Choose Ron's new ride

[Alyssa]

Pardon a dumb question, but is high speed capability a criteria? Hmmm, unfortunately you guys are so far out of my league that I don't even dream about the options available to you...HA!

By the way, I know you've probably driven plenty of them, but a P38a with a 4.6 doesn't do that bad on the highway. We just sold our 97 HSE and I still miss it, but I don't miss (as you previously stated) the fuel costs of having two rovers. There certainly is the option of installing the new power chip along with performance exhaust and improved air intake. That should help you get to work a little faster.

It isn't for me, but it is for Ron. I'd rather a little slower car for Ron, because he drives like an ass. Even so, I think a Bosch 4.6 P38a is still relatively slow off the line, even in sport mode. There's quite a bit of car to get moving. It isn't intended to be a fast car, and is very capable for what it is. A 4.6 is great on the highway, but merging is still a little intimidating. These are very aggressive highways he'd be driving on. I'd be very happy with one for my car (I rarely go over 35 mph where I drive!), but then we'd still need something for Ron. And yes, I've driven PLENTY of them!!

Ideally, I'd like to get a nicer newer RR for me, get Ron a once nice much older car to commute in, and keep the LWB for backup. We'll have the BMW around until at least April (that's when our Lemon Law arbitration hearing is). So we're really trying for 2 cars, but only need one immediately. ...and it makes much more sense to get the older car for Ron right now, because when the BMW is running I LOVE it.

 

[NVRover]

Well, good luck on deciding what to get. It'll be interesting to see what Ron finally decides on. By the way, my boss has an '04 530i and it's a sweet vehicle. Fairly sporty even with the 6 cylinder. I hate getting into my disco after riding in his bimmer.

 

[Ron]

Ah ha! It is Ron agains.

Sweetheart remember the box "remember my login" don't click it!

Yes, the D90 sold today

Looking at an XJ6 (no R ) tomorrow. Cheapish commuter. Have to look into a manual conversion.

The 250 GTE ferrari is my car I think. Should be able to get one for say 35ish, drive the crap out of it and sell it when the market is up again for what I paid. In contrast an 03 RR is 50+ and is worth 20 in three years, if you are lucky. Four seats (well two seats and a spot for the dog ) 250 GTE, 365 GT 2+2, 330 GT 2+2 series II all would be good. Can't dig the looks of the 400 or the late 365s or the series I 330s.

Older cars are the way. I don't like depreciation. Something 10 years old is ideal. If it is quality it is new enough to be reliable for 3-5 more years, old enough to not depreciate anymore.

I actually was thinking of a bentley turbo R, actually a mid 60s chinese eye coupe is one of my must haves (cheap, market will go up).

Few things that money can buy make me happy. A nice car is one of them, ergo . . .

I will be back to W&L for reunion weekend, if I am not swamped with work by then.

So at this point it is a jag for a commuter and a ferrari four seater for fun.

Lets see if I can buy that Jag right.

 

[Ron]

How about an Alfa 164?

I know they are FWD but they look cool and the dealer is a couple miles away.

 

[F18Guy]

Escalade

 

[Blue]

As for why a nice car... Why not? I know we're skewed by where we live, and also where I work doesn't help things. We've got the funds & we both want a nice car, so what's the problem?

It sounds to me like you're trying to reach a little too high. You want to tool around in a "nice car".....Ron has mentioned hi-end Porshe, Ferrari, Jag, Rover, BMW ///M, Lotus, & Audi. But it's not like you're going to go to the local dealer & pick one up and cruise in style....you're looking for old, used, maintenance nightmares to match the other maintenance nightmares you have in your stable.

You guys need to go buy a brand new Honda or Toyota econo-box, or take this train wreck private.

 

[Ron]

"you're looking for old, used, maintenance nightmares to match the other maintenance nightmares you have in your stable."

Well, the new 04 BMW 530i has been a nightmare and totally unreliable. The two ten year old rovers have been almost perfect, as were the two disco Is we had (after the initial issues were sorted). We could certainly afford a new 911 or 03 RR but it is spendy and why? I doubt it will be appreciably better than a used one and certainly it would depreciate more. I am convinced that the new cars are crap after the BMW experience. I am comfortable with 1995-1997 era technology, not with 03-04

I drove my disco for 18 months and sold it for what I had into it.
I drove the D90 for 18 months and sold it for a profit.

As far as taking in private: Once again I must refer you to the statement that I make all decisions based on Dweb input.

Its general discussion. Without these threads what would be left?

 

[Blue]

hmmmm....I assumed your BMW was an old hunk of shit, not a new hunk of shit.

 

[JSQ]

blue,

i'm jealous of your E46. I still miss my E36.

does yours happen to be white?
white d1 and white 325 in AZ is kinda money.

