I don’t know, it’s not uncommon for a high-performance model from the lower brand to have more power than a mundane model from the premium brand - Camaro SS vs entry Cadillac ATS, Civic Type R vs Acura TLX, VW GTI/Golf R vs A3 1.8T, and on and on. I also can’t imagine BMW made the curtain capable of only dealing with…

Surely there must be a good reason none of these FWD platform cars get even the 240hp that the plain-Jane 328i was bestowed. I mean, I know the BMW is the ‘higher up’model, but these days I expect BMW to give me a little more than 228hp in a fairly expensive ‘all-out performance’ model. I know they’ve been out for…

So, it’s not an exercise to get some more mileage out of the Viper’s V10?

So, JLR V6 and V8s have been all supercharged for several years now. You’ve got to step down to a 4 to get a turbo.

So we could very well be looking at more of a Jeep Escalade than a Jeep Range Rover. Interesting. Obviously there are pros and cons to both, but seems like they’d have built something up on the Maserati bones if they were trying to go that premium with it. Going the half-ton SUV route could pay off though - I have to…

Lol, what $150k car are you leasing for $1500/mo? 911 cab was $127k and $1800, and M6 GC was $131k and almost $2500. I mean, unless MB is running a ‘well qualified low mileage’ lease special on stripped S63s, I’d like to know where you’re getting that deal from.

Good Dammit, you had to go and mention the 911, didn’t you? Still miss my 991 S Cab manual. That car was amazing. I’ve driven a C7, and I did love it, but I have to say I did like my 911 more.

See, this is what I was thinking as well, and still don’t understand. Wasn’t this before the huge insurance hike, and when gas was still fairly cheap? Would have gotten the Corvette as garage queen, even if I didn’t plan to drive it everyday. I mean, it’s 1 dollar.

In true German fashion, though, the cup holders absolutely suck. One goes where your forearm is supposed to go when you’re using iDrive, and the other two are where yours and your passengers elbows are supposed to go.

Brake-by-wire is massively over-hated. Like most, I’ve got 180k with nary a problem, and the stopping power is unbelievable. And, the pumps are <$1k to replace. Not cheap, but when an ABS module on an ML (apparently a common issue) costs $1800, you worry a little less.

I mean, obviously going to have to go with mine:

Almost bought one new to replace my E320 CDI, but couldn’t justify the price (and, honestly, not tired of the Mercedes yet), so decided I’d wait a few years and pick up a used one...

Umm, did you mix up model designations on purpose or something? Pretty sure you called the Compass both a Cherokee and a Renegade.

The Z8 sold better than the 540i wagon, but the 528i was actually somewhat popular, as was the E320. Wagon buyers just didn’t want to upgrade to the more expensive engine, as Mercedes also found out on the E500.

I’m with you. I’d really, really like to swap my 3.2L I6 diesel (from a W211 CDI) into a nice, clean W126 (W126 is my favorite, and I love diesels, but geez they were slow back then, and didn’t really manage good fuel economy either), but it’s probably be pricey. But, for you, with a supercharger, your fuel economy…

That’s awesome! Glad to see one less M100 in the junkyard.

I guess there’s gotta be one in every crowd... ;) Personally, they look like rap video cast-offs, and I’d even rather have the Centra’s in the lead pic which, while boring, have a certain small amount of class to them. But I’m glad someone out there likes the Brabus wheels, for Brabus’ sake!

Adj, but you must read the full dissertation before offering dissent! I totally agree, the older Mercedes (123, 107, Gen1 126, and of course the 116) look much better with the Pentas. But I don’t think I’ve ever actually seen a modded 116 before, that’s really nice! What engine are you running?

That’s awesome! I’ve always wanted to build one of those intricate model cars, but that’s not really a forte of mine.

Of course! Although, I must make a point of correction, it’s a common misconception that they are period correct for some of these cars. I don’t think they came out until the early ‘90s, so they’re a little late for the 126 and most 201s and 124s. They did, however, make it onto W210s (E55), W140s (S500 Grand…