Cars where the heart says 'yes' but the head says 'hell no'
Discussion
Any Alfa Romeo.
I'm not one of these Clarkson-types that thinks all Alfas are stunning but I can see the appeal in some of them
I saw a stunning black 156 with tan leather and telephone dial alloys that I lusted after, along with several Breras, but there's just no way my head would let me.
I'm not one of these Clarkson-types that thinks all Alfas are stunning but I can see the appeal in some of them
I saw a stunning black 156 with tan leather and telephone dial alloys that I lusted after, along with several Breras, but there's just no way my head would let me.
don4l said:
A few years ago I went for a test drive in a DB9. I wasn't serious, just having a look.
I will never forget the feeling as I drove around the first bend. I was in love.
Fortunately, I completely ignored my head (and my wife) and 6 weeks later, there was one on the drive.
Best decision that I ever made.
That's the spirit.I will never forget the feeling as I drove around the first bend. I was in love.
Fortunately, I completely ignored my head (and my wife) and 6 weeks later, there was one on the drive.
Best decision that I ever made.
Don't live to regret.
daveco said:
For me it was the 8 series, specifically the 850i as it was a big deal when released. Massive engine in BMW's best design imo.
V12s were few and far between especially wrapped in such a striking exterior, and Mercedes were yet to release their 400hp monster in their W140 panzer vehicle.
I still want to drive one at the very least, but as an ownership prospect I'm scared of them
I'm sure I read somewhere the V12 is effectively 2 x 6 cylinder engines....as in....2 ECUs, 1 x throttle computer, 2 MAFs, 2 of everything! Not a sophisticated engine by today's standards but still has the potential to be bloody expensive to maintain if any of that fails!
V12s were few and far between especially wrapped in such a striking exterior, and Mercedes were yet to release their 400hp monster in their W140 panzer vehicle.
I still want to drive one at the very least, but as an ownership prospect I'm scared of them
And I hear the panels and glass for the 8 series are eye wateringly expensive.
I would love a Mercedes SL R230, especially the SL55 AMG...
...but, the thought of the sheer expense if anything went wrong with it...which would be a leaking roof, potentially failed & pricey to replace ECUs, pricey ABC suspension failure, SBC brake failure and just the generally flakey build of an early 2000s Mercedes.
Head says no, hell no! But heart pines for one!
...but, the thought of the sheer expense if anything went wrong with it...which would be a leaking roof, potentially failed & pricey to replace ECUs, pricey ABC suspension failure, SBC brake failure and just the generally flakey build of an early 2000s Mercedes.
Head says no, hell no! But heart pines for one!
ked, BMW 328 or jap grey import.Mr Teddy Bear said:
Liquid Tuna said:
I'd love one of these. Cheap enough to buy, but I hear they're not even slightly reliable.
Don't touch one of those things with a barge pole; unless you have VERY deep pockets, find it funny to be locked out by the vehicles security system, don't mind the thing refusing to start because there is interference with the fob signal. I could go on and on. Just noooooooooooo. Oh and own your own oil well.get one in good order, keep the battery fresh, join a forum for advice, keep on top of things, it will be fine...
vtecyo said:
Also a B7 S4 wagon would be parked outside right now were it not for the horror stories about timing chain related bills.
Nowhere near as common an inssue as the internet would have you believe, and more of a prolbem in the US. Mainly affects cars that haven't been serviced/maintained regularly. Just listen for an engine rattle when they start, if there isn't one, you're golden.Great thread! Plenty of cars I've thought about buying have gone through this process...
- Sierra Cosworth: Rust, serious threat of theft and reliability concerns.
- Escort Cosworth: Ditto.
- C5 RS6: Gearbox issues and owners reports of them emptying bank accounts at will.
- E60 M5: Gearbox, Rod Bearings, Clutches and reports of ~12mpg average and tiny fuel tanks.
- Peugeot 306 GTi-6: French, got the fear of the French after a rogue 205 GTi purchase.
- Renault Clio 1*2: Ditto.
- Porsche 996 Turbo: Unknown quantity to me and potential repair/running costs scared me away at the time. Turns out I was wrong, they are reliable cars on the whole and now I have missed the 996TT boat.
- Pulsar/Sunny GTi-R: Gearbox and engine failures seemed common at the time.
- R33 Skyline GTR: Again, when looking at these, they were relatively unknown/new and I was scared away by the (apparently high) chance of a 10k+ engine build.
They're the ones I can remember off the top of my head, some of them I revisit (for example the Clio, every time I think about building a dedicated track car) from time to time.. end result is always the same, head rules heart.
Cheers,
Grant
- Sierra Cosworth: Rust, serious threat of theft and reliability concerns.
- Escort Cosworth: Ditto.
- C5 RS6: Gearbox issues and owners reports of them emptying bank accounts at will.
- E60 M5: Gearbox, Rod Bearings, Clutches and reports of ~12mpg average and tiny fuel tanks.
- Peugeot 306 GTi-6: French, got the fear of the French after a rogue 205 GTi purchase.
- Renault Clio 1*2: Ditto.
- Porsche 996 Turbo: Unknown quantity to me and potential repair/running costs scared me away at the time. Turns out I was wrong, they are reliable cars on the whole and now I have missed the 996TT boat.
- Pulsar/Sunny GTi-R: Gearbox and engine failures seemed common at the time.
- R33 Skyline GTR: Again, when looking at these, they were relatively unknown/new and I was scared away by the (apparently high) chance of a 10k+ engine build.
They're the ones I can remember off the top of my head, some of them I revisit (for example the Clio, every time I think about building a dedicated track car) from time to time.. end result is always the same, head rules heart.
Cheers,
Grant
Mr Teddy Bear said:
Liquid Tuna said:
I'd love one of these. Cheap enough to buy, but I hear they're not even slightly reliable.
Don't touch one of those things with a barge pole; unless you have VERY deep pockets, find it funny to be locked out by the vehicles security system, don't mind the thing refusing to start because there is interference with the fob signal. I could go on and on. Just noooooooooooo. Oh and own your own oil well.Gassing Station | General Gassing | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff