Post: #101

This whole premis to me seems kinda silly. I have a buddy who's a bit ghetto who loves buying older luxury cars. It's his thing, he enjoys it more power to him but seems like he buys a bunch of cars, puts a bunch of money into them and then has problems and sells them at a loss.

If you want a high end luxury car earn enough to buy the real deal but I personally don't see a point to buying a 30 year old budget version.

Are you a car lover who really appreciates these cars and wants to work on them or do you simply want to be able to say I drive a Ferrari?

Cars aren't really my thing so I can't really wrap my head around this.

Post: #102

(03-12-2017 03:30 AM)Sooth Wrote:  Buy 20k worth of bitcoin and ethereum.

Spend 5K on a diesel VW caddie and work on your body and game.

I like how you think, totally agree. I don't follow ether as much as bitcoin, what do you think about the current price?

Post: #103

Get a used old Boxster for 10k, girls dig the vert and set aside 5k for maintenance and for when the IMS bearing eventually shits the bed.

Blow the remaining 10k on whatever

Post: #104

(03-14-2017 11:36 AM)jamaicabound Wrote:  This whole premis to me seems kinda silly. I have a buddy who's a bit ghetto who loves buying older luxury cars. It's his thing, he enjoys it more power to him but seems like he buys a bunch of cars, puts a bunch of money into them and then has problems and sells them at a loss.

If you want a high end luxury car earn enough to buy the real deal but I personally don't see a point to buying a 30 year old budget version.

Are you a car lover who really appreciates these cars and wants to work on them or do you simply want to be able to say I drive a Ferrari?

Cars aren't really my thing so I can't really wrap my head around this.

Ha, I totally understand your "ghetto buddy's" mindset. I feel roughly the same! Back when I was in college, I used to own a great classic car. This car had problems like rust hidden under everything but the exterior and interior were beautiful so it didn't really matter. I was going to drive this thing into the ground.

I would use that car to pick up chicks. Hilariously, it worked! Girls were always slightly confused by it, but they always warmed up to the swag of the car. I was one of three people on campus with a quirky car and people would tell me how often they saw me driving somewhere.

My boys and I would pile girls into the car and go on rides through the mountains smoking blunts and being stupid. I lost how many times I plowed a chick in the back seat. I almost bought another version of it, but decided to press onto something new.

The key and biggest difference between us though, I love working on them. I never thought I would enjoy auto repair as much as I do.

But at the same time, how really and truly great are modern luxury cars these days?

I'll give it this, I enjoyed driving in a car with a LIDAR set up that adjusted my cruise control to the vehicle in front of me. I'll probably own a self driving car in the future, but there's no way in hell I would give up a non electrical car.

Call me a luddite, but I find the electronics of modern vehicles terrifying. The damn infotainment consoles are wired to the vehicles. There have been known hacks that attack critical systems through these.

I'll keep an entirely mechanical car around for posterity's sake. Someone has to remember what driving used to be like before stupid sensors would beep.

Post: #105

(03-14-2017 09:49 AM)TripleG Wrote:  Let me chime in as someone who has a 2017 Porsche Macan. If anyone buys a car strictly for girls they are out of their mind and I have no respect for that person. Buy a luxury sports car because YOU enjoy it, because YOU like the luxury, safety, speed, comfort, electronics, style, etc. of that car! What other people think should be a distant second.
For me I spent a little south of 70k on the Porsche but so far it has been the best 2,000 miles of my life. I could have leased this car but lease payments would actually have been more than my monthly payments are now, plus I like the fact that I can put unlimited mileage on this car plus customize it (such as installing a 360degree Valentine radar system).

OK so, I get your point to never buy a car just for girls.

That being said, discussing which cars girls may find more attractive than others isn't unreasonable, don't you think?

In my opinion, a car will never by itself get you laid. But it can certainly help. It is in a way similar to fashion. A nice outfit goes a long way too, but it is not the only factor.

Still we don't talk about fashion by saying "Anyone who considers what other people think of what you wear is out of their mind and I have no respect for them". If that was the case, just wear crocs and sweatpants 24/7...

Anyway, my point is there are reasonable cases to be made about what others think of the car you drive, as it can be (to some people anyway) a very expensive and hard to change fashion accessory.

Of course, don't buy a car just for chics! But people have been buying cars to help them get chicks (successfully or not) for generations, so I think it is a reasonable conversation and consideration when purchasing a vehicle in some cases. I personally do not lose any respect for somebody who considers this factor, even as a major and not minor factor in their decision. To others, they could care less, and thats OK too!

