My used car ideas, ranked.

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 01/27/2016 at 11:55 • Filed to: Mercedes gets a new Mercedes

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If you read my last post about my self-destructing smart, I’ve decided to see what’s out there within my price range and are cars that I want. I’m not sure what route I’m going to take with the smart, but it kinda hinges on how much it would cost to correct my dying transmission/wheel bearings/belts. The car’s value is now low enough that if correcting the above will cost me more than $2,000, I’ll probably be better off just trading the car for one that isn’t a lemon. Especially if my smart continues to fall apart. In the meantime, let’s do some fantasy fun with seeing what interests me!

Here are my choices, ranked best to “I’m curious”.

1. 2016-2017 smart fortwo

Pros: New car, warranty, manual, turbo, car I’ve been fantasizing AND dreaming about.

Cons: Mercedes-Benz dealerships in my area do not do low down payments no matter what your credit is like...so cost of entry might be high.

2. 2009-2012 smart fortwo cabriolet

Pros: Convertible, under $10k, 2009- are the most reliable model years, chance to get more factory options than my current smart, possibly even an interior colour that isn’t a boring black, and no imploding transmission. CarMax has an infinite inventory of smarts. I also know how to do minor work on and maintain smarts myself (given I have the currency). I would not mod it if I got another W451.

Cons: Isn’t the new model that I really want.

3. First Generation Audi TT

Pros: It’s literally one of my childhood poster cars. Had a poster of one in my room. Its design is credited to Peter Schreyer, my favourite designer. I melt every time I look at one. Sub $10k car.

Cons: Sometimes you should never ever meet your heroes...especially if they’re over ten years old.

4. Mazda RX-8

Pros: I love the design, I have a soft spot for Mazda, Wankels have always greatly interested me, comes in manual, dirt dirt dirt cheap around where I live.

Cons: Apex seals.

5. E46 BMW 325i

Pros: Sub sub sub $10k. Stating again that I LOVE designs out of Germany from this era. 2000s BMWs look absolutely gorgeous to me.

Cons: Reliability?

6. E90 BMW 325i

Pros: Early years are under $10k. Designs still were both conservative and for whatever reason, still look fresh today. See also: E46

Cons: See: E46

7. W203 Mercedes-Benz C-Class

Pros: I’m going to get SO MANY speeding tickets. Mercedes-Benz is my namesake (yes, I chose a car name for myself), so much power, so much comfort. such safety, wow.

Cons: Mmmmmm DaimlerChrysler quality. If nothing breaks, it will most certainly rust.

Talk among yourselves over the hilarity that is me clamoring over unreliable cars. :)

For Sweden > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 11:57

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I think a non-turbo BMW should be plenty reliable.

Leon711 > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 11:58

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I was very nearly swayed by the TT when I was looking, went for a GTI instead, for space reasons.

Sam > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 11:59

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Those BMW’s are reliable. The only downside is that if things do break, the parts tend to be around 15-20% more than a “not-a-BMW”.

iSureWilll > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 12:05

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Reliability on the e46 - mainly the cooling system is where most problems lie. Water pump, tstat, expansion tank, and radiator. Fairly easy job to do DIY. Higher mileage cars will probably need some suspension work like control arms and tie rods, maybe some bushings in the back but probably not necessary. Other than that an e46 should be good to go.

Matt Nichelson > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 12:06

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My opinion is with the e90 BMW. The reliability is not that bad if it is not a turbo and they are pretty comfortable. Yes, fixing things may cost more, especially at a dealer, but I am sure you could find an indy shop that would be more reasonable. There’s also the e92 if you like coupes. They look great, handle well, and did I mention the look great? Yes, I am biased a tad.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 12:07

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Honestly, because I probably can’t convince you to look at a Big 3 car, I’d probably pick the TT

Or if you have the space and that RX8 is actually really cheap I’d buy an RX8 with a spare motor, leave the re-built motor on an engine stand and just keep rotating them out/rebuilding. lol. I’ve always loved the lines of the RX8 but also assume that people who own them are masochists

Mercedes Streeter > Matt Nichelson 01/27/2016 at 12:11

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Oh god oh god. E92s aren’t much more expensive than an E90!!!

gin-san - shitpost specialist > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 12:11

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The new Smart is intriguing because of the Twingo bones underneath, but new cars always come with a high price.

You have the Smarts still at the top of your list - if you find one that you love, you may as well go for it. Of the other used choices, I like the E90 BMW, and the TT would be nice if you can find one in decent condition.

As much as I like the RX8, I think you'd just be trading in one set of problems for a new, different set of problems. I guess it depends on whether or not you like the new problems more than the current ones.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 12:11

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Don’t get a W203. You said it yourself, rust is a big issue on Benzes of that era. The rest on this list is quite good though.

Mercedes Streeter > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 01/27/2016 at 12:16

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I’m amazed my smart isn’t currently being reduced to a pile of rust. It was engineered during the DaimlerChrysler era. However, smart (being a subsidiary of MBZ) did choose better painting/rustproofing methods...which I wouldn’t be surprised if Mercedes-Benz is now using on current gen cars.

