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USED European Luxury Cars (pre 1990)
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I presume he leaned it out initially because your plugs were fouling and the car was running rough?
I'd suggest you drive it more aggressively. Just wind the hell out of it, that's how Mercedes built it to run. They don't like to be babied, they foul, stall and stumble if you do.
Also, a big Peugeot sedan, likely from the early '80s (not a 505 or that awful 405). It had four rectangular headlights. Anyone know what this is?
it was put up against the Mercedes 280E,as it came standard with a lot of stuff. I always liked them,but I understand they are not much regarded now.
Ghulet, you really know for a fact that the old Maserati Quattroporte cost $80k new back in the mid-80s? Well, my parents paid $80k for our house back in 1983!
The Peugeot 604 I saw was in really good shape (at least cosmetically), in a nice cranberry red with tan interior.
Actually, you can buy really really nice early ones for $10K, and good running ones needing just a little cosmetics for around $6,500. The later models cost a bit more, but they are also better cars.
The best thing to do with a 4Porto is to buy a junk one and just sit naked in that great leather interior.
Nonetheless, I'd buy one for $500 if it was perfect.
But the old Quatroportes are soooo beautiful!
Bill
The QP you don't want (and probably won't find anyway) is the V-6 version, called the QP II, made from around 73-76 or so. This is basically a disguised Citroen Maserati SM, which as we know is the car from hell.
Quattroportos are dirt cheap and even if someone is asking a lot of money, they aren't going to get it, so you can bargain with a cruel hand. I'd imagine they'd be worth more as scrap for the engine and all the parts that will fit a Sebring (the Vignale coupe).
The later QPs certainly have all the elegance and power of a big Mercedes sedan, with Italian softness of interior and softness of all mechanicals--lol!
Funny thing, the early QPs have cylinder heads cast for dual spark plugs, but they only used single plugs in production...and YES, they filled the holes up before selling the car!
Ahh, who needs compression anyways
Better yet, can you name me a model of Italian car that might be a sensible buy? My friend has a 1984 Alfa Spider Veloce which he insists is reliable. I see a few Alfa 164 (?)'s around every now and then.
Well, here's the thing that the old German sedans don't have a problem with-- Maseratii are a real, serious pain to get parts for. It's a major problem that every owner has to deal with, and don't think for a minute that with the new Masers coming in that will imrpove the siuation. It won't. The parts for the old cars are GONE except for some engine parts and repro parts that you will get gouged for (since there is only like ONE distributor of parts in America--you know what THAT means).
Alfa on the other hand have a parts distribution second to none. Well, maybe second to old VW bugs and MGBs, which both have awesome parts networks. But the Alfa network is very very strong, and you should be able to buy any part for any of the popular models, even the old ones.
Alfas can be quite reliable. They aren't junky cars like Fiat. Oh, they might not be quite a Toyota Camry in reliability, but neither are most older Mercedes or BMWs
Jrosasmc, what does 'can be a little reliable' mean, in reference to Fiats? I guess any car that runs once in a while can be considered a little reliable, right?
My parents had one (a 1980 Brava) they bought new, it was nightmarish.
There's a picture I have of my mom, him, and my mom's friend fitting in it (2 seater vs. three people) in about 1977, right when my mom graduated high school (I know that's scary to some of you - i was born 3 years later).
I've never actually heard my grandpa comment on his old Fiat, but it was long gone before I was old enough to walk.
They're no more problematic than many Italian cars of the era and I still see a few Alfas and (gasp) one or two Fiats from that era.
Any thoughts on the pros and cons of a 190SL convertable. Saw one advertized in the paper last week.
190SL-- there are pros and cons. It's a very SLOW car and not very exciting car to drive (based on the 180 sedan chassis and drivetrain) but it is handsome in that quirky 60s teutonic sort of way, and build quality is excellent. If you want something old in a Benz that feels something like a sports car, the 280SL is a much better car in every way than a 190, and a bit cheaper. Figure around 25K for a very sharp 280SL and $30K for a super nice 190SL.
Also you have to be careful in choosing a used one, as an engine rebuild on a 450SL costs more than the entire car!
Build quality is typical Mercedes, rock solid throughout.