Hi, it’s Steve, the nerdy NVH engineer from metro Detroit. The time has come to sell my cars, and while my collection might not rival David or Stephen Gossin’s, it’s gotten a little away from me. At my job, I switched to a new, awesome position, but it requires a lot more work and time on the road. I have my website, DIYauto.com, that I try to manage, and I have this crack at living out a lifelong dream as an automotive journalist. Oh, I also have a family that includes a two-year-old. If you haven’t heard, toddlers require lots of attention.
I’m not complaining! At some point you realize that to give all the different aspects of your life the attention they deserve, you need to trim the fat somewhere. I’m sure David felt the same a couple of years ago when he sold most of his Jeep collection/sculpture garden [ED Note: That’s cold! -DT] and moved to LA. It was probably painful to let those go, but out of that came the freedom to build this awesome website and community of weirdos we are all a part of.
I’ve always had a baseline number of vehicles. But it has grown a bit. Plus I disobeyed the rule that I rarely follow: never daily a project. “Audi S8s often go over 200,000 miles! When the transmission fails I can just swap in a manual, the car will double in value!” I told myself.
What hubris! When a “mint” 1994 Bonneville SSEI, a dream car of mine, came for sale I thought “Is the legendary 3800, it will never die, I can just drive that when the Audi is down!” And that’s what I’m doing now folks. Driving the Bonneville is kind of great, the Audi being down? Not so much.
There’s a marked difference between good wrenching and bad wrenching. Spending a Sunday night lying on a freezing cement floor changing wheel bearings, or rebuilding a VANOS unit in the driveway using a houselamp for illumination — all so you can drive to work the next day — isn’t great wrenching. Add in the time sourcing parts and looking up DIYs for a whole fleet of vehicles, and it’s enough to scramble your brain.
So, dear readers, I need your help so I can maximize the good, and minimize the bad. Help me choose which project cars, if any, to keep; and what I should buy as a daily driver. The power is in your greasy hands folks. But I trust yall, I think…
The Stable
First, we will go over the cars I’m selling for sure.
Selling. 1987 Chevy C10 on airbags
I never sought out to buy a bagged C10, but these things happen. I saw the photo on Craigslist, nestled in the snow like a brawny golden brick, and had to check it out. The truck was running when I got to the industrial park it was residing in, but laying on the frame with no real way to move. The owner shiftily explained that all the valves had gotten knocked off, but he had all the parts and would fix it up so it was drivable if I bought it. Stupidly I agreed and gave him the cash for the title. The guy subsequently disappeared off the face of the earth, and so did the truck! I called local towing companies and found the yard it was towed to, and for a price, they were nice enough to bring it to my house.
At least the seller was honest about the airbag suspension valves being torn out. I replaced the old valves with a modern Airlift management system. Besides a few other small items to repair, that was it! It’s far from a show truck, there are dents, the paint is faded, there’s a fist-sized hole in the driver’s floorboard covered with a license plate. The interior didn’t come with carpet but there were a few bullets in the glovebox, so fair trade.
This has been an honest reliable truck, that we’ve used for truck stuff more than anything. Sure it was a lot of fun to have the fam sit in the back and drive around the Dream Cruise, but it’s also been nice for grabbing furniture off Marketplace or picking up piles of sod or potatoes or whatever else people do. As much as I think the C10 is the perfect aesthetic form for a pickup truck, my heart has always pined for a Ford RangerSplash in some suitable ’90s pastel color with the friendly face. Plus the C10 takes up the whole length of the garage, I literally can’t walk past it with the garage door closed. I like it but I don’t love it. About a dozen people have stopped in the street and asked if it’s for sale this summer. So this will go up first and hopefully go quickly.
Selling: 2001 Audi S8
Everyone loves a hero car, and this car matches the Ronin hype. However, it’s not one of those squeaky-clean heroes like Adam West’s Batman. It’s a raggedy hero with an edge and a dark side, like all the later more sullen Batmen. Under that snow are dents, scratches, and faded paint. The previous owner started swapping out the boring beige interior for a rare black/cognac version and stopped at the dashboard. Beige and cognac don’t mix together on a spiritual level. He also messed up the driver’s heated seat module, which is unfortunate here in Michigan.
But it is fast! It sounds great with the rear muffler delete! It eats up miles and hugs the road like a real bähnstormer! It has the craziest window-sealing system I’ve seen! It’s also a beast in the snow! Has it been a reliable daily? Depends on your definition. The car runs out of fuel at a half tank of gas because of Audi’s saddle gas tank and its byzantine system of hoses and siphons. The instrument cluster pixels smear together after a few minutes so I don’t know what time it is half the… time. I’m doing the timing belt, water pump service right now which wouldn’t be too bad if I didn’t have to tear the car’s face off to do it. Overall it’s been a great car to own, and I’ll miss it, but I won’t be sad to replace it with something more sensible.
I may decide to keep one of these next two, what do you think?
Maybe Keeping? A 1994 Pontiac Bonneville SSEI
Gearheads are like baby birds. Everyone has that car that imprints itself in your brain when you are young. I had been into cars since I could crawl and hold a Hot Wheels in my paw. But I still remember that day when I was 14 years old gathering shopping carts at the local Pick’n ‘Save, when I saw a forest green SSEI sitting on those gold mesh wheels. I thought it was the coolest looking car and I finally got one about a month ago.
The story of me buying it is pretty good so I’ll be writing about that in a review later. But here are the stats: Rust-free Florida car with 80k miles. The Florida sun that didn’t rust the car roached the seats. Fresh 10-ft garage paintjob. New shocks, windshield and headliner. Supercharged 3800 that will outlast us all. Interior quality you’d expect from an early 90’s GM product. Awesome highway cruiser. Easy to wrench on and most parts are available at the local stores. Plus my wife really likes it.
Maybe Keeping?: S52 Swapped 1988 BMW 528e
In stark contrast to my beloved Bonneville, my whole family hates this car. Not so much the car but what getting it did to me. I got this car in trade from one of those car buddies we all have. As part of the trade he would do the engine swap; and this guy had the parts, the facilities, the skills, and the reputation of someone who could do this. However, the swap took about four years of broken promises longer than it was supposed to. At one point it was going to be ready so I could ride in it during the baraat (husband parade) at my Indian wedding. When it was obvious it wouldn’t be finished he said I could use one of his other cool cars, but he never showed up so I used my E38 (still a pretty good parade car). So a majority of my ownership time has been years of repeating bummers which my family and friends obviously noticed.
So after rescuing it and spending about a year finishing the swap and all those nagging issues it’s finally running, and it runs great. The sounds and sensations that M-tuned inline six makes when it pulls to redline are spiritual. It’s probably the coolest looking car I’ve had and it’s a blast to drive. Unfortunately, it’s got hidden rust problems. There’s a hole in the driver’s footwell and general crustiness underneath. As Mercedes found, getting rust repair on an old BMW is neither easy nor cheap. And I could get about $12k for this car as-is which is a needed chunk of change, in exchange for not having to pay out about half that much to get it mended properly. There’s also some wiring harness cleanup to do and electrical isn’t my bag. I only have about three hours behind the wheel since it’s been running well. I’m going to try to enjoy it as much as I can while I iron out some final issues because it may be on the chopping block.
So fellow Autopians, I want to be down to one project car, what do you say?
If you aren’t mentally exhausted from mulling that over, I’ve got one more for you. What should I get for my next daily?
Requirements:
1: Reliable
I’m an adult with a job so I have to drive places. Many of which are far away. Eight of my last ten dailies have been older German cars with over 100k miles, some north of 200k miles. As Bruce Willis said, “I’m too old for this shit.” I want my wrenching to be fun again, not due to cold necessity.
2: Roomy
I have a wife and kid that I occasionally take on road trips. I have to haul equipment around for my job. I have a home and a Home Depot less than a mile from my house. I like cars with plenty of space.
