More car window shopping - European, sporty, proper four seater with an automatic

My wife would like a classic-ish (in other words, 80s or 90s, maybe 200x) sporty car that we can use to ferry the family around when they come visit, especially the ageing parents but also one that she can use when her Range Rover is in the shop thus it must be automatic.

I'll probably drive it more than she will so it also will have to be fun to drive and should have something that feels like handling and should also be RWD. My first thoughts of a 60s American Boat or a late 60s/early 70s S-Class were shot down pretty much immediately. Oh, and apparently Lambo Espadas, Ferrari 400is and 80s Quattroportes are out, too, as are the felines from Coventry (otherwise I'd probaby just go find an XJR). Picky. Oh, and I don't like Audis, plus I'd like to stay away from the silly VWs like the Passat W8.

So far I've come up with:

• BMW E46 M3 with SMG. I think the rear seats should be just about good enough. Does anybody know if the US model E36 M3 got the 1st gen SMG or if that's a regular slushbox (the European ones got the SMG and that one has a really bad reputation). If it's not the SMG, an E36 M3 sedan might also be an option
• BMW Landshark, if I can find a really good one. Again, rear seats might be an issue.
• BMW E9 coupe, but that might be stretching the budget a bit too far
• She likes the looks of the E60 M5, I like what I see in the reviews but a bit of poking around the web suggests that I really, really won't like the running costs even though we can afford the buy-in
• Mercedes W124 500E. Not easy to find, no idea what the spares situation is like but it's got the Q-ship appeal.
• Four-door Biturbo. Downside is that we wanted something we could drive.
• The four seater requirement knocks the idea of a 996 TT with tiptronic on the head. There's no way we'd get her parents in or out of one.

I think we can stretch to about $35k, although I'd like to keep it at $20k-$25k if possible.

What else should I be looking at if we restrict the selection to European cars? Ideally I'd like to pick something that's close to the bottom of the depreciation curve (I know that the E46s and E60s aren't) and it has to have decent spares availability.

People on here really seem to like the E38 740 with the sport package. Should be well within your budget. No personal experience to go on, unfortunately, but they do look nice.

(And, as a free bonus, as you head off to the airport to pick up your visitors you can quietly remind yourself that "Transportation is a precise business.")

Why no Jags? The later ones seem every bit as reliable as the cars you listed maybe more so.

Otherwise I would say Mercedes 560SEC.

Stealthtercel wrote: People on here really seem to like the E38 740 with the sport package. Should be well within your budget. No personal experience to go on, unfortunately, but they do look nice.

That might be worth looking into - I didn't want something too big if we go European as she doesn't like driving large cars that much (the P38 RR is pretty much the size limit).

Stealthtercel wrote: (And, as a free bonus, as you head off to the airport to pick up your visitors you can quietly remind yourself that "Transportation is a precise business.")

I think I'd have to wear driving gloves and shave my head, though .

93EXCivic wrote: Why no Jags? The later ones seem every bit as reliable as the cars you listed maybe more so.

She just doesn't fancy them. And they're pretty much guaranteed to be more reliable than a Biturbo.

93EXCivic wrote: Otherwise I would say Mercedes 560SEC.

Actually I'd probably get the next smaller engine but that might be an idea if I can find an unmolested one.

E36 M3 with the conventional auto is what I'd check out with your requirements. They didn't offer the SMG until the E46.

E38 740 would seem to be the easy button here. What about an E34 540, as an alternative to the land shark 6er?

The only other thing I could think of would be a sorted V8-swapped Volvo 940.

In reply to dj06482:

Ah, OK, that's good to know - in Europe one thinks E36 M3 Auto = SMG.

You're right, that might almost be a perfect fit. I'll still see if I can sneak an XJR past her but the BMW might be the better option[1].

[1] Might have something to do with the fact that she suggested a BMW...

Forgot one other option - 840 or 850 (BMW, not ovloV). Any love for those?

One of the advantages of the BMW is that we'd have a decent BMW & Porsche specialist in Reno. I don't even know if we have anybody who knows their way around Audis or Jaaaags this side of the mountains.

Peugeot 505 turbo?

Any 5 Series should fit the bill.
More of a stretch...CTS-V w/ auto

I don;t think the 6 or 8 really qualify as 4 seaters.. ever looked how close the front seats are to the rear?

