Palm Beach Gardens is about 45+ miles north of me. I saw the odometer - wonder if that's the first, second or third time around? If it's the first time around, the price is definitely there. If not, I wouldn't touch it. That paint chip could be a problem - down here with the humidity, rust could be starting to settle in. One would have to eye-ball it closely. Also would need a CARFAX on the car. If someone is interested in restoring that Pontiac to its original condition, it would be a gem of a find.
My first question would be if you could modify that big block 455 back to it's pre-emissions choked glory. I see some of the Power Block rebuilds on motors like that and they get them into the 500hp+ range. Could it be done under current pollution standards or would something that old be exempt?
You'd need way better cylinder heads and induction and exhaust, and yes, 1975 and older cars are smog exempt in California. I think for 500HP you'd also need to modify the engine internally, with a cam and perhaps a stroker crank.
Ab gets away with it because Caddies all look the same too, but he got an ATS which looks like the higher price CTS. Smart, I can't even get back at him....but, one day I will - when he least expects it.
I hope I never get on your wrong side. LOL
I always get my revenge. ALWAYS! Remember my neighbor who cut down 6, 40 foot Spruce trees so he could put in his pool? Those trees were a buffer, between our kitchen window and his pool....and I don't particularly want to watch him swimming. I put in 5 trees to get the barrier back.....and it cost me about $10000. Then we tinted our windows so he couldn't see in.....$2000. I didn't talk to him for at least 3 years...not one word to him or his wife.
Well, he had a a big computer job. He didn't complete a major project on time and he got canned. He sold his house and moved to Vancouver Island. The new neighbors are really nice.
Most companies that fired me or didn't treat me well have either gone out of business or aren't doing too well.
I always win! I am the easiest going, mildest person in the world, until someone crosses me.
Don't lose sleep though ab, I still like you, and I know you were only having fun....and that is OK!
For all those years you didn't talk to your "beloved" neighbor, you sure knew a lot about him, his family and his financial difficulties - even where he moved! You must enjoy your psychic abilities.
What psychic abilities? My really nice neighbors across the road and other one at the end of the street know people who know him....they keep me up to date - they know I don't talk to him.
Don't forget, we helped them out when they moved in, we took in their mail and checked on their house when they were away, and they told us the trees would be coming down at 7 a.m. the following day. My wife was in tears. I am not glad he lost his job or anything.......I would rather have the nice people we have who live next door.
So you weren't psychic after all, driver. You had a web of spies around your neighborhood secretly reporting on all the dope on your "beloved" neighborhood. Covert Black Ops in a small Canadian neighborhood- I'm impressed with your ingenuity, driver. I'm jealous!
I got the Russians to do some snooping!
My neighbors knew how I felt about the neighbor, and since they didn't particularly like him - he wasn't the friendliest guy - they would tell me what they found out. He did have an older Corvette he took out about one Sunday a month. They had visitors about once or twice a year, and they only stay for about an hour. No friends, didn't go out much. He bought the noisiest power mower I have ever heard....I think he went to the store and asked for the noisiest mower they had....so he could antagonize me. He always seemed to start cutting his grass when we were just starting dinner....I think he did it on purpose. So glad he is gone. The new neighbors seem like really nice people.
Maybe you should have offered to trade houses with the neighbor so you could keep those 4 trees.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
I'm still here. I've been discharged from the ICU and am on a regular med floor. The hope is to finish the IV course of medications tomorrow and be out of here by Friday or Saturday. It's going to be about 4-6 weeks of recovery time to get me mostly back to normal and about a year of medication before I'm 100%.
I am reading/watching everything - just too run down to post too much.
Glad to hear the good news; it was definitely too early for you to go; you have 3 new babies at home, the VW, the BMW, and the real one.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
I love the look of those! It seems like some kind of futuristic vision from 1972, or a custom done in some creative guy's shop. Wheels need to go through.
Palm Beach Gardens is about 45+ miles north of me. I saw the odometer - wonder if that's the first, second or third time around? If it's the first time around, the price is definitely there. If not, I wouldn't touch it. That paint chip could be a problem - down here with the humidity, rust could be starting to settle in. One would have to eye-ball it closely. Also would need a CARFAX on the car. If someone is interested in restoring that Pontiac to its original condition, it would be a gem of a find.
My first question would be if you could modify that big block 455 back to it's pre-emissions choked glory. I see some of the Power Block rebuilds on motors like that and they get them into the 500hp+ range. Could it be done under current pollution standards or would something that old be exempt?
You'd need way better cylinder heads and induction and exhaust, and yes, 1975 and older cars are smog exempt in California. I think for 500HP you'd also need to modify the engine internally, with a cam and perhaps a stroker crank.
