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Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars

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danio3834
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
I'm going with a C5 Z06. Either that, or an SRT8 Charger.

In this discount economy, I could probably go with both.
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beercheck
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
Haven't read the article, but I gotta say up-optioned Discoveries and Suburbans are seriously enticing at current prices. Defenders are staying up there, though.
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RLJ676-LS3 Commuter Car - for the environment
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
C6
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.357
04/17/09

@rlj676-Carbon Footprint Size - Clownshoe: Agreed. You can find a great example for 1/2 price.
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Cognitive Friction
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
A co-worker has an M coupe - To me it looks exactly like the car Ace and Gary drove in "The Ambiguously Gay Duo".

I've been pondering a 1977-1990 GM B-body wagon for my next used car...how are the values on those holding up? Still worth about as much as a bag of dog turds?
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If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face
04/17/09

@Cog. Friction, fueled by Jalopsinthe: If I didn't have an SUV, I'd be looking at those, too. Gotta go with the Olds Custom Cruiser. Or maybe a Safari.
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engineerd
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
I hear you can get a Lamborghini real cheap in Orange County.
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.357
04/17/09

@Duke engineerd von Prandtl: Yeah, at the #1 Lamborghini dealer, Lamborghini Orange County!
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Das ASHloch (achtundsiebzig)
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
I'll ditto M Coupe, just like I proposed in the QOTD thread today. Prefer the later one with the M3 engine in it, but any of them are fine.
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
Doesn't look like the most thorough list by a long shot. First, you want a good car that you can enjoy driving for a long time - at least till the economy decides to come back from its bender. Then you want a car that was very expensive, is generally well cared for, and whose value has sunk like Taco Bell through your intestines.

Japanese cars don't cut it because they hold their value too well. Half price is for chumps. You want something more like ten percent of sticker. Focus and Mini were too cheap to start with. BMWs, Loti and certainly the WRX have probably been thrashed and might be only a few hundred yards from spitting out their con rods.

What you want is a prestige car, a fashion statement, or the odd duck that never sold in large volumes and therefore doesn't have much of a following to prop up its price.

Out of this list I'd go with the Jag, Caddy and Aston. Boxster might work, if you can find it cheap enough and not thrashed.
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.357
04/17/09

@Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet: I was thinking Jag as well.
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
04/17/09

@Lord Pferdestärke the 357th: But choose wisely, my son. One major repair can vacuum your bank account dry.
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.357
04/17/09

@Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet: Still worth it. V12 all the way.

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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
04/17/09

@Lord Pferdestärke the 357th: If I can see half of the pistons, does this mean that it's really a six cylinder, or just time for a rebuild?
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.357
04/17/09

@Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet: It's symbolic of British Leyland's workforce.
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A strolling player
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
I'll see their LS430 and raise them an early LS400.

I would absolutely love an early version of that in black. Preferably with a beefed-up suspension and much weight savings. I wonder if my uncle still has his.
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xeensd
04/17/09

@Gutpunch McRodbender, a strolling player's understudy:

With you on this one... solid v8 engine

even a GS300 with a venerable 2jz

would be nice.
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Peugeot 504 - the Car for Nigeria
04/17/09

@xeensd: Aren't those of the generation that the LeMons judges used as punishment? I seem to recall that they gave one black-flagged team the task of removing the starter from it, and they spent the first thirty minutes just figuring out where the starter was.
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A strolling player
04/17/09

@Peugeot 504 - the Car for Nigeria: Yep, that's the one! It's hiding under the engine, isn't it?

I'm not worried about replacing the starter. I doubt I'll ever have to.
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no_slushbox
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
The '04-'97 first generation Miata is way better than the second generation Miata, if only because it's basically the same car and is way better looking.

The C5 is a C6 but cheaper.

The last generation F-body deserves metion if only because it's a dirt cheap way to get a 300+ HP engine connected to the rear wheels through a 6-speed manual.

Also, they left out the Porsche 914. Much more reliable than a used Boxster and easier to work on.
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
04/17/09

@no_slushbox: My old girlfriend's Dad didn't think his 914 was easy to work on, or very reliable. And he bought it new and built a garage for it.
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no_slushbox
04/17/09

@Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet: To be clear, I didn't claim that a 914 was, in an absolute sense, reliable or easy to work on.