Post: #106

Worth having a look at KIA Stinger http://www.kia.com/us/en/content/vehicle...18-stinger

This car will come to Europe and USA in the next year / 2018. It basically has the same specs as an Audi A5 but for 1/3 of the price of your avg Audi (25k).

I work for KIA via a digital agency and we are currently working hard on giving this car a platform.

Personally I also really like the Mazda 3 / 6 which have decent prices and great specs / looks.

Post: #107

I have been keeping an eye on the Genesis 5.0L.

It seems to be getting good reviews. Its a regular aspirated V8, which I fucking love. There is a lot of tech in it, which is a tossup in regards to reliability.



My car finder app has the Lexus IS350-F pinned as well as the Cadillac CTS 6cyl. Two of the most reliable vehicles on the road, good for my family, yet still fun to drive.

I would love the CTS-V, but the old Boomer men are keeping them under lock in their garages so the prices remain high (low km).

Another one I test drove was the Taurus SHO. My buddy who runs a high end used car dealership called me to test one. It was a BEAST! Not a Ford fan, but this has me considering.

Post: #108

(03-18-2017 12:32 PM)Laner Wrote:  I have been keeping an eye on the Genesis 5.0L.

It seems to be getting good reviews. Its a regular aspirated V8, which I fucking love. There is a lot of tech in it, which is a tossup in regards to reliability.



My car finder app has the Lexus IS350-F pinned as well as the Cadillac CTS 6cyl. Two of the most reliable vehicles on the road, good for my family, yet still fun to drive.

I would love the CTS-V, but the old Boomer men are keeping them under lock in their garages so the prices remain high (low km).

Another one I test drove was the Taurus SHO. My buddy who runs a high end used car dealership called me to test one. It was a BEAST! Not a Ford fan, but this has me considering.

These are all the rage in S. Korea right now (makes sense), although not really the 5 liter, most have smaller engines here. But they look pretty sharp, tons of tech, and will get you as much attention as a Mercedes here. Probably won't grab as much attention in the USA though, but a very nice looking car for sure.

Post: #109

(03-17-2017 01:53 AM)GeneralMacDaddy Wrote:  OK so, I get your point to never buy a car just for girls.

That being said, discussing which cars girls may find more attractive than others isn't unreasonable, don't you think?

this is the way I think. A used Porsche Boxster might be had for anywhere from one half to one fourth the price of a used 911, and maybe an eight the cost of a new one, and will be appreaciated by females even more. there is a value arbitrage there.

a used 100K sports car bought for 25,000 has more appeal than a new $25,000 sports car.

Post: #110

Took ownership of my 380SL recently, time for some post buy stories.

The good: car was a garage queen. I've been getting compliments left and right. Very mechanically sound.

I had girls at the Topanga Canyon over look checking the car and me out. They sulked away after they saw my wife!

The bad:
AC doesn't work. PO is going to pay to fix this as it was promised it was working.
Car was a garage queen and rarely driven which means there are quirks that need to be worked out with the throttle linkages (easy repair).
Cruise is wonky. Might need a new amplifier. Could be the linkages.
9 volt cigarette adapter is broken. Need to source a new one (drop in replacement).
Fuel gage is dead. Need to check the sender.
Soft top is in ok condition, but there's a small cut on the passanger's side. I'll mend it for now, but it will definitely need replaced.
One of the bars that holds the softtop in place needs to be treated for rust. Thankfully it's held in with 4 screws and can come out without much fuss. I'm going to take it to an autobody shop and have them treat it. Should only be 30$ for the labor and rust treatment.
Will need to replace a driver's side window regulator.
Needs 4 new Bilstein shocks all around.


None of these are big problems. Since i'm unemployed, i can spend my time fixing the more dastardly issues like the fuel gage and shocks.

So in short Hypno, I would step back for a second and think about your desire to own a classic car if you're not comfortable doing some repair work yourself. It is possible to have a mechanic do it, but you'll pay a premium for it.

Post: #111

^ You are doing the Lord´s work in bringing her back to life. Damage not that bad. I always wonder why beautiful cars are left to neglect and someone with sense has to restore them.

Post: #112

(03-20-2017 10:29 AM)The Beast1 Wrote:  Took ownership of my 380SL recently, time for some post buy stories.

The good: car was a garage queen. I've been getting compliments left and right. Very mechanically sound.

I had girls at the Topanga Canyon over look checking the car and me out. They sulked away after they saw my wife!