I see you do not mind the E38.. how about the E39.. that version of the 5er is one of the best looking Modern BMWs made. Certainly a lot better looking than the one that followed it

It's hard to even give away a v8 w126 in california lol. If you wanted a project 380sec my neighbor has one that $200 would probably take, it even starts and moves too lol. A good one isn't going to be more than $2500 though, a gen2 will probably be a 560, or a gen1 would be a 500. The old 6 series bmws are the same, still around and quite cheap. I like the 80s quattroporte idea though lol. Or, there is a dealer in the San Jose area that has an Aston Martin lagonda with an lt1 already swapped in they have been trying to get $40k for for quite some time, it even has the tickford body kit that they supoosedly only put on 5 of them too lol.

I'll be different.... Maserati Coupe? See them all the time in the low $30ks.

But you want an auto.... the one you would want with that car is the manual as I always read the auto is garbage and is an obscene price to replace so it may not be something to consider for them.

Even though it is a coupe the rear seats are capable of seating people. Has a Ferrari V8.

A coworker bought a Jaguar XF for around the same price.

Travis_K wrote: Or, there is a dealer in the San Jose area that has an Aston Martin lagonda with an lt1 already swapped in they have been trying to get $40k for for quite some time, it even has the tickford body kit that they supoosedly only put on 5 of them too lol.

I like this idea. What could go wrong...

BoxheadTim wrote: In reply to dj06482: Ah, OK, that's good to know - in Europe one thinks E36 M3 Auto = SMG. You're right, that might almost be a perfect fit. I'll still see if I can sneak an XJR past her but the BMW might be the better option[1]. [1] Might have something to do with the fact that she suggested a BMW...

Auto E36 M3's are cheap, too. $10k will buy the most pristine one you can find. Harder to resell than a stick, though. Also, if her aging parents are much taller/larger than the average person, it might be a tight fit to get all four of you in.

E39 540i?

If you want "classic...ish" looks, I would vote for an E28 535i/is with an auto. I think they're about the best looking car BMW ever made. E34 is also a good choice, but a little more anonymous and bland looking IMHO.

kanaric wrote: I'll be different.... Maserati Coupe? See them all the time in the low $30ks. But you want an auto.... the one you would want with that car is the manual as I always read the auto is garbage and is an obscene price to replace so it may not be something to consider for them. Even though it is a coupe the rear seats are capable of seating people. Has a Ferrari V8. A coworker bought a Jaguar XF for around the same price.

I was thinking about one of them, a friend of mine in Germany actually owns one (manual, though) and he loves it.

IIRC they usually need the flappy paddle gearbox clutches replaced every 30k or so at a major expense as you mentioned and funnily enough all the cheapish ones seem to be close to that mileage.

mad_machine wrote: I see you do not mind the E38.. how about the E39.. that version of the 5er is one of the best looking Modern BMWs made. Certainly a lot better looking than the one that followed it

I'm getting used to E39s, as you said they're better looking than the Bangle ones. Aren't those known for slushbox problems, though? I had a quick poke around Autotrader and there is a nice, lowish mileage 540 Sport with "gearbox problems" on there. Not cheap enough for me to buy it with gearbox issues, though.

I've had an E34 in the past, it did grow on me but my concern is the ability to find a really nice one this side of an M5. I'd love an E34 M5 but those were manual only and we didn't get the cool Alpina variants over here. An E34 B10 with an autobox would be the perfect vehicle.

93EXCivic wrote: Why no Jags? The later ones seem every bit as reliable as the cars you listed maybe more so.

That statement just sounds oh so wrong when it rolls off the tongue...

BoxheadTim wrote: - Four-door Biturbo. Downside is that we wanted something we could drive.

Actually, a 430 should be very reliable and a blast to drive.

My kids fit fine in the back of my early Biturbo and the 430/228 have 3" more wheelbase.

Any experience with an automatic 430?

Ahem

Slightly more sane:

Hmmm, interesting.

Baller

Classy

Turbo R!!! Giggity

Rolls Royce goes in the category of yeah you can afford to buy it but can you afford to keep it...

How about this? I think it sounds like a great idea

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/cto/3705745087.html

86 MASERATI.425 Biturbo . - $3500 (pacifica)

NICE1986 MASERATI BITURBO 425 READ:NEW TIMMING BELT,WATER PUMP,BRAKES,TRANSMISSION SERVICED,FULL TUNE UP,GREAT CONDITION FULL LEATHER,WITH CAMEL TRIM..GOOD COLLECTOR CAR..DRIVES AND HANDLE WELL CALL AT 650-557-6454..

I've always, like many here, had a passing interest in owning a Rolls Royce or Bentley (Turbo R!). Now that I actually own a Rolls Royce, I have lost any interest I once had in actually owning one. Just looking at the hydraulic system diagram, experiencing the most hassle getting parts that I've ever had, and $40 oil filters will do that...