I would have had a hard time parting with a $7500 E39 M5! I would subsequently regret that decision...

Yeah, they really prefer that they don't break. They spend a lot of time running close to rated power too. Automotive engines loaf along. That 300hp is at only 2700rpm too, where the Hemi good for 225 or so.

My neighbor has that exact plane. It is completely mental. As you said, the control response is telepathic. Two fingers on the stick, a little pressure, and you're at 60 degrees bank. Of course, when my neighbor is in control (and we're in the approved box for aerobatics) he absolutely slashes the stick from…

Let me see if this works...

I started driving with my daughter in my Cobra replica at age 4. She loves every minute of it and *always* wants to take it places. It's certainly legal in NJ.

This. Is. True. After the 2nd time, you'd put plastic ones on there.

You have it right. 360s can be labor intensive to work on but AFAIK the only reason to pull the engine is if it's blown up.

I replaced a head gasket in a '94 once and there was considerable cursing. Book labor was 14hrs! A never ending cascade of "to take *this* off, remove *that* first".

That transaxle architecture debuted on Audi products and is why they lost some overhang in recent generations. I was wondering at the time if it would show up in the 911 eventually. Wish I could find a good reference on it.

Huh? Unless you're talking about ordering a car with unusual options, like the BMW Individual program, it's easy to special order a car. Dealers are happy to and you can get a good price on anything not supply constrained (like a new Corvette) because they don't have to pay flooring for the car. At the…

Channeling Demuro: drive a Ferrari with a suitable exhaust and a gated 6 speed shifter (last available on the 430, sadly). Every person who's driven my 360 agrees with me: it's even awesome at legal speeds. The sound is a huge part of it of course, plus narrow front tires that don't follow every groove in the…

Magellan is not a "private jet operator". They are brokers. Travel agents for the wealthy.

I made the same point downthread. If you don't track mileage, materials, and time, you can't really evaluate your profit IMHO. The 12hr didn't include: going to get the car, going to the DMV (35 minutes door to door?), going out to PA, retrieving the hood, finalizing the sale, and disposing of the unused parts. The…

Thanks for the correction. Maybe "selling better than expected" is more reasonable than my hyperbole. My local dealer has 57 C-Class in stock to 8 CLA250.

I really enjoy these posts and I hate to be That Guy but you omit several expenses that affect your actual profit. You really should assign some value to all the driving around you had to do ($0.25/mi or at least just the gas) and the cleaning materials aren't free. And how about including a guesstimate on time…

And yet they appear to be selling like generators after a hurricane. All the local dealers have single digit inventories. There's a very deep market for faux-luxury goods.

"Michael Kors handbag with tires". THAT was awesome.

I learned today that early cars like the one shown had a quick jack orientation opposite what I've come to expect. Everyone points them outwards now, which became standard with the later cars and their oil coolers.

No, though the 4 cylinder cars are more DIY-friendly. The best Esprit guy in the country (IMHO) is in Closter NJ. RS Motorsports.

Thanks! The car drove great. I had a pretty nice '95 Esprit S4s at the time and the beater '87 (I see I said '86 above - damn memory) actually had a smoother power delivery although considerably less of it of course. Steering was heavy at low speeds but precise and direct once past a walking pace. It sounded great.