"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
04/24/2018 at 12:17 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping with mercedes, unnecessary car shopping with E90M3, Smart, Craigslist
5
29|
"Mercedes Streeter" (smart)
04/24/2018 at 12:17 • Filed to: unnecessary car shopping with mercedes, unnecessary car shopping with E90M3, Smart, Craigslist | 5
| 29 |
I’m hopefully am going to close a deal on an apartment in a couple days. As expected, the apartment will have a two car max.
That’s perfectly fine, I mean two of my smarts aren’t even currently registered. I’ll instead rent a cheaper storage unit closer to the apartment (about a half mile) and life will be all fine. Now that things are getting less “stressy” as the summer begins rolling in, let’s get back to doing my favourite E30M3-inspired madness!
I really really really really want a manual in my life. My 453 smart was supposed to be a manual and it was going to be up until I saw the gorgeous edition #1. I couldn’t pass on the best version of my dream car, even if it didn’t have the mythical manual.
After I’ve driven a couple current gen MX-5s, I’ve fallen in love with the little things. They give me a similar giggly feeling that smarts do. I’m afraid that if I get my hands on one, I’ll begin obsessively collecting them like I do smarts.
Thankfully for my sanity and bank statements, it looks like these cars carry premiums, especially the Manual ones. Slightly ratty examples with cancerous rust are still asking about $3k!
This one has a supercharger!
Or for the same price we could go German with a 5 speed.
OR! I could scratch an item off the bucket list and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . But you know, I know nothing about bikes aside from how pretty they can be.
All cars from CraigsList
Help, I need that intervention.
dogisbadob
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 12:22 |
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The TT coupe looks awesome, but German cars from that era are among the worst cars ever made.
That orange Miata is a cool color :o)
Don’t your 4 smart cars fit in 2 spaces tho? :p
random001
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 12:23 |
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You are asking the wrong crowd for an intervention, my friend....
InFierority Complex
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 12:23 |
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Just 10 more years (at least), stay strong.
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Mercedes Streeter
> dogisbadob
04/24/2018 at 12:23 |
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They do! However you only get two parking passes, so I can’t rig the game in my favour. lol
TheTurbochargedSquirrel
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 12:24 |
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Did the 450 have a manual option? That might be a good way to fix the transmission issues you have been having with it and also scratch that manual itch.
Daily Drives a Dragon - One Last Lap
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 12:24 |
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Might even be worth buying a Miata from down south or west without rust.
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Mercedes Streeter
> TheTurbochargedSquirrel
04/24/2018 at 12:27 |
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It did not, sadly. Only the 454 (first generation forfour) and the 453 twins (third gen fortwo and second gen forfour) have a manual option. And I don’t think retrofitting one from another car is possible without means and abilities far outside my own. lol
Long-Voyager
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 12:30 |
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I might know a guy that’s done a few auto-manual conversions, just saying.
Future next gen S2000 owner
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 12:31 |
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!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Sure do you want us to bombard the seller with noise to make your bid rise to the top? Want us to take out a few knee caps of other potential buyers? How much are we intervening on your behalf? Sky’s the limit.
Arrivederci
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 12:33 |
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You’ve come to the wrong place for an intervention, madame. I’m currently in the process of trying not to bid on that NB on BaT.
Ssfancyfresh
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 12:35 |
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I will never tell anyone not to buy a TT. They are gorgeous, fun, practical (yes) little cars.
If I had the space, time, and cash, I would have one of each variant of every generation.
Kiltedpadre
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 12:36 |
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So your new place comes with two spaces? That’s the beauty of bein the queen of Smartcarland! Four can probably fit in two spaces parked nose to tail.
At the worst they won’t stick out as far as a crew cab long bed truck would.
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Mercedes Streeter
> Long-Voyager
04/24/2018 at 12:38 |
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Shhhhh! :p How would that even work? Just nuke the transmission computer? Get it to accept the fact that it won’t be the one shifting gears anymore? Transfer the shift computer out of a newer one?
Cé hé sin
> InFierority Complex
04/24/2018 at 12:39 |
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I sometimes think of getting a roadster (because I can!) but then I read about the leak issue and recover my senses.
