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Month: August 2015

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Double Take: 1993 Audi S4

Yesterday, we posted a throwback video to the 1992 Audi S4 review by the television show Motorweek. For me, it was interesting to watch as they went through both the highlights and some of the faults of the now legendary car. One thing they mentioned towards the end really struck me; the original run of 250 1992 units had completely sold out, and they were taking orders for 1993. Mind you, this was at a time where Audi nearly pulled out of the market; to me, this makes the success of the C4 chassis all the more poignant. If the A4 revitalized Audi, it was really the C4 in its varying guises that kept both the fire ignited amongst enthusiasts and simultaneously kept Audi’s small foothold in the marketplace – in particular, the C4 A6 2.8 Avant was a particularly successful and popular car. But today we’re talking about the model everyone really wants, the S4; following up on my Sprint Blue double post from yesterday, here’s a pair of 1993 S4s in Audi’s signature color until the end of the 20V run; Pearlescent White Metallic. It adorned nearly every variant of quattro from the original right through the S8, but it’s most notable between the 5000CS quattro, 200 20V models and the S4. Which of these pearls would you take home?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1993 Audi S4 on Craigslist

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Sprint-off: 2011 Audi S5 v. 2008 Audi RS4 Cabriolet

Blue is my favorite color. I know, this doesn’t really come as a surprise; I think I wax and wane all the time about the special blues that are available from different manufacturers. Whether it was my own Coupe GT’s original Oceanic Blue Metallic or my Passat’s Ink Blue Pearl Effect, there’s just something that’s very special about the glowing, bright and vibrant blues. Audi made a bold change to their blue around 2005; with the mid-year refresh to the B6 chassis, the new B7 discontinued the very popular purple-blue hue of Nogaro. Now, that color had been around in various forms since the RS2, and was closely associated with fast Audis – so it was a big deal. The new color, Sprint Blue Pearl Effect (LZ5F), was pretty and shiny but somehow changed the character of the fast Audis. Maybe it was time for a change, or maybe it was the wrong move – personally, I think a new RS7 in Nogaro would be pretty stunning. But the new hue was also a hit and offered a rare splash of color in Audi’s otherwise conservative grey/silver/black lineup. Today I have two of the faster Audis offered in this shade; about the same mileage, both 6-speed manuals, and both with the 4.2 V8, would you take the S5 Coupe or RS4 Cabriolet?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2011 Audi S5 on Craigslist

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1994 Mercedes-Benz E500

Mercedes Benz and aggression don’t always go hand-in-hand. Nor should they. However, those familiar with the marque are well aware that we should never take that to mean they don’t produce performance machines. The big luxury performance sedan has its province in the German automotive industry in general and the model we see here was born through the collaboration of two of its heavyweights. Built at Porsche’s Zuffenhausen factory the Mercedes-Benz 500E (later dubbed the E500) remains one of the best super sleepers of the automotive world. Unlike many of its brethren, and especially the larger Mercs, the 500E did come with a fair bit of aggressive styling though always within the refined confines of the Mercedes design. The particular example we see here from near the end of the model run, a 1994 Mercedes-Benz E500, has enhanced that aggressive stance through the addition of a set of AMG wheels, which look fantastic. At just under 100K miles, this one has pretty reasonable mileage to boot.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1994 Mercedes-Benz E500 on eBay

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1988 BMW 520i

There was a lot of changes in store for BMW in the late 1980s. In 1987, a larger, more powerful 7 series debuted with the option of a brand new V12 engine, the 3 series convertible would capture the hearts and minds of yuppies across the US and a new 5 series would debut in 1988. However, the E28 wasn’t done for that easily and would continue being sold through the end of the model year. This 520i for sale in Florida is a model we never saw in the US market, with a 2.0 liter inline-6 that found it’s way under the hood of a number other BMWs in other markets. While some pine for the crash bumper look of the 1980s BMWs, I tend to prefer the slimmer Euro bumpers of this particular car, lending a bit of a cleaner look.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1988 BMW 520i on eBay

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1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D with 22k miles

After setting eyes on this low mileage 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D for sale in New Jersey, I thought to myself “this car embodies everything I used to love about Mercedes.” If you asked me right now to sound off the current lineup, I’d struggle to name every model and trim variation, such is the expanse of the product portfolio and my general indifference towards SUVs from any manufacturer. The W123’s life came to a close when there was a fairly simple lineup, although one which expanded with the introduction of the W201 190 class. Few thought the W123, with its larger than life reputation, could be successfully superseded, but the W124 E-class did an admirable job of building an image all its own. Still, however, the W123 is revered amongst the Mercedes faithful with many original and restored examples roaming the streets today. If you’re looking for the best of the best, though, this example pretty much takes the cake.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1985 Mercedes-Benz 300D on eBay

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