My parents make no sense...

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 10/10/2016 at 23:20 • Filed to: Just Empty Every Pocket

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So I went camping with my parents this weekend and Monday, so no progress on Tucker. In the meantime I am lining up my resources for that plan b job.

Anyway, my mum is using the prime opportunity of my borked engine to weasel me into doing something she wants me to do.

She says if I decide to leave smart forever, she will pay the down payment on a new Wrangler, and only on a Wrangler.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have a JK Wrangler...but now is so not that time to get one, like at all. Sooooo no mum.

Bonus: I liek this...it’s a Foretravel Unihome U300 Classy as hell.

CB > Mercedes Streeter 10/10/2016 at 23:26

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Only on a Wrangler? Aren’t those pretty damn expensive? They start at $28k in Canada, versus around $18k for a Smart.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > Mercedes Streeter 10/10/2016 at 23:27

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Why specifically a Wrangler? Why not an Abarth 500 or a used R32 GTS or some other non Wrangler vehicle?

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 10/10/2016 at 23:28

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I’ll be honest, if you were my daughter, I would try to talk you out of another Smart. I mean, a modern day car should not be dead so soon. It’s really inexcusable IMO.

But for shit’s sake, a Wrangler? Those are piles of crap too!

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher 10/10/2016 at 23:31

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Trading one unreliable car for one that’s even more unreliable...now that’s being a masochist! :D

Mercedes Streeter > CB 10/10/2016 at 23:31

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$23k in the US, but guarantee no dealer has them at base price.

Justino6969 > Mercedes Streeter 10/10/2016 at 23:32

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Take new Wrangler
Sell new Wrangler
Buy older Wrangler because they’re all the same anyway
Also buy whatever you want
Only drive Wrangler around Mom
???
Profit

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Mercedes Streeter 10/10/2016 at 23:32

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But a Wrangler is Fiat Chrysler. Which isn’t much better.

Maybe it’s not better at all.

CB > Mercedes Streeter 10/10/2016 at 23:32

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Wow, really? I think that’s one of the few cases of a car being cheaper in Canada than it is in the States.

Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To > Mercedes Streeter 10/10/2016 at 23:36

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I don’t get why all motorhomes have the same paint job.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Mercedes Streeter 10/10/2016 at 23:38

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Sounds like something for your mom just hold over your head indefinitely. And financially speaking it makes no sense.

What’s so bad about spending $2k on a decent Corolla until you’re in a better position?

Birddog > Mercedes Streeter 10/10/2016 at 23:45

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You could rock a Wrangler easy. I didn’t realize they are unreliable. That sure doesn’t reflect in their resale value.

Maybe compromise on a Renegade?

Frenchlicker > Mercedes Streeter 10/10/2016 at 23:45

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Wait... what does she consider a downpayment? Enough to bring to payment down to something comparable to a smart?

smobgirl > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/10/2016 at 23:48

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And why it hasn’t progressed since the 80s? I was thinking about that the other day too.

E92M3 > Mercedes Streeter 10/10/2016 at 23:51

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Well on the plus side, the wrangler retains value better than most Toyotas.

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > shop-teacher 10/10/2016 at 23:53

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I went from a e38 to a YJ wrangler manual. In the 800+ miles of ownership so far, I have had less problems than what my 7 gives me in a week. Plus it’s stick shift so I don’t get bored.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Mercedes Streeter 10/10/2016 at 23:53

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Just my opinion, as long as the wrangler would be in your name, then I’d take whatever money that she is willing to throw towards it. Drive it for about a year or so, and then take advantage of that fantastic resale value to get yourself something that you want more. (Like a smart.)

Mercedes Streeter > CB 10/10/2016 at 23:54

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A smart starts around $14k in the US too... albeit good luck finding dealer stock that costs less than $16k

Mercedes Streeter > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To 10/10/2016 at 23:56

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Yep! Even travel trailers like ours haven’t changed... just longer...much longer.

Mercedes Streeter > Justino6969 10/10/2016 at 23:57

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Sell Wrangler, buy 2 used smarts. Hue hue hue hue

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 00:00

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No. Being a masochist is when you drive an Allroad for a week because your B5 S4 broke.

shop-teacher > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 10/11/2016 at 00:02

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I’m glad it’s going well, and don’t get me wrong, I like Wranglers, but 800 miles without a problem ain’t exactly a big accomplishment :)

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 00:03

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You are a glutton for punishment ;)

The Crazy Kanuck; RIP Oppositelock > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 00:04

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Sell Wranger, but Smart car, buy Haybusa, swap Haybusa engine in to Smart car.

Mercedes Streeter > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/11/2016 at 00:05

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Eh, not worth it unless I can get rid of my car payment...yep, smarty died less than 6 months before I get my title. And my parents already nixed that idea. “Why would we pay off a dead car??”

MBFS calls me an extremely good customer...and so far such has been true. When my lease ended, they offered me a 0% Apr, no down payment, payment decrease, and no increase on financing length. I’m hoping my connection with MBFS can help me score that same deal again. That way I just transition to a new car without the headaches.

Mercedes Streeter > m-b-w loves his SUBAROO 10/11/2016 at 00:08

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Do they really have fantastic resale? :O guess I’m so used to heavy depreciation lol

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 00:09

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Well I hope you’re not irked by my frugal suggestions. I follow a good chunk of your posts, and I recall major events like loss of job and losing money at that one school. Just seems odd that everyone thinks that a new car ($$$) is a viable solution.

m-b-w loves his SUBAROO > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 00:14

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Surprisingly it is really good! Take a look at the prices of 2 year old ones and you’ll see how close it is to a new one. Worst case scenario get one and keep it till it’s out of warranty and then either sell it privately or trade it in to a dealer.

jkm7680 > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 00:14

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Wranglers are real expensive for what they are, they do hold their resale though.