3: Car
I’m sure there are some SUVs and CUVs that would work well for me, but I’m more into cars. Feel free to make suggestions though.
4: Comfortable
I fully believe that a car’s goodness is situation-dependent. I’ve owned several cars that are known for their handling. A ’94 NSX, a ’91 turbocharged Miata, a Fiesta ST, and a ’69 Midget. There are many places with great roads where these cars would be sublime to own. However, in south east Michigan, we have a grid of neglected roads that are only marginally smoother than the ground in between them. In the occasional on-ramp or roundabout, these cars could be life-affirming. But for the other 98% of my route I’m driving down ruler-straight roads while dodging potholes that would bruise the cockles of my soul.
The Bonneville is brilliant here. Sure the interior rattles like hell when you cruise over a broken railroad crossing but she can take it. You hear the craters but don’t really feel them. I’m not looking to buy a boat, but it should be nice for long trips while not punishing on our cratered streets.
5: Remote Start
Yes, this eliminates the few manual options that may meet my criteria but in Michigan, it’s freaking necessary. I’ve never owned a car that had it, but seeing my coworkers getting into a warm, defrosted car while I could see my breath for most of the commute made me jealous every time. The last straw came one freezing morning while I was standing in two feet of snow chipping at a sheet of ice so I could open the door while wrangling my one-year-old. “TECHNOLOGY EXISTS!” I thought. “Why do I live like some type of animal!” This is honestly something I really look forward to.
6: Fun
You may be looking at these requirements and thinking, “Why am I picking a car for my Grandpa?” I admit, I’m almost 40. I’m getting old but not giving up! The car has to have something that sparks some joy. Just cause it’s a big comfortable cruiser doesn’t mean it can’t be fun to drive. If it comes with a more powerful engine, I’ll want that one. I don’t want to get bored and sell it in a year.
A few more notes:
Good MPG is nice but not a requirement. I get mileage reimbursement for my work trips so it’s not so bad. I’m not afraid of rebuilt title cars in general, some of my picks are only in my price range if their title isn’t green. Obviously, this is a case-by-case basis. My wife’s car is a 2018 Honda Accord with the 6-speed manual, which is the perfect family car and has been dead nuts reliable. My budget is in the low $20s. Less than $20,000 is better, but I’d say $25k is the ceiling.
Here’s what I’ve been looking at.
Buick Regal Tour X
I know it’s hypocritical to say no German cars and have my first choice be an Opel, but this is the most practical one on this list. It’s a wagon, has a good ride, and a 2.0L turbo that makes over 300 HP… I think [Ed note: The GS version did, but that wasn’t available as a wagon. The wagon has 250 hp – MH]. Plus they look cool. They are kind of rare but there are a handful right around $20k in the area
Lincoln Continental
I got to benchmark one of those cars and was thoroughly impressed. They look sharp, have a cool interior, an excellent stereo system, and with the twin-turbo V6 it got out of its own way. Since then I’ve had a hankering for one. There are a bunch of these right in my price range.
Chrysler 300
I went to the SRT experience at Michigan International Speedway a while ago and got to drive the whole SRT family. Overall, I liked the 300 the best. These are ubiquitous here in Detroit which is a minus in some ways, and a plus in others. If you drive one of these you could be someone’s Grandma that works at an accounting office or a kid who just did an illegal sideshow on the Lodge freeway. However, they still look cool and have a ton of features for the money.
I read some contemporary reviews (you know a car has been around a while when you have to specify what decade the review was done), and expected everyone to bash its old architecture and Chrysler interior plastics. Besides a few perfunctory negative remarks, they all praised the car. It’s kind of an anachronism these days which I like. I’ll test drive the V6 but would probably get the V8. These can be pretty cheap too.
Cadillac CT6
This rounds out the trio of big American four-door sedans. In comparison tests, this one always got high marks for being more athletic than it had any right to be. They look cool but I worry that it might have too much technology that could fail expensively. It’s also the most ostentatious, which isn’t totally my style. But they are cheap now and I want to test drive one.
