The cars and bikes thread!

[Samanator]

Well, I don’t really think you can compare a Jag XK8 to an air cooled 911—XK8s were never considered reliable.

But there’s a lot of food for thought. Still, I think I’d rather deal with the mechanical issues of an older car than the technological issues of a newer one. I mean, look at my brother’s S4...$8,000 to replace a $900 sensor that renders the car undrivable when it fails. Ridiculous.

Modern cars no longer hold my interest and aren’t fun to drive anymore. I guess I’m just going to have to deal with the issues of older ones.

Your missing the point. Any 15-25 year old car is going to need pretty much all fluid carrying lines and systems either replaced or rebuilt regardless of who built it. This is a fact. I've done six of these from four different brands and all are the same. Since German cars like Mercedes and Porsches have these very unique materials and complexities they are worse. The Porsche 959 had systems in it in 1986 that some cars are just starting to be common. All that tech and more is in even those old Porsches and you can see repairs like you describe for the Audi as common. I did not do the Porsche because when i looked at the cost and talked to the old time mechanics it was a money pit. It was cheaper to buy a four year old certified pre owned. Remember also the Air cooled mean all those systems are subject to even more heat than a water cooled system. My XK8 is rock solid and pretty much has been. It just costs money to change out the things that wear with age. Any 2000 and on Jaguar are not all that bad. I've had far more issues with Mercedes built things. I'm trying to warn you based on actual experience.

[Raza]

Here is a beauty at the showroom just a few miles from me:

https://www.gatewayclassiccars.com/O...sche-911-Turbo

The Bad Boys car!

[happyscrappyheropup]

Well, I don’t really think you can compare a Jag XK8 to an air cooled 911—XK8s were never considered reliable.

This is very true.

As far as years, the 993 prices are very high, I think 996 S cars are good value right now - follow up on issues like a DME, IMS, clutch/WP (hopefully when IMS done), and you can have a reliable car. The 997.1 is a little nicer, and still reasonably priced, but still has IMS issues. '05 was the more failure prone single row bearing, with an upgrade for the '06-08 cars to the double row bearings that have a much lower failure rate, however, those newer bearings are not serviceable.

I've heard 8-10% failure on the early single row bearings, less than 1% on the dual row. I think the 997.2 cars fixed the issue and failures are much more rare.

But there’s a lot of food for thought. Still, I think I’d rather deal with the mechanical issues of an older car than the technological issues of a newer one. I mean, look at my brother’s S4...$8,000 to replace a $900 sensor that renders the car undrivable when it fails. Ridiculous.

Modern cars no longer hold my interest and aren’t fun to drive anymore. I guess I’m just going to have to deal with the issues of older ones.

As someone who drives and works on older cars (and newer ), you should buy a modern car if you can not work on the cars yourself. Next best is a good indy shop. They can save 50% or more on dealer service costs, even on newer cars that are just outside warranty coverage. However, as Michael mentioned, there is still a lot of care and feeding that must happen with older cars. If it's a toy, no worries. When it breaks it can sit. I wouldn't recommend it as your only car if you're paying to have it fixed.

[happyscrappyheropup]

I really wish I did not look up that site. If you have read an article on how the Toyota Centuary is made they are just amazingly crafted. Must resist, but it would be cool.

I'm cruising though that site now and there are several cool things. Like a Lotus Super 7 replica with a Miata drive train. i worked with a guy back in the late seventies that was hand building replicas of those with Toyota 16 valve 2.0L engines from Japan and all Toyota drive train and electrical. It was the engine in Japanese Celicas. He was the Toyota Dealer in Fredric MD and I painted the first 10 cars he built.

Check out Bring A Trailer. I'm always on there looking for the next ride.

[Raza]

This is very true.

As far as years, the 993 prices are very high, I think 996 S cars are good value right now - follow up on issues like a DME, IMS, clutch/WP (hopefully when IMS done), and you can have a reliable car. The 997.1 is a little nicer, and still reasonably priced, but still has IMS issues. '05 was the more failure prone single row bearing, with an upgrade for the '06-08 cars to the double row bearings that have a much lower failure rate, however, those newer bearings are not serviceable.