Steve is equipped with Electronic Fool Injection > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 12:24

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Here’s my suggestion:

And Patrick George agrees

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 12:24

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MB products did improve quality wise. But late 90s/early 00s MB products had really bad rust issues. There’s a W203 in my neighborhood that already has rust spots on the trunk and doors despite looking clean otherwise. I’ve never heard of significant quality issues of Smarts. Maybe a bit too early to tell for the current gen.

EL_ULY > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 12:30

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needs more Z4! :]

yitznewton > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/27/2016 at 12:47

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just keep rotating them out

Jayhawk Jake > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 12:48

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Nice troll post.

Now what cars are you REALLY looking at?

Matt Nichelson > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 12:57

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Indeed. Just food for thought. :)

Stapleface > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 13:14

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You’ve stated before that you’re happy with your Smart, for the most part. And given that you know them fairly well, the Cabrio MIGHT be the best bet for you. I’d hesitate to get a new Smart because as MB has made evident they really don’t give a damn about the warranty and won’t fix anything for you, no matter how borked it might be.

So to me, the clear choice is Cabrio + MaxCare.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 01/27/2016 at 13:22

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#wankellife

Seriously, as I’ve said before, buying an RX is a lifestyle choice. You have to live and breathe Wankel. You have to be willing to swap out that pony keg block every 40-80k miles. You have to be comfortable with the concept of your engine being a wear item.

But they’re so sexy. If I had a garage with space, I’d probably buy a cherry RX-8 with a blown motor and turn it into my weekend car.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/27/2016 at 14:08

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Yep, if you can have at least 2 engines and the mechanical know how to rebuild them and swap them, you should be fine to own an RX8.

at 80k miles, pull motor saturday morning and drop in the new one by the afternoon, then you have at least 40-50k miles to rebuild the one you pulled, should be plenty of time. It’s not like you need to send them to be bored out at a machine shop every time.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 14:46

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Wow, you really are a glutton for punishment.

wiffleballtony > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 14:49

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Weirdly I’d choose numbers 5 or 6.

Mercedes Streeter > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/27/2016 at 15:20

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*Scratches RX8 off list*

Mercedes Streeter > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 01/27/2016 at 15:23

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HA! I’ve seen so much worse, I’ve seen W203s that are completely rustbuckets.

The second generation cars have finished their runs. So far, no reports of rust outside of stupid bolts.

The first generation cars did have the ability to rust, usually in the rear wheel wells.

Third generation? We’ll see!

Mercedes Streeter > Jayhawk Jake 01/27/2016 at 15:26

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Truthfully? ONLY smarts so far. Though, a girl can dream about crazy rotaries and 10 year old German sedans, right?

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 15:30

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I rarely see DaimlerChrysler era Benzes that don’t have some sort of rust spots (from A to S Classes!). The third gen Smart is co-developed with Renault and you can see it. I sat in a new Smart and many interior bits are from Renault. But they felt quite okay tbh. Oh, and you probably already knew that the Smart is now available with manual transmission.

Jayhawk Jake > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 15:34

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Given your experiences with your current Smart it seems like a gamble.

Mercedes Streeter > FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem 01/27/2016 at 15:39

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Shhhhhhhh! That’s why it’s at the top of my list. I recently drove one (sadly with the DCT, not the manual), that turbo is hilariously fun when it spools up.

FSI - alcohol enthusiast with a car problem > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 15:43

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Turbo + rwd + manual trans + rear engine + ?? = sounds awesome on paper. Maybe I have to test drive one after all..

Brian Silvestro > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 16:30

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The 500E, one of the best Mercedes ever made, can be had for under 10k all day long, and was built by Porsche. It’s probably just as reliable as any of the cars in this post, but 100% cooler and 200% faster.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 17:02

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Yes, it’s crazy, but you don’t even need an engine hoist to change one. That pony keg weighs practically nothing. It’s why they handle so well... The power to weight ratio out of a wankel puts piston engines to shame.

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 17:04

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Since you have a soft spot for Mazdas, have you considered a Mazda3? They’re great little cars...

Mercedes Streeter > Eric @ opposite-lock.com 01/27/2016 at 17:13

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I LOVE the 3, considering it’s one of the current generation models. I’ve seen wayyy too many 3s rusting out here in salty Chicago. But, I do also really like the 2 (and am saddened by the fact that we can only get the 2nd gen model as a super ugly Scion).

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 17:52

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I am saddened by this, too. The new Mazda2 looks excellent.

TTercel > Mercedes Streeter 01/27/2016 at 20:37

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E46 they are pretty reliable. My friend has one with almost 300,000kms on it.

pjhusa > Mercedes Streeter 01/29/2016 at 12:39

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Those age BMWs should be pretty reliable. Just be careful with the condition and how good of an example it is.

Little Black Coupe Turned Silver > Mercedes Streeter 01/31/2016 at 23:34

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This! Do this! It’s clearly the best answer...

http://www.smartcarofamerica.com/forums/f19/lnf…