Audi S8
There’s a 2013 S8 by me with just over 90k miles that’s had every maintenance item done at the dealer and WAIT WHAT ARE YOU DOING! I THOUGHT YOU WERE NO LONGER ABOUT THAT LIFE! But think of how glorious it would be! 600 horsepower!!1! Sorry! I’ll enroll in a treatment program, I have a problem. Don’t recommend this car because I’d probably get it.
CTS V-Sport
This is the enthusiast option. 420 horses, universal acclaim from the car press. Most are too expensive but there are a handful in my price range. I think they look just as good if not better than the new Cadillacs.
You’ll notice these are almost all American cars. I’m not opposed to getting something Japanese or Korean. I’m not a huge fan of the looks of the early Genesis models that are in my price range. I don’t want two Honda Accords, and most Lexuses don’t do a lot for me. But if I’m missing any gems let me know in the comments.
So my life is in your hands, fellow Autopians. This may sound like a sad situation but I’m actually really looking forward to this. I can’t imagine what it would be like to have a reliable daily and only have one project car’s needs rattling around my ADHD-addled brain. I’ll probably be 10 lbs lighter.
Case in point, while my Audi is in pieces I drove the Bonneville two hours to Saginaw for work. The day before I changed the plugs and wires because it was due and it was getting horrible gas mileage. It seemed to recognize my efforts because the multifunction wiper stalk which only had one working speed and wouldn’t turn off once the wiping started, had suddenly fixed itself. I had all my speeds and can turn the wipers off now!
However, the GM VATS anti-theft bypass the previous owner installed flaked out on me for about 45 minutes. Normally 1-out-of-10 start attempts the car wouldn’t start so I’d have to wait a few minutes for the security light to turn off before I could turn the car on. Now it wouldn’t turn on no matter how much I coaxed it. I was worried I’d have to tow the car and enlist a friend or family member to drive four hours to get me and bring me home. The fix is a few bucks and maybe 20 minutes of time, but I haven’t had a chance to get to it. Thankfully the hundredth time was a charm and it eventually started up. These are the things I’d like to avoid.
I’ve bared my enthusiast soul here for all to see. When it’s time to take big steps in our automotive journey, it helps to turn to the community for guidance. I’m looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
I am with the herd here: dump everything but the Bonnie. That car is something I have always lusted after, the sole and special exception to the “Oh Jesus NO! Not a old GM vehicle!” rule. Take some of the money from the “garage sale” and have the sunburned interior reupholstered. It won’t cost as much as you think.
Buy the Buick. You can get it serviced fast in any town in America. It will be quiet enough on the highway. It won’t get stolen. You can carry the family in relative comfort. Here’s the main point though: this is NOT a car to love, wax every week, and cherish. It’s a set of work boots. You are going to drive the wheels off it, drive it on salty roads, and park it in hotel parking lots AND on the street wherever you can find a spot because you can’t be late for a meeting dicking around finding a good parking place.
On the road you don’t want a car you care much about; if you care, you’ll just get your heart broken the first three times some fat-ass babe door-dings it… The Buick? Meh, okay. It’s just a car.
What’s old song?
“If you want to be happy the rest of your life
Never make a pretty woman your wife.
From my personal point of view
Get an ugly girl to marry you…”
Now, just substitute “car” and “driving for work” for “woman”and “marriage”
Great advice! I’m currently leaning towards the Buick. I feel it will be a good workhorse.
I’ll look into the reupholstering. Original plan was to buy some decent seats at a junkyard but sadly it seems like the parts yards are clearing out all their old bonnevilles. Called 6 local junkyards that had bonneville parts listed on Car-part.com and all said they no longer have any parts available. Kindof sad.
I’m going to think outside the box and ask the question I always do to folks:
The car everyone forgot, but had everything you needed, nothing you didn’t, was very quiet (quieter than the D2 S8), comfortable, MUCH lighter than its peers, had AWD as an option, and that Toyota 2GR will last forever. Plus since it lacks, “gimmicks” and, “cleverness” it’s very easy to take care of.
