Madman's Shed of the Week

[Madman]

Sometimes, when I really bored (like right now), I like to take a look at the local online used car ads just to see what interesting-looking old rigs are out there.  Besides, somebody may run into my car tomorrow and I'll have to go shopping for a new  ride to replace my beloved Volvo.  I hope that doesn't happen, but it's always nice to be prepared just in case.

Bear in mind, not just any old shed will do.  It has to have a touch of class and be just a little bit outside the mainstream so as to be interesting.  Even if I'm not in the market for a car right now, it's always fun to imagine "What If....".

So, without further adeu, I will now present the first installment of what I plan to be a regular feature: Madman's Shed of the Week!


7-13 October 2007:



My inaugural Shed certainly meets the criteria for having a touch of class.  It's a 1994 BMW 740i with 177,488 miles.  Green with tan leather interior, 4.0 litre V8, 5 speed auto, sunroof and security alarm.  It's being sold by a local used car dealer for only $2,900.  Fuel consumption could very well be horrific, but at this price I could afford plenty of fuel.  This one looks VERY tempting!


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[Champ]

Pull the trigger anyways!

[Raghavan]

Pull the trigger anyways!

What champ said.
Or better yet, buy an E30, though that might be a bit too much fun for you.

[TheIntrepid]

What champ said.
Or better yet, buy an E30, though that might be a bit too much fun for you.

This > His current Volvo 740 > Trep > Your Accord > 'st33m > E30.

[Raghavan]

This > His current Volvo 740 > Trep > Your Accord > 'st33m > E30.

There is no way in HELL an E30 is worse than a Trep, Accord or 740!
The 'st33m is 1337 so that doesn't count.

[nickdrinkwater]

That's a nice car for the price.  But I'd give it a week before something expensive failed!

[CALL_911]

This > His current Volvo 740 > Trep > Your Accord > 'st33m > E30.

No, no, no.

E30>E32>740>Accord>'st33m>Trep

All better.

[the Teuton]

So how's it drive?

[sandertheshark]

This > His current Volvo 740 > Trep > Your Accord > 'st33m > E30.

You are not allowed to talk about BMWs any more.

[CALL_911]

 

[Raza]

I would go for a same age or slightly newer 5er with a manual transmission.

[CALL_911]

I would go for a same age or slightly newer 5er with a manual transmission.

Yeah, me too.

[Madman]

14-20 October 2007.



You guys know how much I love these things.

My second Shed of the Week is a 1992 Volvo 240 sedan.  Bulletproof 2.3 litre B230F engine and Aisin-Warner AW70 4-speed automatic.  Blue and unknown miles, this one's being sold by a local beater lot for the bargain price of $1,495.

I'm willing to bet some hard-nosed negotiating will bring this down close to the one grand mark.  It looks to be in pretty good shape and, being VERY familiar with these tanks, I can fix just about anything that's likely to go wrong.

If it weren't for limited space, I would have a whole yard full of classic RWD Volvos.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[CALL_911]

I like it, but my vote goes to the E32. (no shit)

[TBR]

I want a 240 wagon!

[CALL_911]

I want a 240 wagon!

Yeah, I wouldn't mind one either.

[Raza]

Stickshift, Madman.  You want a stick.

[Vinsanity]

Besides, somebody may run into my car tomorrow and I'll have to go shopping for a new  ride to replace my beloved Volvo.  I hope that doesn't happen, but it's always nice to be prepared just in case.

Bear in mind, not just any old shed will do.  It has to have a touch of class and be just a little bit outside the mainstream so as to be interesting.  Even if I'm not in the market for a car right now, it's always fun to imagine "What If...."

the key word here being "imagine"

[The Pirate]

14-20 October 2007.



You guys know how much I love these things.

My second Shed of the Week is a 1992 Volvo 240 sedan.  Bulletproof 2.3 litre B230F engine and Aisin-Warner AW70 4-speed automatic.  Blue and unknown miles, this one's being sold by a local beater lot for the bargain price of $1,495.

I'm willing to bet some hard-nosed negotiating will bring this down close to the one grand mark.  It looks to be in pretty good shape and, being VERY familiar with these tanks, I can fix just about anything that's likely to go wrong.

If it weren't for limited space, I would have a whole yard full of classic RWD Volvos.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

Hmmm, I've seen a lot of 240 wagons for sale here, and they seem pretty mechanically simple.  I'll have to start keeping a close eye out for a mint one.

[Raghavan]

Madman, why are all your sheds auto?

[Rupert]

All two of them?

[Raza]

All two of them?

"Both".

But still.

[omicron]

Here is my shed of the week:

[Rupert]

A-buh.

[ChrisV]

That 740 could be a good car, and it's likely that the engine has already been replaced (the early 740s used nikasil liners that were prone to failure early. BMW replaced them with Alusil in '97 and retrofitted the earlier cars as the engines failed). Other than that, they don't really cost that much to operate, as I've found with my '98 740iL at 154k miles...

[Madman]

21-27 October 2007:

So it's a manual gearbox you clowns want?  How about mid-engined and rear wheel drive too?  Sound temping?  Well here it is.



Yep, it's mid-engined (sort of) and has a FIVE-SPEED MANUAL gearbox!
Behold the 1993 Toyota Previa DX.  2.4 litre I-4 with that aforementioned five speeder sending it's power to the rear wheels.

What, you were expecting some sort of exotic sports car or something? 

Not that's it's without it's merits.  Check out that rather fetching colour which I can only describe as "Hospital Waiting Room Blueish-Greenish Grey".  The selling dealer also boasts of grey cloth interior, power windows and locks, air-con, tinted glass and "deluxe" wheel covers!  (If those are deluxe, I wonder what the ordinary ones looked like?)  More than enough room inside to swing two cats and a paltry 236,405 miles on the clock!  How much for all this space, luxury and that sporty drivetrain did I hear you ask?  Just a measly $1,695.

I'd say this scores pretty high on the "Space for Dollar" scale.


Cheers,
Madman of the People

[the Teuton]

I know they exist, but I've never seen a manual minivan before.  This is a first.

[Colonel Cadillac]

I had no idea the Previa was RWD.

Definitely wins on the "space for the dollar."

[BimmerM3]

My girlfriend's parents had a supercharged Previa until about 8 months ago. Finally crapped out due to a head gasket problem. My girlfriend always said it was fast, but then again she was comparing it to her 114hp 1992 Volvo 740.

[Raghavan]

Those vans are a PITA to work on... Still, pretty cool!