Working steadily with hand tools I can disassemble, repair, and reassemble any car I've ever owned. Cars are all junk, everyone one of them. Try to disassemble an aircraft, and you'll see what I mean. The technology of the car in the photo is not much changed from a contemporary model. Oddly enough, the Mercedes is one of the easier cars to repair, but the parts are very dear.
On the older models (80 -90) a "Slim Jim" works as well as on any car of that vintage. I now only buy used cars, and I make sure it's a popular model, so the junk yards will have plenty of parts. The depreciation is far too great on a piece of low tech like a car. For what it's worth, the Toyota Corolla (any year) fits the bill nearly every time. My kids even drive them.
My 1988 Volvo 240 DL isn't too bad to work on. Know what you mean about junk though... I stripped 2 out of 5 bolts holding the rear sprocket of my SV650 on last weekend (and yes I was using a correctly set snap-on torque wrench). They were strong enough to last one sprocket and 16,000 miles and if I machined a some grade 5 or 8 bolts to the odd "D" head shape, they'd last forever.
All the German cars are ISO, and to a certain extent they are all the same. They're just too expensive. I have to drive a car, that doesn't mean I like to drive a car. The auto have been a boon and a curse since 1880 or so.
they're not THAT expensive in the US. 2008 S65 AMG is around 190 000 $ and in the EU the price is somewhere in the area of 230 000 EUR ( 331 000 $ ). I wanted to import mine from the US, but i needed to " upgrade it " ( changing like a 1000 parts in it ), and finally just bought a used one with a 1000 miles on the odometer for under 180 000 EUR.
I like to keep the cost of the car under $0.72 per mile. If you start high, that cannot happen. Insurance, fuel, and repairs are constant expenses. Cheap cars last longer too. Finally, and I am very tight and old fashioned, my ego does not demand an expensive ride.
Funny story - when I graduated from larry summers ruined endowment university, my roommates and I had an old school 1970's heavy as can be coke machine that we used to keep various beverages cold. On the last day of school we left it in the room. Next weekend boston globe ran a story regarding the strangest things you find when cleaning dorms at Natalie Portman U. My coke machine was second behind someone who had assembled a huge car engine block in his living room and simply left it. Maybe a passive FU to Larry Summers.
So Ikea is now selling VW A2 Golf kits? Interesting...based on the side moldings, wheels and bumpers it looks like a 1988/89 gasser model since I see a catalytic converter there.
VW did lots of promo lit like this on their cars and parts, kind of a neat idea.
That takes Cash for Clunkers to a whole new level.
I love the analogy
If you want it, you can achieve it.
OR
Just Believe....
FYI...
Just don't count on any help!
Where can I buy this from? I really want to build one myself.
Working steadily with hand tools I can disassemble, repair, and reassemble any car I've ever owned. Cars are all junk, everyone one of them. Try to disassemble an aircraft, and you'll see what I mean. The technology of the car in the photo is not much changed from a contemporary model. Oddly enough, the Mercedes is one of the easier cars to repair, but the parts are very dear.
what happens when you lock your keys in a benz? :)
On the older models (80 -90) a "Slim Jim" works as well as on any car of that vintage. I now only buy used cars, and I make sure it's a popular model, so the junk yards will have plenty of parts. The depreciation is far too great on a piece of low tech like a car. For what it's worth, the Toyota Corolla (any year) fits the bill nearly every time. My kids even drive them.
My 1988 Volvo 240 DL isn't too bad to work on. Know what you mean about junk though... I stripped 2 out of 5 bolts holding the rear sprocket of my SV650 on last weekend (and yes I was using a correctly set snap-on torque wrench). They were strong enough to last one sprocket and 16,000 miles and if I machined a some grade 5 or 8 bolts to the odd "D" head shape, they'd last forever.
VW Golf II to be exactly. Built 1983-1992, 6.3 million.
All the German cars are ISO, and to a certain extent they are all the same. They're just too expensive. I have to drive a car, that doesn't mean I like to drive a car. The auto have been a boon and a curse since 1880 or so.
they're not THAT expensive in the US. 2008 S65 AMG is around 190 000 $ and in the EU the price is somewhere in the area of 230 000 EUR ( 331 000 $ ). I wanted to import mine from the US, but i needed to " upgrade it " ( changing like a 1000 parts in it ), and finally just bought a used one with a 1000 miles on the odometer for under 180 000 EUR.
I like to keep the cost of the car under $0.72 per mile. If you start high, that cannot happen. Insurance, fuel, and repairs are constant expenses. Cheap cars last longer too. Finally, and I am very tight and old fashioned, my ego does not demand an expensive ride.
The previous comment is mine. I was, apparently, logged out when I posted it.
At least it would not need to be assembled by those whiny, domineering labor unions.
As you can see from the picture, it could be assembled by any idiot making $8 an hour.
-- Phil
The union worker making $67/hr sure couldn't put it together! first of all the instructions are in swedish...
Phil....you've been missed! People want more of you. You been busy scrubbing names on that Swiss list thingee?
I think Phil has been out trashing Democratic offices, like the one in Denver.
Do you mean this office in Denver?
http://www.denverpost.com/commented/ci_13203950?
h/t christopher fountain
Yugooooooshi......
Funny story - when I graduated from larry summers ruined endowment university, my roommates and I had an old school 1970's heavy as can be coke machine that we used to keep various beverages cold. On the last day of school we left it in the room. Next weekend boston globe ran a story regarding the strangest things you find when cleaning dorms at Natalie Portman U. My coke machine was second behind someone who had assembled a huge car engine block in his living room and simply left it. Maybe a passive FU to Larry Summers.
this sounds like money laundering.
Anyone have a link to the original print? I'd love to buy this.
Is that from an German car magazine long-term test? Like auto motor und sport?
I remember reading those ages ago, and I have this vague memory that they'd completely disassemble the car at the end of the test.
So Ikea is now selling VW A2 Golf kits? Interesting...based on the side moldings, wheels and bumpers it looks like a 1988/89 gasser model since I see a catalytic converter there.
VW did lots of promo lit like this on their cars and parts, kind of a neat idea.
they must also be cutting design costs for new small cars by selling fuel efficient discontinued import models...
It's a Goddamn Rabbit from like 84
Lazy pricks didn't take the tyres off the rims.
:D
you can build a plane, why not a car?
http://www.zenithair.com/zodiac/xl/gif/kit-qbk-collage.jpg
Ahah, true I'd rather build my own car than buy a GM