Ferrari Mailing List: Re: German Cars

[E M (pokiebaron]

You might want to look at few mid size Mercedes and BMWs.  I have found,
they are often a lot more car, for little, if any more money.

Mercedes went through a bad patch with quality, so it's worth joining an
online Benz group to get the lowdown on specific models, and what to look
for.

Lots of the older models are very well built, and very reliable.  Simple
too.  All cars have problems and weaknesses, but if you know what you're
shopping for, and what to look for, you should be able to find a good car
for very little money.

I have an old E with about 350,000 kms on it, which has had very few
problems.  Easy to work on and parks can be found online for cheap.  The
valve guides are starting to go, but hey, 350,000 kms, not bad.

Good luck in your search, and with the 308 rebuild.

Ed
911SC

2009/12/23 Michael James <cavallino_rapante [at] yahoo.com>

> I can understand that sentiment, however.....seems as though you've set
> yourself up for failure.  An M3 isn't even a consideration for me, as I
> regard the motor as too 'high-strung' to be dependable for daily-commuter
> use.  And I have never heard anything positive regarding the reliability of
> Audis, especially the modern models - too many 'bells and
> whistles'...they're not a consideration either, none of my friends who own
> them will recommend them to me.
>
> Is there a significant correlation between the higher-performance models,
> and the amount of service/lack of reliability?  I think so - someone
> mentioned Brabus in an earlier post.  Brabus might be a great road-rocket,
> but....haven't you just turned a reliable/dependable machine into a
> fire-breathing hand grenade for an extra $60K+?
>
> M
>
> --- On Wed, 12/23/09, Martin Stark <MStark [at] Copper.net> wrote:
>
>
> From: Martin Stark <MStark [at] Copper.net>
> Subject: Re: [Ferrari] German Cars
> To: "Michael" <Cavallino_Rapante [at] yahoo.com>
> Cc: "The FerrariList" <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
> Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 10:53 AM
>
>
> Good luck finding any German car that can run 100K miles trouble free.
> I and my immediate family members have owned upwards of 10 cars from
> Audi, MB, and BMW, and currently own an A8 and M3.  Trouble free is not
> a phrase that can be associated with any of them - past or present.
>
> Michael James wrote:
>
> >I was hoping of getting-into a German car in the next month or two - I
> actually like the MB C280 4Matic or a 5-speed manual 3-Series BMW.  I think
> either car would be practical and a good 'snow-car' with Blizzacks on the
> rims.  I'm not looking to 'make statements' per se, or drive a land-yaht (I
> don't know any fat people who need seat-space defined in cubic yards) - I
> just want a 4-door car that is well-built, great in the snow, some Cache',
> some modern/modest luxury, and can run for 100K miles trouble-free.  I'm
> finding LOTS of C280s and 3-Series BMWs with sub-30K miles for around $20K,
> cars that would appear to be leased vehicles that were gently-used.
> >
> >Keep in mind, my 'current' car is a 1996 stripped Ford Ranger with
> 250,000+ miles on it.  A five-year-old Honda would be luxurious in
> comparison - I'm not a 'bells-and-whistles' guy.  If the heater and A/C
> work, and there's a radio, I'm pretty happy.
> >
> >M
> >
> >P.S. - the Head work on my 308 is going well, I should have those finished
> in January.  The Transfer Case and associated bearings will also be done by
> spring.  Having a great deal of difficulty finding the correct Cylinder
> Liners at an affordable price, though.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >--- On Wed, 12/23/09, TheMightyToe <themightytoe [at] gmail.com> wrote:
> >
> >
> >From: TheMightyToe <themightytoe [at] gmail.com>
> >Subject: Re: [Ferrari] Michael Schumacher
> >To: "Michael" <Cavallino_Rapante [at] yahoo.com>
> >Cc: "The FerrariList" <ferrari [at] ferrarilist.com>
> >Date: Wednesday, December 23, 2009, 10:02 AM
> >
> >
> >KR says:
> >But fear not; the German cars  have video cameras to use backing up until
> mirrors are invented. They have vibrators in the steering wheel that chide
> you when you prove incapable of staying in your lane. They have
> forward-looking xray lasers to part the waters when the road floods. And the
> tires are good for 10,000 miles. Unless you get the run-flat option which
> rides like Flintstone Rocktreads and cannot be fixed when punctured.
> >
> >Ken, you do realize that these exact "advances" are specifically
> >targetting the Houston area driver?  Flat perfect roads, occasional
> >floods mixed with year round perfect conditions, and the worst
> >collective driving ability on the planet?  Seriously last time I drove
> >there I saw some poor bastard on a Harley get taken out by a lady in an
> >SUV on her cell phone, leaving a tollbooth.  Last time I saw something
> >that horrible was on trip to India (where I imagine driver training is
> >marginally better than Houston's).
> >
> >But on BMW's I agree, that company jumped the Shark back in 2000.  My
> >E46 M3 was probably my last BMW, they just don't make a cool car
> >anymore.   MB has never appealed to me in any way, not even their
> >"classics" which are below any standard set by their contemporaries in
> >both looks and performance.  Who wants a car that lasts forever if its
> >hideous and you have to look at it forever?  They drive very solidly,