The bad:
AC doesn't work. PO is going to pay to fix this as it was promised it was working.
Car was a garage queen and rarely driven which means there are quirks that need to be worked out with the throttle linkages (easy repair).
Cruise is wonky. Might need a new amplifier. Could be the linkages.
9 volt cigarette adapter is broken. Need to source a new one (drop in replacement).
Fuel gage is dead. Need to check the sender.
Soft top is in ok condition, but there's a small cut on the passanger's side. I'll mend it for now, but it will definitely need replaced.
One of the bars that holds the softtop in place needs to be treated for rust. Thankfully it's held in with 4 screws and can come out without much fuss. I'm going to take it to an autobody shop and have them treat it. Should only be 30$ for the labor and rust treatment.
Will need to replace a driver's side window regulator.
Needs 4 new Bilstein shocks all around.


None of these are big problems. Since i'm unemployed, i can spend my time fixing the more dastardly issues like the fuel gage and shocks.

So in short Hypno, I would step back for a second and think about your desire to own a classic car if you're not comfortable doing some repair work yourself. It is possible to have a mechanic do it, but you'll pay a premium for it.

It's a shame to have not grabbed beer before you left the UK. Anyway enjoy your life back in the states and glad to hear your trump winnings is going to restore that beautiful car.

Post: #113

(03-14-2017 02:00 PM)The Beast1 Wrote:  

(03-14-2017 11:36 AM)jamaicabound Wrote:  This whole premis to me seems kinda silly. I have a buddy who's a bit ghetto who loves buying older luxury cars. It's his thing, he enjoys it more power to him but seems like he buys a bunch of cars, puts a bunch of money into them and then has problems and sells them at a loss.

If you want a high end luxury car earn enough to buy the real deal but I personally don't see a point to buying a 30 year old budget version.

Are you a car lover who really appreciates these cars and wants to work on them or do you simply want to be able to say I drive a Ferrari?

Cars aren't really my thing so I can't really wrap my head around this.

Ha, I totally understand your "ghetto buddy's" mindset. I feel roughly the same! Back when I was in college, I used to own a great classic car. This car had problems like rust hidden under everything but the exterior and interior were beautiful so it didn't really matter. I was going to drive this thing into the ground.

I would use that car to pick up chicks. Hilariously, it worked! Girls were always slightly confused by it, but they always warmed up to the swag of the car. I was one of three people on campus with a quirky car and people would tell me how often they saw me driving somewhere.

My boys and I would pile girls into the car and go on rides through the mountains smoking blunts and being stupid. I lost how many times I plowed a chick in the back seat. I almost bought another version of it, but decided to press onto something new.

The key and biggest difference between us though, I love working on them. I never thought I would enjoy auto repair as much as I do.

But at the same time, how really and truly great are modern luxury cars these days?

I'll give it this, I enjoyed driving in a car with a LIDAR set up that adjusted my cruise control to the vehicle in front of me. I'll probably own a self driving car in the future, but there's no way in hell I would give up a non electrical car.

Call me a luddite, but I find the electronics of modern vehicles terrifying. The damn infotainment consoles are wired to the vehicles. There have been known hacks that attack critical systems through these.

I'll keep an entirely mechanical car around for posterity's sake. Someone has to remember what driving used to be like before stupid sensors would beep.

I get the old car thing, I definately have a love of old Buicks, Caddies and Oldsmobiles. So many good memories from high school and even college of buddies who inherited grandpas old car.

We used to smoke out old Buick Park Ave's or Caddies or whatever on teh way to high school everyday. My roomate in college had a 1987 Cadillac Brohm, no lie I think the thing was a foot longer than a suburban, it wouldn't fit in our garage.

I definately love those and if gas weren't an issue I'd probably pick one up for $1500 just as a doob cruise car.

I can even appreciate classic American cars, I just dont get the buying a 1980 BMW 500 series. I can wrap my head around a classic mustang, a 1981 Monte Carlo or even other cars if someone has a love of that brand or just likes being a greashead, but I don't get my buddies who wanna get an old cheap Porsche just to carry around porsche keys and say they drive a porsche.

Post: #114

Old cars have more character than new ones.

So driving an old American classic is no different than driving an old Porsche, it all boils down to a matter of taste.

I would gladly take a whale tail Porsche from the 80s, but one in good condition sells for money than a new Porsche.

You buy a car because you like it and it means something to you on a personal level.

Just don't think you are going to grab tail by driving a nice car.

