It has been a while since I’ve written about the Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6. The reasons for that might seem somewhat odd given the nature of the model in question, but for the most part I’ve ignored them because so many seemed the same. They’re all great cars, sure, but nearly all are similar colors, with similar mileage, at similar prices. Once you write about one, you’ve written about them all. The example we see here, however, is an exception: an Amethyst Metallic 1994 Porsche 911 Turbo 3.6 with Magenta leather interior and 27,588 miles on it. Amethyst Metallic is one of those early-’90s colors that we come across pretty rarely and provides a strong note of elegance to the aggressive lines of the Turbo 3.6. It’s generally a pretty well regarded color. The interior choice of Magenta will likely be hit or miss with many interested buyers, but it does compound the rarity of the car in general, which given their market should be a point in this Turbo’s favor.
Month: October 2015
Rightly so, I’ve been accused of comparing everything to BMWs – so for today’s 10K Friday, I thought why not compare BMWs to BMWs? Part of the reason I compare various cars I write up to the alternative BMW products is because for some time they have been considered the benchmark, and their popularity from new to the used classic market means that they set the pricing trends against which others can be judged. That’s especially true of the 3 series; for some time, the go-to performance product from Germany, increasingly many earlier generations of the 3 are being viewed as not only collectable, but indeed as investments. So, what does your $10,000 budget buy these days? I’ve rounded up five examples from the first five generations, covering nearly every configuration the small executive platform has been available in. Which is the winner?
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1980 BMW 320is on eBay
10 CommentsAs E30 Touring imports pick up some steam, we get to see a wider variety of the wagon offerings the rest of the world has known about for over 25 years. We’ve seen the base-model 318i up to the rare all-wheel drive 325ix, each providing a sharp package with fun driving dynamics while enabling hauls that a standard trunk could never hope to handle. With many examples coming from the right-hand-drive UK, you have to decide if such a great overall package is worth the brain reorganization necessary to appropriately traverse our LHD roads.
This is one of those bassackwards drivers but brings a very distinct look thanks to a rare (especially on wagons) M-Tech body kit normally present only on the ix models, complementing the E30’s clean top lines with fender flares, exaggerated front and rear valences, and side skirts. 16″ Style 5 wheels help fill those enlarged fenders resulting in an overall package that looks both clean and aggressive. The automatic transmission is the other main detraction besides RHD, but we’ve forgiven autos on great-looking E34 wagons in favor of good looks and utility, so why not do the same here?
Click for details: 1989 BMW 325i Touring on eBay
2 CommentsIt’s time for another blue Porsche. This time a different shade – a much more vibrant shade – on a different model and, likely, at a different price point. Yesterday’s Glacier Blue 911SC, through its icy character, showed us a subtle side of blue that even under certain light looked almost white. It’s a winter scene on a car. Today’s example, a Cobalt Blue Metallic 1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Coupe located in Chicago, doesn’t possess the subtlety of Glacier Blue, but rather stands out with a striking brightness that will not fail to be mistaken for any other shade, whether in the light or the dark. And this one is draped over the then-new design of the 964, a model whose standard variants, such as this Carrera 2, seem to be slowly gaining momentum though still lag somewhat behind both their predecessors and successors. For fans of the 964, or even just the 911 in general, this should make for an attractive option in a more modern design than the classic 911, but while foregoing 993 prices.
CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 Coupe on eBay
5 CommentsWhile prices of the E24, 928 and Mercedes-Benz C126 models continue to rise, the C107 still offers plenty of Mercedes-Benz build quality, some racing heritage and European style on an affordable budget. The styling of the big coupe isn’t for everyone, but European models such as this 380SLC really clean up the lines in my mind. On top of that, it features the hotter Euro 380 motor with 215 horsepower – some 60 more than the U.S. version. With a price drop of $3,000 since this summer to a Buy It Now of $11,900, this looks like a very clean example that offers a lot of unique, classic car for the money.