5-series BMWs, eh? I finally sold my E28 M5 a few years ago in favor of a grandpa-mobile - a '95 740i (OBD1). I desperately tried to love an E34 540 6-speed but after years of driving a "sport sedan", I really, really wanted a luxo-barge. Since I couldn't bring myself to buy an American luxo-barge (they don't age nearly as gracefully), I settled on the E38 - unlike the current 7-series, the E38 has very classic lines and the styling is such that it belies the car's size with great aplomb.
The car has done well by me - took it to several Koni Challenge races as a crew member. It fits 3 large people quite comfortably and even swallows up their luggage as well. The topper was the "day trip" from my house near Winchester, VA to Watkins Glen and back!! Drove up in the morning, played "fueler" during the race and drove back home in the evening. The 740 is the fastest and most comfortable leather couch I've ever driven!! Sticking with the VW/Audi family, I had an Audi V8 as well. Found it cheap after a deer-strike - replaced the hood and put 20K on the car in a year. Very interesting car - the Quattro system is simply amazing BUT Audis from that era are an electrical nightmare. Underhood was somewhat familiar with a VW 16v head on one side of the engine and a mirror image on the other. Too bad the majority of the cars were saddled with a miserable slush-o-matic that sapped any low-end torque that the engine had - once it was rolling, it was surprisingly quick for a barge. Funny is that when I purchased the V8, I thought it was a bank-vault...then I purchased the 740i. BTW, what's a Body Kit? Maybe I need one or was that a Body Tuck... Matthew ----- Original Message ---- > From: Patrick Austin <[email protected]> > To: a2-16v <[email protected]> > Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 9:20:04 PM > Subject: Re: [a2-16v-list] A2 16V Knowledge > > Patrick Austin here. Woah, these names are a blast from my INBOX's > past. I've got mailing list archives from 1998 or 1999 forward, > though it sounds like things are pretty straightened away. > > Still driving cars in the right family. Wife's daily driver is a B5 > 30v Passat right now, which has been remarkably trouble free (knock on > wood). Almost boring. We had a kid a couple years ago, so my fun > cars are now 5 series bimmers. > > Just sold an E28 535is I had for a couple years, moved on to a nice > E34 535iM. Just spent the evening removing control arms and steering > linkage on the bimmer. God, I love old German steel. All the cars I > lusted after as a teenager are now $3000 apiece and about as expensive > to run as a 16v Mk2. > > After working on Golfs/Jettas for a decade, it's nice to have some > space in the engine bay, power at the back, and the crazy awesome > sound of that big straight six. :) I'd still jump at a clean stock > 16v, though. I got to the point where I could work on 'em in the > dark, and there's something to be said for familiarity. :) > > http://flickr.com/photos/paanta/tags/bmw/ > > All you guys should know, every online group after the A2 16v list has > been a letdown. I miss getting advice from people who have disdain > for body kits. > > -Pat