Post: #115

OP needs to specify what his financials are like. How much does he have saved ? How much does he bring in? The maintenance cost of the cars be listed are insane and he might not even be able to foot the bill for it. Without knowing this it's not possible to make a recommendation.

Having a luxury car does not help with women, just ask Elliott Rodger (his mug was better looking than me too).

Post: #116

(03-07-2017 08:47 PM)Hypno Wrote:  I'm in the market for a car. I want to spend about $25,000. I have access to an old SUV if I ever have to haul a lot of stuff, go camping, or take a long distance road trip, so I don't necessarily need to be practical.

I like these cars:

Jaguar
Corvette
Maserati
Porsche
Range Rover

How bad of an idea is this in terms of repairs? I'm not handy at all.

I know Jags used to have a poor reputation, but didn't Ford start making them and improve the manufacturing process? When did that happen?

What are good sources of information on costs-to-own and likelihood of repairs?

I've owned higher mile Japanese cars, Toyota/Lexus, Honda/Acura, Nissan/Infiniti, and have been very pleased. I also had a 3 series BMW and sold it over 100K miles but before it ever needed major repairs. I don't really like the looks of BMW or Mercedes anymore, but I do like Porsche.

I am open to suggestions, but there are already a lot of car threads on this forum - I"m looking for information on comparing these cars' reliability and cost of repair.

Consumer Reports Car Buying Guide is a good resource. It sounds like you already suspect the worst about buying these types of cars. Does saying that you want to spend $25K mean that you won't have anything in reserve for repairs, which are likely? You can't really compare Japanese used cars to anything else, really, IMHO. But, if you are determined despite the warnings, I would ask around and find a good mechanic first, and ask them.

Post: #117

I like this youtuber.

Post: #118

(03-17-2017 01:53 AM)GeneralMacDaddy Wrote:  

(03-14-2017 09:49 AM)TripleG Wrote:  Let me chime in as someone who has a 2017 Porsche Macan. If anyone buys a car strictly for girls they are out of their mind and I have no respect for that person. Buy a luxury sports car because YOU enjoy it, because YOU like the luxury, safety, speed, comfort, electronics, style, etc. of that car! What other people think should be a distant second.
For me I spent a little south of 70k on the Porsche but so far it has been the best 2,000 miles of my life. I could have leased this car but lease payments would actually have been more than my monthly payments are now, plus I like the fact that I can put unlimited mileage on this car plus customize it (such as installing a 360degree Valentine radar system).

OK so, I get your point to never buy a car just for girls.

That being said, discussing which cars girls may find more attractive than others isn't unreasonable, don't you think?

In my opinion, a car will never by itself get you laid. But it can certainly help. It is in a way similar to fashion. A nice outfit goes a long way too, but it is not the only factor.

Still we don't talk about fashion by saying "Anyone who considers what other people think of what you wear is out of their mind and I have no respect for them". If that was the case, just wear crocs and sweatpants 24/7...

Anyway, my point is there are reasonable cases to be made about what others think of the car you drive, as it can be (to some people anyway) a very expensive and hard to change fashion accessory.

Of course, don't buy a car just for chics! But people have been buying cars to help them get chicks (successfully or not) for generations, so I think it is a reasonable conversation and consideration when purchasing a vehicle in some cases. I personally do not lose any respect for somebody who considers this factor, even as a major and not minor factor in their decision. To others, they could care less, and thats OK too!

Points taken. Speaking of classic vs new cars the dealer who sold me my Porsche mentioned that out of the last 30 years 75% of all Porsche's made are still on the road and that other than pure exotics (such as your Ferrari's, Lambos, Aston Martins, etc.) they depreciate the least out of all the brands (not even close if compared to Mercedes, BMW, Audi, or Lexus) and in many cases appreciate. Case in point there was a 1995 Porsche 911 on the lot with 52k miles in pristine condition (similar to the one pictured below). Sold for $65,000. Almost the same price as I paid for my 2017 Porsche. Makes you think.

Post: #119

Boom. These old school wagons are badass.




https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/...-never-die

Post: #120

Those wagons are great. Especially if they're diesel.

They came with a third row seat option too!

Good news on the car front. I have fixed both the cruise control and fuel sender. The car is an awoken beast. Much more power off of the line. I'm planning on replacing the pads and shocks all around this week.

Post: #121

I hate asking but what does it mean if you hear a grinding noise out of your brakes at low speed (less than 20)? New brake job? Stuck rock?

Sure, I can google but I'd rather ask fellow RVFers.

