Give me your thoughts on a Porsche 944S

[MexicoCityM3]

The 850 has a dipstick. And the whole won't buy because of that is totally overblown. I can and do my own oil changes on the newer cars. Not a big deal to press a button and get a reading.

Carspin: the official luditte car enthusiast board. Come on.

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

The 850 has a dipstick. And the whole won't buy because of that is totally overblown. I can and do my own oil changes on the newer cars. Not a big deal to press a button and get a reading.

Carspin: the official luditte car enthusiast board. Come on.

I didn't know you could check with the push of a button. But That still can't beat a visual inspection.

[Northlands]

BMW 850 CSi V12 6 speed, FTW:

Prettiest car they've made. Very nice. 

[Rupert]

It's a real shame that all the really cool, really beautiful, really expensive cars in the world are, uh, really expensive.

[Payman]

It's a real shame that all the really cool, really beautiful, really expensive cars in the world are, uh, really expensive.

An 850 CSi V12 with reasonable mileage can be had for <30K.

[Tave]

Prettiest car they've made. Very nice. 

Almost:







Speaking of which, I think I just found John's new ride.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Pfffft

[SVT666]

Z8 is nice, but it's certainly not the prettiest they've made.  The 850i is definitely prettier.

[Payman]

Almost:







Speaking of which, I think I just found John's new ride.

Very very expensive. The cheapest I could find was $89K. Beautiful car though.

[Rupert]

An 850 CSi V12 with reasonable mileage can be had for <30K.

You are not helping your argument, unless your argument is the same as mine.

[GoCougs]

Thing is, most of the cars mentioned - the 924/944, 928, 850CSi, 300ZX, etc., are all kinda fads (dated) for the most part; they're not timeless.

After he gets his mind off of golden showering me, I think MiataJohn will come to the conclusion that a 911 of one vintage or another is his only logical choice. I nominate an early '70s Carrera RS:

[Rupert]

What's logic got to do with it?

[Eye of the Tiger]

What's logic got to do with it?

You sound like Tina Turner

[cawimmer430]

It's a real shame that all the really cool, really beautiful, really expensive cars in the world are, uh, really expensive.

One of the moderators for Grip (whom I had the pleasure of meeting and photographing for a magazine) recently was on the lookout for a new car. He considered the Mercedes CL500 Coupe (C140), BMW 850i V12 and Maserati Biturbo 2.8 V6. In the end the electronic issues the 8er is famous for kept him away and he went with the Mercedes CL500.

I agree that it looks cool though. Here's the video (German): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsedgTQN2pA (BMW 8er appears at 8:09 min)

^The Maserati Biturbo wouldn't start properly and then not at all. The owner selling it confessed that the engine had to be removed from the car three times in order to fix things.^  



Speaking of the Maserati Biturbo, it's gorgeous.  

John, you should consider one - when you want to spend the weekends away from the wife, locked up inside the garage fixing something!  

[cawimmer430]

Pfffft

I see these in Munich on a daily basis.

They're ugly and bland as sin IMO.

[mzziaz]

Volvo P1800? I'm really trying to think of something you don't see everyday.

Did you guys get the Alpines?

A110 is really beautiful



A610's are cool, too:

[cawimmer430]

Other stylish suggestions. 

Lancia Monte Carlo (Scorpion in the USA)





Lancia Fulvia. Hope you don't mind FWD!





One of my personal favorites, Lancia Beta HPE! 

Again, hope you don't mind FWD!

[Byteme]

I really don't want anything with a lot of electronics, so I'm thinking no newer than 1990 or so.  I don't want traction control or self leveling suspension, I-drive or anything like it.  Using the previous E-type as a benchmark I don't want to pay a fortune just to keep it on the road.  After it was sorted I think I spent something like a grand a year in E-type repairs, max; not bad for a 42 year old exotic that was actually being driven.

Also prefer front engine rear wheel drive or mid engine rear wheel drive.  No AWD.

[omicron]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Rare-1964-Buick-Wildcat-Con-401-C-I-V-8-335-H-P-Older-Rest-only-7-850-made-/300654724185?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item46006b0459

I'll buy it if you don't.

[omicron]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/NAILHEAD-V8-DUAL-QUAD-CARB-SETUP-NICE-60s-CONVERTIBLE-AWESOME-COLOR-COMBO-/280800846416?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item416108e250

[Byteme]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Rare-1964-Buick-Wildcat-Con-401-C-I-V-8-335-H-P-Older-Rest-only-7-850-made-/300654724185?pt=US_Cars_Trucks&hash=item46006b0459

I'll buy it if you don't.

I test drove a used one of those around 1967.  Powerful convertible top motor.  Would overcome the wind resistance generated by driving 35-40 MPH.   

[omicron]

I test drove a used one of those around 1967.  Powerful convertible top motor.  Would overcome the wind resistance generated by driving 35-40 MPH.   

An obvious sign of excellence.

[GoCougs]

What's logic got to do with it?

It gets you bad ideas the likes of which populate much of this thread. There are relatively few logical choices that have been mentioned

Vintage 911
Corvette C2
Factory Five Cobra replica
First gen Mustang
First gen Datsun Z (maybe not mentioned?)

[Raza]

Big reason why they are relatively cheap. Just spent the last 20 mins looking at some examples... $3000 for a high miler to $30-something K for an 850 CSi with low miles. Perfect car if you can stomach the possibility of having to replace a part.

And, V-12 with a fucking 6 speed!

Even the 850i/Ci 6 speed can be had for under 15K. 

[Raza]

There are no dipsticks in BMW's from the last 7 or 8 years.  You can't even check the oil level yourself.

I think that only started with the flame surface line of vehicles. 

[Raza]

Volvo P1800? I'm really trying to think of something you don't see everyday.

Love it.  Best suggestion so far. 

[Raza]

Yeah.  Yeahyeahyeah.

I've seen maybe one in the flesh, ever, but it was gorgeous.

I've seen one CSi, but I do see an 8 series every couple of months.

[Byteme]

Love it.  Best suggestion so far. 

The 1800 is a nice, unique car.  The quickest they made took something like 9.6 seconds to hit 60 MPH.  One tested by Road and Track in 1966 lumbered up to 60 MPH in a lethargic 13.6 seconds. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

So put a turbo on it

[Byteme]

So put a turbo on it

And name it "Turbo Slug".