Show Search Options
Blacklisted
(help)

DragonFox69

Privileged

I hope all our friends on here from around South West Germany are doing okay. Those floods look horrible.

W0LFB3AT5

Member
In response to blip #115050

Sharp_Coyote said:
You say in your user profile to 'not bother, ain't boyfriend material' or somesuch, but you know what? You are bro-friend material at the very least, and that makes me just a bit less crapulent as I am no fan of humanity, yet I am a fan of hard-working DJ W0LFB3AT5.

Keep being a fucking gem, Vulfy

post #1557185

coyotebear

Privileged
In response to blip #115047

W0LFB3AT5 said:
@Sharp_Coyote:
But thanks so much, Coyote. It means very much a lot. Sometimes you work hard to get where you’re at. And sometimes ALL of us deserve nice things. Haha!

You say in your user profile to 'not bother, ain't boyfriend material' or somesuch, but you know what? You are bro-friend material at the very least, and that makes me just a bit less crapulent as I am no fan of humanity, yet I am a fan of hard-working DJ W0LFB3AT5.

Keep being a fucking gem, Vulfy

  • View Responses
    •

    W0LFB3AT5

    Member
    In response to blip #115041

    @Sharp_Coyote:

    Yeah! You’re right. And they keep coming up with even better MB cars lately. The EQS, for example looks like something straight out of Sci-Fi movie from the year 2100! Lol

    But thanks so much, Coyote. It means very much a lot. Sometimes you work hard to get where you’re at. And sometimes ALL of us deserve nice things. Haha!

    (Also, sorry for the late reply back. Had to work today.) :p

  • View Responses
    •

    coyotebear

    Privileged
    In response to blip #115039

    @W0LFB3AT5:

    Vulfy, you have shown remarkable restraint and planning to be able to afford an entry-level luxury car as what, your 2nd vehicle?
    I am glad to see that you have it in mind as to the financial ... challenges, of ownership that can be.

    Once that factory MB warranty is up, trading up to something like a nice RX350 with ECP coverage might not be so bad a plan lol

  • View Responses
    •

    coyotebear

    Privileged
    In response to blip #115039

    W0LFB3AT5 said:
    @Sharp_Coyote: with high end vehicles, it’s a whole different story and someone starts batting an eye that costs an arm and a leg.

    Yep, and high-end vehicles are high-end vehicles, no matter the age. Like the 2001 Lexus LS430 I mention in my ramblings below, it probably started life as a $90K car. Just because someone bought it 3rd-hand for $15K does not mean it suddenly stops having $90,000 car repair and maintenance costs; it just has luxury-car repair costs with limited to no parts availability :(

    People don't sell cars just on a whim (unless they be wealthy and eccentric), it is often because they are tired of fixing them, or can no longer afford necessary fixes (and then get trapped in leases because it seems cheaper on the surface).

    coyotebear

    Privileged
    In response to blip #115035

    @W0LFB3AT5:

    There are always exceptions, like mis-matched tires on an axle, multiple non-repairable punctures, or companies with fragile, overly-complex AWD systems: some require the maximum difference in tread from front-to-rear to be no more than 3/32. Like Mercedes for example, and not for a Honda Civic.

    If you paid $2K for (4) new tires on your last car, just be prepared to add 50% to that for runflats on the new one :(

  • View Responses
    •

    coyotebear

    Privileged
    In response to blip #115035

    W0LFB3AT5 said:
    @Sharp_Coyote:
    But if you have 1 flat tire, you have to replace the whole 4 tires for over $2,000.

    I still maintain you were ripped off by that facility; remaining tread should always be the main factor in whether to replace (1) (2) or all (4) tires on a vehicle.

    Say you have skipped a couple rotation intervals, and your tread readings are 4/32 4/32 front (with one front puncture) and 7/32 7/32 on the rear: I'd recommend replacing both fronts. If, however, your tires are newer and @ 8/32 all around, by all means replace only (1)

    Any facility that requires you to replace all (4) tires as a matter of policy, not of wear, is a facility to not trust.

    coyotebear

    Privileged
    In response to blip #115035

    W0LFB3AT5 said:
    @Sharp_Coyote:
    There’s a perfectly good reason why they’re called, “runflats.”

    Yeah, they have highly-reinforced sidewalls and beads so a compromised tire can be driven on with low or no air pressure for a short distance to be able to get to a facility without a tow.

    Runflat tires should never have a puncture repair performed, as the repair-er does not know how much damage has been done to the repair-ee by driving well beyond their capabilities of range and/or speed; runflats must always be considered compromised by a puncture. This sucks when a tire is near new, yet must be replaced due to a small nail.

    Runflats are also so stiff and heavy as to ride like hell - akin to walking in shoes with solid steel flat soles, no arch support, no cushioning, no comfort.

    coyotebear

    Privileged
    In response to blip #115029

    @Odisaodi:

    Manufacturers only have a parts supply for a given vehicle for a projected 10 years or so; they are not concerned with you being able to purchase service or body or trim parts for your 2001 Lexus LS430, they want you to purchase a new 2021 LS500

    Aftermarket companies might make brake pads or spark plugs or filters for that LS430, but no way in hecc are things like window regulators, gas door release levers, or moonroof cassettes available; one needs to scrounge eBay or wrecked cars for such items.

    coyotebear

    Privileged
    In response to blip #115029

    @Odisaodi:

    To keep weight and costs down, most auto components are made of cheap alloys, or more commonly plastics; I refer to German cars "Lego Cars" because of their huge plastic content, and in areas where plastic should never be used like water pumps, oil pans and timing covers.