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Mercedes Streeter
> Kiltedpadre
04/24/2018 at 12:40 |
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Oh but the apartment people found a way around it. Only two parking permits. I mean, you do get two Visitor’s passes though and I don’t think there’s a rule on how long a visiting car can stay...Hmm....
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Long-Voyager
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 12:40 |
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Get a donor car with the manual, swap over the manual engine computer (possibly wiring harness as well, depends on vehicle), eliminate the TCM, swap over all the mechanicals.
Simple weekend job ;)
shop-teacher
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 12:43 |
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If you decide to buy an old Audi, let me know first so I can come tackle you before you can get your wallet out.
I vote for a slightly crusty cheap Miata, and rallycross that. There’s always a Miata or three there.
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Kiltedpadre
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 12:47 |
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Ground floor unit? If so, and it has a patio door you can just temporarily remove it and park one in the living room.
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Mercedes Streeter
> shop-teacher
04/24/2018 at 12:54 |
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Aw, what’s wrong with an old Audi? It fits my masochism! :D
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shop-teacher
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 13:01 |
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C’mon now. I’ve never tried to talk you out of buying yet another Smart, and I even encouraged the purchase of a 5th vehicle here .... but there has to be a limit!
winterlegacy, here 'till the end
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 13:08 |
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Park one U-haul truck in your parking spaces, and store all the smarts in it. Parking problem: solved!
Chariotoflove
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 13:12 |
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I like the pic of the smarts in a line with the trailer. It’s like they join forces to love the big loads.
facw
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 13:15 |
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There is so much good about the TT, and so much terrifying about buying an early 2000s VW.
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Mercedes Streeter
> Long-Voyager
04/24/2018 at 13:31 |
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A donor manual smart would cost me a ton of money, and I’m not even sure the parts could be adapted to an older car.
That said, one day when I have more resources I’d totally try to make older smarts manual! :)
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Mercedes Streeter
> Kiltedpadre
04/24/2018 at 13:32 |
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WHAT
I never thought of doing something like that. I suddenly feel the urge to get a ground floor unit and parking my 453 in the living room.
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Long-Voyager
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 15:41 |
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You won’t know until you try.
Screw it, just swap a completely different drivetrain into it. I can probably scrounge up a 3.0/5-speed combo for it. 150hp/180ft-lbs would be a riot in a smart.
daender
> Mercedes Streeter
04/24/2018 at 20:25 |
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You post Miata, I arrive. You want a rust-free Miata? Come down south! If you can figure out how to get a title for it, here’s a clean ‘97 for $1,400 .
Although, this is an unpopular decision, I recommend you sell two of the four Smarts you own to make room for a single Miata. I’m not sure how much two Smarts are worth, but the combined value could get you into a very nice NA or a clean/decent NB1/NB2. You need to budget for potential replacement convertible top, any maintenance and/or upgrades (everyone loves tweaking a Miata to their tastes), and additional rust-proofing.
HOWEVER, on the subject of rust and Miatas, NAs and NBs both have the potential to suffer from rust occurring in the front portion of the frame, particularly at the double-walled portion near the front sway bar mounting tab. It’s most common in Miatas subjected to wet and salty conditions, basically anywhere that gets snow.
There’s also potential for rust behind the front fenders, just after the wheel well, where the cowl drains are located, and just ahead of the rear wheel, where the rear drains for the convertible top are located. Leaves, twigs, etc tends to accumulate in those areas, blocks the drains, and causes water to accumulate, leading to rust.
Consider this a warning, Miatas are fun but unless you’re willing to take risks with rust, then think twice about buying one. I love my ‘02, and you’ll have to either pull the keys out of my dead fists or have it crushed in an accident before it leaves me, but it’s the last Miata I’m going to own for a long time (unless a Laser Blue shows up for sale).
pip bip - choose Corrour
> Mercedes Streeter
04/25/2018 at 05:59 |
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buy an MX5, forget an old Audi they will be a massive money pit
MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
> Mercedes Streeter
04/26/2018 at 12:58 |
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Shop Teacher has it right here, go rally a miata, there’s tons of them that do it. The supercharged one is a good start, plenty of charged miatas race in detroit rallyX