Posts Tagged ‘german’

Risky Business – 1995 Mercedes C36 AMG

May 6, 2016

In many ways there’s nothing more costly than a 21-year-old Mercedes, but the flip side of the risk is the massive depreciation. And while we’re taking risks, why not consider cars with salvage titles? As fans of old European orphan cars know, massive depreciation means even a small shunt will get an otherwise decent car written off. And just like that, you can get a generally decent top-of-the-line sedan for really short money. Check out this 1995 Mercedes C36 AMG for sale for $3500 in San Francisco, CA.

1995 Mercedes C36 AMG right front

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Don’t Waist His Time – 1976 VW Rabbit (and bonus ’77)

May 4, 2016

While it’s a classic design that did a lot to popularize the concept of the family hatchback, the Mark 1 VW Rabbit doesn’t seem to get much love outside of vintage watercooled VW circles. And sure, in stock form it’s a bit of a shopping cart, but upgrade an early car a little and you can get GTI-like performance with the cleaner, early Mark 1 design cues like round headlights, small tail lights, and even a “swallow tail” rear panel if you’re lucky. So we’ve got a sampling of a couple of early Rabbits, starting with this 1976 VW Rabbit for sale for $3900 in Silverton, OR.

1976 VW Rabbit right side

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What Brakes? – 1991 BMW 318is

May 2, 2016

While every E30 BMW M3 gets snapped up by people with DTM/BTCC or financial fantasies, and the hard-to-kill, fun-to-drive six-cylinder cars keep piling on the miles, most people overlook a lesser-known alternative – the E30 318is. And while it only gives up 26hp to the top-dog M3, you should really be comparing the car to BMW’s earlier four-cylinder sport sedans, including the E21 320is and the 2002 and 2002tii. In this light, the 318is shines – there’s more power available than in any smog-choked E21, and the power and relatively modern electronics of the M42 make it a credible alternative to the much-older 2002. And so we come to this 1991 BMW 318iS, for sale by reader Dave S., currently with no bids at $1500 in Barrington, IL.

1991 BMW 318iS left front

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