    Oil consumption is the norm because of long maintenance intervals, poor emissions equipment and the thin oils for used to wring out slightly better fuel economy. Multiple coolant and oil leaks are common with all of the plastic components.

    Cars are safer than ever before, heavier than ever before due the safety gear, and tend to have the durability of papier-mâché because manufacturers are cutting corners while also trying to trim weight.

    Once a newer car is out of warranty, I shudder a bit.

    coyotebear

    Privileged
    In response to blip #115029

    Odisaodi said:
    @Sharp_Coyote: if most parts for cars are mass produced and interchangeable then unless you break something specific to that car it should be fine later on? I can't see common wear and tear being a problem because the parts would be easy to find

    Nothing is interchangeable, not even so much within brands, anymore; hecc, not even within model lines anymore.
    Everything is stylized, and proprietary.

    Aftermarket parts are available for common, wearable items, sure, yet are rarely close to OE-quality, and are only made where there is a large demand. There are tons of aftermarket F150 or Mustang parts out there, yet Mercedes AMG GLA 45? not so much ...

    Odisaodi

    Privileged
    In response to blip #115025

    @Sharp_Coyote: if most parts for cars are mass produced and interchangeable then unless you break something specific to that car it should be fine later on? I can't see common wear and tear being a problem because the parts would be easy to find

  • View Responses
    •

    coyotebear

    Privileged

    I am looking at vehicles like the Toyota RAV4 (Adventure/Trail edition, dependent on your market) for something a little more rugged and rough-road capable. I am torn between the low KMS and lower interest rates for a 2019+ unit, but being stuck with all of the superfluous, and annoying electronic nanny-gear that I just do not want, and an older 2006-12 V6 model.

    About all that I would miss in buying the older car, would be the backup camera (which could always be added aftermarket). Even the bluetooth connectivity, while nice for hands-free calls, can be binned as I can just wait for when I am not driving to have that conversation. Having said that, these vehicles are already 10+ years old now :/

    All of the safety stuff people say they want (and all manufacturers are stuffing in now), is almost solely there to compensate for poor driving skills.

    coyotebear

    Privileged
    In response to blip #115017

    @W0LFB3AT5:

    Mirrors are going to be $1,700 ea, the LED headlamps are going to be $4,300 ea, pray an exchange rebuilt infotainment unit is available as a new navscreen/unit is probably like $8K ... and then there is all of the nanny-gear like sonar and cameras for the adaptive cruise / x-traffic alert / emergency braking / 360 around view / lane-keep assist, and all of that crap need calibration after replacement. I don't ever want to have to deal with the crappy ride and double the cost of having runflat tires, because manufacturers don't want to bother with spare tires anymore. $3K brake jobs because of big Brembo packages with ferro-carbon rotors; nothing is serviceable anymore, everything is replace only.

    (and I love big brakes! just not anything with so many pistons I need to take out a loan for a set of rotors and pads)

  • View Responses
    •

    coyotebear

    Privileged

    W0LFB3AT5 said:
    Duly noted.

    Don't get me wrong, it is not just German cars; any vehicle with a high pricetag is going to have absurd maintenance and repair costs.

    Vulfy, my man, you did real good in buying the baby of the Mercedes fleet! $100,000 cars never stop needing $100,000-car repairs down the line. 10, 20 years later, the costs stay astronomical.

  • View Responses
    •

    Rokwobo

    Member

    Okay so i have been in Australia for like an hour and already i can tell that it will be the most difficult thing to survive in my life and i was just in India for a whole month, So yeah see y’all later maybe if i don’t get eaten by a local

    W0LFB3AT5

    Member
    In response to blip #115014

    Sharp_Coyote said:
    Is why one only leases a new German car, kids, never buy one outright ... and unless you have a business writeoff, leases are akin to trading yer soul to the Debil (the manufacturer owns you forever, less a day)

    and Mercedes is arguably the best of the Lego Cars ...

    now, if you have an E30 318is, or E12 528i 5spd, or blessed with an E28 M5, we can speak of German ownership

    Duly noted.

  • View Responses
    •

    coyotebear

    Privileged
    In response to blip #115011

    W0LFB3AT5 said:
    Once my warranty expires on July 2023, then yeah. It’s gonna be hell to pay for maintenance. I can guarantee that. Haha! 😅

    Is why one only leases a new German car, kids, never buy one outright ... and unless you have a business writeoff, leases are akin to trading yer soul to the Debil (the manufacturer owns you forever, less a day)

    and Mercedes is arguably the best of the Lego Cars ...

    now, if you have an E30 318is, or E12 528i 5spd, or blessed with an E28 M5, we can speak of German ownership

  • View Responses
    •

    W0LFB3AT5

    Member
    In response to blip #115012

    Kemonophonic said:
    Dude, an S-Class is like $110,000 USD!

    True. But it can’t hurt to dream for future reference.

    But hey, an S-Class Maybach is nearly up to $200,000. Insane luxury.

    At that point of price, I might need to own a business to own that kind of class.

    W0LFB3AT5

    Member
    In response to blip #115009

    Sharp_Coyote said:
    With your new car, Vulfy, I am worried you will need to take on a 3rd job just to be able to pay for the maintenance :3

    Ha! That’ll be only when I upgrade my car to a higher Klasse. Probably an S-Klasse or the new 2022 C-Klasse. But, I’m happy with what I’ve got. My bucket list for having a fancy car is finally crossed out. Lol!

    Once my warranty expires on July 2023, then yeah. It’s gonna be hell to pay for maintenance. I can guarantee that. Haha! 😅

  • View Responses
    •
  • 1
  • 156
  • 157
  • 158
  • 159
  • 160
  • 161
  • 162
  • 163
  • 164
  • 750