"Tapas" (tapas)
05/26/2015 at 20:57 • Filed to: None
1
40|
"Tapas" (tapas)
05/26/2015 at 20:57 • Filed to: None | 1
| 40 |
About a month ago, I was involved in a crash that claimed the life of my first car ever.
I’ve been recovering from the crash physically and from a broken heart since then.
On a slightly positive note, my insurance has offered me $5,500 to replace my car. I’m torn between getting a reliable or an exciting car and I need your help!
I would like to find a car thats:
1. In the Houston area
2. Less than $6500
3. Not a project car. But maybe if minimal work is needed, I’ll consider it
4. A 4 door (so the insurance is tolerable)
5. Preferably Manual, but I won’t mind an Auto
I’m looking at 2005-2006 Acura TLs and early 2000s 540i, but please search for anything that strikes a balance between cool/fast and reliable.
Other questions:
1. Are E39 540s reliable? What problems should I look out for?
2. Can any mechanically well versed Oppos help me in inspecting a short-listed car or two (goes without saying, I’ll offer food and gas)? Or recommend a good indy shop to do a pre-purchase inspection?
jkm7680
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:01 |
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https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5008529245…
Four door AND a wagon, meaning that insurance will be even cheaper, reliable 2.8 engine and low miles for the year. Also pretty good on gas. It also doesn’t need any work and is as loaded as you can find them pretty much.
Nate Bleker
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:02 |
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Check for flood damage.
Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:02 |
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1. Are E39 540s reliable? What problems should I look out for?
Flood Damage.
Sarcasm aside, I’m sorry to hear of your loss and hope you’ve all around recovered well. Good luck in the car search.
Ram_Riot_6
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:05 |
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Be on the look out for flooded cars. With all the flooding we had today there are going to be quite a few flooded cars popping up for sale.
ttyymmnn
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:09 |
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Considering recent events, I would go with an Amphicar.
LBJ had one
.
Cherry_man1
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:11 |
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Maybe not even close to what your looking for but you may consider it http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5032828971…
1963 Ford Fairlane with a 3 on the tree and a straight 6.
But if you want a 4 door here ‘64 Galaxie
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5027690548…
Lemme know if those are way outta the park for ya tho.
Also found this for realz http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5020637325…
MLGCarGuy
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:12 |
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My suggestion is this GS300
https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/4963491833…
Or this IS300
https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5027525543…
MrFurzzy
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:13 |
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https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5032899951…
Its at the higher end of your budget, but it’s a reliable manual v6 with lower miles. It’s also a four door hatchback/liftback so you can fit a lot inside of it for practicality. Insurance is also fairly cheap.
Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> jkm7680
05/26/2015 at 21:17 |
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Unless he’s going through it with a fine-tooth comb, I’d be leery of that salvage title.
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jkm7680
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2015 at 21:21 |
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True.
Tohru
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:22 |
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Get a B-body!
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Tapas
> Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
05/26/2015 at 21:24 |
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Haha I’m guessing thats something I should look out for in all cars :D
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Tapas
> jkm7680
05/26/2015 at 21:24 |
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It is so perfect, but it has a salvage title :(
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jkm7680
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:25 |
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Yup, noticed that also. Too bad, since it’s such a nice looking car.
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Tapas
> MLGCarGuy
05/26/2015 at 21:27 |
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I like the IS :)
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Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> MrFurzzy
05/26/2015 at 21:28 |
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I just now learned that the Mazda 6 is a liftback.
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Tapas
> Cherry_man1
05/26/2015 at 21:30 |
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I love those cars from the 60s! But I don’t think I’d wanna daily them...
I do like the wagon!
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Tapas
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:33 |
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What I found:
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5003825237…
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5038897518…
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5020862592…
What do you guys think?
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Cherry_man1
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:34 |
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You do trust me. I bi weekly DD my Gran Torino
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Eric @ opposite-lock.com
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:42 |
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I highly recommend the Mazda 3. Even an automatic version is great - an auto that downshifts for you. Get the hatch for a big insurance discount and practicality bonus (the insurance is way cheaper than on the sedan). Reliable, stock suspension/handling is excellent, reasonably fast for daily driving, etc. If I needed a dependable used car in that price range, it’d be at the top of my list.
http://collegestation.craigslist.org/cto/4988244348…
Sadly, a bit of a drive and higher mileage. If they still have it, I’d talk them down a bit and fix all the little stuff mentioned (bring a wireless ODBII dongle and an app to read codes).
And yet another, probably better:
https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5035633468…
Talk these crazy people down 1-2k:
https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5013115123…
OMG, IF THEY HAVE IT, BUY IT:
https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5010682183…
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MLGCarGuy
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:47 |
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If you’re not a tall person, you’ll fit perfectly in this car. It’s good fun. Just beware that the shifter gets hot in the summer, so make sure to have gloves or something.
AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 21:52 |
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The BMW’s are probably going to be pissing oil from all over and have a bunch with worn out suspension components at that mileage. Be sure to look them over really well.
AVOID ANYTHING THAT DOESN’T HAVE A CLEAN TITLE!
I’d be happy to come out and look a car over for you. Just have to buy me a plane ticket. :)
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Tapas
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/26/2015 at 22:04 |
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I’m avoiding anything thats not clean, period.
Thanks for the heads up about worn suspension and leaking oil...I’ll have to get a mechanic to do a PPE if I chose to get a BMW.
