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So i've had my C36 for a couple years now and have really enjoyed driving it thus far. As of recent though things have changed and I purchased a home 25 miles from work making for a round trip commute of 50 miles a day. My other vehicle is a 2006 Jeep Wrangler which does 10mpg and not the funnest daily driver as it's lifted and has mud terrain tires.
With that said I'm considering using my C36 as a daily. My C36 has 145k miles and in perfect condition however my concern is that my mechanic expenses will start to mount up. Are any of you daily driving your W202s and if so how is yours responding to the added mileage considering it's age?
I was thinking of selling her to buy a daily but at the end of the day I rather drive my C36 then a used Scion TC, Civic, Jetta or whatever else I'll be able to afford for what I sell my C36 for. But at the same time every time I take my car to the mechanic it a nice chunk of cash.
I drive my C43 daily, but my commute is maybe 8 miles each way. I bought the car with 149k and it now has 161k. I have been doing all the maintenance as I've driven the car. So far I've rebuilt the front suspension (bushings, ball joints for all the control arms), replaced all the gaskets (twice), then an engine/transmission swap (both completely serviced before install), new tires, new radiator and coolant hoses, new headlight housings and HID bulbs, new power steering pump, new motor mounts and flushed the diff fluid. That's not everything, just what comes to mind. I still need to do the brakes (not horrible but I've probably got about a year of life in them), the headliner needs a redo and the paint bothers me (two different shades of silver). As much as I've spent, I love the car and can't think of anything else to replace it with (like you) so I just keep up with the maintenance as well as I can. It's not horrible but if you can put aside 2-300/month (a car payment), you can keep up with most of the maintenance pretty easily and that's assuming you pay a good indy to do the work. If you do everything yourself, it's even cheaper.
My commute is 91 miles per day and I've daily driven my C43 for 5 years. Just a couple hundred miles below 300,000 miles right now. I'm only doing a 55 swap because my timing chain is rattling--otherwise it's performed flawlessly.
M104 in the C36 is every bit as durable (if not more) than the M113 in the C43. Fantastic, long-running motors! I put 255k on my old C280 with an M104 and sold it because my interior was completely ruined from a leaking sunroof.
My commute is 91 miles per day and I've daily driven my C43 for 5 years. Just a couple hundred miles below 300,000 miles right now. I'm only doing a 55 swap because my timing chain is rattling--otherwise it's performed flawlessly.
M104 in the C36 is every bit as durable (if not more) than the M113 in the C43. Fantastic, long-running motors! I put 255k on my old C280 with an M104 and sold it because my interior was completely ruined from a leaking sunroof.
WOW! Very motivating to hear as I really do love me C36 and would hate to part with her. I'd love to see a pic of your C43 at that mileage.
I daily my 99' C43 (now C55) it has 230k miles on it and its been an extremely reliable car. just did the swap for fun but my 43 engine was still running strong
I daily my 99' C43 (now C55) it has 230k miles on it and its been an extremely reliable car. just did the swap for fun but my 43 engine was still running strong
Good to hear, thanks for the feedback... That wagon on your sig is sick!
It's the silver one in those pics (not for sale, just parked next to the one that is for sale)
It's got a rough bumper due to my wife totaling it a few years back. There's a thread here of the crash and fix process (it was a nightmare thanks to ****ty insurance company and shop). But otherwise it's been solid as a rock and the interior is still in GREAT shape. 100k mile difference between my black and silver one and you can't tell when sitting inside them.
It's the silver one in those pics (not for sale, just parked next to the one that is for sale)
It's got a rough bumper due to my wife totaling it a few years back. There's a thread here of the crash and fix process (it was a nightmare thanks to ****ty insurance company and shop). But otherwise it's been solid as a rock and the interior is still in GREAT shape. 100k mile difference between my black and silver one and you can't tell when sitting inside them.
Wow looks good for the amount of miles incurred. Thanks for sharing.
My 235k mile C36 is my daily driver. Round trip is only 35 miles, but I also wander area wrecking yards every other weekend or so, which works out to an additional 200 miles that weekend. If I could manual-swap my C, I'd have no reason or desire to drive any other car.
in south florida i would definitely use it as a daily. but not at that ride height, your just asking for trouble with not enough suspension travel for the chassis to absorb the beating it will constantly take on the public roads, not to mention the risk of damage to the lower front bumper.
as of next week i will start daily driving my C43 here in michigan, though only for the summer spring and fall. i will buy a $2500 beater car most likely for the winter.
before i made it my daily i put some stock shocks back on and got thicker spring pads so that i have more suspension travel and less harsh ride. i have about 2.5 finger gap in front now instead of only 1 and slightly more in the back.
the low ride height does look nice but its not doing you any favors on the street other than looks.
So i've had my C36 for a couple years now and have really enjoyed driving it thus far. As of recent though things have changed and I purchased a home 25 miles from work making for a round trip commute of 50 miles a day. My other vehicle is a 2006 Jeep Wrangler which does 10mpg and not the funnest daily driver as it's lifted and has mud terrain tires.
With that said I'm considering using my C36 as a daily. My C36 has 145k miles and in perfect condition however my concern is that my mechanic expenses will start to mount up. Are any of you daily driving your W202s and if so how is yours responding to the added mileage considering it's age?
I was thinking of selling her to buy a daily but at the end of the day I rather drive my C36 then a used Scion TC, Civic, Jetta or whatever else I'll be able to afford for what I sell my C36 for. But at the same time every time I take my car to the mechanic it a nice chunk of cash.
What's your feedback on this?
Thank red C is beautiful... Let me know when you want to part with...
03-23-2016, 01:34 PM