Zero people who have listened have regretted it. It’s the car that enables other, more interesting car, still has 300+HP in 3800ish lbs, and does everything anyone needs.
Interesting suggestion, I will look into those.
Sell all but the Bonneville and get the TourX. I’ve not driven the TourX but every review says they are very nice. And you’ll never get another car like the Bonneville – especially since the family likes it.
Very true. Rust free examples here up North no longer exist. Going to preserve it as well as I can.
Keep the Bonneville. It’s so geeky that it’s inverted itself to being cool again.
Buy a X308 Jag XJR and forget the remote start (you can probably add an aftermarket kit that gives you remote start). Or buy the Lincoln, tune the ecoboost to 450HP and have yourself a stylish, 450HP AWD sleeper.
> 1994 Bonneville SSEI, a dream car
Those words have never been arranged in that order before.
Sell them all. Buy the TourX and either Cadillac.
I know, right? It’s a good car, but an object of desire? I’m missing something here. And I like cars from lots of different decades, so it’s not my age. Of course, I had a mint condition 1970 Fleetwood in the 80s that I thought was cool as hell.
I thought it was weird too until I took it to the Dream Cruise. It probably got more love there than any car I’ve brought before. People were calling out their windows about how they used to have one and that they miss it. Cars are weird haha.
Keep the C10 because if you’re serious about owning a project car, you need a truck for hauling parts.
Keep the Bonneville because you love it and it’s worth having, and a remote start is a great first electrical project to give you a taste of success. But get rustproofing on it before the first frost hits.
First frost expected in two or three weeks.
Dont worry, this Bonneville will never see snow. The remote start is for the daily.
Have you considered a Volvo V60 or V90? They look drop dead gorgeous, have modern amenities, are relaible-ish if you pick the right engine and spacious as all heck.
Agree with you on all points. But they are boring as all get out to drive. A good friend special ordered a V90 wagon new and sold it 6 months later for that exact reason.
They are? Crap, I really like those and could see one in it future. Too bad.
Former V70 owner here. Too true but damn, those seats were the most comfortable I have ever placed my ass in. Perfect road trip car, I used to haul the family from SoCal to the Bay all the time in it with plenty of room to spare.
Get the Lincoln or one of the Caddies keep your Bonnie. I’d probably go the Lincoln so you have one GM and one Ford but that’s just me
Dude this is the Autopian. Your options should be:
1985 former gray market Lada Niva running on 3 cylinders.
1973 Chevy Vega with a cracked head or blown head gasket.
1979 2.8 V6/3A rusted-to-Hell Pinto Country Squire.
2000 Camry, with 370k on the clock, beige with a dent.
1997 low mileage Grandma spec Buick with dry rotted original tires and absolutely reeking of butterscotch, cheap gin and Ben Gay.
1984 Toyota Tercel SR5 a previous owner welded into permanent in 4WD mode.
The budget? Whatever you made from your last yard sale and selling your blood.
COTD.
Looks like I need to make some sacrifices to fit in here! Wheres the nearest blood bank?!
Keep: the Bonneville. You said your wife loves it, and obviously so do you.
Buy: Regal Tour X. You might be able to find one with AWD, and you can haul the fam and your gear in a wagon like this.
This is The Way. That Bonneville is a pure slice of 90s GM gold, and I imagine you’ll find a decent selection of ex-GM-employee TourXs in Metro Detroit. Also, it’ll reward you with knowing nods in the parking lot at Westborn Market.
You gotta dump that 5er. It’s attracting bad karma.
Thanks, thats what everyone says about the BMW.
For a new(er) car, I would suggest either a Subaru Forester/Outback/Legacy or a VW Golf Sportwagen/Alltrack. Both are known to be decently reliable vehicles, can be had with manual transmissions, and have an extensive aftermarket with tons of parts support and mods. A basic software-only tune is inexpensive and a good way to wake them up.
what is easier to fix, head gasket and or piston rings or piston rings and timing? Based on the reputations I have read for both of your suggestions. With some factory warranty though yeah absolutely either
Keep the Bonnie! It meets all your requirements except for remote start. In which case take it to a good stereo shop and have a remote start installed.
