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

How much do they want for the 240?

W123

I have run a couple and you cant beat em, having said that i have now moved on to W126's - 2 armchairs and a sofa with a V8 up front, yes please

How much do they want for the 240?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VOLVO-240-TORSLANDA-ESTATE-1-FAMILY-OWNED-2-0LTR-/140572934147?pt=Automobiles_UK&hash=item20baccc003#ht_500wt_1127

That massive Limo on the last page came to London some time in the early to mid-nineties, my Dad took me to see it near Seven Sisters/Wood Green/Turnpike Lane somewhere (I don't remember where exactly, but it was near my great nan's in Hornsey)

W123s will go round the clock if maintained properly. Back when Merc made proper cars, I remember the days when..., etc etc.

Sopa.

I..er..just don't get any of it.

That gen of Merc I (personally, obviously) consider to be the very ugliest in all of Mercs history.

The Volvo is going to be slower than a Blandford Fly sprinting the 100m with an interior that'll make you feel just a little bit sick everytime you get into it.

And the Toyota, well it's not a Rangie is it? How bout an old Disco? It at least has the correct name on the bonnet.

Yeah but who do they call to pull Land Rovers out when they get stuck...? :P

.

here ya go: Subaru Legacy GTB currently at £995: http://www.uklegacy.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=115220

As it stands thats under a grand for a 280bhp 170mph estate....

It's £1995. Got extremely excited for a minute!

Click the ebay link in the post - its sat at £995 with no bids... http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320722179157#ht_1518wt_1140
Lots of GT, GTB going cheap recently due to fuel costs....

Ah cheers, didn't notice that. Fuel costs are something I have to consider unfortunately, which I momentarily forgot. My dad used to have a '93 STi Legacy and that drunk petrol quicker than a hobo who just found a box of fortified wine on offer.

Sopa.

I..er..just don't get any of it.

That gen of Merc I (personally, obviously) consider to be the very ugliest in all of Mercs history.

The Volvo is going to be slower than a Blandford Fly sprinting the 100m with an interior that'll make you feel just a little bit sick everytime you get into it.

And the Toyota, well it's not a Rangie is it? How bout an old Disco? It at least has the correct name on the bonnet.

The Merc has that "will go on forever" feeling to it, hence it's popularity in Africa and so forth, referenced above.

It's tough as old boots, and that's its appeal- it's a utility vehicle in the total sense of the word.

The Volvo would be my choice, but that's as a starting point- the tuning path for these is extremely well known, and cheap- 300 bhp is easy, 400 a worthwhile challenge, 500 getting tricky, and 600+ attainable for the commited.

That's on the stock engine, a V8 swap is done easily enough with mail-order parts.

The toyota is proof against pretty much anything but a limited nuclear exchange, so again the utility appeal.

Rangie's and Disco's break down if you look at them funny- the reputation for reliability of those vehicles is so far beyond dreadful that I'd never consider one.

And the Toyota, well it's not a Rangie is it? How bout an old Disco? It at least has the correct name on the bonnet.

Ha.

LR peaked with the defender.

^Now one of those I'd buy, they keep working.

3 door Rangie would be my ideal one. Preferably a CSK, though I'd probably remove the front spoiler.

CSK's really aren't all that mate. Apart from the appeal of the 2 door on the late body there was nothing positive about them. Generally still the most overpriced and shoddy Rangie's you'll find, check any forums out and you'll understand why. If I was desperate for a 2 door and had a first car it'd have to be an early 80's example, hands down.

Dammit. That volvo is pants (and more importantly it's a Volvo). The Merc is pants. I really can't place 'utilitarianism' as an excuse for buying shit that looks shit in either of those cases. Yes the Volvo can have a lot of power chucked into it, but I don't think the idea behind Sopa's purchase is to then not have a car for ages whilst working on it, and that would take A LOT of work to get it to a state of decency (both inside and out).

Legacy's are the balls. I'd say look down that route Sopa, but with that pretty eclectic mix of current viewings I'm not sure I quite understand what your after....

Ha.

LR peaked with the defender.

^Now one of those I'd buy, they keep working.

Haha. Really? You've not been down to your local green lanes recently have you? ;)

Making an assumption here, but I reckon Henry wants space for bikes in something safe and reliable- which makes his three choices make sense.

Therefore "not breaking down all the time" and "big load area" are both positives.

The Legacy would be great, but if it drinks fuel like most turbo'd cars then a poor medical student might struggle to pay the running costs, and also insuring it might get exciting.

Haha. Really? You've not been down to your local green lanes recently have you? ;)

Grew up in Winchester, the Defender was normally pressed into service to tow the Rangie out of the muddy field it had got stuck in.

Or broken down in, you couldn't normally tell until it got back onto tarmac and could attempt to find "D"

Haha. Really? You've not been down to your local green lanes recently have you? ;)

Yes,
in something not to dissimilar to this.

Shooooot. Forgot you were a student Sopa. Well that makes a big difference The Merc suddenly becomes quite pimp, the Volvo less of an option (unless it's a starting point) as people will not see it as an ironic purchase. The Toyota would be awesome. I do actually love Landcruisers and hold them slightly in contempt as I am very aware just how much more reliable they are than Rangie's.

God I didn't realise how much of a bad mood I'm in today until I re-read my posts.

BTW I have myself faced the embarrassing situation of being pulled out of the mud by a Defender. Although (touches many, many wooden objects) I haven't had a single problem with the engine so far, only mostly everything else.

haha - yeah maybe the legacy might not be best then what with its twin turbos, drink problem and the fact its a JDM import (meaning pricey/specialist insurance)....

plenty of N/A leggies about cheap tho - have less of a drink issue (although by no means what you would class as "economical" on fuel) and are easy to insure but still handle pretty well with bags of room.

^ I do want to add here actually. Apart from that one time the suspension failed completely and a pair of 90's pulled me out of the mud, I've never actually broken down. This have 'happened' but I have called upon the services of the RAC only once, and that was for a snapped exhaust about which they could do nothing and as a result of which I was able to carry on my journey.

#justsayingbutithinktherangieunreliablitiyismassivelyoverplayed.