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"That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms" (thatbastardkurtis5) 06/13/2016 at 19:12 • Filed to: None

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My dad decided not to fix his 2005 300C with a dropped valve seat and 193k miles. It’s been a good car, and for $3000 maybe you consider fixing it to get another few years about it, but the cheapest price he could get was $4000 to drop in an engine with 135k that probably doesn’t run as well as his car did the morning it but the dust.

The good news is that it’s summer, and he’s got his 94 Z28 he can drive until he finds something else. The Z28 is actually the undisputed reliability champion in our family: it came home on a flatbed once around 100k miles needing an optispark (just like every 4th gen f-body ever), but besides that the car has never had a breakdown in 22 years and 178k miles. It’s also on its original clutch, by the way. Still grabs great, never even thinks about slipping.

He has some good ideas for what to buy next. He enjoyed the 300C, so he’ll look at the newer ones of those (specifically an SRT8). He also likes the Audi S5, the Mercedes CLS, and could maybe be talked into a CTS-V. It’s going to be a daily driver in New England, but he’s had RWD daily drivers since 1998, so AWD is cool but not necessary.

Any other good ideas for luxury/performance stuff under or around $30k Oppo?

Steve in Manhattan > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/13/2016 at 19:29

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What about a junkyard V8 that your mechanic can drop in? I’d say $1500 or so plus installation. If the rest of the car is in good shape, why not?

lone_liberal > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/13/2016 at 19:33

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If he’s interested in the 300 SRT8 then maybe a Grand Cherokee SRT? Though it sounds like he’s looking for a car not an SUV even one as insane as the JGC SRT. And of course there is the Charger SRT which is the same car as the 300. If the S5 is an option why not the 4-series BMW?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Steve in Manhattan 06/13/2016 at 20:14

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There’s not a ton around here, but even for higher mileage engines guys want 1500-2000 plus about the same to install. And anyway, the 05-07 5.7s are known to drop valve seats, so a used engine is a bit of a crap shoot. Maybe it works for a year, maybe three. He was only trying to get another year out of the car anyway, so this just speeds up the process a little bit.

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > lone_liberal 06/13/2016 at 20:18

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The Jeep is actually a cool idea, I’m gonna pitch that to him...he likes the 300 better than the Charger, so he’d probably go the Chrysler route if he goes for that.

As to the 4 series...his twin brother has a 2010ish 3 series convertible, so BMW is out, haha. They can have similar cars, but not the same: my dad’s first car was a ‘68 Roadrunner (383 4 speed) and my uncle had a Dart with a 340, uncle bought a Mustang when my dad got his Camaro, uncle got a Dodge Magnum when my dad got the 300. Oddly though, they each have an early 80s Honda Goldwing, so it’s okay to have the same bike but not car.

Captain of the Enterprise > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/13/2016 at 20:44

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G8 GT or GXP

Steve in Manhattan > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/13/2016 at 20:50

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Oh well - that was one idea.

Or drop a W123 diesel into it and watch it struggle to get to 80 mph. Imagine the noise!

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > Steve in Manhattan 06/13/2016 at 21:09

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I like it! Backwards swaps are hilarious. I should buy it from him and put a slant 6 in it.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/13/2016 at 22:18

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It’s there a preference on age (like newer than ‘10) or options (like butt fans, bluetooth, or heated steering wheel)?

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 06/14/2016 at 05:44

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I don't think he's concerned with age as much as mileage, since he does about 2k a year and keeps his cars a long time. Leather, moonroof, automatic, and a good amount of power are the only real things I think.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/14/2016 at 10:10

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I would go for one of these. No AMG tax on parts, very reliable, twin turbo V8, tons of options. I’m sure you can find them with lower mileage.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/3615915570…

That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms > AMGtech - now with more recalls! 06/14/2016 at 10:15

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Any thoughts on the E vs the CLS? Are they pretty similar aside from the styling? I prefer the E myself.

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > That Bastard Kurtis - An Attempt to Standardize My Username Across Platforms 06/14/2016 at 21:22

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They are very similar aside from styling, but the CLS will be easier to find with more options. But for that price range I assume you’re looking at the previous generation CLS (C219) which would be equivalent to previous generation E (W211). Whereas the 212 I linked is the current generation (pre-facelift) and is much more reliable. Although, that being said, 211/219 newer than 08 are still very reliable. E class back seats are universally more user friendly than CLS also, if that matters. Previous generation nav/radio/telematics/infotainment/comand system is also light years behind what you will find in current generation E/CLS. BTW/FYI pre-facelift 212 is my personal favorite E, and the version I linked is a very close second for me to the 10-11 E63 with the NA M156 6.2 V8.