Ooh, a what car but no depreciation thread!
Discussion
I have about £15K-£20K to spend on a car that I can run for a couple of years, and then I'll need the money again. I don't mind maintenance and fuel costs, but would like to be able to sell it for what I paid for it. What would you recommend?
Criteria:
1. Has to be available in North America
2. Has to be manual and RWD.
3. Has to be relatively reliable, rust free, easy to work on etc.
4. Any classic would be good, but must be saleable, I don't want to sit on it for years.
Currently considering:
NSX - v nice but they seem to be much pricier than I imagined they would be.
Lotus Esprit - again nice, but I don't know much about them. (Possibly S3?)
De Tomaso Pantera - In the $40K+ range over here (in Canada), love them, but not sure how quickly I could sell it again, it's a pretty niche car.
Suggestions please!
Criteria:
1. Has to be available in North America
2. Has to be manual and RWD.
3. Has to be relatively reliable, rust free, easy to work on etc.
4. Any classic would be good, but must be saleable, I don't want to sit on it for years.
Currently considering:
NSX - v nice but they seem to be much pricier than I imagined they would be.
Lotus Esprit - again nice, but I don't know much about them. (Possibly S3?)
De Tomaso Pantera - In the $40K+ range over here (in Canada), love them, but not sure how quickly I could sell it again, it's a pretty niche car.
Suggestions please!
BMW E24 M635CSi (below your budget and prices shooting up right now)
I just bought a German grey market car in the USA - good luck in finding one in Canada)
1984-1989 Porsche Carrera 3.2- the evergreen 911 (the one with DME motronic injection), very efficient engine- good fuel economy (esp when not fitted with cats) , galvanised body, not rust prone.
Audi (Ur-)Quattro Turbo- galvanised body- did they even sell these in North America?
I just bought a German grey market car in the USA - good luck in finding one in Canada)
1984-1989 Porsche Carrera 3.2- the evergreen 911 (the one with DME motronic injection), very efficient engine- good fuel economy (esp when not fitted with cats) , galvanised body, not rust prone.
Audi (Ur-)Quattro Turbo- galvanised body- did they even sell these in North America?
Bob_Defly said:
I thought the early 6 series BMW's were a nightmare to get parts for?
No not at all, BMWs are very good because nearly all parts are available. The 24 valve motorsport six is the hardest, but most of the cars supporting systems are shared with the stock 635CSi. For instance my clutch pedal went to the floor and I had to drive 30 miles from chicago to home with no clutch today. I trouble shot it as either the clutch Master or slave cylinder- checked my parts sources online and those parts are shared with E21 and E30 3 series, E12 5 series, normal 6 series, and E28s!!Two weeks ago I got a load of BMW part number hoses and ignition equipment sent to me via online.
These Bimmers DO rust though- they're NOT galvanised. Were you planning on using it in the salty snow?
Bob_Defly said:
Is there anything in my range that is actually going UP in value?
Hmmm, I know you dont want to hear it but Porsche 911s inc 993s and 911 3.2 Careeras are-also galvanised and dont rust much.928s are galvanised, theyre not going up but have pretty much flatlined. At your price you could afford a late 5.4 litre GTS.
Audi (Ur) Quattros are going up definately just like E24 M6s, but I have serious doubts they were sold in NA and theyre not RWD
Bob_Defly said:
I know a 911 is the sensible choice, but I'm just not into Porsche's I'm afraid...
Good man! The late-model V8 Esprits are doing OK over here. Obviously don't know the North America market though.
How much are Maser 4200's over there? You can pick them up here for £15k or so.
t house. Prety rust resistant. The 560 SL makes a lovely refined noise.What about one of these? (ignoring the horrendous interior & auto box of this example though}
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3856776.htm
http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/3856776.htm
Massers are lovely cars but will depreciate just like the old Ghiblis did. They're also trouble prone. I LOVE italian cars- perhaps the DeTomaso is a good idea.
Sorry I wouldn;t touch the V8 Esprit with a barge pole. It;'s Turbo charged and non intercooled- asking for disaster and indeed caused many a problem of heat dissipation during its development. The bushes for the intermediate sprockets fail. I knew someone who helped develop that engine at Lotus. I worked with him and told him my friend was interested in one and he just pulled a face. The 4 pot was far more robust.
Sorry I wouldn;t touch the V8 Esprit with a barge pole. It;'s Turbo charged and non intercooled- asking for disaster and indeed caused many a problem of heat dissipation during its development. The bushes for the intermediate sprockets fail. I knew someone who helped develop that engine at Lotus. I worked with him and told him my friend was interested in one and he just pulled a face. The 4 pot was far more robust.
I was going to suggest one of these:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1994-BMW-850CSi-/27...
...but it seems they are worth a teeny weeny bit more in the states than they are in Europe... :O
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1994-BMW-850CSi-/27...
...but it seems they are worth a teeny weeny bit more in the states than they are in Europe... :O
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