When your new car becomes your project car

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 01/26/2016 at 14:25 • Filed to: project cars

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Buying a used car is a smart decision. You can get cars that are no longer produced, a generation you really like, or even just get a good deal on a car that wasn’t driven very far and was taken care of. However, being the very first owner of your car is still an unrivaled experience. But, there is a dark side to it...

When you buy a used car, any existing problem and sometimes future problems can easily be blamed on the car’s not always known past. However, when your arse is the only arse that’s been behind the wheel, there isn’t much you can say.

Enter my smart.

I got my little smart fortwo passion coupe back in 2012. It had a massive 10.7 miles on its odometer. I would become the first owner of this car. Nearly four years later, my little Tucker is crossing 99,000 miles, and will most likely hit 100,000 before February is out.

The miles haven’t been the most kind to my car. From the moment I took delivery, the car had some problems. The first was a steering wheel that was off-centre. To this day, it’s not centred, the genius techs at Mercedes-Benz figured out how to permanently make my wheel off centre.

Not soon later, my first two panels fell off. I lost a side skirt in a car wash, and an interior panel also popped off without reason.

At 15k-20k, the transmission developed a horrible clanking noise whenever I engaged my Reverse gear. This was a result of me backing down this hill, right after taking this picture:

Today, sometimes my car refuses to engage a gear, and sometimes, the clutch decides that it wants to take the day off.

At around 22k, the engine started shuddering and struggling to retain running temperature in cold weather. Again, an issue the dealerships refused to even look at. Today? The engine will misfire like crazy if the outside temps drop below 0 Fahrenheit.

On the 4th of July in 2013, someone decided to put a bullet into my baby.

2014 saw me finishing most of my modding projects, including my rage face speedometer and vortex generators to help with crosswinds. At the same time, I started trying my hardest to get Mercedes-Benz to repair the transmission and diagnose the engine. I was under warranty, but nope, they refused to touch the car unless I had a check engine light on at the very moment the car was in the service bay.

2015 saw the car falling apart at an accelerated rate. My exhaust rusted off, various bolts got seized (including the bolts for the third brake light, which simply broke off because so much rust), bulbs started blowing, my speakers started going out, and my belts began protesting with those annoying arse squeals.

I’ve not been able to repair my car at all in 2015 thanks to my abusive parents stealing my monies...But I was able to get a start at it in 2016. The first thing I fixed was the rotted exhaust.

And as a thank you from the car, my right front wheel bearing decided to call it quits. Now it’s moaning like a whining child.

Then there are other little things. My lovely TSWs need repainting due to brake dust and a car wash track that scratched up the lips. One of the interior door cards have a tear...and I’m not exactly sure why...then I had to rip off half the window tint because local law enforcement gave me a nice ticket.

And that brings me to today. I love my little car. It’s never backed down from any challenge, and it was the inanimate object that proved to me that dreams do come true. But, somehow over these past four years, I’ve let my new car become a project car. It hurts. I have nobody else to blame but myself. Granted, I didn’t have a lot of choice in the matter...but I could have done better. And so, I’m fantasizing. And I’m giving myself a number of choices:

A) Repair my baby one part at a time: This makes the initial upfront costs cheaper. However, with my car being pretty much a lemon, I don’t think I’ll ever finish repairing the car.

B) Trade for another smart of the same generation: This also has potentially low upfront costs. Trade in my car for a smart of the same generation. These cars are normally super reliable, so chances that I’ll end up with another lemon is pretty low. That, and I can go for the convertible, which is what I’ve always wanted in the first place. They depreciate like crazy, so I can get one for dirt cheap.

C) Get the new smart: Mmmmmm...3 pedals, turbo...Only thing holding me back from this is how much Mercedes-Benz is willing to help me out. If they require a huge down payment, I’ll have to wait, or go with another choice.

D) Satisfy my itch for other cars. I’d love to give a 3 Series or a C-Class a try. I could even get an Audi TT for an awesome price! I love German designs from the early/mid 2000s. Classy and conservative.

EDIT: I just checked local stock at CarMax. These cars depreciate so rapidly (partly due to the newly released model) that I can get a low mileage example that’s more loaded than my car, but for not a whole lot of monies.

Oh my oh my the choices are amazing!

But of course, I still have to get moved into my new apartment with a new job first, but it’s still fun to think about.

And let this be a PSA for you, don’t let your new car become a project car!

64Mali > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 14:31

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Personally I’ve gotten tired of repairing my daily drivers which is why I drive a Fiesta with an extended factory warranty. I would say your car getting shot was a sign from the Gods trying to put it out of its misery. Just think if that bullet hit a computer you could have totaled it out.

I would venture to a different car entirely but I am also afraid of loosing a battle with a squirrel while driving down the road.

For Sweden > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 14:32

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Save the RWD hatchbacks!

AM3R shamefully returns > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 14:33

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Never knew your smart was manual.. Pretty cool! Let’s say something on the smart breaks, are you paying the same labor cost as someone bringing their Mercedes to the dealer? The hourly rate at my local dealer is ridiculous.

I’ve heard the W204 C300 is pretty reliable, I bought one last May and it’s great. Never thought I’d be in a bright red Mercedes... But I got a really good deal and the car was fully loaded. I also have an E90 328i that has been pretty solid. The 335i I got is soooo much fun though.

Mercedes Streeter > AM3R shamefully returns 01/26/2016 at 14:39

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I wish it were manual! It’s a single clutch “automated-manual”...which really only means that when the computer gets confused or the clutch actuator breaks (like it has been for 80k), I get a car that doesn’t want to actually go.

Mercedes Streeter > 64Mali 01/26/2016 at 14:40

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Muahahaha but when my car got shot, there wasn’t a lot of problems with it! I’d get another smart in a heartbeat. But that said, I do want to try other fun German cars too.

Spoon II > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 14:41

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I feel like there must be some way to force the dealership to actually fix the transmission. It’s clearly breaking, so they have no leg to stand on by just saying that there’s no check engine light. Maybe Steve Lehto could give you some advice on that.

Mercedes Streeter > Spoon II 01/26/2016 at 14:45

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Perhaps. I’ve kept all my service records (sadly, I’ve had twice as many repair visits as I do receipts for the supplies for my 10k oil changes), and all of them have C/S: Transmission clunking with the solution being absolutely nothing.

IF that transmission can get fixed either free or ridiculously cheap, the clear answer for me would be to keep it. I can fix the little things as time goes on.

GTI Sprinks > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 14:46

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speed holes.

mazda616 > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 14:47

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It sounds to me like your car is kind of a lemon. :( But, it looks good! I bet it would be super easy to trade for another Smart - even the convertible you want.

iSureWilll > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 14:49

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What’s the story on the bullet hole? A stray Chicago bullet?

yitznewton > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 14:54

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Wow, what an awful overall experience. Bullet?!

Good luck with whatever route you end up taking!

Mercedes Streeter > iSureWilll 01/26/2016 at 14:56

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Someone shot a gun into the sky from the middle of a crowd...Bullet came right back down and hit my car (thankfully not a person).

Svart Smart, traded in his Smart > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 15:00

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I’ve been lucky with my 2013 Pure so far. I bought it from Carmax last September with 25,000 miles; it had previously been a one-owner fleet vehicle in Southern California. I’ve added a couple thousand miles to the odometer and got my ‘B’ service done. Problems? There is an occasional, slight clunk when engaging reverse; the CEL has come on twice but always cleared itself; and there’s a slight bubbling on the back-left corner of my roof (solid, not transparent). Living in Seattle, I don’t have to worry much about rust. I’d really like to get my Tridion cell painted red to mimic the Sharpred edition; like Madonna’s character in that short BMW film from The Hire, “I am so over black.” (My Tridion cell is black and the panels are also black.)

EL_ULY > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 15:07

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i’ve owned 9 european cars, none have been new. A new Corolla with a CVT would be ultra rad for me at the moment. Even with all the benefits of cheap new OEM parts (yay employee pricing!) and doing all the work myself, it becomes a bit of a headache like 64Mail mentioned. Auto enthusiasm is cool and all but it gets to be a pain when one lives paycheck to paycheck (but comfortable) fixing troublesome “cool” cars

Mercedes Streeter > Svart Smart, traded in his Smart 01/26/2016 at 15:07

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Ooooh I forgot about CarMax! OMG! I could totally trade mine at a CarMax for a convertible.

That clunk when engaging Reverse is what my transmission issue started out as. As of a few months ago (85,000-ish miles), it grew into going into Limp Home mode once every two weeks. If you can, have CarMax/Mercedes-Benz check out the clutch actuator, especially since your factory warranty is still valid. :)

Your solid roof will also continue to do the bubbling thing. Your best fix for that is to get it wrapped. A carbon fibre wrap looks the closest to the stock thing, but you can get any design you want.

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 15:08

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I love the Smarts. I don’t know why, but I do.

wiffleballtony > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 15:13

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Those cheap Audi TTs that are out there look like they conform to classic German reliability and cost. I was tempted but scared away.

Mercedes Streeter > wiffleballtony 01/26/2016 at 15:15

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Oooooh really? Well then again, my other possible choices are BMWs or Mercedes of the same years, so maybe I’m a masochist :D

Mercedes Streeter > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 01/26/2016 at 15:15

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It’s probably my regular smart car propaganda lol :D

Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 15:19

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If I didn’t have highway driving, I’d consider one if I lived in a city.

