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Author: Paul

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2002 Saab 9-5 Linear SportCombi

Published December 20, 2014 by Paul

$_57 (1)

Each time we feature a Saab here on GCFSB, it’s always a mixed bag of comments. You have the diehard fans who won’t drive anything but. Then there are folks who will rattle off a number of alternative options, complaining about torque steer and the inconvenient fact that you are driving around in an orphan marque. Then you have the usual “this isn’t German” quip. Whatever the case may be, we like the products our Nordic neighbors have to offer.

Saab was about to release a new and very pretty 9-5 SportCombi before the company had the rug pulled out from it in 2011. A handful of pre-production models were built which landed in the hands of a few private owners. However, we’ll always have the first generation 9-5 SportCombi. This one for sale in Florida might not be the snazziest of 9-5s in white over tan leather with the automatic, but rarely do you see them this nice and so lightly used.

Click for details: 2002 Saab 9-5 Linear SportCombi on eBay

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1990 Mercedes-Benz 560SE

Published December 19, 2014 by Paul

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One of the rarest W126 Mercedes-Benz S-Classes ever produced was one we never saw here on US shores: the 560SE. A mere 1,251 were ever manufactured between 1988 and 1991. This was a short-wheelbase version of the flagship 560SEL sedan, which at first would seem to be a bit of an odd combination. Most who were in the market for this well optioned car would want the extra rear legroom, hence the low production numbers. Before the days of the W124 based 500E/E500, however, there were perhaps some that were hungry for the largest engine in the range in something just a bit smaller.

With much of the W126 production eligible for import to the US, this 1990 560SE will soon be legal to bring over to these shores in 2015. With so few produced, a car like this for sale in Hamburg, Germany is a way to stand out from the rest of the W126 crowd.

Click for details: 1990 Mercedes-Benz 560SE on eBay.de

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Soft Top or Hard Top? 2005 BMW M3 Convertible vs. 2008 BMW M3 Convertible

Published December 16, 2014 by Paul

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The M3 Convertible. A rather curious beast, no? Especially if one considers the M3’s original purpose of a tool by which to dominate DTM racing. However, there has been a drop top version of every M3 since the original E30, even if we didn’t see that one officially on US shores. With the change in nomenclature, we now have the M4 convertible to compliment the M4 coupe and M3 sedan. Each new iteration has debuted more powerful engines, advanced gearboxes and we even saw a new folding hardtop on the E93 M3, carried over to the M4.

These two M3s are for sale in New York and represent a definite split in approach to the fast convertible formula. First up, we’ll take a look at this 2005 E46 M3, which is armed with the rev-happy S54 inline-6 under the hood that everyone knows and loves mated to a good old row-your-own 6-speed manual.

Click for details: 2005 BMW M3 Convertible on eBay

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2011 Saab 9-5 Turbo4 6-speed manual

Published December 16, 2014 by Paul

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It’s been some time now since the drama that led to Saab’s demise transpired, leaving intellectuals everywhere scratching their heads when it comes time to purchase another new car. The cars from Trollhättan were always favored by those who enjoyed taking the road less traveled; leading the company itself to launch a media campaign in the mid-1990s entitled “Find Your Own Road.” While the marque has been revived under the brand National Electric Vehicle Sweden, the lineup merely consists of a rehash of the old 9-3 sedan. Before the original Saab took its last breath, we were gifted one pretty midsized luxury sedan in the form of the 9-5.

This car was barely one year old by the time Saab was on life support, with only a few examples of the even prettier estate version produced. Nevertheless, a few thousand made their way to our shores, some even equipped with a 6-speed manual gearbox. With a parts network still in place and an active enthusiast scene, you can have one of the last big Saabs to roam these roads for the price of a new Honda Civic.

Click for details: 2011 Saab 9-5 Turbo4 on eBay

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Mercedes-Benz W124 Estate Face Off: 1993 300TE vs. 1991 300TE

Published December 15, 2014 by Paul

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“Old Faithful.” A term of endearment bestowed upon the things which are reliable and always there for us. Few things in the automotive realm embody this idea more so than an old Mercedes-Benz. And few Mercedes-Benzes are more recognizable as a dependable motoring companion than the W124 estate. Produced from 1986 through 1995, the US would first be acquainted with the W124 estate in the form of the 300TD in 1987. For 1988, the gasoline inline-6 would be substituted and we would see only petrol variants on these shores until the model’s demise in 1995. The following two W124 estates we’ll look at today are from around the halfway point of W124 production and have covered similar amounts of mileage. They are in good, if not perfect condition but represent the kind of vehicle for those seeking out not a museum piece, but an honest, serviceable example.

Click for details: 1993 Mercedes-Benz 300TE on eBay

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