I’d have to agree that basically no car is best in its base trim. The sweet spot is almost always the mid-level trim. The base level is death by a thousand cuts. Sure there’s plenty of stuff you can live without, but there will always be something that they cut that would be very desirable.

PIT maneuvers should always require authorization from a superior. It may still be a bad idea, but at least it takes the “heat of the moment” excuse out of the picture.

Snows + AWD = pretty much unstoppable

Not my thing either, but even a failing turbo at this price isn’t terrible.

My early driving years were 60's-70's American cars with open differentials and bald tires in Michigan winters. It was sometimes tricky, but I got around fine. After a number of years in AZ, I moved to Colorado and drove a 5.0 Fox body Mustang in the winters there. First I ran 4 studded snows and then Blizzaks. It was…

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Prophets are just mad men that happened to call it right.

That was my initial thought too, until I realized how little power the engine has.

But you forgot the other law. Don’t buy a VAG product that’s not under warranty.

I’m pretty sure that was a 6 pack of Jack Daniels.

Every time that one guy got out of the truck, he was looking down to see what they were running over.

Here’s another site in a similar vein. In this case, it’s a wide variety of promotional materials for all kinds of older cars. http://oldcarbrochures.com/

Not just appropriate, but obligatory.

Typically it’s because it’s a third or fourth car. In other words, a toy.

I’m a fan of that era Ford tail lights.

I totally agree. I’ve had intermittent wipers. I’ve had speed sensitive wipers. All the old school tech still requires you to be involved. Automatic wipers are for the most part set and forget.

Also keep in mind that the change from 6 to 4 w/turbo was accompanied by a change in transmission with more gears. 

If you go with a new E 63, you’ll end up spending well north of the $120k budget. So you’re dropping down to used and likely a CPO purchase. I’m of the opinion that if you’re spending that much on a car, it might as well be new. Others might feel differently.

As nice as an E63 wagon would be, it’s now 2021. I’d go with either the X3M competition or X4M competition depending on your taste. Brand new and loaded they list around $90k. That’s well under budget.

My first brand new, just out of college, car was the 89 LX 5.0 hatchback. I never liked all the body cladding the GT had. That was truly a fun car for it’s time.