What cars are you looking forward to?

[Bruce B]

The car I think is an instant classic and future collectible plus can be had cheap is the merc sl65 amg ... I think it was the last of the breed to have the v12 engine.
I have driven one and been driven as well... fun and viciously wild car but docile enough for the wife to take to the store..massively undertuned engine..

I was thinking about this car, but it's way behind the times. It still uses the older 5-speed/torque converter and other than a V-12, the sl63 has the exact same options and body style for $50k less! I'm glad I got the sl63 with the 7-speed MCT and the bark is as bad as its bite. I know most people will scoff at these prices ... $170k - $220k. You're getting into Lamborghini/Ferrari territory.

 

[Andrew Stenhouse]

I'm really happy with my E Class - nothing special - but very comfortable in Sydney traffic, and pleasant on the open road. Mine is the E250 - which uses a 4 cylinder twin turbo engine. Drives like a 6 cylinder. Full consumption around town is woeful. I really like the safety features, which have saved me a few times (mainly from rear ends - cars suddenly stopping etc).

The new E class looks interesting as well. Very much in the family now.

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I'd love a SL500, but the prices here are obscene. Like $500k obscene.

 

[Hi-FiGuy]

I was thinking about this car, but it's way behind the times. It still uses the older 5-speed/torque converter and other than a V-12, the sl63 has the exact same options and body style for $50k less! I'm glad I got the sl63 with the 7-speed MCT and the bark is as bad as its bite. I know most people will scoff at these prices ... $170k - $220k. You're getting into Lamborghini/Ferrari territory.

Not to mention the V12 Benz is truly in another league of maintenance expense and qualified technicians are hard to find.
Because of that reason they can usually be found pretty cheep on (relatively speeking) on the used market.
Great way to lose 50k driving off the lot.

Your lowly V8 already has more power than the car can put to ground without TC kicking in. Ask Andre at Brabus about that, he is not happy about it.

 

[zztop7]

$1,000 for a Bentley oil change

I sold off my last [Bentley] of a long line of decades of expensive cars; between cops & traffic they were not enjoyed.
What I would like [not kidding] is the current Z06 with the body removed & replaced with a rusted-out pickup truck body. The guts could be Ferrari, Mercedes, Bentley, etc., but the maintenance is then exponential. $1,000 for a Bentley oil change, and that is dealer Mobil 1; NOT Redline or Amsoil or other true synthetic.
zztop7

 

[Bruce B]

I sold off my last [Bentley] of a long line of decades of expensive cars; between cops & traffic they were not enjoyed.
What I would like [not kidding] is the current Z06 with the body removed & replaced with a rusted-out pickup truck body. The guts could be Ferrari, Mercedes, Bentley, etc., but the maintenance is then exponential. $1,000 for a Bentley oil change, and that is dealer Mobil 1; NOT Redline or Amsoil or other true synthetic.
zztop7

I dread the day I have to take mine in for maintenance that is not covered under warranty. I have a 3yr. Schedule A/B maintenance plan that I'm so glad I got. My lowly Toyota has a 3yr. maintenance plan that was FREE when I bought the car!

 

[Folsom]

You can pay a lot less than any of those expensive cars ZZtop7, to get a Corvette with whatever you want on top. People do stuff like that all the time.

Is there not a lot of irony that 400hp+ cars from the 60's were reliable everyday drivers, and now we're told that anything at that level or above should break down constantly? I suppose the only true benefit of today is you can get higher mileage out of today's engines because the lower end is made better.

Porsche is probably what I'd choose anymore. They have a few manual models and they're one of the most reliable cars including everything on the road. JD ratings are fairly good, CR are bad.

 

[amirm]

I sold off my last [Bentley] of a long line of decades of expensive cars; between cops & traffic they were not enjoyed.
What I would like [not kidding] is the current Z06 with the body removed & replaced with a rusted-out pickup truck body. The guts could be Ferrari, Mercedes, Bentley, etc., but the maintenance is then exponential. $1,000 for a Bentley oil change, and that is dealer Mobil 1; NOT Redline or Amsoil or other true synthetic.
zztop7

The only thing that makes that oil change cheap was the $3,500 I was paying for oil change in my twin, turbo-diesel Volvo powered boat!

 

[Folsom]

The only thing that makes that oil change cheap was the $3,500 I was paying for oil change in my twin, turbo-diesel Volvo powered boat!

I'll do it for $3,000. At that price I can take a little vacation to attend an audiophile meeting over there.

 

[zztop7]

The only thing that makes that oil change cheap was the $3,500 I was paying for oil change in my twin, turbo-diesel Volvo powered boat!

Please explain: does it take 100+ quarts of oil? / other things included like re-packing the props? / etc.?

zz.

 

[amirm]

Please explain: does it take 100+ quarts of oil? / other things included like re-packing the props? / etc.?

zz.

No repacking of props as that had IO engine. With two engines, cramped compartment, dual hydrolic systems, etc. it was a miserable job I did not want to do myself. Did all the other work myself though, one of which almost killed me!

 

[Bruce B]

It's almost as bad with my motorcycles. Just a damn oil change/preventive maintenance is $400 !!

 

[Folsom]

It's almost as bad with my motorcycles. Just a damn oil change/preventive maintenance is $400 !!

What bikes? My father rides a Harley and has found some differences in prices that are appropriate and nuts between the dealership and reputable places.

 

[Rodney Gold]

Old muscle cars (I owned many) had much simpler systems
I can rebuild a holley carb or a 454 with my eyes closed

As an ex drag racer.. I did everything myself...

These days you need a rocket scientist with a computer to service the cars ..mostly part replacement jockeys anyway..no fixes

 

[Folsom]

That's partially because of better manufacturing and design that allows longer life spans on the basic parts of an engine.

What cars today do you think best embody muscle cars? I think the biggest problem is the design on the outside doesn't see much variance. The amorphsism is a bit out of hand. That's why Lambo's stand out so much, they have some definitive lines and aren't bulby.

 

[Rodney Gold]

I dont think there is anything modern that approximates muscle , muscle was just raw power , no handling , no braking , no safety , no nothing really... just cool to own , cool to drive

 

[Folsom]

I guess it makes me wonder why no manufacturers are willing to touch it. The desire is there. Hell, people even want manuals but are having trouble getting them.

Is there just a personal vendetta among car manufacturers to not give people what they want, like bad health care instead of single payer option? I don't understand it.

How well would a modern day muscle car sell that wasn't a clunky amorphous driving airbag? Harley's are selling like hot cakes and they're more rumble, louder than ever. They handle better but they're the embodiment of that killer sound amplified.

 

[Rodney Gold]

I think that safety and legislation have done away with true muscle cars

 

[rockitman]

Here's some muscle...

 

[Hi-FiGuy]

Sexy beast right there!

I have not seen an F12 in all carbon fiber interior yet, it looks fantastic!

I have a guy about to pull the trigger on about 130k of carbon fiber/exhaust/bypass/lowering with lift/glass engine cover. I told him we have a carbon fiber bridge for his 458 spider and he about fell over, gotta have it!

 

[rockitman]

Ferrari thinks mighty highly of their CF based on what they charge for it. You can save a lot (tons) off a build skipping the CF