Mercedes Streeter > Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap 01/26/2016 at 15:21

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I hardly ever drive mine in the city, that’s why my miles are racking up so quickly. I imagine the third generation models are great at highway driving, but I’ve not able to test highway performance yet.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 15:35

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...

shop-teacher > EL_ULY 01/26/2016 at 16:30

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Which is why I cling so tightly to my Sierra. 10 years so far, and I’ve never once worried about it starting or getting my where I need to go. I just don’t have the time or intestinal fortitude for unreliable cars.

EL_ULY > shop-teacher 01/26/2016 at 16:44

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I had that 09 Silverado (single cab, 5.3 V8, Z71, 4x4). Not once did it ever need any warranty work, even when the 5 year/100k was up. Even now the current owner has only had 1 issue, a TPMS lol :]

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 16:55

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Yeah, Smarts never came with a true manual (at least in North America, not sure about Europe....? Don’t think so though).

I wish they sold the new Twingo here...I prefer it to the newest-gen Smart, but they’re the same platform! :)

shop-teacher > EL_ULY 01/26/2016 at 17:15

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Mine needed some warranty work, and I had to put a new steering rack in it last year at 100k miles. Not perfect I can deal with, but not being reliable I just can’t. Never once has my truck made me worry :)

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 17:19

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I respect the fact that you can have all these problems, and still like the car and want another one. I’ve had cars like this. I called them pieces of crap and couldn’t get away from them quickly enough. You, you will not be denied :)

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 17:26

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I’ve probably said this before, but your dealer sounds awful. Can’t get a steering wheel straight? Terrible. Won’t touch a car without a CEL? Bullshit. Especially bullshit for transmission concerns because they rarely cause a light and often don’t set faults, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t an issue. They sound like lazy hacks to me. Hopefully you won’t have to deal with them again. Good luck in your search and decision making!

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher 01/26/2016 at 17:33

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Muahahaha! I know from experience that not all of them are bad cars, but I got the short end of the stick with mine. :)

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 17:35

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I had an ‘04 GTO that spent 31 days in the shop in the 3-1/2 months I owned it. Even though I know that one was just a lemon, I will never own another one. It was too bad of an experience!

Mercedes Streeter > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 01/26/2016 at 17:36

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Europe had the same weird transmission. The only smarts to ever have a “real” manual outside of the 2016 models were the first generation forfour...which was really just a really pretty Mitsubishi Colt.

Mercedes Streeter > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 01/26/2016 at 17:41

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As soon as my warranty expired, I had resolved to only working on it myself and going to independents. That clutch actuator will be killer if I chose to fix it. And who knows what 80k of that clunking has done to my Reverse gear lol

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Mercedes Streeter 01/26/2016 at 23:53

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My issue with buying a new car, in a vacuum devoid of my many other issues with the idea, is that it had to be whatever times better than the vehicle I drive now. For example, this pickup was cheap. A new Scion iM would cost 20 times as much. Is it 20 times better? I bet it isn’t... if it were only 15 times better I would hate the car.

Sorry for your issues. One little thing wrong went wrong on our “””new””” vibe which cost very little but I did not take it well. When I pay more, my expectations for the vehicle are much higher. Owning a new car would be an absolute nightmare for me. The first scratch. The first warranty. The first odd noise *shudders*

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 00:39

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Every vehicle I buy turns into a project. And that’s the way I like it

Nauraushaun > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 05:11

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If your German car is having many small things go wrong with it, maybe buying another older German car is not the solution. I’m sorry to say.

Mercedes Streeter > Nauraushaun 01/27/2016 at 10:47

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Muahahahahaha! I know, typically it doesn’t make too much sense. However, I am naive enough to believe I’d have better luck with at least a slightly older smart...because at this point, mine is self destructing. The Audi TT idea is highly suspect, because Audi lol

Mercedes Streeter > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo 01/27/2016 at 10:51

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Oh Zoidberg, your fears aren’t unwarranted. I literally cried about my car’s first ever scratch (approximately 1 month into ownership, scratch on the tailgate...which is still there because the only solution would be to replace the whole thing). First warranty visit was less than a week into ownership, so I didn’t feel bad about that...

The first odd noise made me so paranoid that I bought a loud exhaust to overpower any of the noises my car makes (which is a lot since it’s a 3 cyl engine that’s like 12 inches behind your back).

Nauraushaun > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 17:09

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It does sound like your current Smart is particularly bad. Damn shame Mercedes won’t fix it. I feel like buying a new car is a trade-off, where you swallow the depreciation cost for the peace of mind that nothing will go wrong, and if it does they’ll fix it. So this just sucks.

Good luck :)