I simply claimed that a 914 is reliable and easy to work on relative to a Boxster.

Given the intermediate shaft (IMS) engine imploding problems that the Boxster has, just to start with, and the fact that the Boxster's engine is inaccessible from the top, I think my claim is pretty defensible.

Plus the 914 is cooler. Especially in orange or green.
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Van Sarockin, rogue trebuchet
04/17/09

@no_slushbox: I see what you're saying. I'm partial to the 914-6, any color.
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FionaScrapple
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
My kingdom for a clean, low-mileage, unmolested Mercury Maruader. In rare Burgundy trim, please.
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FlakJack
04/17/09

@FionaScrapple: Had one of those for sale here in Portland a few months ago -- private seller and it looked like it'd been pampered. His starting price seemed way above book but I didn't realize the burgundy was such a rarity. Kind of an odd choice of color for something that in black, looks like the ultimate state-trooper mobile.
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pauljones
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
Now's a great time to go for a fuckin' walk.
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Deartháir II
04/17/09

@pauljones: Mr. Jones, you seem cranky today. Do you need a hug? C'mere, big guy.
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pauljones
04/17/09

@Pope Deartháir III the Awesometh: Thank you, Mr. Pope.

You have been absent for a while. How goes life in your corner of Canada?
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Number_Six
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
Sad thing is, most of the cars shown were lovely when new but have been so heavily douchinated by now as to be rendered almost unrecognizable.

I'd join a teabag-athon for an unmolested end-of-times Prelude.
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If FromaBuick6 has to watch one more Chevy commercial, he's going to punch Howie Long in the face
04/17/09

@Number_six: I'll second that. I'd settle for a 4th or 5th gen VTEC 5-peed Accord, but it's even harder to find those in clean, unmolested condition.
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Boosted Lego Wagon
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
Now, which one do you think I'm gonna pick...

Actually, I'd got for a nice manual E39 M5. Yahtzee.
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Syrax
04/17/09

@boosted-lego-wagon -> now boosted to 350hp: E39 is not an option. It's above all choices.
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MushyHeirloom
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
Well, since "1989 Volvo 240" wasn't an option, and I don't feel like fighting c0de for the ZedThree, Mazdaspeed3 it is.
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Scandinavian Flick
04/17/09

@Baron Plushroom von Falconpunchen: '81-'84 ftw... The only years available with a snail. :D
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MushyHeirloom
04/17/09

@Scandinavian flick: Yeah, but those are pretty rare nowadays. I'm hoping to find one wrecked and do a conversion on said '89.
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Scandinavian Flick
04/17/09

@Baron Plushroom von Falconpunchen: That would be sweet. You could just snag the motor from a 740 turbo too, since it is the same block. I am currently working on a swap from an '81 242 turbo that I wrecked into an '84 that I already had. The ignition, computers and wiring are all coming from a '93 740 turbo.

I highly recommend checking out TurboBricks if you haven't already. If you do, my screen name over there is "SwedishBrick242..." :)

My '81:

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MushyHeirloom
04/17/09

@Scandinavian flick: That's gorgeous, man. I love the Euro headlight treatment - like the '86-'93 US-market front but a bit sleeker and less bug-eyed.

Dunno why I hadn't joined TB yet. Good call!

Oh - and what wheels are those on your 242? Polaris? Love 'em.
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Scandinavian Flick
04/17/09

@Baron Plushroom von Falconpunchen: Thanks :) Glad you like it. I miss that car, but all the goodies from it are going onto my '84.

Good call on the wheels. They are actually a replica of the Polaris, called Eiker E1. They are not quite as high quality as Volvo's Polaris, but they are half an inch wider and available new from IPD.com.

There are a lot of great people on TB and a lot of people who really know their stuff. Search around, ask questions, and shoot me a PM when you get on there ;)
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MushyHeirloom
04/17/09

@Scandinavian flick: Cool! I knew there were replicas but didn't know the difference - and couldn't remember what they were called, besides.

Will do!
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Das ASHloch (achtundsiebzig)
04/17/09

In reply to Automobile: 12 Used Car All-Stars
Awesome. Read this yesterday at the tire shop. Nice little article--it was good to see more focus on real, attainable cars.

The new car market is limited, but the used car market is INFINITE!
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