Yeah, the shows I watch has them doing a complete rebuild, heads, cams, pistons, manifolds...the works.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
In other medical news, I am going to the hospital tomorrow for a cardiac cath dye test. This is the one where they snake a catheter up via a vein in your groin area and into the cardiac arteries, shoot some dye in there and take some images of how well the arteries are doing. This will be my 4th of these things in my career. The first one in 1991 almost killed me when the vein they went in via started bleeding out into my leg post-procedure. I had the near-death out of body experience and everything before they brought me back. So I am somewhat leery of this. The doc said they can go in via a vein in the wrist now and he may want them to do it that way, though it is supposed to be more painful or at least more irritating afterwards. If I post here tomorrow you'll know I survived.
In other medical news, I am going to the hospital tomorrow for a cardiac cath dye test. This is the one where they snake a catheter up via a vein in your groin area and into the cardiac arteries, shoot some dye in there and take some images of how well the arteries are doing. This will be my 4th of these things in my career. The first one in 1991 almost killed me when the vein they went in via started bleeding out into my leg post-procedure. I had the near-death out of body experience and everything before they brought me back. So I am somewhat leery of this. The doc said they can go in via a vein in the wrist now and he may want them to do it that way, though it is supposed to be more painful or at least more irritating afterwards. If I post here tomorrow you'll know I survived.
Good luck AB, just a minor operation now. But like someone said, to me a minor operation is one that is performed on someone else !
Would you want your neighbors telling you where to put your pool?
As for the pump, how do you know it couldn't be placed elsewhere? What if the wiring and piping dictated it needed to go where it was placed?
You have to understand that unless your neighbors are noisy or pigs there isn't much you can do.
I doubt very much I would put in a pool that would affect my neighbors. The people on the other side have a pool, but there are trees between us and it doesn't affect us. I am glad they have their grandchildren over and have a nice time.
The moron could have planned it so the trees could have stayed. There are a few things I believe in in Life; *try to make the world a better place *Be as honest and truthful as possible, it is the civilized way to be *try to be as positive as possible It is much better to try and stay on good terms with the neighbors, it makes it better for all of us. If one person exerts his rights....because he can.......it has a ripple affect....and causes all kinds of problems and unhappiness.
Would you want your neighbors telling you where to put your pool?
As for the pump, how do you know it couldn't be placed elsewhere? What if the wiring and piping dictated it needed to go where it was placed?
You have to understand that unless your neighbors are noisy or pigs there isn't much you can do.
I doubt very much I would put in a pool that would affect my neighbors. The people on the other side have a pool, but there are trees between us and it doesn't affect us. I am glad they have their grandchildren over and have a nice time.
The moron could have planned it so the trees could have stayed. There are a few things I believe in in Life; *try to make the world a better place *Be as honest and truthful as possible, it is the civilized way to be *try to be as positive as possible It is much better to try and stay on good terms with the neighbors, it makes it better for all of us. If one person exerts his rights....because he can.......it has a ripple affect....and causes all kinds of problems and unhappiness.
Hey, you left out, "Always, always get revenge !!
I thought that went without saying it.
Revenge is sweet!
Giving someone a taste of their own medicine is like revenge; it is sweet! I recall an incident with a left lane camper that then tried to race my A3 in an SUV so that they wouldn't have to swallow the medicine. They didn't win the race.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
I'm still here. I've been discharged from the ICU and am on a regular med floor. The hope is to finish the IV course of medications tomorrow and be out of here by Friday or Saturday. It's going to be about 4-6 weeks of recovery time to get me mostly back to normal and about a year of medication before I'm 100%.
I am reading/watching everything - just too run down to post too much.
Glad to hear you are on the mend. Still, what a thing to happen!
Ab gets away with it because Caddies all look the same too, but he got an ATS which looks like the higher price CTS. Smart, I can't even get back at him....but, one day I will - when he least expects it.
I hope I never get on your wrong side. LOL
I always get my revenge. ALWAYS! Remember my neighbor who cut down 6, 40 foot Spruce trees so he could put in his pool? Those trees were a buffer, between our kitchen window and his pool....and I don't particularly want to watch him swimming. I put in 5 trees to get the barrier back.....and it cost me about $10000. Then we tinted our windows so he couldn't see in.....$2000. I didn't talk to him for at least 3 years...not one word to him or his wife.
Well, he had a a big computer job. He didn't complete a major project on time and he got canned. He sold his house and moved to Vancouver Island. The new neighbors are really nice.
Most companies that fired me or didn't treat me well have either gone out of business or aren't doing too well.
I always win! I am the easiest going, mildest person in the world, until someone crosses me.
Don't lose sleep though ab, I still like you, and I know you were only having fun....and that is OK!
For all those years you didn't talk to your "beloved" neighbor, you sure knew a lot about him, his family and his financial difficulties - even where he moved! You must enjoy your psychic abilities.
What psychic abilities? My really nice neighbors across the road and other one at the end of the street know people who know him....they keep me up to date - they know I don't talk to him.
