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Jul 17, 2010 20:05:00 GMT
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Hi everyone, I"m having a dilemma and not sure which way to go. We have our old maestro td, had 2 years, tuned, goes well, just done welding, spraying, HG and clutch and will go for a couple of years more. It looks like a granny car and flies along returning 55+ mpg. I paid £50 for it and in a crazy way we and all that borrow it quite like it....I would regard myself as reasonably sane ;D Insurance has gone up by 56 notes this year and then a mate springs on me that I can have his merc 190 2.5 diesel auto I have not got insurance quote yet. The maestro is simply our 3rd car, in case the landy or volvo,( both 1961,) fail to go and mainly gets used to go to London and Manchester-quickly ;D the 190 is tidy, big miles 250k, looks and runs well and slow to get going being auto. I always like the 190, and diesel is good for veg oil. Ist bigger, its more to go wrong, its German and has something the maestro has"nt got....credibility and quality! Bearing in mind this is all about being cheap and not a daily WHAT SHOULD I DO?
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marksparks999
Part of things
I aim to live forever, or die trying!
Posts: 656
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Jul 17, 2010 20:07:39 GMT
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stick with the maestro!
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Retroless at the moment... but on the hunt for something old!
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Jul 17, 2010 20:18:03 GMT
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really? I also just thought whilst on the loo.... I bought the maestro for the engine to go into the amazon, but got another to go in it and that is going well. The maestro was way too good to break and then became family. Had thought that the body would drop off in a couple of years leaving behind a spare engine.
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VWPowered
Europe
No-Rice - Est 2002
Posts: 1,450
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Jul 17, 2010 20:21:05 GMT
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stick with the Maestro
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81 Bedford CF 2.3D Cavalier Coachman Stratus 86 Volkswagen Polo Mk2 1.6 8v 87 Austin Montego 1.6HL 'Daily' 91 Rover Montego 2.0TD Countryman Estate 93 Rover Montego 2.0LXi Estate
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Jul 17, 2010 20:22:11 GMT
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on a quick quote on limited miles it looks like I can do classic insurance (added to the other 3) for £96. cos its old. maestro £250
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Jul 17, 2010 21:21:07 GMT
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If you're doing long journeys, get the Mercedes. I'm biased, 'course! *Edit* Actually, if you're doing short journeys, get the Merc too. ;D
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Last Edit: Jul 17, 2010 21:22:08 GMT by BenzBoy
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Jul 17, 2010 21:29:24 GMT
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Mmm.....I know where you are coming from, merc is nicer, but what about economy? :-)
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purplevanman
Posted a lot
Way too orangey for crows
Posts: 3,830
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wonder why the maestro is so dear on ins? Mercs are generally sound, even at 1/4 mill on the clock
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Welder, fabricator, general resto work
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I'm not sure how those 190 diesels fair on fuel economy, probably not as frugal as the Maestro to be honest, but they're completely different beasts. Like Grunty said, 250k won't bother it at all, especially if it's been looked after.
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Jul 18, 2010 10:31:58 GMT
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it's a five cylinder diesel, non turbo and auto. Probably won't beat the maestro for economy, but they're pretty good - will probably do 40+ on a run....
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'98 e36 316i lux '97 mx5 harvard '87 Saab 900 T16s
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Jul 18, 2010 10:59:29 GMT
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Stick with the maestro
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1993 Fiat Panda Selecta 2003 Vauxhall Combo 1.7DI van 2006 Mercedes Kompressor Evolution-S AMG SportCoupé
"You think you hate it now, wait til you drive it"
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,786
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Jul 18, 2010 11:03:25 GMT
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the merc is an infinately better car. ive always favoured the bigger models over the 190s, til i got one, and now I'm converted, its great!!
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conrad
Posted a lot
Here to fix your cabin.......
Posts: 1,678
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Jul 18, 2010 11:44:55 GMT
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it's a five cylinder diesel, non turbo and auto. Probably won't beat the maestro for economy, but they're pretty good - will probably do 40+ on a run.... which is good for a big heavy automatic car, and a good trade off for the extra space and comfort. Don't now about the 2.5 but i had a 2.0 D and it did mid 40s on average with average driving aggrression and speeds
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10mpg
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 4,253
Club RR Member Number: 204
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Jul 18, 2010 14:08:59 GMT
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Merc every time
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The Internet, like all tools, if used improperly, can make a complete bo**cks of even the simplest jobs...
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Jul 18, 2010 14:56:59 GMT
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maestro maestro maestro..........hadone...loved it......took all the abuse i could throw at it ...scrapped it bought a c class (2.5td auto) and regrette it ......maestro!!!!
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Jul 18, 2010 21:43:06 GMT
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wow....what replies, seems like anyone thats had a maestro, rates them......it is bloody quick and fun. Think (insurance cost permitting) will get merc, but not be too quick in letting the maestro go, may lend it out for a bit. Thanks for all the input, any more? Why?
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Jul 18, 2010 23:02:07 GMT
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Unrelated to the actual cars (not having had either) but on a related dilemma note, I would recommend you stick with the car that you know unless it has some major issues. I mean, you haven't even said anything bad about it. You (presumably) weren't even contemplating replacing it until the Merc came up. So it's just Magpieism, taking something new and shiny (or not) over what you already have that does the job equally well and perhaps even better. Why change? What will you gain? A slightly roomier car with less economy but savings on insurance and an unknown body and drivetrain. Not worth it IMO, unless you secretly wanted rid of the Maestro anyway.
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My choice would be based on engine. The Merc lump is far superior. The Maestro diesel has a Perkins Prima and whilst they give good economy / power aren't a patch on the Merc unit. Perkins converted the old O Series to a diesel to get the Prima and it's not a particularly long lasting engine. They can have emission problems from quite low mileages (under 75000) that means a new or recon injector pump is needed. Also they are assemebled with silicon rather than proper gaskets meaning horrible to dismantle. Price up a water pump (I was quoted something like £150) to get an idea of parts prices. The L Series diesel is far better and can be adapted to fit where a Prima previously resided assuming enough clearance for rear mounted pump.
Paul H
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Stick with the Maestro mate - I had a Montego diesel that ran, and ran, and ran...... until the engine swallowed some floodwater and died, so stuck a 100K ex-scrappy one in and addd another 80K before the body gave out. Get some left-foot braking practise in and its surprising how bloody fast you can cover distance in one of them, as long as you keep the turbo singing..... ;D
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Rover Metro - The TARDIS - brake problems.....Stored Rover 75 - Barge MGZTT Cdti 160+ - Winter Hack and Audi botherer... MGF - The Golden Shot...Stored Project Minion........ Can you see the theme?
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Jul 19, 2010 11:15:39 GMT
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I'm not biased I like mercs but I'd have to say stick with the maestro you know it makes sense ;D
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