Post: #122

(04-04-2017 12:59 AM)Cattle Rustler Wrote:  I hate asking but what does it mean if you hear a grinding noise out of your brakes at low speed (less than 20)? New brake job? Stuck rock?

Sure, I can google but I'd rather ask fellow RVFers.

Probably a stuck stone. Try reversing and stabbing at the brakes.

I'd get a torch and have a peek at the remaining life on the pads though. Usually if the noise disappears at higher speeds it's just a stone. However you should check to see if you have worn your pads to the limit and the grinding is the beginning of metal to metal contact. If this is the case then things can go south very quickly- if you were to continue to use that brake then it would heat up and boil the brake fluid or blow the seals, leading to no brakes whatsoever, plus would write off the disc too.

Changing pads is usually an easy enough job to do yourself, unless the pistons are seized. Don't drive it to the garage unless it's just round the corner and you know you can stop it on gears and the handbrake.

Post: #123

(04-04-2017 12:40 AM)The Beast1 Wrote:  Those wagons are great. Especially if they're diesel.

They came with a third row seat option too!

Good news on the car front. I have fixed both the cruise control and fuel sender. The car is an awoken beast. Much more power off of the line. I'm planning on replacing the pads and shocks all around this week.

Congrats on your new ride, Beast, you got the perfect car for your situation. If you have to resell it 5-10 yrs from now, you will make a profit.

Post: #124

(03-20-2017 10:29 AM)The Beast1 Wrote:  Took ownership of my 380SL recently, time for some post buy stories.

The good: car was a garage queen. I've been getting compliments left and right. Very mechanically sound.

I had girls at the Topanga Canyon over look checking the car and me out. They sulked away after they saw my wife!

The bad:
AC doesn't work. PO is going to pay to fix this as it was promised it was working.
Car was a garage queen and rarely driven which means there are quirks that need to be worked out with the throttle linkages (easy repair).
Cruise is wonky. Might need a new amplifier. Could be the linkages.
9 volt cigarette adapter is broken. Need to source a new one (drop in replacement).
Fuel gage is dead. Need to check the sender.
Soft top is in ok condition, but there's a small cut on the passanger's side. I'll mend it for now, but it will definitely need replaced.
One of the bars that holds the softtop in place needs to be treated for rust. Thankfully it's held in with 4 screws and can come out without much fuss. I'm going to take it to an autobody shop and have them treat it. Should only be 30$ for the labor and rust treatment.
Will need to replace a driver's side window regulator.
Needs 4 new Bilstein shocks all around.


None of these are big problems. Since i'm unemployed, i can spend my time fixing the more dastardly issues like the fuel gage and shocks.

So in short Hypno, I would step back for a second and think about your desire to own a classic car if you're not comfortable doing some repair work yourself. It is possible to have a mechanic do it, but you'll pay a premium for it.

You better check to see if the timing chains have been converted over to double chains.

Post: #125

(04-04-2017 10:57 AM)el mechanico Wrote:  

(03-20-2017 10:29 AM)The Beast1 Wrote:  Took ownership of my 380SL recently, time for some post buy stories.

The good: car was a garage queen. I've been getting compliments left and right. Very mechanically sound.

I had girls at the Topanga Canyon over look checking the car and me out. They sulked away after they saw my wife!

The bad:
AC doesn't work. PO is going to pay to fix this as it was promised it was working.
Car was a garage queen and rarely driven which means there are quirks that need to be worked out with the throttle linkages (easy repair).
Cruise is wonky. Might need a new amplifier. Could be the linkages.
9 volt cigarette adapter is broken. Need to source a new one (drop in replacement).
Fuel gage is dead. Need to check the sender.
Soft top is in ok condition, but there's a small cut on the passanger's side. I'll mend it for now, but it will definitely need replaced.
One of the bars that holds the softtop in place needs to be treated for rust. Thankfully it's held in with 4 screws and can come out without much fuss. I'm going to take it to an autobody shop and have them treat it. Should only be 30$ for the labor and rust treatment.
Will need to replace a driver's side window regulator.
Needs 4 new Bilstein shocks all around.


None of these are big problems. Since i'm unemployed, i can spend my time fixing the more dastardly issues like the fuel gage and shocks.

So in short Hypno, I would step back for a second and think about your desire to own a classic car if you're not comfortable doing some repair work yourself. It is possible to have a mechanic do it, but you'll pay a premium for it.

You better check to see if the timing chains have been converted over to double chains.

84 onwards had the double timing chain already installed from factory. Thanks for the heads up!