Warning!
We have 15 years of archives. Links older than a year may have been updated to point to similar cars available to bid on eBay.
This site contains Ebay partner affiliate links, which may earn us a commission at no additional cost to you.
My disdain for the common SUV is well documented here on GCFSB, but a funny thing happened in 2014. Porsche released the Macan. At first glance, I wrote this car off as a smaller Cayenne. And yes, I’ll call this a car because anyone who has seen one in real life knows about its compact dimensions. My attraction to the Macan has grown over time to the point that I would be tempted to pull the trigger if a 6-speed manual were available. I’m not writing off the perfectly fine 7-speed PDK transmission, but three pedals is really how I’d prefer my car to be configured, especially if I’m going to drop down this much coin. Nevertheless, after a discussion with my father, the Macan is a serious contender to replace my mother’s trusty 17 year old C-class. So maybe a Porsche will finally wind up in the family somewhere after all. If you’re looking to be shouty about your P-car purchase, check out this Macan S for sale painted in a vibrant Paint to Sample hue of Gulf Orange.
A colleague of mine in the Bay Area recently took delivery of a BMW 228i with the Track Handling Package. A long time BMW owner, we both like to talk cars when we get the chance. Given that we work for a large technology professional association, our conversation instantly revolves around the finer technical points of the vehicle, most notably the turbocharged, 2.0 liter engine and how well the 8-speed automatic his 228i is equipped with complements this powerplant. I’ve driven a decent number of new cars over the last two or three years, and some of the automatic gearboxes are quite impressive in their performance, while returning better economy. I feel like something is missing though every time I get behind the wheel of a two-pedal vehicle, but thankfully, BMW still gives 2 series buyers the option of the third pedal. Of all the new cars out there currently, this 228i with the 6-speed manual is speaking to me, especially in Estoril Blue, one of my favorite BMW colors.
In some ways, this 911 could have found its way into the group of cars I featured earlier this week. It would have been the lowest price by a substantial margin, but given the difficulty in obtaining one – only 60 were made available and those only to PCA members – then we could understand why some might aspire to own just such a car. The 2016 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS Club Coupe follows in the line of many special edition examples in that it serves to recognize a particular Porsche milestone. In this case that milestone being the 60th year of the Porsche Club of America. Also like many Porsche special editions the primary manner in which these are differentiated from other models is mostly aesthetic, though as noted above this model was additionally distinguished through its restricted availability. Of course, that issue does not affect the secondary market. The base of the Club Coupe begins at the top of the 911 model range with the Carrera GTS, featuring the widened rear of the Carrera 4, but retaining its rear-drive layout. Added to that is a Powerkit, initially only available on the Club Coupe, to boost power to 430 hp. But the most striking feature is the paint, which has been dubbed Club Blau, and it really sets the Club Coupe apart from other 911s. Additional features are some interior upgrades, a ducktail rear spoiler, and a set of 20 inch Sport Classic wheels.
For years, the BMW 3 series has been the standard bearer for someone looking for a sport sedan with a dash of luxury mixed in. Luckily for the enthusiast, it is one of the few cars in its class that offers the option for a manual transmission. While modern automatic gearboxes are more efficient, there are still those of us out there who enjoy rowing their own. This 2016 340i xDrive for sale in New Jersey is lightly used, but is one of the few big engined 3 series sedans so equipped these days.
Normally on Motorsports Monday I feature a race car or a track biased car, but today I’m going to do something a little different. If you follow FIA GT racing and the IMSA Tudor Championship, you might be eagerly awaiting next weekend’s Daytona 24 hours – the kickoff to the endurance racing calendar. And something special will be debuting at Daytona; what I believe is BMW’s first racing M6. Sure, the 6-series was previous used as a racer in the early 1980s Touring Cars before the launch of the M3 and Alpina ran an E6x later on, but primarily it’s been almost all small BMWs that have taken to the track since 1985. But eager to take on the likes of the Bentley Continental GT3 and Aston Martin race programs, the Munich company has moved from the Z4 platform to an all-new M6 racer. To celebrate this launch, BMW produced 100 special road going M6s for 2016 called the M6 Competition Edition. They were available in only two colors – Austin Yellow or Alpine White – and commanded a fully 50% premium over a standard M6. But it’s not just a flashy appearance package, as the F12 2-door coupe only Competition Edition has been reworked to produce more power to go along with the exclusivity:
