Poking around BaseFook the other day, one of the ads from which they thought I would derive tremendous value from was a t-shirt for The Manual Gearbox Preservation Society. “Pfft!” I thought, hating the fact that technology thinks it knows me better than I know myself. Then I started thinking that maybe the Interwebs were onto something. We’ve talked before about the gradual disappearance of the stick shift, and there’s no denying its days are numbered. So I took it upon myself to poke around looking at assorted manual cars that 1) I’d be stupid enough to buy, and 2) wouldn’t break the bank. Enter the Alfa 164, and this solid example located in Tulsa, OK for a paltry $2,500.
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3 Comments | tags: Alfa 164, Alfa 6, Alfa Romeo, Arese V6, BMW E39, Ferrari, Fiat Croma, Italian Cars, Lancia Thema 8.32, Manual Gearbox Preservation Society, Mercedes W124, Pininfarina, Saab 9000, Stick Shift | posted in Disposable Sports Car, Totally That Stupid
My Dad emailed me yesterday. It seems his 1995 Infiniti Q45a is back at the dealer getting steering rack boots and a water pump. Recently, it got a battery, and had some wiring under the back seat repaired. The wiring had gotten wet because, likely, the sunroof drain tubes are plugged up. The sunroof doesn’t open, so we can’t clean out the drains.
This is how cars rapidly unravel. Continue reading
13 Comments | tags: 530i, BMW E39, E55 AMG, Ferrari Mondial, G35, G37, Infiniti, M35, M45, Q45, Subaru Forester 2.5XT, Volkswagen Passat, Volkswagen Passat CC, W124, W210, W211 | posted in Totally That Stupid
Every time I turn around these days it seems like another manufacturer is forfeiting good old burbling big-displacement torquetastic motoring for force-fed fours and sixes. It would appear that the V8’s days are numbered, particularly in cars that us regular Joes can lay our hands on without taking out a second third mortgage. Along with the V8s, regular rear-wheel drive seems to be fading into obscurity replaced with all-wheel. Now I appreciate traction as much as anyone, especially after all the snow that we’ve been graced with this winter, but sometimes you want your back wheels pushing, your front wheels steering, and never the two shall meet. It’s definitely old school, but I guess that I am, too.
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2 Comments | tags: Acura, Audi A8, BMW 7-series, BMW E39, British Cars, Cheap V8s, E420, E500, E55 AMG, German Cars, Infiniti Q45, Jaguar XJ8, Japanese Luxury Cars, Lexus LS400, Mercedes W124, Mercedes-Benz S-class, V8 Saloons, V8 Sedans, XJR | posted in Commentary, Totally That Stupid
Power, Poise and a Vanishing Breed: Five V8 Sedans on the Cheap
Every time I turn around these days it seems like another manufacturer is forfeiting good old burbling big-displacement torquetastic motoring for force-fed fours and sixes. It would appear that the V8’s days are numbered, particularly in cars that us regular Joes can lay our hands on without taking out a second third mortgage. Along with the V8s, regular rear-wheel drive seems to be fading into obscurity replaced with all-wheel. Now I appreciate traction as much as anyone, especially after all the snow that we’ve been graced with this winter, but sometimes you want your back wheels pushing, your front wheels steering, and never the two shall meet. It’s definitely old school, but I guess that I am, too.
Continue reading
2 Comments | tags: Acura, Audi A8, BMW 7-series, BMW E39, British Cars, Cheap V8s, E420, E500, E55 AMG, German Cars, Infiniti Q45, Jaguar XJ8, Japanese Luxury Cars, Lexus LS400, Mercedes W124, Mercedes-Benz S-class, V8 Saloons, V8 Sedans, XJR | posted in Commentary, Totally That Stupid