I’d say do whatever you’re most comfortable with.

Good luck on the job! :)

CRider > shop-teacher 10/11/2016 at 00:30

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CRider > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 00:33

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On one hand, fuck your mom for trying to force you into what she wants, but Jeeps are pretty awesome... Compromise, keep it in the Mercedes family and get a G55 AMG. Let her put a down payment on that!

unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) > shop-teacher 10/11/2016 at 00:38

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Going from a BMW its a big accomplishment. Like finding 20 dollars in your laundry.

HammerheadFistpunch > CRider 10/11/2016 at 00:49

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I don’t know the dynamic you two have and so im going to ask you if this is good natured ribbing between two friends, or a timeout?

Axial > CRider 10/11/2016 at 00:50

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I laughed at this way more than I should have.

HammerheadFistpunch > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 00:51

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as others have asked...why a wrangler? Thats like saying they’ll buy you some groceries to help out but they are only going to get powerbars.

facw > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 00:58

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Compromise solution?

DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time > CB 10/11/2016 at 01:05

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Holy shit 18k for a smart?

I’m not proud of this, but a few year ago I bought a brand new Nissan Versa for 12k lol. Four door bithces! The hatch was like 2k more lol

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > HammerheadFistpunch 10/11/2016 at 01:09

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Make it Cliff Bars and you got a deal

HammerheadFistpunch > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/11/2016 at 01:13

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truestory time? I once tried to live off ONLY powerbars for lunch for a month, after a while it was hard to tell the difference between the new and used bars.

PS9 > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 01:33

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Only a wrangler, because I want to control what you choose to do. Which means I’m only helping you now as a means of helping myself to you later, regardless if you pay the money back or not.

Hard fucking pass on that narcsissistic manipulative bullshit.

CRider > HammerheadFistpunch 10/11/2016 at 02:50

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It was indeed a ribbing on my part about the Wrangler comment, no malice intended. I hope it wasn’t misinterpreted as anything else.

shop-teacher > HammerheadFistpunch 10/11/2016 at 04:46

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We don’t have any history at all really, but I took it as a joke.

shop-teacher > CRider 10/11/2016 at 04:49

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Ha! Touched a nerve, I see? :p

I like Wranglers .... but c’mon ... they’re objectively crap ... they’re the Harly Davidson of four wheel transport ... I like Harley’s too ... but we all know they really do suck.

shop-teacher > Axial 10/11/2016 at 04:49

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I did too.

shop-teacher > CRider 10/11/2016 at 04:49

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I took it as a joke.

shop-teacher > unclevanos (Ovaltine Jenkins) 10/11/2016 at 04:51

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Ha!!

shop-teacher > HammerheadFistpunch 10/11/2016 at 04:55

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Bwahahahaha!!!

CRider > shop-teacher 10/11/2016 at 05:19

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I can’t just let that kind of heresy go!

And while Harleys do suck, that is compared to their competition. They are cruisers that are bad compared to other cruisers. The Jeep is very good at doing what it’s designed to do- namely, go places that would make most SUV owners cry. If the 4 door Wrangler was never made and the Jeep remained a (relatively) low volume niche vehicle, you’d have a very different of it I think. What else is available with two solid axles, two lockers and 33" mud terrains from the factory? What is more capable? A Unimog?

shop-teacher > CRider 10/11/2016 at 06:56

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The Wrangler has excellent capability, and no real competitors at all. What they suck at is being reliable. That has nothing to do with how many doors it has.

DipodomysDeserti > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 07:51

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Wranglers have Subaru and Toyota levels of resale. Its insane because theyre built like shit. I own one, so please no one come after me with the “its a Jeep thing” crap.

HammerheadFistpunch > CRider 10/11/2016 at 09:56

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It could have been so I asked but it appears all is well, carry on

Mercedes Streeter > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/11/2016 at 10:18

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I’m not. I have no idea what to do. I still have the car payment...so even if I just get a used car outright, I still have to make my payment on the dead car.

I’m actually breaking down and crying at work right now. Of course, oh of fucking course, as soon as life starts becoming okay, it just gets worse than the last time. Now no job, dying car, and bills mounting up again? Yay...It almost makes life feel not worth living. I mean, I have hope and optimism...but fuck is it hard just to wake up in the morning during times like this.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/11/2016 at 10:41

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I don’t think she’s irked at all. Miss Merc is pretty understanding with people’s comments usually. :)

A Wrangler seems a weird choice....is your mom hoping she gets to drive it or something? Otherwise, why would she care what it is you are driving? That being said, as much as you love Smart, unless the new one is a lot more reliable than the last-gens, I’d (sorry to say!) lean away from getting one, myself, as well...

I do like the new Smarts, I just wouldn’t want you to end up with something that could fail you again down the road...

CaptDale - is secretly British > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 12:25

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*COUGH*

*COUGH*

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 15:26

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Yeah... she’s helping with the downpayment, but then you’re stuck with all the other expenses. And if she’s the type to hold something like that over your head, I suggest taking a pass

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2016 at 15:50

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A living nightmare, life can be. The first step to getting out of rock bottom is to stop digging. In this case I mean something as simple as not buying a new car you can’t necessarily afford right now.

Mercedes Streeter > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 10/11/2016 at 16:04

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Well heck...soon enough I will be back to not affording the rent and begging both my parents and the township for help. *Sigh* the car is just going to have to I guess...wait or something. I technically won’t even be able to afford to buy a cheapo beater because I’ll need every dollar I can for food and such.

Granted, that’s if my plan b falls through...and knowing my life, it will inevitably slip through the cracks. If plan b (or hell, plan a) works, everything will be okay...and I would be destroying myself over nothing. Get a new smart and leave my troubles in the dust.