The plane ticket is kinda out of my budget right now...maybe if I was buying something worth $60k instead of $6k :D
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Tapas
> MLGCarGuy
05/26/2015 at 22:07 |
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I’m not tall, I can buy gloves :P Wish I could afford a newer IS :P
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Tapas
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/26/2015 at 22:10 |
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Love the Blue 3!
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MLGCarGuy
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 22:12 |
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The 2014 IS is extremely comfortable and fun. But for your budget the 1st gen IS will do the same. And with that badge people will think you’re already rich. So don’t worry.
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Tapas
> MLGCarGuy
05/26/2015 at 22:13 |
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True :)
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 23:35 |
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Oh, IIRC vanos/valvetrain something or other is problematic as well. Great cars, but they do have some problems to look out for. Definitely have German cars checked out by someone familiar with them.
http://houston.craigslist.org/ctd/5011179054…
Who doesn’t love a small 300hp RWD German car with a rock solid drivetrain?
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Tapas
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/26/2015 at 23:40 |
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Oh...I thought it was only the M5 that suffered from Vanos/Valvetrain issues.
Will this be easily detected in a PPE? Also, what are the chances that this problem crops up later, if its got 120k+ miles with no problems?
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Tapas
05/26/2015 at 23:46 |
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You could be right, I honestly don’t know. I don’t work on BMW’s. I have worked on them, and work with some guys who used to work for BMW, so for the most part I just know what I hear. Then I get it all mixed up in my head before regurgitating it. Ask the tech who looks over whatever car you’re thinking about.
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Tapas
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/27/2015 at 00:08 |
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Gotcha, I will ask you if I find any Benzes :)
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Tapas
> Tapas
05/27/2015 at 03:29 |
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Look what I found! lol
I know Im dreaming with some of these in the list here. Please tell me which ones you know have too many known issues to deal with. If any of these are reliable, I’ll look into them.
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5031852333…
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5010770095…
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5039835117…
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5042288896…
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5042288034…
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5008635228…
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MrFurzzy
> Eric @ opposite-lock.com
05/27/2015 at 07:53 |
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The firs generation mazda 6 came as a sedan, a liftback, and a wagon. The sedan is the most common though. I have a liftback, and I hardly see any others driving around.
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Tapas
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/27/2015 at 10:27 |
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I replied to myself by accident earlier with this message:
Look what I found! lol
I know Im dreaming with some of these in the list here. Please tell me which ones you know have too many known issues to deal with. If any of these are reliable, I’ll look into them.
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5031852333…
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5010770095…
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5039835117…
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5042288896…
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5042288034…
http://houston.craigslist.org/cto/5008635228…
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Tapas
05/27/2015 at 23:40 |
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That is the cheapest C32 I’ve seen! Great price. Biggest issues are supercharger pulley/clutch, and radiator leaking coolant into trans via cooler. Nothing crazy. Check service history, maybe they’ve been fixed already. Easy to work on, lots of aftermarket parts available (relatively, as far as Mercedes goes). Not terribly complicated. Fast!
No, on the SL. It’s a ‘95 so it probably has engine wiring harness issues. Also, that’s an awesome engine but it’s very expensive to maintain. Caps, rotors, plugs, and wires could run you over $1k Just for parts.
I would avoid the C230 unless the balance shaft was replaced already. Probably hasn’t been considering the price and mileage. It’s an ‘06, it will need it, and that will run you >$3k and definitely is not something you want to tackle yourself or have some cheap shop do. It’s also slow and lacks personality with that engine. Great car aside from those two things.
560SEC, Nibby would be jealous. Honestly I don’t know much about them. But I do hear they are very reliable. The little work I’ve done on them has been easy. Drive beautifully and are very comfortable and well built. Probably still more expensive to maintain than you would expect. They come through my shop from time to time still, but rarely have anything wrong more than minor leaks.
400SEL. No. No. No. Stupid expensive to maintain. Problematic. Avoid.
E500. Awesome car. One of the best engines Mercedes ever built (M113), not without their problems, but those are minor. I would avoid if the SBC brake hydraulic unit hasn’t been replaced, any dealer can tell you that. If it has air suspension, the struts leak once they have some age and mileage, not terribly cheap, but maybe they’ve been done already. Minor wear items like ball joints and bushings in the front are common over 100k.
The thing to remember here is that you’re still maintaining a $50k+ car. Cars depreciate, parts don’t. But that goes for BMW and Audi as well, and Mercedes are considerably easier to work on and generally better built. If you’re serious about any Mercedes, shoot me the VIN and I can pull its dealer service history. Personally, I would go for that C43 I linked the other day :)
Good luck!
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Tapas
> AMGtech - now with more recalls!
05/28/2015 at 00:26 |
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If I could, I would star you to freakin infinity!
Thanks a ton for that! Can I have your email?
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AMGtech - now with more recalls!
> Tapas
05/28/2015 at 00:48 |
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mtabbert86
at
gmail
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Tapas
> Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
05/28/2015 at 19:29 |
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Thank you for the kind words. I had sorta glossed through all responses and missed a part of your message.
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Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
> Tapas
05/29/2015 at 10:20 |
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No worries, friend. Hope you’re on the right path in your search. I know we’re all curious to see what results!
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Tapas
> Galileo Humpkins (aka MC Clap Yo Handz)
05/29/2015 at 10:37 |
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I’ll have something good to post on Oppo in the next few days :)