Don't forget, we helped them out when they moved in, we took in their mail and checked on their house when they were away, and they told us the trees would be coming down at 7 a.m. the following day. My wife was in tears. I am not glad he lost his job or anything.......I would rather have the nice people we have who live next door.
So you weren't psychic after all, driver. You had a web of spies around your neighborhood secretly reporting on all the dope on your "beloved" neighborhood. Covert Black Ops in a small Canadian neighborhood- I'm impressed with your ingenuity, driver. I'm jealous!
I got the Russians to do some snooping!
My neighbors knew how I felt about the neighbor, and since they didn't particularly like him - he wasn't the friendliest guy - they would tell me what they found out. He did have an older Corvette he took out about one Sunday a month. They had visitors about once or twice a year, and they only stay for about an hour. No friends, didn't go out much. He bought the noisiest power mower I have ever heard....I think he went to the store and asked for the noisiest mower they had....so he could antagonize me. He always seemed to start cutting his grass when we were just starting dinner....I think he did it on purpose. So glad he is gone. The new neighbors seem like really nice people.
Maybe you should have offered to trade houses with the neighbor so you could keep those 4 trees.
It was actually 6 trees but no, I don't want his house. It is larger but too big and too formal a style. Both homes are about 10 years old, but, I don't want to trade. His is worth about 10 to 15% more because it has a finished basement and 3 car garage. I never want to move again!
In other medical news, I am going to the hospital tomorrow for a cardiac cath dye test. . The doc said they can go in via a vein in the wrist now and he may want them to do it that way, though it is supposed to be more painful or at least more irritating afterwards. If I post here tomorrow you'll know I survived.
Ab, hoping it all goes as well as possible. Meanwhile, I am sitting here cringing with my legs crossed and rubbing my sore arm...thinking about it. I have to get up early to get my annual blood work done. I have to fast from 8 o'clock tonight on........any sympathy for me? Then I have to watch them fill those vials of blood. I try not to watch or I could pass out!
That M3 doesn't have a true M motor- it's a larger displacement version of the stock 3er I6 with a hotter cam. The automatic in that vintage M3 just annihilates the fun factor; it wasn't until the advent of the DCT and the ZF 8HP that two pedal BMWs were a sporting alternative to the manual cars.
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
I love the look of those! It seems like some kind of futuristic vision from 1972, or a custom done in some creative guy's shop. Wheels need to go through.
I always thought that 72' Plymouth front end looks like Chrysler got a deal on a bunch of rear bumpers off 64' T-birds.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
That M3 doesn't have a true M motor- it's a larger displacement version of the stock 3er I6 with a hotter cam. The automatic in that vintage M3 just annihilates the fun factor; it wasn't until the advent of the DCT and the ZF 8HP that two pedal BMWs were a sporting alternative to the manual cars.
The 6-spd ZF was also faster than its manual counterpart.
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
In other medical news, I am going to the hospital tomorrow for a cardiac cath dye test. This is the one where they snake a catheter up via a vein in your groin area and into the cardiac arteries, shoot some dye in there and take some images of how well the arteries are doing. This will be my 4th of these things in my career. The first one in 1991 almost killed me when the vein they went in via started bleeding out into my leg post-procedure. I had the near-death out of body experience and everything before they brought me back. So I am somewhat leery of this. The doc said they can go in via a vein in the wrist now and he may want them to do it that way, though it is supposed to be more painful or at least more irritating afterwards. If I post here tomorrow you'll know I survived.
Wow, this crew is having more work done than a 1980 Yugo.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I just got a call from my gastroenterologist. The blood tests I had done last Thursday came back. No virus was detectible once again. This is the 13th week I've been on this Epclusa medication - but as I mentioned before, the same thing happened with Harvoni - but on the 16th week (4 weeks after I completed the medication) the virus was detectible.
They want me to wait until the 20th week (4 weeks prior to completing the 24 week treatment) to have the next blood test. These pills make be very tired and weak and lots of headaches. I just hope it is worth these side effects and that on the 28th and 32nd weeks, they still report no virus detectible. That sure would be nice.
Mike, we've gotten you this far so we'll see you sprint across the finish line.
If you give us a hard time I'm personally coming down there and pushing you over the line. :@
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
That M3 doesn't have a true M motor- it's a larger displacement version of the stock 3er I6 with a hotter cam. The automatic in that vintage M3 just annihilates the fun factor; it wasn't until the advent of the DCT and the ZF 8HP that two pedal BMWs were a sporting alternative to the manual cars.
Remember who you're talking to. I don't have the refined sensibilities of a true enthusiast. I probably wouldn't appreciate the difference in the fun factor. As long as it started and didn't leak like a nursing home patient I'd be happy.
