Some base models are Unicorns in their own right! For instance, I once found a Manual transmission, non-Sport E46 3-series wagon.

I shopped for these earlier this year. And yes, this is the lowest mileage, cleanest example I've seen. Then again, I passed on one with 70k for half the price. His comment on it being the lowest mileage 2006 may be true - but that doesn't mean it's worth more.

I remember this car - it was built by a local customer. He also stuffed a V10 into an E30 M3, and had a CTS-V with a shit-ton of power (700hp if I remember). His current project appears to be a 190E with the running gear from a C63 AMG.

Who does this? I really want to hear the backstory of this car. Who buys a wagon, sits on the thing for near 30 years and keeps it in showroom condition? Even my aunt who drives only on weekends managed to put 75k miles on her 1980 MB TD. (BTW, she gave the car to her mechanic a few years ago - I didn't get it because…

The Prius was acclaimed as pretty hideous when it came out. And I still think it's one of the most unattractive cars on the road. But you will never, ever, ever, ever mistake it for something else (except a Honda Insight, but that usually works the other way around). When you see it, you think green leaves and hybrid…

I'm more thinking of the dangers of buying a used car. If you knew that your used car looked like that M3 did at some point, would you still have paid whatever you paid for it (or bought it at all?)

I agree. I'm sure Tavarish is a standup guy and fully disclosed how the car looked before he started working on it. But as he stated, the service history was "there" and all the major E46 issues were accounted for. But that doesn't help a car that was clearly abused. If he can do that, and fool the buyer into…

This article has me terrified to ever buy a used car again.

I think anyone who regularly suffers from buyer's remorse is going to fall into this trap, regardless of how much research and how "sure" you are. I still browse the classifieds when bored, thinking of the "what if's" of if I had taken a different route with my last car purchase. A purchase that happened at the…

In my line of business, my clients tend to be fairly well off individuals who can afford to ball up multiple GT3's on any given weekend. That said, at least half of the initial contact e-mails I receive have the same level of literacy as your first quote.

My first car was a similar vintage, White on Red 740 sedan. Mine was quite a bit less exciting - NA 4 with an auto. The picture still brings back lots of memories.

For the record, the 318ti did come in a pretty rare ClubSport Edition that received an M-aero kit, suspension, and other things the M-Crew at BMW saw fitting. I think it also had some "M" badges thrown around haphazardly in the interior the car. Doesn't sound like that's what you saw that made your head explode, but…

Can we get some factual information about what the "maintenance costs of another German car" are? Or are we still basing this on some kid from Vortex complaining about the dealership charges for a replacement turbo after he blew his with an APR tune?

Ha - my friend in high school had one of these. Giant bass-box in the back. So many memories. He flipped it. In case you were wondering, the roof flattens like a pancake during a slow-speed roll-over.

Something to consider when buying a car that is 4-5 years old: At today's average mileage, that car most likely has something between 80-100k miles on the clock. That's right about the time that a car's first major service is due (timing belt, clutch, cooling system, etc) - most likely the reason why the previous…

The V70R is super exciting. Up until the point you actually drive one. Then it feels like an overpowered Taurus wagon.

Impossible. According to the internet, that kind of accident NEVER happens and is a ploy by the IIHS to make cars more expensive (or something like that).

How about any event that lets first-timers out solo. I went to such an event at the Streets of Willow Springs many years ago. Talk about chaos. A guy spun his tuner-boy TL, and then got out (on a hot lap) to inspect for damage.

This:

I'm a Boston resident that transplanted from DC two years ago. I say DC - actually, I lived in Northern VA. And as all DC residents know, it's the outlying suburbs that have the shittiest drivers - MD & VA each have their unique breed of shitty drivers. The most fun is when they come together at the American Legion or…