I've heard 8-10% failure on the early single row bearings, less than 1% on the dual row. I think the 997.2 cars fixed the issue and failures are much more rare.





As someone who drives and works on older cars (and newer ), you should buy a modern car if you can not work on the cars yourself. Next best is a good indy shop. They can save 50% or more on dealer service costs, even on newer cars that are just outside warranty coverage. However, as Michael mentioned, there is still a lot of care and feeding that must happen with older cars. If it's a toy, no worries. When it breaks it can sit. I wouldn't recommend it as your only car if you're paying to have it fixed.

993 prices have cooled quite a bit lately. I've been seeing good examples in the 40K range, which isn't bad, considering 964s are going for the same amount.

There are good indie shops for everything around here, I'm sure there's a Porsche one. But I don't mind paying to get the work done. An air-cooled 911 is a car you buy for life; it's going to cost you one way or another. But yeah, I plan on getting something a bit more modern as a daily driver.

The other car I'm considering is the F-Type V6 manual. They're also in the $30-40K range and much newer. But I have questions about the longevity of a modern car. I feel like I could run a 993 Cab forever with a mechanic who can work on it. I don't feel the same about the Jag or any newer car because of the electronics in them.

[Raza]

Check out Bring A Trailer. I'm always on there looking for the next ride.

That place is wild. You can see Datsun 240s go for double what Aston V8s go for on BaT.

[Raza]

Have you looked at the prices of air cooled Porsches recently? They have gone insane imo. Of course I think a lot of cars have. Another option if you want a reliable almost super car, the 90s NSX.

I agree with you on the modern car thing though. The grand total of new cars that I have any interest in at all are the Morgan Roadster 3.7 and Plus 4 (hardly modern either of those), Caterham 7 (same), Fiat 500 Abarth, GT86 and Honda S660 (which we don't even get here). The current Civic is too big, the current Miata isn't enough like a Miata, never really had much interest in German cars but the last 3-series I drove was boring, no more EVO, new STi is too big. I think my next daily driver is going to be another 5th or 6th gen Civic and spend a bit of money on doing a bit of a restoration (new bushings, replacement lines/hoses, the common fairly items) + a few mods. Cause ultimately I am child of the Fast and the Furious era and grew up reading Sports Compact Car, Super Street, watching Initial D and Best Motoring videos. Personally I find the 90s/early 00s a good crossover of reliability to repair-ability if you get a car with good support (ie Honda, BMW, Porsche, Toyota Supra, Nissan 240SX, etc). Just budget more then just your purchase to catch up on maintenance.

If I had:
Audi S4 B8 manual
Porsche 993 or 964 Cabrio (C2 or C4 manual, slightly prefer the C2)
Shelby GT350 (manual only)

I'd be done caring about what new cars are made. I'd just find the people who could keep them running forever, unless they bring back manuals to good cars. I mean, that's my realistic dream garage, I think.

[93EXCivic]

Check out Bring A Trailer. I'm always on there looking for the next ride.

I really dislike that site. Made a bunch of cool stuff blow up out of my price range.

[93EXCivic]

If I had:
Audi S4 B8 manual
Porsche 993 or 964 Cabrio (C2 or C4 manual, slightly prefer the C2)
Shelby GT350 (manual only)

I'd be done caring about what new cars are made. I'd just find the people who could keep them running forever, unless they bring back manuals to good cars. I mean, that's my realistic dream garage, I think.

For me my perfect somewhat realistic dream garage anymore would be a Toyota AE86 slightly tuned, my Civic coupe tuned up to where I want to get it (300hp wheel and hopefully weighing 2000-2100lbs), an Element (prefect beater/ mountain bike car) and cool little JDM car (something like a Kei car or Nissan Pao or similar). But since AE86s have gone insane in value I am thinking of adding a more street friendly Civic instead since my other one has no A/C, radio or windshield wash system and will be getting manual window and lock doors, cruise control pulled, fairly stiff springs, etc.

[tribe125]

Didn’t the Pao dissolve in the rain?