Maybe that's why the ones for sale are all automatics. The owners of the manuals don't want to part with them.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
I'm still here. I've been discharged from the ICU and am on a regular med floor. The hope is to finish the IV course of medications tomorrow and be out of here by Friday or Saturday. It's going to be about 4-6 weeks of recovery time to get me mostly back to normal and about a year of medication before I'm 100%.
I am reading/watching everything - just too run down to post too much.
Oh, so now you don't have time for us and we have to settle for a peak every now and then.
You're probably spending too much time researching the best way to grind down a Porsche dealer. I think we ought to have @driver100 determine our best revenge tactic. :@
See you soon.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I got a quote from AAA for auto insurance and they were even higher than Liberty Mutual. Geico it is until at least 2018!
I avoided AAA at all costs until now because they sided with the red scamera businesses on red-light cameras rather than on driver interests since they were once a "motorist" group.
'18 Porsche Macan Turbo, '16 Audi TTS, Wife's '19 VW Tiguan SEL 4-Motion
In other medical news, I am going to the hospital tomorrow for a cardiac cath dye test. This is the one where they snake a catheter up via a vein in your groin area and into the cardiac arteries, shoot some dye in there and take some images of how well the arteries are doing. This will be my 4th of these things in my career. The first one in 1991 almost killed me when the vein they went in via started bleeding out into my leg post-procedure. I had the near-death out of body experience and everything before they brought me back. So I am somewhat leery of this. The doc said they can go in via a vein in the wrist now and he may want them to do it that way, though it is supposed to be more painful or at least more irritating afterwards. If I post here tomorrow you'll know I survived.
Good luck tomorrow. I've had several of those cardiac catheterizations - two in the groin and one in the wrist. I found the wrist more painful and uncomfortable than the groin. They put a pressure contraption on your wrist and release the pressure a little bit each hour to enable proper clotting.
In other medical news, I am going to the hospital tomorrow for a cardiac cath dye test. This is the one where they snake a catheter up via a vein in your groin area and into the cardiac arteries, shoot some dye in there and take some images of how well the arteries are doing. This will be my 4th of these things in my career. The first one in 1991 almost killed me when the vein they went in via started bleeding out into my leg post-procedure. I had the near-death out of body experience and everything before they brought me back. So I am somewhat leery of this. The doc said they can go in via a vein in the wrist now and he may want them to do it that way, though it is supposed to be more painful or at least more irritating afterwards. If I post here tomorrow you'll know I survived.
Wishing you all the best and painless procedure.
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
In other medical news, I am going to the hospital tomorrow for a cardiac cath dye test. This is the one where they snake a catheter up via a vein in your groin area and into the cardiac arteries, shoot some dye in there and take some images of how well the arteries are doing. This will be my 4th of these things in my career. The first one in 1991 almost killed me when the vein they went in via started bleeding out into my leg post-procedure. I had the near-death out of body experience and everything before they brought me back. So I am somewhat leery of this. The doc said they can go in via a vein in the wrist now and he may want them to do it that way, though it is supposed to be more painful or at least more irritating afterwards. If I post here tomorrow you'll know I survived.
@ab348, no need to worry. These procedures have become routine and some people refer to them as drive-by events. Besides, the equipment today is much improved from 1991 but I understand your concerns. My wife had one of these and she had about 90% artery blockage that took two stents to fix.
Good luck and maintain a positive mental attitude.
In other medical news, I am going to the hospital tomorrow for a cardiac cath dye test. This is the one where they snake a catheter up via a vein in your groin area and into the cardiac arteries, shoot some dye in there and take some images of how well the arteries are doing. This will be my 4th of these things in my career. The first one in 1991 almost killed me when the vein they went in via started bleeding out into my leg post-procedure. I had the near-death out of body experience and everything before they brought me back. So I am somewhat leery of this. The doc said they can go in via a vein in the wrist now and he may want them to do it that way, though it is supposed to be more painful or at least more irritating afterwards. If I post here tomorrow you'll know I survived.
In other medical news, I am going to the hospital tomorrow for a cardiac cath dye test. This is the one where they snake a catheter up via a vein in your groin area and into the cardiac arteries, shoot some dye in there and take some images of how well the arteries are doing. This will be my 4th of these things in my career. The first one in 1991 almost killed me when the vein they went in via started bleeding out into my leg post-procedure. I had the near-death out of body experience and everything before they brought me back. So I am somewhat leery of this. The doc said they can go in via a vein in the wrist now and he may want them to do it that way, though it is supposed to be more painful or at least more irritating afterwards. If I post here tomorrow you'll know I survived.
@ab348, no need to worry. These procedures have become routine and some people refer to them as drive-by events. Besides, the equipment today is much improved from 1991 but I understand your concerns. My wife had one of these and she had about 90% artery blockage that took two stents to fix.
Good luck and maintain a positive mental attitude.
