OUCH!! My car just kicked me in the A$$! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Peyton300TD · #1 01-10-2003, 01:45 AM

okay all i have to say is $1,208.84. OUCH!!!

that's the cost of my most recent maitenance visit to my mechanic. what did this entail?

new tie rod assembly
new control arms upper and lower
new bushings
new rear rotors
new rear pads
re-alignment

i also just purchased new michelins at $400.

$1,600 is a lot to spend in two days on a car that's worth no more than $8,000. someone tell me it's okay and not to cry, please!

granted she drives amazing, like an arrow, much more nimble, the front end is higher in the air, and corners like a champ - and of course i still love her (Peyton) to death.

cheers

eric

lrg · #2 01-10-2003, 01:59 AM

Eric,
Just consider the alternative. You could sell her, spend $25,000 for something you'd enjoy far less and depreciate it $2,000 in the first 6 months instead. That ought to make you feel better about the $1,600. The expenses may come in bunches but they are way lower than most alternatives.

#3 01-10-2003, 02:01 AM

It's ok to cry, I am sure you will many more years of enjoyment with Peyton

The Warden · #4 01-10-2003, 04:35 AM

I Know that can be a huge bite (if my car asked that much $$ out of me right now I'd be beyond broke), but think about it this way. It's a heckuva investment in the long run

#5 01-10-2003, 11:47 AM

$1,600? That's about four monthly installment payments on a new Kia. My guess is that in terms of overall ownership costs, including depreciation, you're still doing better than most late-model economy car owners.

#6 01-10-2003, 12:12 PM

PaulC is right. Of course you could just give it up and buy the latest and greatest from KIA.
By the way. doesn't KIA stand for "Killed In Action"?

Brantslyer · #7 01-10-2003, 02:02 PM

It's a beqautiful car and will give you years of return. 1600 is nothing for repairs today and look what you get to drive.

BWatson · #8 01-10-2003, 02:19 PM

I agree with the general consensus of the other replies but the only question is...Did all af these repairs need to be done that bad? Could you have staggered the cost over a couple of months? I generally repair one thing at a time to avoid a multi-repair bill.

rwthomas1 · #9 01-10-2003, 02:37 PM

Oh quit yer *****in'!! You need to buy a KIA. I will happily "take Peyton off your hands" for you..... My wife needs just such a nice ride. Seriously though I plan on spending about $2K a year on each car I own. Even if I spent this much (which I don't) I would be miles ahead as I own them all outright. Let the suckers pay $400-500/month for a lesser automobile that won't last as long or has the class an MB does. By the looks of Peyton that will likely be the last $$ you spend on her all year (except regular maintainence) so you will be $$ ahead of most. Enjoy her. RT

rickg · #10 01-10-2003, 02:47 PM

I posted this on the "what your car cost to run" thread a few days ago:

"Haven't figured up my costs for the Benz. But when I look at my wife's POS Chrysler Cirrus, UGH! we paid $21,000 for it 6 years ago. It now has a Blue-book trade in value of about $2800, and it's still not paid for. The warrenty ran out 30,000 miles ago, and is slowly sucking us dry with problems.
Whatever I have put in my SD, which I'm guessing has only been a couple thousand in the last year we've owned it, is money ahead. First, it's paid for! Second, it's a car WORTH fixing! Third, I love it!"

That's almost $20,000 depreciation on a car(the Chrysler) in 6 years I don't like, and has been alot of trouble. That's not counting the approx $5000 I've spent on repairs ect. We spent almost $3000 on it in two months last spring alone.(The reason we haven't traded it in is another whole story I won't go into.)
So $1600 on a car worth $8000? You have to weigh the alternatives I guess.

#11 01-10-2003, 03:55 PM

the Fall diesel get-together we had near DC.

My mechanics let me know about this stuff way down the road, and try and make sure all this stuff doesn't hit at once.

Your car would EASILY take a prize at one of our MBCA events. I'd even dub it an honorary "woodie"

Ford dealers and other such ROUTINELY charge that much for really mundane repairs on their contemporary (disposable) cars. So enjoy... forever!

P.E.Haiges · #12 01-10-2003, 04:33 PM

Peyton,

The cost of repairs has nothing to do with the cash value of the car. Its how many years and miles you are going to get out of the car and the overall cost of ownership.

If you would learn to fix it yourself, the repairs would be about half of what you have to pay someone else because you eliminate the outrageous labor costs. The way I look at it is if the shop charges $50 an hour and I do the work myself, where else could I make $50 an hour. And I also save more by buying the parts myself.

P E H

Wasuchi · #13 01-10-2003, 05:48 PM

As P.E. said buying the parts yourself (Fastlane etc.) saves money, if you know what needs to be replaced ahead of time you can go ahead and do that and have the parts sitting in the trunk when you take it to the shop. That saves a few $ on parts. Plus you know OEM parts are being used.

Peyton300TD · #14 01-10-2003, 06:15 PM

wow, thanks a lot guys, you make me feel a lot better about that expense. grant it, it is hard to be mad at Peyton (my wagon) when she drives SO solid and nimble, straight, and smooth after all that front end work.

jim B+ are you serious!?! an award? haha i never woulda thought. and thanks for the woodie award, i laughed when i read that, but you're right - givin' the surfboard on the roof.

i am learning thing by thing how to fix particulars on the car. still have a ways to go. my mechanic loves my car and he said not to sell it, to go ahead and get a rebuilt engine when the time comes. we also had a conversation about current mercedes and how much worse they've gotten. he said they began to go downhill in 1992 when they changed engines and computers. but the newest ones are plasticy and have lots of problems, possibley toyata's are better.

you are all right, peyton i love her so much and she is an investment in her longevity. you guys rock!

eric

#15 01-10-2003, 06:29 PM

Possibly Toyotas are better?

God help us. This is the end. All is lost now!