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Off to see a CLK...

As this is still and intro thread maybe I should give you an idea of my car buying habits over the last few years.

So since 2017 (with quite a bit over overlap) I've had, in no particular order...

2002 Lexus IS300
1999 Saab 9-3 Convertible
2003 Saab 9-5 Aero
2005 Saab 9-5 Aero
1997 Lexus LS400
1996 Lexus LS400
1999 Honda Accord Coupe V6
1999 Toyota MR2 Rev5
2001 BMW E39 530i
2001 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible
1999 Alfa Romeo GTV V6
1995 Saab 9000 V6 Griffin
2006 Saab 9-5 Linear Sport (that's what the CLK is replacing)
2005 Volvo V70 2.5T AWD
2005 Volvo V70 2.5T
2005 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible (a keeper)

I think that's it. As you can see, I have form :rolleyes:
 
rich1068 said:
As this is still and intro thread maybe I should give you an idea of my car buying habits over the last few years.

So since 2017 (with quite a bit over overlap) I've had, in no particular order...

2002 Lexus IS300
1999 Saab 9-3 Convertible
2003 Saab 9-5 Aero
2005 Saab 9-5 Aero
1997 Lexus LS400
1996 Lexus LS400
1999 Honda Accord Coupe V6
1999 Toyota MR2 Rev5
2001 BMW E39 530i
2001 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible
1999 Alfa Romeo GTV V6
1995 Saab 9000 V6 Griffin
2006 Saab 9-5 Linear Sport (that's what the CLK is replacing)
2005 Volvo V70 2.5T AWD
2005 Volvo V70 2.5T
2005 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible (a keeper)

I think that's it. As you can see, I have form :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
I might pick your brains re the Saab Convertble.
 
rich1068 said:
No doubt going from no miles over the last couple of years to being a daily will shake out some gremlins but hey, that's all part of the fun isn't it?
Click to expand...
Exactly that. Needs driving as hard as you dare and and issues will arise, hopefully minor and you'll need to get it back on course with good maintenance. A good local (or localish) Indy helps for jobs you don't have the skills or tools or space to carry out yourself. All part of the fun as you say.
 
rich1068 said:
As this is still and intro thread maybe I should give you an idea of my car buying habits over the last few years.

So since 2017 (with quite a bit over overlap) I've had, in no particular order...

2002 Lexus IS300
1999 Saab 9-3 Convertible
2003 Saab 9-5 Aero
2005 Saab 9-5 Aero
1997 Lexus LS400
1996 Lexus LS400
1999 Honda Accord Coupe V6
1999 Toyota MR2 Rev5
2001 BMW E39 530i
2001 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible
1999 Alfa Romeo GTV V6
1995 Saab 9000 V6 Griffin
2006 Saab 9-5 Linear Sport (that's what the CLK is replacing)
2005 Volvo V70 2.5T AWD
2005 Volvo V70 2.5T
2005 Saab 9-3 Aero Convertible (a keeper)

I think that's it. As you can see, I have form :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
A very fine set of motor cars.
 
Hi and welcome to the group - That is a LOT of cars in 5+ years!! Good choice with the SAAB's though ..... but the MB looks lovely!
 
Thank you.

All pretty cheap apart from the Alfa, MR2 and the '97 LS. Most were in the £1k to £3.5k range and weren't going to drop any more. There has been quite a bit of overlap at times. Had a unit that I could comfortably get 3 or 4 cars in and temptation was just too much. Rule of thumb is to sell them for what at least what I paid for them (even made a bit on the LS and IS) and according to my wife this "keeps me out of trouble". Not sure what she considers "trouble" but I'll take that.

Obviously there's an element of man maths involved when I justify a purchase and sale but hey, we all do it :D

So now I'm on to Stuttgart's finest and hopefully I'll have better luck with it than the Munich thing mentioned above. Bloody nightmare that one. And how odd that I've now been priced out of my Japanese comfort zone but can afford a Benz. Odd times.
 
