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Re: "new" car dilemas Posted by Justin VanAbrahams [Email] (#32) [Profile/Gallery] (more from Justin VanAbrahams) on Sat, 18 Oct 2008 12:10:31 In Reply to: "new" car dilemas, Dan W, Sat, 18 Oct 2008 07:46:44 Members do not see ads below this line. - Help Keep This Site Online - Signup |
I can say this: My primary driver has been a c900 since around 1995... in the last couple of years I've toyed with other similar vintage European "classics" (couple BMW 3-series, Alfa Romeos, etc.) and nothing feels the same, drives the same, or offers the same versatility. Closest thing I've got is an XR4Ti (Ford Sierra) - turbo four, hatchback, seating for four - it offers some fun driving, but nowhere near the build quality. Nice car, though.
On the other hand, I purchased a 1995 Alfa Romeo 164Q back in the late '90s, and recently added a 2000 9-3. They are both really nice cars - excellent build quality, quiet and comfortable inside. They still don't have that easy to drive feeling, and neither is anywhere near as ready to work as a c900. And, for me, the killer is repair bills. I can think of only a handful of expensive repairs on a c900 - really, transmission & wholesale engine replacement - but I look at both the 164 and the 9-3 and scream inside thinking of all the expensive stuff just waiting to go wrong. Electronics, computers, hydraulics. I've enjoyed spending $50 here and there on the c900s to keep them running, but I can think of virtually nothing on the 9-3 or 164 that can be done for less than $100. Kinda sucks.
Friend of mine has a 2001 A4 2.8, and another friend a 2002 1.8T. They are both crazy expensive to maintain. I'm sure when they're brand new, and you've got 4 years of dealer-provided maintenance it's a fantastic car to own, but assuming you're talking about something not quite new, be aware of maintenance cost. $1000 timing belt services and $1200 clutch jobs and $800 computers that are just itching to go bad. Possibly not a dealbreaker (the A4 is a solid, nice to drive car), but when I think that massive monthly car payments are just the start of keeping something pretty and new on the road, I don't even hesitate on spending a couple hours a month keeping the c900s roadworthy.
An '85 is pretty old - maybe start slow and find yourself a '92? :)
posted by 65.78.132...
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