Thanks! The Bonnie will be parked all winter so the remote start will be for the daily. I can’t risk any salt ruining this prime example.
There just something about that era of Pontiac Bonneville that floats my boat. It looks European. Keep it.
“It looks European.”
So does a Trabant.
There was a green one for sale in Michigan recently that was lowered a tad and had the multispoke wheels from the post-2000 bonneville. It looked really sharp!
Steve, I thought it was Danny Glover who was more well-known for saying that line about being “too old for this shit” in the Lethal Weapon movies? I’m sure Bruce Willis said it also, though I couldn’t tell you in which Die Hard movie that was… I’ve seen them all I think (first is best IMO) but honestly can’t remember him delivering that line.
Despite their relative rarity and thus slightly elevated cost, I like the Buick Regal Tour X because station wagon, and everything I’ve read about it is generally positive. To be honest, all of your possible purchases are pretty good… I guess the Chrysler 300 would be the cheapest solution and give you a big pool to pick from (they’re still plentiful here in LA too). Youtube’s Hoovies Garage has a video about the Hyundai Equus here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdLJAMzShBk and even though you said you’re not really into Korean cars lookswise, I think it would be worth considering, as it’s a big, strong sedan like the Continental or 300 or S8 or Cadillacs, but it’s recent enough that it ought to be fairly reliable from what I gather. Not as sporting as an S8 or CTS-V of course, but probably still a lot of pleasure to be had from a nicely optioned Equus. Hoovie paid $15K for his… I dunno what they go for where you are, but there are probably a few around.
I like your collection of cars to be sold but happily, none of them are something that I suddenly must own (I’m down to just 2 & 1/2 cars now, the 1/2 being an ’18 Suzuki Vanvan I haven’t ridden yet). Now you have me thinking I ought to check the LA ads for an Equus dammit! 😉
Yeah, the Buick is a rebadged Opel/Vauxhall Insignia is it not? They’re decent cars and nice-looking to boot. They’re on my list for when my shabby Lexus gets too expensive to fix.
Thanks! I think you are right it was Danny Glover. A 2017 Genesis G90 just popped up for sale in my price range. Apparantly they have an awesome stereo and great ride quality. I may take it for a spin. Its sad they look a little generic. The new ones are very sharp looking.
I agree they’re not exactly exciting looking, but they’re at least mature and mostly tasteful looking, and I bet a 7 year old Genesis will probably run w/o issues for quite a while. Best of luck Steve! 🙂
Thanks I appreciate it!
I would keep the Pontiac and toss the BMW in a heartbeat. I owned a last generation Regal and it was a nice driver’s car. I found the seats to be hard as church pews, though I’ve never seen anyone else complain. The dreaded start-stop system doesn’t have a kill switch. Maybe you can live with that or can do a work-around. While you were describing what you wanted I was thinking Chrysler 300. All the Caddys are nice driving cars but they’re not quite as large as they look. Make sure all your passengers and luggage are comfy. I’m betting the Lincoln would be the most comfortable. I like your choices.
Thanks!
I don’t know what your price range is, but for a fun, comfortable daily with a lot of room, it’ll be hard to find, but the Volvo V60 Polestar is one of my all-time favorite practical cars.
As the owner of an icebox white 2019 CT6 twin turbo 3.0 liter all I can say go for it! I get an average of 25 mpg combined. My main issue with this car is that it is scary fast. Don’t get me wrong; the car is perfectly balanced in braking and handling. After 3 years of regular daily driver duty, count me as a very satisfied owner. If Cadillac hadn’t dropped the CT6 from their line-up I would be in the market for a 2025 model.
Thanks for the info! They are sharp looking cars. Has it been pretty reliable? I heard there are a few with transmission issues because of incorrect fluid installed at the plant, but haven’t heard many other negatives about them.
