Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

No doubt the classic looks cooler (great colour) but that feels like a money pit if you’re just running it for 3k a year. No way will it start for half of those journeys.

Really? Surely 3k a year for a petrol is ideal? Regular, every week without fail but only short trips - my 87’ diesel Mercedes has never failed to get me where I need to go apart from 2 occasions that were user error 😆

Deffo the classic!

Looks tuff af. Watch out for subframe rot tho.

Are they both petrol? I guess for 3k a year maybe it's worth buying the one that will make you smile more, as you're not going to be in it loads. But I'd deffo want reassurance about reliability and that it hasn't got any terminal problems/massive issues like a fucked subframe or mechanical doubts.

My initial reaction was the newer import based on nothing but it feeling more sensible, but I know which one I'd be more excited getting into.

Classic 3.9 v8 and the p38 is a 4.6 v8

I want the classic but can’t really afford the extra unless I sell a bike and a few guitars

The newer one every time, unless you intend to go off-road. One will be refined, comfortable and pleasant to be in, the other less so with the added bonus of unnecessary big wheels and tyres that will rumble like a tractor.

Fuck it, I am officially old....

Ok, I was going to buy this one but it turns out that there is a conflict between what the seller says (full service history) and what's recorded in the digital service record.

I'm not buying a 550 bhp twin turbo V8 without a full service history, because a) that's stupid and b) no one will buy it from me in a few years.

Keeping it E63, there's this one which is very Essex, but has been thoroughly beaten with the options stick. 360 camera, dynamic seats and so on.

Fewer options but also fewer miles finds this one.

And a left-field entrant is this one, which has been mapped and I think is significantly over-priced given the mileage, but again has a wheelbarrow of options.

I'm leaning toward the Cocaine Express, but it's MOT history is, erm, interesting.

Different car, but same model as the Cocaine Express, photographs are a lot better however.

Signup here

https://redlinespecialistcars.co.uk/used/mercedes-benz/e-class

And they’ll find you one

That Saab is le sex... 💦

I might have missed this earlier in the thread but why choose a merc wagon over an rs4 / rs6 avant? They seem unbeatable

The Audi's are much more expensive to insure as they get stolen all the time, and they're also much more expensive as they're more fashionable than the E63.

Were they concepts? They're absolutely gorgeous... And do I spy a Pininfarina badge in that second photo?

Silver is good...

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without a full service history

I find it pretty mad that such high spec cars that are only a few years old don’t have a FSH. And surely a dodgy MOT history is an absolute red flag?

Although, I’ve no idea about what buying cars like that actually involves.

Fair play. I’ve driven an rs6 and it was excellent, I understand why people would steal them 😆

Or spray it yellow and live out your favour layer cake fantasies.

I find it pretty mad that such high spec cars that are only a few years old don’t have a FSH. And surely a dodgy MOT history is an absolute red flag?

Although, I’ve no idea about what buying cars like that actually involves.

Seller states that it had the correct, minor service at Mercedes Brooklands, and that he's asked that it be put into the digital service record. If that's true and the history can be edited I'll likely still buy the car (the number of owners is a bit of a bugger, but it's the lowest mileage 5.5 litre for sale in the UK that I can find).

The EML advisory on the MOT on the Cocaine Express is a worry, for sure. It's got all the toys though.

How many owners? And also, when you say the Audis are too expensive to insure, how much are you actually talking (I’m morbidly curious).

Again, I know nowt about it, but engine management light would shit me right up, lol. Especially on something with a massive complicated 550bhp engine. But maybe that’s par for the course when you’re buying something along these lines.

Four owners.

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I also thought engine management light is a straight MOT fail? Bit odd they drove it 30 miles to retest the next day but ignored the reasons for failure. Did they just take it to a different test centre or something?

P38 is probably more reliable..and nicer place to be.

The 95 is a wanna be, and not worth 9k. It is hoping on value increase on the early range rovers and not worth it.

BBS LM’s I am assuming? If so, very envious.

JR-23s. There was no BBS stock left when I bought these. I had some BBS LMs on my Jetta BITD and always loved the look. This is close enough.

All sorts of confusion there I feel. Why retest without changing the brake pads?

Really is true that the problem with these cars are the owners.