Easy for you to say..........it's Ab who has to go through this torture.
It's like when you have a really bad accident, like a huge waste pick up truck rams you at 50 m.p.h., and people say, "Well, it could have been a lot worse you know, you are lucky". I am fortunate it wasn't worse, but I don't think I hit the jackpot.
The Testarossa in driver's pic isn't a Testarossa indeed, that's a 512TR. the final run of cars with that body.
Get well soon both firefighter and ab - I hope this isn't a trend of people needing medical help, I want to think I got that out of my system for the foreseeable future.
In other medical news, I am going to the hospital tomorrow for a cardiac cath dye test. This is the one where they snake a catheter up via a vein in your groin area and into the cardiac arteries, shoot some dye in there and take some images of how well the arteries are doing. This will be my 4th of these things in my career. The first one in 1991 almost killed me when the vein they went in via started bleeding out into my leg post-procedure. I had the near-death out of body experience and everything before they brought me back. So I am somewhat leery of this. The doc said they can go in via a vein in the wrist now and he may want them to do it that way, though it is supposed to be more painful or at least more irritating afterwards. If I post here tomorrow you'll know I survived.
Good luck with your test tomorrow.
I don't know what method you will chose but advancements have been made both ways.
I'm sure you will be posting again soon.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Another reason why I like making one "all in" offer. Dealer can add anything they want to the car...doc fee, etching, locking lug nuts, wax, scotch guard, etc. My offer is all in, price of the car, tax, license. How the dealer divides up my one number doesn't matter to me. What I come out of pocket with is my offer only, including everything.
GG, same benefit to leasing. When I was looking, I had my standard offer (a check for $1,000 at signing, then 35 payments of $XXX). How they got there, I did not care.
Once you know they aren't marking up the MF and including any rebates, leasing can become monthly payment shopping. I used to say $1000 now I just say first month.
Funny thing about that. When I got the Elantra at some point the payment quoted was $250. We settled (once they lowered the MF to Hyundia's base rate, and took more off the car) at $210 but they still had $250 down. At that point I wasn't fighting over $40.
The Testarossa in driver's pic isn't a Testarossa indeed, that's a 512TR. the final run of cars with that body.
Get well soon both firefighter and ab - I hope this isn't a trend of people needing medical help, I want to think I got that out of my system for the foreseeable future.
Right Fintail. Interesting story behind it at the Legendary website:
LMC is very proud to offer for sale this 1995 Ferrari 512M.
In the mid-90s, Ferrari was seeing major competition to their Testarossa from Lamborghini, Porsche, and even the new Acura NSX. Ferrari decided they had to make a final version of the Testarossa to continue to compete with the immediate competitors and the 512M was the solution. It saw improvements in suspension, braking, and a rise in horsepower. Upon completion of production in 1996, there were just 501 examples produced worldwide, with only 75 of them being built for and delivered to the USA.
I like the way they do the vents on the side;
I think these dealers just keep selling cars to each other. It seemed quite a few cars came from Bob Johnson.
Another reason why I like making one "all in" offer. Dealer can add anything they want to the car...doc fee, etching, locking lug nuts, wax, scotch guard, etc. My offer is all in, price of the car, tax, license. How the dealer divides up my one number doesn't matter to me. What I come out of pocket with is my offer only, including everything.
I am not entirely sold on "all in pricing" unless you know the price you are going in with is rock bottom.
I took a competitors ad to my Jeep dealer for a 2000 Cherokee....it seemed really low to me....I said, if you can match this price, I'll buy a new Cherokee today. He said, to my great surprise, I can do even better than that, and he did. A was returning a leased car so he didn't make it on the trade.
I like an all in deal....I would be careful how to do it.
If I went back to buy a BMW I would do it this way. First I would get my facts....decide on the price I will accept. Might even go to another dealer first to see what they say. Then I would go in and tell him he has one chance.....come up with the lowest price possible, or I am walking. Last time they offered $4000 below market for the trade in saying they had too many of them in inventory.
I think sometimes their price might even be lower than what I have in mind...I might as well find out!
An M, that's even less common, and from the very end of production. No doubt a lot of these cars just amble from collector/speculator to collector/speculator, with a stop at a dealer here and there.
For the Testarossa (like the Countach), I prefer earlier models, which are a little more "pure", and free from tacked on updates. Early Testarossas with the A-pillar mirror were always interesting to me, I had models of this when I was a kid:
Many will remember this as a Miami Vice car (and perfect in white):
The cheese grater vents became an 80s thing, and were used on many customs. Several tuned MBs of the era ended up with similar detail:
An M, that's even less common, and from the very end of production. No doubt a lot of these cars just amble from collector/speculator to collector/speculator, with a stop at a dealer here and there.
