Andrew

1994 Porsche 911 Speedster

By Andrew July 11, 2020 July 11, 2020 Porsche

The 964 Porsche 911 Speedster has always been a cool novelty, but that doesn’t mean it is only that. I think these stayed true to the original 356 Speedster compared to Turbo-bodied 3.2 Carrera-based 911 Speedster, 997 Speedster, and 991 Speedster that is basically just a GT3. Porsche also blessed the US market with the fixed-back lightweight seats that were in the 964 RS for that extra feeling over the 964 Cabriolet. Only 936 examples were produced, with 427 Speedsters heading Stateside. These pop up for sale from time to time, but most are tucked away in collections given their rarity and the aircooled boom. This example up for sale in California checks in with 34,000 miles and some odd little custom touches that makes Porsche so unpredictable at times.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1994 Porsche 911 Speedster on eBay

3 Comments

2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 Estate

By Andrew July 7, 2020 July 7, 2020 Mercedes Benz

Death, taxes, and Mercedes-Benz wagons holding their value. Few things in life are guarantees, but those seems to be a couple of them. Why people gravitate towards the W123 and W124 Estates is pretty self explanatory, but what really surprises me every generation after than seems to be following this as well. The general rule I’ve always gone by is that all things being equal, the cost of the sedan + $10,000 = cost of a wagon. Seems crazy for some extra cargo space, but the results don’t lie. I thought maybe this wouldn’t hold true for newer examples as Mercedes-Benz now offers eight (!) different SUVs in its current line up and just one wagon, but nope, still a premium. Worth it? Maybe.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2013 Mercedes-Benz E350 Estate on eBay

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2020 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4

By Andrew July 4, 2020 July 4, 2020 Porsche

Well, that didn’t take long. A few weeks ago I took a look at the new Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 in England in anticipation of them finally hitting US dealers, and it looks like they are here. Production is in full swing and it even looks like Porsche added the paint to sample option to the configurator (a $12,830 option!), so it won’t be long until we start seeing some wild colors. However, we knew these cars were due soon. What I didn’t expect were dealers already playing their games and getting off on technicalities to skirt to rules. Let me explain.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2020 Porsche 718 Cayman GT4 on eBay

5 Comments

2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG

By Andrew July 2, 2020 July 2, 2020 AMG, Mercedes Benz

Don’t sleep on the Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG. Not saying you are, but they don’t seem to get a lot of love compared to all the other wild and crazy cars out there. Maybe it was just a strange time to launch an exotic super car, or maybe it looks too much like an SL, but I think this car is very much something that will go down in history as a car to have. I’ve pleaded the case many times before for the SLS, so I figured I’d do a yearly reminder that these are probably at the bottom of the price curve right now as they are nearing 10 years-old. It has Gullwing doors for goodness sake!

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2012 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG on eBay

8 Comments

2020 Mercedes-Benz G550

By Andrew June 30, 2020 June 30, 2020 Mercedes Benz

We are over a year into the all-new Mercedes-Benz G-Class and to the surprise of no one, they literally can’t make enough of them to meet demand. It makes sense, as the G-Class is used as a form of currency in the state of California, both monetarily and socially, and they don’t ride like old farm trucks anymore. So as soon as a new one hits the lot, it is usually snagged up within a day or two. That I expected. What I didn’t expect is now that we are well over a year in, prices are still as crazy as ever. Let me explain.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2020 Mercedes-Benz G550 on eBay

6 Comments

2003 Porsche 911 Targa

By Andrew June 25, 2020 June 25, 2020 Porsche

The 996 Porsche 911 Targa is a model that sometimes I forget even exists. They always catch me off guard when I see one come up for sale for the pure novelty of them and you paid around $10,000 more when new for a 16-square-foot view of the open sky. It also turned the rear glass into a hatch, which is an interesting configuration given the engine is in the rear too. Now that we are well over a decade into the glass roof Targa cars, many are shying away when purchasing these. Why? Well, the sliding glass roof is a precision instrument to say the least, and those precision instrument break and cost precision instrument money to repair. Seriously, if your power Targa roof stops functioning, you are looking at some invasive procedures by specialists who you should be happy are willing to do the job.

Still, while not fun to maybe buy, they are very fun to look at. Especially when one has 4,600 miles, is finished in paint-to-sample Atlantis Metallic, and even has even rarer Magnolia leather. Get ready to exchange your pile of dollars for some old fashion pounds, because if you want this one, a trip to Nottinghamshire, England is in order.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2003 Porsche 911 Targa at Parkway Specialist Cars

5 Comments

2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S

By Andrew June 24, 2020 June 24, 2020 Porsche

For as uncommon as the color purple is to see on a car, the Germans weren’t shy about using it. We saw that last week with Carter’s 1995 BMW M3, Volkswagen with Violet Touch Pearl, and Mercedes-Benz with Almandine Black Metallic. Granted those colors are very rare and often by special request, but we are at a place where its so popular that this is a standard color on the GT3 RS. Today, we have a 2002 Carrera 4S in Paint-to-Sample Viola Metallic that, in my opinion, looks amazing. The wide body of the 996 C4S in this color? Sign me up. Although probably not at this price.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2002 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S at Ryan Friedman Motor Cars

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1973 Mercedes-Benz 220

By Andrew June 22, 2020 June 22, 2020 Mercedes Benz

Two weeks ago I took a look the W114/115 coupe and explained that while not the pinnacle of Mercedes-Benz at the time, they still had their place at the time as being a fashionable vehicle with above average quality. The same can be said about the sedan compared to the W108/109, but it seems these even take a further back seat given the next generation that went on to become on of the greatest cars of all time, the W123. Still, these little sedans have their place and can be had for not much money at all, just like today’s example, a 1972 220 up for sale in New York. It isn’t a prime example by any means, but still has a good look on a very tight budget.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1973 Mercedes-Benz 220 on eBay

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2005 Mercedes-Benz G500

By Andrew June 18, 2020 June 29, 2020 Mercedes Benz

From time to time I look at cars that you should never buy and feature them more as a warning, rather than something you might consider. Today is something similar, but has to do with the circumstances of this specific vehicle rather than a flaw or problem with the model. Where am I going with this?

Well, this 2005 Mercedes-Benz G500 up for sale in Virginia shows a little under 55,000 miles. Looking at the Carfax, it had 33,000 miles in 2007 then was promptly exported to Finland. In came back to the US in 2018 with 50,250 miles. Why is that a problem? Don’t ever, for any reason, ever, no matter what, no matter where, or who, or who you are with, or where you are going, or where you’ve been, ever, for any reason whatsoever consider buying a vehicle that was exported to Finland then re-imported back to the US. Buckle up, this one is a good read.

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 2005 Mercedes-Benz G500 at Cars Plus VA

6 Comments

1993 Mercedes-Benz 600SEL

By Andrew June 15, 2020 June 15, 2020 Mercedes Benz

Last week I looked at a really exceptional 1997 Mercedes-Benz S500 that looks to have found a new owner at right under $15,000. Probably a fair price for both parties, and I doubt it will lose much as long as the condition stays close to what it is now. Naturally, that got me looking around at other W140s, and wouldn’t you a 1993 600SEL popped up finished in the rare Nautical Blue Metallic. Granted, any color on a W140 that isn’t black, silver, or white is rare, but this one really seems to pop. Match that with the Palomino interior, and this one is well into “classic” status.

Author: Andrew