I think I may need a new fuel pump for my Mercedes. That's going to cost like $300. Or I can just make sure it doesn't go near half tank otherwise I can't go over 50 mph on a hill. But I do think it will improve the car's life to replace another of its worn out parts. It did just go over 220k. I have taken one picture of my car and that is what is at the top of this entry. I almost forgot to check the odometer before it reached 220,000, oops. Anyway I maybe getting a second job at the Richmond Mall working at Pac-Sun. So maybe I will get that fuel pump after all.

Yours Truly,

Eric

It seems all is lost for us Xangonians. Myspace has taken over like walmart. Damn you walmart and your everyday low prices. And damn you myspace to a really bad place.

Where are you my fellow Xangonians?

Yeah, I'm lazy. I haven't felt the urge to post anyhting real important like my trip pics but I will tell what I did yesterday. I got to test drive a 1986 420 SEL Mercedes Benz. It was kinda cool I guess because I'm driving someone else's car and I guess because it had a CORVETTE engine. Yep, this hotrod guy Frankensteined the engine and transmission into this German Luxury car. This car was weird but cool. The 420 SEL is a tank compared to my car. Its bigger than a 2000 STS. It may have had a Corvette engine but had disappointing acceleration. I thought this was going to be my dream car but after i took it to my new mechanic, he said even he would have troughble working on it and he is a certified master mechanic. The price on the Mervette Benz was $3900 but he appraised it lower to about $2900. But after the drive I gave up on that dream. However I might call the guy to see if I can buy the crome Mercedes aftermarket rims and tires that were on it.

I didn't go into work today because I'm getting my car worked on since 8:00 AM!! The guy said that it will only take an hour but that has not been the case. The price did go up because of his mistake, but not much. $150 + tax is the price now but I had him take a look at a few other things like the leak in my brake fluid and a professional look at my transmission. I hope this ordeal gives new life to The Beast.

Eric

P.S. Hee, hee, its raining and my car may run faster

Shoes finally came in today. Yes they are fresh as apple pie on the windowsill. Zappos.com is the coolest online shoe store; even though they had late delivery time. It rained last night and a bunch of tree crap got all over the Benz. I was going to take a picture of it today but, eh, I'm on vacation tomorrow. Phoenix weather for tomorrow is sunny, dry, and 100 degrees!! I'm going strait from a mild spring to a deadly summer in about 5 hours. 10 degrees every hour almost!! One thing fun I did do today was drive the catty. Even though I had to follow my Dad down to his warehouse, I blasted classic rock as I went through the awesome sound system it has.

Gotta get packin'

Eric

Washed the car yesterday, but it rained. So no pics of it yet. Plus I have to clean the scale rust that reappears on one of my wheels. Otherwise my car has one good side. I hope to salvage some aftermarket 15" rims and tires. Having nice clean rims is a must. That and a new sound system for the car would be great too. The original has no left channel and no bass. Left channel thing will be looked at today once I wake up or I'll fix it some how before I go to the guy that does it out of a shed at his home. I hope it doesn't cost me much to have stereo again. Becker Europa is the high end stereo that is in my Mercedes, but the left channel has worn out and there are no kits for a new stereo to replace it.

Gotta get some shut eye,

Eric

Today I when to the garage and got an estimate on what the vacuum pump would cost me to fix. Kyle's garage was the first place I went to and Kyle wanted just over $100 to rebuild it. The second Mercedes mechanic, Dargies, wanted over $250. I may have told him some wrong things but the second hand smoke in that place was horrendous. My eyes still hurt from the burning. Plus that guy was a professional Mercedes restorer and was going to use all original parts. I just need it to work. So riding around Richmond I found that the new tires are fun to peel out in and power slide in. Especially before the pump is fixed; between 1st and 2nd there is a little more torque and on a turn I get alittle slide on turns and in gravel. May 10th is my appointment date, so after my trip I'll have my car fixed.

Shoes did not make it to their destination today. Hope they have the right address and they come on Monday before I leave for Phoenix.

Next Tuesday and Wednesday I'll be in Las Vegas. Pictures will be posted after or during my trip. I'll be staying at my Dad's friend's house because he has two guest rooms and a pool. Pictures will also be taken there.

I'll be taking pictures of my car once I get the rims either repainted or salvage some clean rims. I am going to get the car's stereo looked at on Sunday and the vacuum pump looked at tomorrow. I did not know that gas powered cars make their own vacuum and don't need a pump like I do. My Dad gave in the fact that this part is a necessary buy so if repair is out of the question I have to look into getting a $382 diesel vacuum pump installed by some garage too. Super-dooper. Maybe I can get my grandparents to help me with this but I don't want to get them to put money into this if they can help me with a newer car like a S10 or an Accord or a diesel powered VW Jetta, hell yeah. Jetta is looking good. Maybe a diesel VW Golf. But I want a RWD diesel powered car or just a small truck. If there was a diesel S10 I would be so happy.

Life creates a vacuum, unlike my car

Eric

Today, well, yesterday I got some tires to replace my worn front tires. They, however, don't exactly fit. So I had them put in the back because of how high the wall of the tire was. My original tire is 175 and now the back are sitting on 205s. A little bulky but the have nice tread. It kinda makes my car look like it has a little muscle. In fact the tires came from a salvaged car that had wrecked 3 weeks or months after the car got new tires put on. So in essence I got 2 new tires for $20 each, balancing included. Now I have to invest in some sort of vacuum pump to assist in the transmission shifting, braking, and my vacuum locks (that would be awesome to have working locks). So far I have an estimate of about $382 for a completely new one, not including installation. Trying to look into a rebuilt one though or even a salvaged on off another Mercedes (if I can find one). This car is becoming a pain, but its nice to have and drive a Mercedes. I am looking into another car, maybe an S10? I can settle for a nice rebuilt engine in another Mercedes; just as long as its diesel.

Wish me luck,

Eric

*edit*

PS: Any reasonable suggestions for a reasonable car?

New shoes come in on Thursday. Vegas is where they will tread. Maybe even Mexico?!?!

If there were no God, there would be no Atheists.
  - GK Chesterton