For the Testarossa (like the Countach), I prefer earlier models, which are a little more "pure", and free from tacked on updates. Early Testarossas with the A-pillar mirror were always interesting to me, I had models of this when I was a kid:
Many will remember this as a Miami Vice car (and perfect in white):
The cheese grater vents became an 80s thing, and were used on many customs. Several tuned MBs of the era ended up with similar detail:
Stick...TJC....we're of the same mind. Same is true for a lease, except the money factor and residual also have to be taken into account.
Driver, I like knowing how much I'm going to spend before I ever walk into the dealership. In my experience, I've NEVER had a dealership tell me "I'll go even lower". They've always wanted to bump me UP, not DOWN. Maybe Canadian dealerships are different. Not sure!
I am a research hound. I'll look here at Edmunds, True Car, Costco buying service, AMEX buying service, etc to come up with an offer. I'll even go so far as to walk a dealership during non-business hours to see what their stock situation is....the more stock, the lower the offer.
It's a skinny deal, ordinarily. However, I can count the times on one hand a dealer has let me walk over one of my offers (sometimes only to have another dealership make the deal with the same offer).
Sometimes they'll ask me how I came up with my offer and I'll show them the math. Buy price+tax+license+title transfer fees. Sometimes they'll try to show where I forgot to include (pick one, or all) doc fees, etching, mop and glo, etc. It's been a long time since I've seen the ADM for next to worthless dealer added options, however. Doc Fees in particular, are something that dealers (some, not all) tell me are required by law. When I ask for the particular law they are referencing, none have ever been able to come up with one.
Making one all inclusive offer, and dismissing out of hand things like doc fees, etching, other dealer options, makes the deal simple. I know exactly how much I'm paying. If you finance, let them beat your number from a couple of different sources. If you're leasing, let them beat the lease from other 3rd parties.
On my recent Acura purchase, I knew there was trunk money on a lease, but none that I could find on a purchase. It helps tremendously that I do business with the same Acura dealership all the time (sometimes shop them to keep them honest), but there are only two Acura dealers in the greater Cincinnati area. There's one in Dayton. But, it's owned by the same folks who own one of the two in Cincinnati. With them, it's simple. They show me their invoice and incentives. I add $250 to that number, and we're off to the races.
I just heard they sold my Q50 trade and made around $2K on it. Good for them. They came in strong on the trade offer (looked at 3-4 different sources on trade value before the deal was made). They paid $2K-$3K more than anyone else offered. They knew they could sell it, that I keep my cars pristine, that they could make money on it even with a strong trade offer.
On the Q50, I really thought I came in with a low ball (about $5K less than any price I'd seen). Surprisingly, they accepted it. This was a previous model year but still new with less than 100 miles on the odo.
Same with the Mercedes....previous model year (it's still sitting on their lot, now 2 model years old). I came in with a low ball and they let me walk. That car is still sitting there. It had less than 50 miles on it when I test drove it back in April. Not sure what the odometer says now. It's not like it was a non-desirable car. It has some nice options....good color, even real leather interior. Actually, they balked at everything when they asked how I came up with my offer....doc fee...they said my license transfer amount was wrong (it wasn't and they couldn't tell me how I was wrong).....etc. As far as I can tell, it's still sitting there.
Manufacturers know we now have access to a lot of information today. There's really very little sense in trying to deny what we have access to. Those that understand that are the dealerships I tend to do business with.
Most here have bought quite a few cars (well, maybe not as many as the KING, KING BRELD). But, we all know how it works. We all know a good deal. And, what we don't know, we can usually find out (thanks to Q and Mr Shiftright for helping me on the Cobra deal).
Every once in a while, I'll happen upon some of the threads here where I see people going through so many gyrations trying to make a deal. They'll email a bunch of dealers, call a bunch. Make themselves crazy, only to give back whatever they gained (if anything) by all that work in fees and extra charges. Unless you're sitting at the negotiation table with checkbook in hand, you're not making the best deal.
Funny thing with that Eclipse, for as normal as it seems now, that style was seen as pretty radical when new, it seemed like it had a lot of concept car feel to it.
Comments
I got the Russians to do some snooping!
My neighbors knew how I felt about the neighbor, and since they didn't particularly like him - he wasn't the friendliest guy - they would tell me what they found out. He did have an older Corvette he took out about one Sunday a month. They had visitors about once or twice a year, and they only stay for about an hour. No friends, didn't go out much. He bought the noisiest power mower I have ever heard....I think he went to the store and asked for the noisiest mower they had....so he could antagonize me. He always seemed to start cutting his grass when we were just starting dinner....I think he did it on purpose. So glad he is gone. The new neighbors seem like really nice people.
Maybe you should have offered to trade houses with the neighbor so you could keep those 4 trees.
Just make a quick post once in a while telling us what colors or options you are thinking about for that Porsche.
