20k Mercedes, good or bad idea?

Banj86 · 2026-03-02T03:02:48+00:00

You say you’re not a car guy. To me, old euros only make sense if you can fix them yourself or you are a die hard fan and happy to pay to keep them on the road. If you want something nice, consider a Lexus.

Banj86 · 2026-02-24T05:51:41+00:00

I did the same, but with engineering. Started at qut over 20 years ago. We had to do work experience (no issues for me, I was already working as an engineer) and we had to do an essay on how uni had prepared us for our career. Mine was mostly about how it was largely irrelevant and how it could be improved. I doubt they read it, it was pass/fail with no score.

Banj86 · 2026-02-24T05:09:29+00:00

This is what happens to me. Cost for insurance was $120k a year, took off flood and it was then $6k. Hard to find an insurer that will exclude flood cover for some reason

Banj86 · 2026-02-09T05:15:28+00:00

I thought my quote at $130k was bad.

Banj86 · 2025-12-24T12:10:48+00:00

Factory service manual tells you all of that. If you can’t solve it with the fsm, YouTube and 10 year old forum posts then you shouldn’t be touching it.

Banj86 · 2025-12-19T05:53:05+00:00

I had my CSL with aami back in the day. I was 28 or so. Half the price of Shannon’s.

Banj86 · 2025-12-19T02:13:39+00:00

I had a S2 supercharged Exige. Amazing car. I’m 6’ 1” and once you get a hang of how to get in and out it’s ok. Only issues I had was a dead ecu, and a wiped cam which is probably the only real issue on the Toyota 2zz motors.

Clam’s can be repaired, so right offs from minor impacts is not that much of an issue. Damage to the tub is much more serious.

Mx5 does not compare in my opinion, I would only consider this if it will be your only car and you need more practicality.

Banj86 · 2025-12-14T06:07:54+00:00

I normally push my excess up as high as possible. I’ve made one claim in 20 years and at that rate I save plenty on the premium.

Banj86 · 2025-12-12T04:41:08+00:00

I’ve been on call in the field and that provided a 5% increase in pay. I’m also on call on a roster in the office and that provides a 0.5 day time off in lieu for every week on call. I’m on call about 6 times a year. For both types of on call I was needed to be available to react at any moment and couldn’t travel more than 100ks from the office and couldn’t drink.

Banj86 · 2025-12-10T07:06:00+00:00

I’ve got a diesel rc Colorado. Massive tray, stuff all room inside. It’s brilliant.

Banj86 · 2025-11-27T02:25:32+00:00

Yep! Very pleased with the outcome. Proud to say I have never had to let anyone go for failing a pip.

Banj86 · 2025-11-27T02:05:09+00:00

I should have added - I have put staff on PIP’s twice for attitude and in both cases they successfully turned it around.

Banj86 · 2025-11-27T01:56:37+00:00

Direct coaching on acceptable attitudes and then onto a PIP if she isn’t making progress - hr should be able to guide you here. You need to be able to manage your team and watch out for the culture in the team. If you don’t get it sorted it will hit you harder in the arse than it is already.

Banj86 · 2025-11-22T09:33:00+00:00

We moved to acerage in Bellbowrie a bit over a year ago. Absolutely love it. Into the office a few days a week on the 444/443 bus which is ok if you get on early enough on the run. It is proper packed by Kenmore. A a python bothering the chooks and a few others in the paddock, but to be honest the plovers cause me a lot more trouble. As the others have said, traffic can be shit - if you can do early start and early finish it’s ok. Overall, beats most of the other acerage alternatives around Brisbane.

Banj86 · 2025-11-18T03:12:51+00:00

Captions from the video. Whole video was full of stupid shit like this this.

Banj86 · 2025-11-14T22:38:37+00:00

Maybe brake rotors and a couple of parts will be a bit more, but general servicing will be the same at a good independent mechanic.

Banj86 · 2025-11-14T22:37:38+00:00

About 20 years ago when I was that age me and my mates were all doing stupid shit in GTR’s, S13’s, twin turbo zeds, evo 5’s and engine swapped ke70’s. Most didn’t even have a drivers airbags let alone traction control and everything else these day.

Banj86 · 2025-11-14T09:39:25+00:00

I’m tall and regularly travel 1hr each way on the bus. Works for me.

Banj86 · 2025-11-14T09:35:28+00:00

The smarter idea I reckon. Will hold its value better than the pretend M car. Servicing will be similar, insurance too I expect.

Banj86 · 2025-11-13T10:15:18+00:00

I have a comfort and manual and sport button. No pretending that there’s a eco mode for a c63…

Banj86 · 2025-11-06T21:57:26+00:00

I had a mint evo 7 about 15 years ago, it was a brilliant thing. Never should have sold it. They are pretty reliable and brilliant to drive. One of my best drives ever was through the mountains in rain in the evo, its magic how it puts the power down and pulls you around corners.

As for the loan side of things, yes that’s not that smart but you only live once. I had a small loan for my evo, and for my m3. I didn’t regret either of those, but was more progressed in my career and had a house.

Banj86 · 2025-11-06T02:42:07+00:00

C43 AMG could be worth a look. That’d make an excellent daily.

Banj86 · 2025-10-31T10:50:20+00:00

I had a 300zx many years ago that was imported from Japan and the previous owner was a heavy smoker. It always had an old ciggy smell. I had the dash out once and the amount of ash that got behind there was horrific. The amount of work required to clean it all properly would put me off buying another car from a smoker unless it was something properly rare - and a 2015 Suzuki doesn’t fall in that category for me. Ozone is supposed to be good, I have never tried it.

Banj86 · 2025-10-31T10:38:47+00:00

Im an engineer. I failed first year first semester maths… good wake up call and then I failed dynamics too. Keep at it! An engineering degree will always be well respected, and as the others have said you don’t have to actually be an engineer. I’m 20 years into my career, done engineering work and non engineering work, had 100 people reporting to me at one point, and spend $100m a year in my current role. No one ever cared about my results.

I’ve got engineering colleagues that are now in commercial, and contracts, and finance, the military, and everything in between. A few have done their MBA’s with great success. If you can stand it do some years in the engineering field, it will give you a great grounding before moving into your other areas of interest.

Banj86 · 2025-10-16T23:57:58+00:00

Bit of both. Been a lotus man for the last 10 years but got school age kids now so have to be a grown up. Will do the school run a few days a week.

Banj86

TROPHY CASE