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Month: June 2016

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1977 Porsche 911S Targa

Let’s visit one of the unloved: a 1977 Porsche 911S Targa, located in Nevada, with an interesting Tan interior with tartan inserts and 96,000 miles on it. The mid-year 911 showed some gains in appreciation over the past year, but still tends to lag behind most other models. The drop-off in values from the long-hood 911s that preceded them is significant, but they even tend to lag behind their successor, the 911SC, for all but the best examples. A combination of reliability issues, lower performance, and the design aesthetic of the impact-bumper cars all have contributed to those lower values. Yet, there is still appeal to these 911s and like anything else when the value is right, the appeal increases as well. This one is up for a no reserve auction and barring something unexpected I suspect this Targa should represent one of those nice values.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1977 Porsche 911S Targa on eBay

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1991 BMW 318is

For all the desirable //M cars over history, there’s one classic BMW that has always stood out in my mind that hailed from the end of the E30 production run. The 318is. This was a curious model, pairing the popular but aging 3 series with the new DOHC M42 inline-4. Sold for one year only in the US market, this car offered the style of its bigger brother, the 325is, at a reduced cost of entry by way of a the smaller engine and the omission of a few features. While I have fond memories of my 1988 325is, I would almost prefer a car like this mint, low mileage 318is for sale in Chicago from Evolve Motors. Somehow, this coupe speaks to the simple pleasures of motoring. This has been a BMW theme over the years that, in my opinion, has been clouded in recent years but somewhat fussy styling and an overkill of technology and the added weight that comes with it.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1991 BMW 318is on eBay

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2009 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG

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A few days ago I featured a 1981 Mercedes-Benz 500SEL which I called a ”money is no object” car. To walk into the dealer 28 years later with that same goal of a ”money is no object” you have your choice of the S63 AMG or the S65 AMG, which is about the same kind of hard decision like picking between Jennifer Aniston or Angelina Jolie. Both are going to cost you a ton of money, (about $133,000 for the S63 and a whopping $198,000 for the S65), both are going to attract a fair amount of attention and both might be a risk to have long-term. But all that be damned, when you are with them, you are going to feel like a million bucks. If this is the kind of feeling you want — as well as maybe a little bit of risk — then this the 2009 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG located in central Massachusetts might just for you.

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1980 Volkswagen Scirocco with 6,500 Miles

Coming across a low mile, “time capsule”-esque Porsche isn’t a particularly rare thing. While it’s hard to conceive of a time when they were considered cars rather than investments, even when new the high entry price and exclusivity of buying a top-tier German car meant that quite a few were treated more as prized possessions to be preserved rather than as transportation. Though less frequent, the same goes for Mercedes-Benz models, as we roll across quite a few pristine and original low mile SLs, S-Class and even less expensive models. Certainly, it is less common among BMWs and downright atypical to find a low mile, original and unmolested Audi, though one wonders if recent market trends have inspired a generation with disposable income now to buy and squirrel away brand new RS, M and AMG cars in cocoons to emerge in a few decades as a retirement fund. It’s all a bit nuts if I’m honest.

But a Volkswagen? Low mileage, original time pieces are beyond atypical. When they do surface, they’re not always the most desirable model, either – Grandpa’s 1979 Rabbit in all-brown, for example. Sure, it’s got only 11,000 miles on the clock but it’s like donning a polyester suit and slapping on a fake mustache to go to a Halloween party as Ron Burgundy. No, no, I’m sure you do the best Will Ferrell impersonation in the world, but the situation is a bit worse than the plotline to Anchorman 2. But once in a while something comes along that is truly special AND cool:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1980 Volkswagen Scirocco on eBay

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Ultrasport Faceoff: 2005 Audi A4 1.8T quattro v. 2004 Audi A4 1.8T quattro Avant

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I see B6 platform A4s all the time in DC, often driven by young people in their mid to late twenties. I tend to assume that many of them are hand-me-downs from wealthy parents who live in the affluent suburbs. When equipped with all-wheel drive, these cars make for competent year-round daily drivers ideal for the mid-Atlantic climate, and they still give off that expensive, German vibe even though by now they are relatively inexpensive to buy. But while the overall design remains attractive, I think the standard models can look a bit plain. If, like me, you prefer the sportier looks of the S4, but don’t want to deal with the possibility of the $8k timing chain job that afflicts the 4.2 V8 motor, the next best thing is a regular A4 equipped with the Ultrasport package. Available as a factory option, this added S4-style door blades, revised front and rear bumpers, sports suspension and 18″ multispoke “celebration” RS4-style wheels. So equipped, the ordinary looking A4 is instantly transformed into a sportier, more aggressively styled car. The USP package was available on both sedan and wagon models, and for today’s post I’ve written up one of each.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2005 Audi A4 1.8T Quattro Ultrasport on Craigslist

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