 

[FIVESPDDISCO]

ron your all performance... but get a 530? were is the M5 or the at least the 540


.. Going to buya jag & a ferrari but cant swing the RR


.. DAYDREAMER

 

[FIVESPDDISCO]

rons new ride

 

[Ron]

Re M5

We got the 530i because, well because we were going to get a disco, then the 525i was the same price for the lease, but then Alyssa did not like the 525i wheels, and they did not have a color combo we liked, and then they gave us the 530i for the same lease as the 525i. If the new M5 had been out we might have considered it but as I understand it SMG is the only trans option and I wanted a standard. I also did not want sport and you can't get a 6-speed 545i w/o sport.

Ergo 530i. It made sense at the time. Nice car, fixed lease payment. Relaible and nice. NOT.

In hindsite I would not have gone near it with a ten foot pool. Our thinking was sound. The new V8 intake thing sounded like it might not be sound from an engineering standpoint and less power = less tickets and less things to break.

However, nope . . .

It is not a matter of affording the RR, we can do that. The issue is the lowest cost for the most enjoyment. 03 RR will depreciate like about 10k a year. A new porsche 911 will depreciate less so:

1995 911: $25000-30,000
1995 RR: $5000-7500

When new they cost the same, if not the RR more. Porsche depreciates less.

Likewise a vintage ferrari has no inherent depreciation, only maintainces ($$$$) and wear and tear depreciation.

I looked at the Jag but it had been smoked in. I will find another one. I have our jag dealer looking for the right trade in for Alyssa and I to buy.

So, the way I see it:

1995 Jag XJ6: $4000 today wholesale

Five year costs: $3000 maintainces and repair (DIY mostly)

Resale in five years: $2000 private sale

Total costs ~$1000 per year

2005 Jag XJ8 $67,000

Resale in five years: $23,000

Maintaince and repair: $1000

total costs: ~$9000 per year

And this is without factoring in insurance and interest costs.

So basically for an extra 8k a year you drive a new, much, more expensive vehicle.

Now a Honda Civic will also run the same ~$1000 per year, but I rather have the Jag.

It just makes good business sense to buy something used. So long as you can fix it, no issues. Sure there is more variability and you might shell out a couple grand for a new trans but on average you do fine.

 

[Alyssa]

Yep, we've sold all of the off-roaded, less expensive vehicles we've owned to other homes. Now I have a very nice, clean, stock '95 LWB (except for the coil conversion and borla, which was installed by the previous owner). It hasn't needed anything except wiper blades, gas, and an oil change since we've owned it. We have the brand new '04 BMW, which is the only vehicle we currently own that is a nightmare. (And I certainly don't think that "reaching too high" is to go into another vehicle in the same price range as the BMW, which will shortly be lemon lawed). We've moved on from being in college or just out of college with limited funds. Just because we used to have, as Kyle so lovingly puts it, "junk," does not mean that we still do. And, just because Ron is excessively cheap, doesn't mean we have no money.

 

[FIVESPDDISCO]

You said my z lacked power but you were going to buy a 525 HA! a big 4 door with less power then my roadster. Did you get the fake leather seats?


... You are right a ferrari will not depreceiate much if at all. but if you drive it 60 miles aday and get some stone chips door dings you will have extream depreceiation.


.... You will be a great lawer you talk out of you ass. Enjoy the rocket ship perfromance of your old body rr

 

[RoverChic]

You will be a great lawer you talk out of you ass.

Now Now Justin. Not ALL lawyers are like Ron. I am setting new precedents for lawyers everywhere. Birds of a feather do not always flock together

I might *try* to make it to MAR. I am dying to meet you folks!!!

Ron just get the Jag. My personally preference of course would be the RR 2003. My significant other just bought one and WOW!! Mr. and Mrs. Brown et al no one said that you

And, just because Ron is excessively cheap, doesn't mean we have no money.

. I think everyone is aware that you have lucrative means of income.

 

[Ron]

The 525 was not for speed it was for transport, it was in place of a disco. Speed was not the issue. Once I got used to the 530i now I need more speed.

Well given the return on my previous few cars I think I will be ok with the old ferrari. I know what I am looking to buy and what to buy it at and I think I will be ok. I am sure it will take a while to find the right one (I spent over a year looking for my disco and at least twice that looking for the right D90). Worst case I am out what I put into it and a 250 GTE driver is worth only 30-40k so that is four years of a 5 series lease.

We shall see!

As far as pleather or leather. I actually like vinyl but you could not get lumbar support so we got leather (which is starting to show wear although vinyl looks new almost indefinately).

The LWB is actually faster than my old 5 speed disco . . .

 

[Ron]

I like junk!

The jag was smoked in, so I got to find another one.



Ron

 

[Str0ud]

E

 

[Str0ud]

164 Negatory.

 

[FIVESPDDISCO]

Melissa i am sorry.
I have it in for lawers this week mine fuc*ed up my house deal very badly and i might lose my deposit.

ron I am in the car busines and i hate daydreamers (time wasters)

I do agree with you on the hi end used cars you get them used and some times if your good you can make money. BMW's for the most part are ez to sell. porsche suck! every one wants to drive them but no one buys them. xj6 run for the hills on trying to sell them. they make porsche look like a walk in the park.