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
Even with an auto tranny. Funny, all the M3s I see in this area are automatics except one.
https://tampa.craigslist.org/pnl/cto/d/bmw-convertable-miles/6219494158.html
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2017 Cadillac ATS Performance Premium 3.6
2013 LX 570 2016 LS 460
Revenge is sweet!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
My neighbors knew how I felt about the neighbor, and since they didn't particularly like him - he wasn't the friendliest guy - they would tell me what they found out. He did have an older Corvette he took out about one Sunday a month. They had visitors about once or twice a year, and they only stay for about an hour. No friends, didn't go out much. He bought the noisiest power mower I have ever heard....I think he went to the store and asked for the noisiest mower they had....so he could antagonize me. He always seemed to start cutting his grass when we were just starting dinner....I think he did it on purpose. So glad he is gone. The new neighbors seem like really nice people.
Maybe you should have offered to trade houses with the neighbor so you could keep those 4 trees.
It was actually 6 trees but no, I don't want his house. It is larger but too big and too formal a style. Both homes are about 10 years old, but, I don't want to trade. His is worth about 10 to 15% more because it has a finished basement and 3 car garage. I never want to move again!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I have to get up early to get my annual blood work done. I have to fast from 8 o'clock tonight on........any sympathy for me?
Then I have to watch them fill those vials of blood. I try not to watch or I could pass out!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
'11 GMC Sierra 1500; '98 Alfa 156 2.0TS; '08 Maser QP; '67 Coronet R/T; '13 Fiat 500c; '20 S90 T6; '22 MB Sprinter 2500 4x4 diesel; '97 Suzuki R Wagon; '96 Opel Astra; '11 Mini Cooper S
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
A few other interesting cars. I thought of oldfarmer when I saw this one...offered for $385000 USD!
This one was impressive...only $399000 USD....only 75 built
Oldfarmer should go...he will think he died and went to heaven.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
If you give us a hard time I'm personally coming down there and pushing you over the line. :@
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Remember who you're talking to. I don't have the refined sensibilities of a true enthusiast. I probably wouldn't appreciate the difference in the fun factor. As long as it started and didn't leak like a nursing home patient I'd be happy.
Maybe that's why the ones for sale are all automatics. The owners of the manuals don't want to part with them.
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
You're probably spending too much time researching the best way to grind down a Porsche dealer. I think we ought to have @driver100 determine our best revenge tactic. :@
See you soon.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
I avoided AAA at all costs until now because they sided with the red scamera businesses on red-light cameras rather than on driver interests since they were once a "motorist" group.
As good as we are with our healing of fellow members, we ain't that good. With those prices, he'll be a goner for sure.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
Funny, I saw a Testarossa on a BHPH lot near where I work a few years ago.
The one in the picture you posted is not original.
2024 Genesis G90 Super-Charger
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
2021 VW Arteon SEL 4-motion, 2018 VW Passat SE w/tech, 2016 Audi Q5 Premium Plus w/tech
Good luck and maintain a positive mental attitude.
Good luck. Expecting you to check in here tomorrow.
+2 @ab348
It's like when you have a really bad accident, like a huge waste pick up truck rams you at 50 m.p.h., and people say, "Well, it could have been a lot worse you know, you are lucky". I am fortunate it wasn't worse, but I don't think I hit the jackpot.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
2014 Malibu 2LT, 2015 Cruze 2LT,
Mine: 1995 318ti Club Sport-2020 C43-1996 Speed Triple Challenge Cup Replica
Wife's: 2021 Sahara 4xe
Son's: 2018 330i xDrive
Get well soon both firefighter and ab - I hope this isn't a trend of people needing medical help, I want to think I got that out of my system for the foreseeable future.
I don't know what method you will chose but advancements have been made both ways.
I'm sure you will be posting again soon.
jmonroe
'15 Genesis V8 with Ultimate Package and '18 Legacy Limited 6 cyl
also real easy to compare deals that way!
2020 Acura RDX tech SH-AWD, 2023 Maverick hybrid Lariat luxury package.
Funny thing about that. When I got the Elantra at some point the payment quoted was $250. We settled (once they lowered the MF to Hyundia's base rate, and took more off the car) at $210 but they still had $250 down. At that point I wasn't fighting over $40.
2025 Ram 1500 Laramie 4x4 / 2023 Mercedes EQE 350 4Matic
1995 Ferrarri 512M
LMC is very proud to offer for sale this 1995 Ferrari 512M.
In the mid-90s, Ferrari was seeing major competition to their Testarossa from Lamborghini, Porsche, and even the new Acura NSX. Ferrari decided they had to make a final version of the Testarossa to continue to compete with the immediate competitors and the 512M was the solution. It saw improvements in suspension, braking, and a rise in horsepower. Upon completion of production in 1996, there were just 501 examples produced worldwide, with only 75 of them being built for and delivered to the USA.