> >but have no soul whatsoever and really belong only in the hands of a
> >retiree.  Porsche and Audi are about the only German car companies
> >making interesting rides these days (I do like my VW GTI a lot, but it
> >is a standout for VW's line of cars I think).
> >
> >Now here is something I pondered a few nights ago at the movie
> >theaters...   They played an add for Kia, and the ad was not for a car
> >but for the company.  The pitch was how great and modern their
> >manufacturing plant in the southern US was and how it provided jobs for
> >American workers...  So if I analyze this?  What they are actually
> >saying is it is cheaper for them to make cars in the deep south of the
> >US than in Korea?  Wow.  Just wow and how sad for us to be practically a
> >third world country in many respects...
> >
> >That said, a neighbor of mine has a Hyundai Genesis Sedan, and it is
> >every bit as nice as a Merc S class.  Even looks like one a bit.
> >
> >Now what I really do not get, is how ANY car company could link F1 to
> >their product line?  When have we seen any F1 tech in a Mercedes if
> >ever?  Or a Renault, or a Toyota road car?
> >
> >BR,
> >Mike
> >
> >
> >Ken Rentiers wrote:
> >
> >
> >>Fellippe always enjoy your messages, but I have to disagree with this
> one.
> >>
> >>It's certainly true that many of the old garden variety Benz's were slow,
> and about as exciting to drive as, well, a bank vault which is what they
> were built like. It is also true that many of the latest iteration of MB and
> BMW products are crap.
> >>
> >>Due to the pressures of the Deutschland greenies much of the current BMW
> line is now made of recycled plastic. This includes the radiator. Given
> enough heat/cool cycles (oh say 50,000 miles worth) the eco-plastic becomes
> as brittle as the peanut variety of same, and cracks. Usually at the most
> inopportune time, giving you about 30 seconds to shut down before the head
> warps.
> >>
> >>Did I mention they were as ugly as moose butts? Did I mention they had no
> dipsticks? Onliest way you can check the oil level is to drain it out and
> measure it!
> >>
> >>Crap. Idiocy. Obergruppenarrogance!
> >>
> >>But fear not; the German cars  have video cameras to use backing up until
> mirrors are invented. They have vibrators in the steering wheel that chide
> you when you prove incapable of staying in your lane. They have
> forward-looking xray lasers to part the waters when the road floods. And the
> tires are good for 10,000 miles. Unless you get the run-flat option which
> rides like Flintstone Rocktreads and cannot be fixed when punctured.
> >>
> >>Crap!!! - gimme the older, simpler cars that you drove instead of rode
> in. The ones without bulbous snouts to meet new Euro-regs about not hitting
> below the pedestrians' knees. Like the ugly new 5 series. Don't cry for me
> Pininfarina - I got some nice old iron I shall keep forever.
> >>
> >>Screw progress and while I'm at it HUMBUG!
> >>
> >>Except for you Fellippe - you're a good guy even if you do latch on to a
> little misdirected opinion at times. My best to you and yours and have a
> wonderful Christmas. All the rest of you too, except those taken in by the
> Hollywood crap machine now showing "Eco-smurfs v The US Marines" (Avatar).
> ##$%^&* tree-hugging commies every one of them.
> >>
> >>:-)
> >>love and kisses
> >>the kenverine
> >>
> >>
> >>On Dec 22, 2009, at 10:14 PM, Fellippe Galletta wrote:
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >>>On Tue, Dec 22, 2009 at 8:46 AM, LS <lashdeep [at] yahoo.com> wrote:
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>
> >>>>Roger that...before they became plastic toasters?
> >>>>
> >>>>I'll take a 190E 2.3 16v and an AMG Hammer.
> >>>>
> >>>>LS
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>>
> >>>Oh man.
> >>>
> >>>With some of you guys on here, it's like every civilian brand needs to
> >>>maintain a 250 GTO like aura around their cars....ugh.
> >>>
> >>>Sure, MB of new isn't quite like MB of old but who seriously wants a
> 190E
> >>>over a new E, S, CL, CLK, SL or CLS? LOL.
> >>>
> >>>A vintage Gullwing is a different story of course, and a genuine AMG
> Hammer
> >>>or Porsche built E500 is worthy of consideration, but not all garden
> >>>variety Benzes made between 1980-1999. You seriously want bulletproof,
> buy a
> >>>new Japanese car...done, end of story.
> >>>
> >>>I'll play along and be a good sport and say the '90s S Class was the
> last of
> >>>the uber Mercedes Benz elite class. When comparing each respective
> >>>generation of S, this was easily the best, from the look, the armored
> car
> >>>like construction, those dual pane windows, and the first big HP V12 in
> the
> >>>600...the quintessential Benz.
> >>>
> >>>Still wouldn't get it over the newer S's. You're buying an
> >>>expensive prestige sedan for the cachet/style/keeping up with the
> >>>joneses/etc first, everything else comes second. Anyone who says
> otherwise
> >>>is clearly lying to himself or others!
> >>>
> >>>The '90s S or Miami Vice era S's no longer fit the bill....so no point
> in
> >>>owning these maintenance nightmares unless it's for the novelty factor
> and
> >>>short term. For that LS, you did it right with those BMWs!
> >>>
> >>>It's time to expose the (forty) 800 pound gorilla for what it is! I
> don't
> >>>hate those older Benzes...still respect them....but to act like they
> were
> >>>the only good cars from the factory is silly.
> >>>
> >>>FG
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