata.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Do all of us CCB'ers get this detailed?
Anyway, I figured the gas savings of the Altima in question over my Lincoln would amount to about $50/mo (at current prices). A 4-year loan on the Altima would be about $100/mo cheaper (I have 4.5 years left on the Lincoln). SO, we're looking at $150/mo savings.
HOWEVER, in order to do this, I'm trading in 2 cars and walking away with maybe $3k cash. Even if I firesale my Volvo, I should get $4500 out of it on the street. SO, in essence, the 2-for-1 trade is costing me $1500 out-of-pocket. It would take me almost a year to recoup that initial loss. Just doesn't seem worth it.
On the other hand, I have also been pondering still selling the Volvo outright and THEN selling the Lincoln outright (i could get what I owe) and starting from scratch. But, then again, I'd lose a big chunk of change in tax credit. UGH! The life of a CCB'er is a tough one.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
yup. that's always the problem. I had it worked out pretty nicely when I had the Z and Volvo ....
I like the Lincoln. Its nice, fast, etc .... its just not FUN! Sure, it can melt the tires, but that's only a fraction of the equation. I just don't feel passionate about it like I did my Z.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
It sounds like you're paying almost zilch for it tho (?), so it might be a great way to lower your monthly Nut by $321. Nothing like Paid For Cars, IMO.
*My latest plan (as of 2PM MDT today) involves selling the Focus, driving the Subaru around for a 12/18/24 months*
Then, we would transfer the ownership to me and the wife .. a no-cost transaction, since we inherited the car in the first place. I would have to pay a small amount for the county registration and plates (something like $30, I think), plus whatever amount of money it would take to get the car into decent condition.
As I mentioned, it needs some exhaust work ... one of the two tailpipes has rusted off at the rear muffler so it sounds really loud at the moment.
I would also have a complete inspection done to see what else needs to be done and what kinds of things I could expect to fail in the next year or two .. if it's not too many things, then we'd do those repairs and keep it. If it is too many things, then we'd probably sell it as is and split the money with the SIL.
I would also like to put some decent wheels on it as well as replace the OEM stereo with something that includes a CD player, but not sure the wife would go for that.
qbrozen --- I agree with you. In an ideal world, I would love to have a car to commute in, a car for vacations (wife's VUE would suffice in this role) and a fun car for weekends.
Ironically, the house we are thinking of does include a 3 car garage, so there would be space to park a toy should one find its way into our lives.
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
But, on a side note, I would NEVER call something as ugly as the G35 sedan a Z of any configuration.
Not only did the Z stir great driving passion in me, I drooled everytime I looked at it in my garage.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
My amateur advice: enjoy the Lincoln for what it is, & enjoy the memories of the Z. It's very tough being a car nut, & not being able to afford to own (at the same time) at least 2-3 cars that really Turn You On.....it drives me crazy sometimes.
*I just don't feel passionate about it like I did my Z.*
I only just bought it, so the payments are nowhere near done (originally 4 years to pay, I have been accelerating the payments), and basically this means that a vehicle I was right-side-up in at Christmas now has me upside-down in the loan? Something is very wrong there. The money I put down has vanished. :-(
Clearly there won't be any trades for me in the near future - I had told myself I would not trade the Echo until I had a very comfortable margin in the 4Runner, which now looks like it may be a year out. Or more!
So much for my CCB-itis.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
Decisions decisions!!!!
The Sandman :confuse:
I'm curing my CCB-itis by shopping at the junkyard......that's where I'm getting that 97 Sebring (well, its not there at the moment, but they own it). I figure if I can pick up one cheap easy fix wreck a year, fix it, then drive it for a while, I can keep my CCB habits in check. Sometimes its good to have a little brother working at a junkyard.
2014 Mini Cooper (stick shift of course), 2016 Camry hybrid, 2009 Outback Sport 5-spd (keeping the stick alive)
That's impressive, you have your wants narrowed down to one or two vehicles in the stable! I'm thinking it would be nice to have a fun car, a people hauler (van/SUV), a cargo hauler (pickup), and a reliable, cheap-to-operate sedan. I could also see the need for a luxury barge on occasion. Variety is the spice of life!
I suppose I could get the side fixed eventually and make it look decent again. Its really a very pretty car on the pass side, interior is nice, has grey leather, sunroof, infinity system. My grumble with it is its got a 163 hp V6........that's like 33 hp more than Zippy, I can't imagine how lethargic it will be.
Guess I'll get a taste of it when I drive it up the ramps on to the trailer Saturday.