I like the way they do the vents on the side;
I think these dealers just keep selling cars to each other. It seemed quite a few cars came from Bob Johnson.
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
I took a competitors ad to my Jeep dealer for a 2000 Cherokee....it seemed really low to me....I said, if you can match this price, I'll buy a new Cherokee today. He said, to my great surprise, I can do even better than that, and he did. A was returning a leased car so he didn't make it on the trade.
I like an all in deal....I would be careful how to do it.
If I went back to buy a BMW I would do it this way. First I would get my facts....decide on the price I will accept. Might even go to another dealer first to see what they say. Then I would go in and tell him he has one chance.....come up with the lowest price possible, or I am walking. Last time they offered $4000 below market for the trade in saying they had too many of them in inventory.
I think sometimes their price might even be lower than what I have in mind...I might as well find out!
2017 MB E400 , 2015 MB GLK350, 2014 MB C250
For the Testarossa (like the Countach), I prefer earlier models, which are a little more "pure", and free from tacked on updates. Early Testarossas with the A-pillar mirror were always interesting to me, I had models of this when I was a kid:
Many will remember this as a Miami Vice car (and perfect in white):
The cheese grater vents became an 80s thing, and were used on many customs. Several tuned MBs of the era ended up with similar detail:
2019 Kia Soul+, 2015 Mustang GT, 2013 Ford F-150, 2000 Chrysler Sebring convertible
Driver, I like knowing how much I'm going to spend before I ever walk into the dealership. In my experience, I've NEVER had a dealership tell me "I'll go even lower". They've always wanted to bump me UP, not DOWN. Maybe Canadian dealerships are different. Not sure!
I am a research hound. I'll look here at Edmunds, True Car, Costco buying service, AMEX buying service, etc to come up with an offer. I'll even go so far as to walk a dealership during non-business hours to see what their stock situation is....the more stock, the lower the offer.
It's a skinny deal, ordinarily. However, I can count the times on one hand a dealer has let me walk over one of my offers (sometimes only to have another dealership make the deal with the same offer).
Sometimes they'll ask me how I came up with my offer and I'll show them the math. Buy price+tax+license+title transfer fees. Sometimes they'll try to show where I forgot to include (pick one, or all) doc fees, etching, mop and glo, etc. It's been a long time since I've seen the ADM for next to worthless dealer added options, however. Doc Fees in particular, are something that dealers (some, not all) tell me are required by law. When I ask for the particular law they are referencing, none have ever been able to come up with one.
Making one all inclusive offer, and dismissing out of hand things like doc fees, etching, other dealer options, makes the deal simple. I know exactly how much I'm paying. If you finance, let them beat your number from a couple of different sources. If you're leasing, let them beat the lease from other 3rd parties.
On my recent Acura purchase, I knew there was trunk money on a lease, but none that I could find on a purchase. It helps tremendously that I do business with the same Acura dealership all the time (sometimes shop them to keep them honest), but there are only two Acura dealers in the greater Cincinnati area. There's one in Dayton. But, it's owned by the same folks who own one of the two in Cincinnati. With them, it's simple. They show me their invoice and incentives. I add $250 to that number, and we're off to the races.
I just heard they sold my Q50 trade and made around $2K on it. Good for them. They came in strong on the trade offer (looked at 3-4 different sources on trade value before the deal was made). They paid $2K-$3K more than anyone else offered. They knew they could sell it, that I keep my cars pristine, that they could make money on it even with a strong trade offer.
On the Q50, I really thought I came in with a low ball (about $5K less than any price I'd seen). Surprisingly, they accepted it. This was a previous model year but still new with less than 100 miles on the odo.
Same with the Mercedes....previous model year (it's still sitting on their lot, now 2 model years old). I came in with a low ball and they let me walk. That car is still sitting there. It had less than 50 miles on it when I test drove it back in April. Not sure what the odometer says now. It's not like it was a non-desirable car. It has some nice options....good color, even real leather interior. Actually, they balked at everything when they asked how I came up with my offer....doc fee...they said my license transfer amount was wrong (it wasn't and they couldn't tell me how I was wrong).....etc. As far as I can tell, it's still sitting there.
Manufacturers know we now have access to a lot of information today. There's really very little sense in trying to deny what we have access to. Those that understand that are the dealerships I tend to do business with.
Most here have bought quite a few cars (well, maybe not as many as the KING, KING BRELD). But, we all know how it works. We all know a good deal. And, what we don't know, we can usually find out (thanks to Q and Mr Shiftright for helping me on the Cobra deal).
Every once in a while, I'll happen upon some of the threads here where I see people going through so many gyrations trying to make a deal. They'll email a bunch of dealers, call a bunch. Make themselves crazy, only to give back whatever they gained (if anything) by all that work in fees and extra charges. Unless you're sitting at the negotiation table with checkbook in hand, you're not making the best deal.
Same here!