Necessary Gambler Shopping With Mercedes: Oddballs!

"Mercedes Streeter" (smart) 10/11/2019 at 23:04 • Filed to: gambler 500, unnecessary car shopping without E90M3, unnecessary car shopping with mercedes

3

19

The Ranger met its new owner today!

I got to keep the roof rack!

As for its replacement, I have a couple in mind...

Both of these Festivas can be had for the same dirt cheap price, however the blue one is a 6 hour round trip. Oof. Otherwise they are both 5 speed and both ready to roll.

Along with the overland go kart idea (fun fact: the suspension from the Aspire is direct bolt on and provides a lift), I may give it a U-Haul livery. ;)

There are some other oddballs out there that I AM NOT LOOKING TO BUY (sorry, feel like that needed emphasis). But they did grab my interest. lol

As amazing as that $600 Focus kart is, it has to be emissions tested and I can’t imagine what’s left of the unibody is strong. It would probably buckle within 5 minutes of offroading. I hope someone does buy it though!

A $500 running and driving school bus. Nuff’ said.

At $1,500, this Daihatsu is $500 too expensive for my blood, also not road legal out here.  I’d totes daily one of these if they were legal to.

Remember that International I wanted? Well, this is the other kind of commercial vehicle I’d love to own. But after my fuel economy revelation, eh...

A LOT of fellow Gamblers recommended this E class wagon. It is only $600. But you know, it’s a $600 DaimlerChrysler era Benz. I love the idea of a land barge luxury class Gambler, but there’s no chance this thing will be any more than a single run car, if it even makes it home. The rear suspension already looks extra failed. Oh, and this is the only picture of the outside of the car.... ???

Anyway, you’ll likely see me drag home a Festiva this weekend then promptly remove the doors and hatch. I already have a skid plate for it!

Kiltedpadre > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2019 at 23:11

1

Wow, just think that may very well be the best angle to take a picture of the Benz. Now I want to know what the rest looks likes.

CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2019 at 23:17

3

Mercedes Streeter > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/11/2019 at 23:30

1

Forget a crash, the thing will fold up on you hitting a pothole!

Khalbali > Mercedes Streeter 10/11/2019 at 23:53

0

Mine was that teal color, I really miss it, way better than the stupid auto 93 escort I have now.

SiennaMan > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/12/2019 at 01:17

0

It’s amazing what you can do with a sawzall and the will to persevere.

 Serious question,  could one bolt an angle iron type frame to the outside to achieve something that could at least survive potholes and speed bumps?

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > Mercedes Streeter 10/12/2019 at 01:23

0

You might look around for 84-87 Honda Civic and CRXs, or the 86-89 Integra on the same platform. Even if you can’t find the 4WD wagon like Akio Ohtori did, that platform is probably the most durable cars Honda ever made.  D-series engine, torsion bar front suspension and a beam axle rear suspension.  That a super tough car suspension that is easily raised up a bit.    

Rainbow > Khalbali 10/12/2019 at 06:29

0

Hey now, Escorts are the bomb. Rallycross it and then get back to me.

Rainbow > Mercedes Streeter 10/12/2019 at 06:30

3

Get the red one and buy the biggest  wing you can find. Then buy the second biggest wing and bolt it on top of the first one.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > CarsofFortLangley - Oppo Forever 10/12/2019 at 06:38

1

You have no idea how disappointed I am that I could find no 'danger is my forte' images anywhere to provide a response to this...

Khalbali > Rainbow 10/12/2019 at 09:11

0

It would be ok with a stick shift but as it is, it's clean enough that I don't want to destroy it although there's some minor rust bubbling starting, and it runs amazing for such a cheap car, even has AC, I just can't think of it other than a cheap commuter. But once I get something nicer maybe I'll do something like that, I'm near shopteacher but he hasn't posted about rallycross in a while I think that one got shut down. I just need to pay off my wife's Rio and get her a mazda3 and then I can have the Rio for a daily, destroy the escort and hopefully get a cheap weekend car.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 10/12/2019 at 09:17

1

So, I love the Festiva idea. You could even flat tow it to events with your Smart (I’ll cut you a deal on my flat tow set up, if you want it).

If you leave the doors on, you can Rallycross it too!

shop-teacher > Khalbali 10/12/2019 at 09:22

0

Millwaukee region SCCA took over the local rallycrossing. They’re still doing it in Byron. Actually this weekend they’re rallycrossing at Road America . They've done a lot of work smoothing out the course at Byron to make it daily driver friendly.

I just don’t have anything to rallycross this year. I'm not about to rallycross a crew cab Sierra. If all goes according to plan, I'll be codriving Birddog's '78 C10 next year. I can't wait to get back into the saddle!

shop-teacher > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 10/12/2019 at 09:23

1

Yeah, those really don’t exist around here anymore. They rusted hilariously quickly and badly. The ones that do exist , fetch a premium.

Mercedes Streeter > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 10/12/2019 at 09:35

0

Shop-teacher is right. Those cars are so rare out here that the cheap ones are beyond repair and the ones that can be driven are far too expensive.

You're right though, there was a team of old Civics in Tennessee and those little things just couldn't be stopped!

Mercedes Streeter > shop-teacher 10/12/2019 at 09:38

1

Yeah, I just found out that these things weigh less than a smart does! And with some minor weight reduction it would basically be no heavier than my Goldwing plus a U-Haul trailer. No wonder the one I drove was silly fast.

shop-teacher > Mercedes Streeter 10/12/2019 at 09:54

0

Oh yeah, they're fly weights. 

ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com > shop-teacher 10/12/2019 at 10:09

0

Funny. They never rusted here, and while they’re rare these days they’re also not worth anything.

shop-teacher > ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com 10/12/2019 at 10:29

0

Japanese cars from the 80's or older are rare as hen's teach around here. They dissolved rapidly. The only old Toyota trucks you'll see, are the little RVs that never saw the roads in winter. Otherwise, they're all long gone.

GoodIdeaAtTheTime > Mercedes Streeter 10/12/2019 at 12:21

0

How about a Fiero ;)

I will let it go  cheap. Might need a "bit" of work.