What you are saying about Nissan is echoed by the BMW fans. Bob Lutz has an excellent column in Road and Track magazine, and someone was asking him about BMW (where he did a stint in the late 60s/early 70s.

Same thing is happening with cars, primarily Audi’s and Japanese cars. The front end of most of those - and don’t get me started on the backs - but the grill looks like the opened maw of some catfish.

Obviously looks is in the eye of the beholder and I see some of these on the road, but I still think they are…

“We lose money on every deal...so how can we do this? VOLUME!”

I’ll bet that engine, which has to work harder than a V6 or V8, will have big problems around 100K.

On mileage, My family has 3 Mercedes - a 2011 E class - V6 3.5 liter, 1996 SL500 V8 5 liters, and 2000 E430, 4.3 liter V8. Believe it or not around town they all get about 20 MPG.

My point? I think to jump through the…

I think it was pretty cool. If they had the opportunity to save it and ignored it? Probably took all of 3-5 minutes

My vote is the Suburu 360

It went though quite a lot of teething problems. I have a 96 SL500, and the transmission was starting to go at 180,000 miles.

This person doesn’t have enough going on in his/her life to be worried about a car the boss wants.

Well, years ago I was with someone who would give anyone “the finger” if he perceived a slight or infraction into his space.

Nikey Chevrolet in Chicago was the other Camaro tuner

What has sorta surprised me is the fact that most consumers don’t look at the car price - just “how much a month”. This was driven home in a column by Bob Lutz in Road & Track magazine - someone had asked him in his column why in a short time an SUV he wanted had risen $20,000.

Answer: Because they are subsidizing…

Great write up and great story - one of my automotive regrets in life (I have several) was not buying a new 2002 in 1968. They were $2800, about $1000 more than my budget.This, and the early 70s 6 cylinders (plus the 3.0 CS) are really the only BMWs I like. 

I am all for “patina” - thankfully coming back to concourse judging - leave a car as it as with some wear - but well-cared for - but that car is beyond “patina” - it needs a restoration if only mild. Who wants rust on the bumpers or tears in the seat?

Hard to turn down a face like that! 

And did he do it for free or very little? I don’t see you you could do that level of restoration for $10,000

“Rarer still, the blue Superbird is a manual with the 440 cubic-inch V8 under the hood, while the white is an automatic and has the more common 426 cubic-inch 48.”

He did a beautiful job restoring it. And $10,000? That body work? Sorting out the drivetrain and suspension? Tires? Even with the employee discount I don’t see how he did it. Is he that good working on the body and painting it? Somebody is, or did him a huge favor.

What a nice story! I am surprised that there is a German club devoted to the WW2 jeep! And your Opa - I think it was in the German blood to have a car! (did he finally buy one after his jeep ride? ;-) )

I think it would be polite to ask first if you can touch it/sit in it. How would you feel if someone with a sharp object in their rear pocket sat in your car and accidentally ripped the seat?

Do you think most would tell you and offer to pay for it?

If you ask the owner, fine. If not it is a sign of disrespect.