As an automotive addict who has had as many as 11 cars at once… I can say that your fleet is missing the one car everyone should own – a good minivan! A Kia Carnival or Honda Odyssey would be my choice. More room, comfort and reliability than any car or wagon on your list. Safely carry your bikes inside and out of the weather, drive friends to a car show, pick up even the largest parts for your project cars in a vehicle that is ultra comfortable with a great view, and leave the parts safely locked inside until its convenient to unload.
SUVs are heavier, slower, carry less, cost more to maintain, and every soccer mom and pretending to be cool dad has one. Wagons are a step in the right direction but are too small to be really useful for carrying loads and people.
You need a Minivan!
My head says minivan, my heart says wagon.
Thanks for the suggestion! With just one kid I think the minivan may be a little overkill but if that changes in the future I will be eyeing one.
Make a Chrysler-Dodge 300 Magnum C Touring.
Just do it.
I’ve seen a couple and they are ultra cool!
There was a project one for sale here a couple months ago. Its definitely a badass looking car.
Cadillacs, obviously. Then the Buick longtail (cause family, you’ll thank yourself on this decision). I don’t see anything else on the list. Did you even suggest anything else??
Well, my first thought on reading your requirements was the first car you listed, so I’m superfluous here other than adding a TourX vote.
One of the european versions was sold with a manual and without the body cladding if you want to make it a proper custom.
I joined a TourX facebook group and removing the cladding is a popular mod. I think the cladding looks ok depending on the color of the car.
As unsexy as this may sound, the Bonneville is definitely the one to keep. You have a connection with it and it’s going to be a solid, albeit not perfect, performer. You’ll be able to keep it running forever and there’s plenty of parts out there.
I want to love the ’01 S8 so much, but just can’t. My best friend owns one and I’ve borrowed it a number of times (he has also let me borrow his Saabs of similar vintage, including a 9-5 Aero wagon and a Viggen convertible(!), both in manual and both of which I find to be much preferable). Every time I look at the understated, elegant exterior I swoon in much the same manner as when I look at an E38 7-series, but then I get into the car and the interior and the driving experience just don’t do it for me. The interior is dated without being classic, and it just doesn’t give me enough of an impression of an autobahn missile to make it fun. It’s nothing more than an old luxury car without much in the way of distinctiveness. If you want lack of distinctiveness paired with reliability go get a Lexus LS, as another commenter noted.
Sorry to yuck a yum, but the 528 does nothing for me. Ditch it with prejudice.
The first inclination of most people is to make fun of the Chrysler 300, but then you find out from the people who actually have driven them (and I’ve driven many in the 300S rental spec) that it’s a remarkably decent car. It’s never going to wow you, but it’s big, it’s comfortable, and it gets you down the road just fine. Actually, with a V8 it might be downright fun.
Thanks for the suggestions! I used to have a 2001 740IL, last year of the E38s. While having an extra 100 hp does a lot for the S8, you are correct. Interior and exterior styling the BMW wins hands down. It also rode nicer too.
1) The Bonneville: Keep
2) The BMW 528: Take the money and run!
Replace with:
TourX is a valid option CTS V-Sport is a great option, especially if you can find a wagon Safe option: Honda Accord wagon Less safe option: BMW F31 wagon. Can be had with all wheel drive too.
Lexus LS400
Reliable, roomy,, remote startable, family will love it
Fun? Save that for your next purchase.
I would go LS430 – Newer, faster, more features – same great reliability.
I’m not a fan of the looks of the later models. I know, I know, the ls400 isn’t exactly a styling tour de force, but I like it. It’s a reassuringly patrician, slab-sided chunk of reliability.
Keep the Bonneville. Just please Krown the snot out of it! Those rockers will rust out in a hurry if not protected.
And get the Regal. Wagon and AWD. There are easy and reliable ways to boost the output on that engine if desired.
Thanks! Don’t worry this Bonnie will never see salt or snow. I’d be doing the car world a disservice if I let this one rust.