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Category: Double Take

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Double Take: High Mile Handbuilts – 1991 BMW M5

Published June 11, 2014 by Carter

Notably absent in last week’s M5 Double Take was the middle model E34. Often overlooked unjustly, the E34 is a great looking car that retains the title “last of the handbuilt M cars” – something that appears in nearly every advertisement. But if it’s cliche, it’s also a testament to the solid nature of the E34. Couple that slightly more luxurious and isolating cabin to the incredible S38 powerplant, and it’s a natural winner. Prices on this middle run super sedans have begun to creep up, but many have remained quite attainable – especially if you’re willing to accept an example with higher miles. Today we have two seemingly clean higher mile examples; which would be your pick?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1991 BMW M5 on eBay

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Ur-S Double Take: 1992 Audi S4 v. 1995 Audi S6

Published June 4, 2014 by Carter

As Paul and our reader John both noted in last week’s 1991 Audi S4 post, the price of that appealing and clean example of was fairly high relative to what you could purchase a slightly higher miles but still clean model in the U.S. for, even not taking into account the cost of importing the car to the U.S. To underscore that point, today we’ll look at both an early and later version of the venerable 20V Turbo C4 chassis Audi – the enthusiast dubbed “Ur-S” cars. First off we’ll look at a 1992 S4, then a 1995 S6:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1992 Audi S4 on Craigslist.org

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Double Take: 1986 and 1987 Porsche 944 Turbos

Published June 4, 2014 by Carter

Dismayed by recent price increases in the E30 market? I’ll admit I am; I’ve had a dream since I was 12 of owning an E30 M3 – back when they were new – but recent prices mean that ship has sailed. But there are still plenty of options for affordable German motoring – even a race-bred, flared 4-cylinder kind. If you missed out on the trio of 944 Turbo racers I wrote up earlier this week, today I’ve got two affordable and good looking options for driver-quality 944 Turbos. As these are the early cars, they’re down on power out of the box compared to the later S, but these are easily tunable cars that accept a myriad of upgrades and still have a very active and enthusiastic community supporting them. Faster, better handling and braking, great looking and even more fuel economy than the E30 is what you can expect from the 944 Turbo. But the one thing you won’t see is ridiculous prices, for now:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1987 Porsche 944 Turbo on eBay

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BMW M5 Double Take: “New” v. “Old” – 2001 or 1988?

Published June 3, 2014 by Carter

Well, this one has been brewing for a bit in my head. As I’ve watched E28 and E34 M5 prices climbing and the plateau after falling of E39 prices, the two are in general available for about the same amount of money. One is a well-acknowledged classic – the original super sedan, a well balanced combination of 4-door versatility with a race-bred high-revving inline-6. The second nearly never happened, and seemingly was an afterthought compared to the earlier examples – but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t well thought out. The E39 is one of the best performance bargains going not only amongst BMWs, but in cars in general – with 400 horsepower from a thundering V8, it took the M5 to a new level of performance and demanded the same of its competitors. So, here we have M5 v. M5; a generation gap, a performance gap, but both as performance icons of their respective times and generally accepted as collectable going forward. Which is the one you’d choose? Let’s start with the original:

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1988 BMW M5 on eBay

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Motorsport Mondays Triple Take: Three 44 Turbos

Published June 2, 2014 by Carter

Long before the E36 even debuted, the Porsche 944 was deeply entrenched in the track scene. From weekend warrior autocrosses to full out Le Mans endurance racing, the 944 touched all aspects of motorsports, and in many cases won. While the roots were in a economy sports car, the 944 Turbo took well to supercar slaying – massive flares hiding brakes borrowed from its brethren and boosted performance from the all-Porsche turbocharged 2.5 inline-4. With near perfect weight distribution, these Turbos were relatively easy to drive and accepted high levels of modifications well. Into the 1990s, the continued to be favorites at track events – and today, even nearly 30 years later, they’re still potent packages capable of winning club races. Today I have three different takes on the 944 Turbo; modified but still streetable track event car, stripped and turned up club racer, and a collectable bit of Porsche racing history with a Turbo Cup car in original configuration. Which is your flavor?

CLICK FOR DETAILS: 1986 Porsche 944 Turbo on eBay

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