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Classic Cars Buying Luxury used cars
411 messages, Last post on Jul 13, 2009 at 10:22 AM
You are in the Classic Cars Forum. Your Host is mr_shiftright
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Replying to: andre1969 (Dec 30, 2008 3:37 pm) I see German car seats as made for people who are maybe a little taller and heavier than average - as Germans can be.
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Replying to: fintail (Dec 30, 2008 6:29 pm) Not only Germans...my '83 GTI fit my 6'5" fine, the seats were very comfortable. It amazes me that so many US and Japanese makers design uncomfortable seats - just go buy a Recaro and copy it! I spent 4 hrs being tortured by the squishy seats in an Escalade - and they must have cost big $$.
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Replying to: fintail (Dec 30, 2008 6:29 pm) That fintail 190D that apparently lives at the local body shop has headrests with what looks like a semicircle carved out of the top and a big indentation in the face.
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Replying to: bumpy (Dec 31, 2008 5:36 pm) |
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Replying to: texases (Dec 31, 2008 7:27 am) Speakingof Recaro seats, I saw a pic of an 80s AMG SEC that had Recaro seats, with huge vintage tech controllers at the sides. Somehow, very cool.
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Replying to: fintail (Dec 31, 2008 6:53 pm) Americans were so used to driving mom's sofa or a block of ice with a steering wheel, that the Benz characteristics of firm suspension, firm seating, precise shifting and REALLY good brakes were a shock to former Cadillac owners. Some never ever made the adjustment and they went back to Pillowville.
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 02, 2009 10:24 am)  Firm supportive seats are better for long trips if you are even slightly above average in size. Looking at the market now, it looks like people realized luxury doesn't have to be button-tufted with ocean liner handling.
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Replying to: fintail (Jan 02, 2009 12:08 pm) I had a fintail in 1971, which I traded in for a brand new 280SL pagoda which I ordered with a manual transmission. Benz sold me that car for $10,800 !!. Of course, that WAS a year's salary back then. I've owned quite a few "risky" used luxury cars, including: BMW 735i, MB 300D, 300SD, 560SEL, 560SL, Audi 100, (sorta luxury), Jaguar XJ6 (sold quickly after just READING about the car's problems, which it didn't have at the time), Alfa 164LS (quite luxurious). Also a few Cadillacs, etc. passed through my hands but I didn't own them but for a few days. My strategy was always to buy very *very* well-cared for luxury cars that someone else had JUST dumped a boatload of money into, then drive them a quick 5K--10K and then bail out while everything was still okay. I pretty much escaped serious internal injuries on ALL of the above. The only "quasi-luxury" cars that really beat me up were Saab Turbo convertibles.
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Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Jan 02, 2009 12:32 pm)  ...I know in those inflationary times, those things had amazing resale value too...I have some NADA/KBB books from 1976, and late pagodas booked at nearly original MSRP. Is there a luxury car that isn't risky? Even the old Japanese makes have their drawbacks. The bigger they are, the harder they fall...anyone want a 1983 Rolls? Didn't think so.
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Replying to: fintail (Jan 02, 2009 1:15 pm) One thing you have to do is really study the reputation of various cars. There's a good deal of "collective wisdom" out there which is often worth ten Haynes manuals or 100 Klick and Klack radio shows. Some luxury cars, I'd bet on, and some I'd bet against. BWM 3 series? Replace the radiator, thermostat and water pump and be happy for the duration. BWM 5 series? I'm betting you'll be pretty much okay. BMW 750 series? May God have mercy on your soul. Audi Allroad? Good luck, you'll probably need it. Jaguar X Type? you poor thing Mercedes 300E -- I'd bet in your favor here. 83 Rolls? BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA 
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