Not sure about Toyota, but BMW NA and MB USA forbid their dealers from advertising that way (via not paying the ad subsidies), and any rebates they ever do (which happen more than you know) are strictly to the dealer. If you can find the information, you can save a ton on a car. When the last Z4 M’s were at dealers 11…

Dealers are fighting Tesla’s direct sales model because once Tesla gets approval, then it’s all bets are off for the legacy franchised dealers, who will soon be out of business. Of course, this is why car dealers are some of the biggest donors to politicians of all stripes in their states. The dealer lobby is far, far…

I think it also depended on the troop. I was a scout in the Eighties and despite most of the kids going to he same church, it had zero association or affiliation with any church or denomination. Sure, we recited the god shit in the oath/motto, and perhaps joined in a prayer or two while at the big camp in the summer,…

Maybe those silver inserts are there for cost-cutting measures, because they sure look a lot like the brake-cooling ducts on the front end.

You missed the hyphen between boy and fucking. But still, a star for you.

I thought black was none of the colors and white was all of the colors? 

Holy shit! Someone drove an M6 beyond 100,000 miles!

That’s good work. The idea that a holding company is the sole shareholder in a front (another holding company) to own your classic cars is just a straight out indictment of why this bullshit needs to stop, particularly when a Brazillionaire can easily afford to pay proper taxes, duties, etc. on his vehicles.

Also,…

What I want to know is what is the name of the collector behind Fica Frio Limited, a company chartered in the Channels Islands (Jersey, to be precise) which is like a little private Switzerland for British people who want to hide their money or conduct financial activity outside the normal scrutiny of the U.K. or he…

Don’t forget he paid a commission on the sale of the car, too. Gooding realized $1,540,000 on the sale, which includes the buyer’s 10% premium on a hammer price of $1,400,000, meaning Gooding got $140,000 from the buyer and somewhere between 5% and 10% from Seinfeld, though I would guess the former since he sold a…

But would you buy one? If it were my money and I had a legitimate option between the two, I would take the wagon seven days a week. But I’m not in the market for either an actual X3M nor a mythical M3 wagon, as much as I wish I were.

Sadly, not enough people buy wagons. 

I regret that I have but on star to give.

When the V10 M5/M6 were introduced a decade or so ago, BMW admitted that maybe 30% of M-car buyers were enthusiasts, the rest “lifestyle” buyers.

That should tell you everything you need to know about who puts the butter on their bread. 

I drove a 130i hatch (with a six-speed, no less) when it first came out...In another country.

Cam here looking to post this, but somebody beat me to it. For some reason, I remember the BMW brass quoting an even higher number, like 90%.

Translation: If people don’t give a shit, then we don’t give a shit and we will give them a cheaper-to-produce car in the same shape, but with less driving dynamics we are known…

I say “some maintenance” because the M30 is renowned for longevity and durability, even under ignorant hands. But if treated well, with frequent fluid changes, regular coolant changes (as opposed to every 10 years or simply when it leaks or evaporates out), valve adjustments, etc, they should last forever.

BMW has made many great engines, and the M30 sits right at the top of the heap. This final iteration in 208hp guise is the best. And 230,000 miles is just broken in, assuming it has had some maintenance done along the way.

Had one, a ‘93 with the M030 “Special Chassis Option,” which included larger cross-drilled brakes, coilovers, and forged 17-inch wheels from the factory, plus LSD. Took it to the track. Did not suck.

A star is given, but only because I could not give it a heart.

I grew up a Prost fan and the user name came about with the deification process that surrounded that fawning Senna movie. 

Just like I never bought a house as an investment (which is a good thing, because I’ve been hosed more than once with market corrections), I didn’t buy the M as a collectible. Still, it’s nice to know that, should I need to, I can get a year or two of college for one kid out of it.