"Patrick Morgan" (pmorganracing)
02/14/2015 at 13:10 • Filed to: None
6
4|
"Patrick Morgan" (pmorganracing)
02/14/2015 at 13:10 • Filed to: None | 6
| 4 |
Lets get the news out of the way that you all want to hear: since last report, the AMG has spent a week in the shop. At 129,756 miles, who would have thought!? Well actually, it was my own damn fault... Apparently leaving your keys in your pocket and then sending them through the wash cycle will do bad things. It's even more of an "oops" if you bought your car with one key. Live and learn. This setback put me out $180 bucks, which I doubled up and sprung for two, just so I can get away with being a moron at least once more. That aside, she's been running like an absolute dream.
Snow has obviously befallen the Chicagoland-area since last report and I am quite happy to relay the news that this car is actually quite good in the snow. The 17-inch rims are now shod with OEM size Yokohama Ice Force, and they do the job quite well. A pleasant surprise that the noise level isn’t
that
bad. An error in ordering combined with an out-of-stock delay meant these were offered to me at $525.00. Deal.
In covering some of the vitals, MPG actually crept up to 18.6 at one
point, but I was so thoroughly pleased with having my own car back after my key folly that in 2
days managed to drop it to 17.8. Average speed has crept down one MPH.
One because of snowy days and traffic, but also because I do give the car a
minute or two to warm up and just get things flowing a bit before setting out on the road. It
can handle the cold starts and at 10F ambient, and still cranks as if it were 60
degrees out. While the engine can handle it, the only nuance is with the gearbox; 2
nd
gear is delivered with a noticeable thud. Once the
temp bar creeps up though, it all operates normally.
A suspension clunk was diagnosed and fixed (end links and bushings) and now it really feels like it's brand new. So how much snow can an old rear-drive AMG get through? Well if you're booshing around, be wary of losing pieces off the front of your car. Though it can muscle it's way through over a half foot of snow, the mesh grill (on this and other similar AMG ilk) are easily knocked inward/knocked off all together. I quietly apologized to the car and bent the mesh back into shape. It fairly easily clips back in... if you didnt break the clips in the process of your snow adventures.
Current Mileage: 129,756
Mileage in this report:
2,505
AVG MPG: 18.1
AVG SPD: 26
Engine run time: 105:54h
Consumables: $525 (Yokohama Ice Force)
Upgrades: $0
Gas total: $557.42
Repairs: $670.17 (two keys, coolant expansion tank, 7 light bulbs, suspension
fix)
Total: $1,752.53
Steve in Manhattan
> Patrick Morgan
02/14/2015 at 13:16 |
|
My version of your key is the glass carafe piece of our French press. I learned a while back to just pick up two of them at Zabar's. We will break one, and it's nice to be able to make coffee nonetheless.
Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
> Patrick Morgan
02/14/2015 at 13:41 |
|
Extra keys are always worth the purchase. My wife lost hers for the Sable and we had to have a locksmith come out and reprogram the car to accept newly made keys. What a pain.
SlickMcRick
> Patrick Morgan
02/14/2015 at 13:42 |
|
That's actually not bad at all. Can't wait to see how this thing performs on the track this Spring. Never been much of a MB for the reasons you listed about if something breaks prepare to dig deep but you also provide another good point that if it's taken care of you should be good to go. If I went the MB route I'd definitely shoot for something of your vintage or older because there is less to go wrong with it. Less electronics is fine with me.
Jake Huitt - Two Alfas And A Nissan, Not A Single Running Car
> Patrick Morgan
05/07/2015 at 23:10 |
|
Which AMG?