Ha ha! I hear you ..... I was a massive Jap car fiend for years, and like you suddenly discovered that i cannot afford one anymore ( Have you seen the price of a 1978 240K GT Skyline!! ) Used to be able to pick these up for under a grand, granted they were missing lots of metal due to the mice .....
And now i too have a Merc, strange days indeed - But good for the likes of us eh!
 
pioneercollector said:
But good for the likes of us eh!
Click to expand...

So long as it proves to be as reliable! Forgot one of my favourites. 2002 Lexus GS300. 500 quid from an old boy in Inverness, we flew up from East Midlands, had tea, sandwiches and scones with him and his wife and then drove it back to Sheffield via Edinburgh. I don't think I even checked the oil before we set off. The GS would never win a beauty contest but that car saw me through the first lockdown and the 2JZ was as sweet as a nut.
 
Bit of an update to this.

Only about 300 miles in, mostly town driving but used daily for work since collection. I think all in I'm at about £4k with the bits and bobs that needed immediate attention. Brake light, washer pump, mirror, service items, tyre, brakes etc. Happy with that so far as in my experience cars at this price point usually need about a grand spending on them to get them right. There will be other things in the coming months but bar any horrendous failures I'm on track.

One thing I wasn't too impressed with initially was the general performance. I knew the 2.6 wouldn't be a ball of fire but it seemed extremely sluggish and not at all happy around town. But then in the last day or two it's like a switch has been flicked and it's performing exactly as I'd expect a lazy straight or V6 auto to perform. I'd just put the second half tank of Shell V-Power in and it got me thinking about fuel. The car had done exactly 10 miles between its March '22 and March '23 MOTs and only 5 miles since then. When I picked it up there was less than a quarter of a tank in it. I'll bet that same fuel has been sat in the tank since before March 2022. Anyway, gone now and it seems to be enjoying Shell's finest. A few more tanks of that and then I might swap over to E10.

So I'm just enjoying driving it. Looking forward to a proper trip rather than just commuting drudgery. Maybe I'll take in a show? Let everyone see the old man in his old man's car ;)
 
rich1068 said:
Bit of an update to this.

Only about 300 miles in, mostly town driving but used daily for work since collection. I think all in I'm at about £4k with the bits and bobs that needed immediate attention. Brake light, washer pump, mirror, service items, tyre, brakes etc. Happy with that so far as in my experience cars at this price point usually need about a grand spending on them to get them right. There will be other things in the coming months but bar any horrendous failures I'm on track.

One thing I wasn't too impressed with initially was the general performance. I knew the 2.6 wouldn't be a ball of fire but it seemed extremely sluggish and not at all happy around town. But then in the last day or two it's like a switch has been flicked and it's performing exactly as I'd expect a lazy straight or V6 auto to perform. I'd just put the second half tank of Shell V-Power in and it got me thinking about fuel. The car had done exactly 10 miles between its March '22 and March '23 MOTs and only 5 miles since then. When I picked it up there was less than a quarter of a tank in it. I'll bet that same fuel has been sat in the tank since before March 2022. Anyway, gone now and it seems to be enjoying Shell's finest. A few more tanks of that and then I might swap over to E10.

So I'm just enjoying driving it. Looking forward to a proper trip rather than just commuting drudgery. Maybe I'll take in a show? Let everyone see the old man in his old man's car ;)
Click to expand...
I've had three cars with that engine (W208, W209 Cab and a W211) and IMHO it is a peach! I did find that swapping out all plug leads on the W209 seemed to make a discernible difference
 
Noted.

I have been looking at replacing the plugs too but seen an awful lot of warnings and I'm not sure if I fancy tackling it. Might give the job to a garage as much as it pains me. Embarrassing really.
 
Glad your new car is now meeting expectations!!
I thought mine was performing as it should, but after my independent MB specialist gave her a full service ( Including the gearbox etc ) it was like an extra litre was added to the performance!
 
Sold my 9-5 today so I guess I'm committed now.

IMG_20221101_133144341~2.jpg
 
That does look amazingly clean - Well found!
I do like the SAAB's though ....
 
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