Are older (but high end) cars classy and cool or embarrassing?

[RAPID_BA]

Are older but higher spec cars classy and cool to own or just embarrassing.

I'm talking about 10+ year old cars and assuming they are in good condition. Cars like mercedes or bmw or audi, porsche even.

Are these sorts of cars classy and cool or hasbeens and embarrassing to own and drive. People that are wannabes but can't afford the real thing (todays model and as such todays fashion).

The real deal people offload these cars as warranty has run out and they consider them no good anymore and need to get the new model to remain relevant.

I've seen a few people boast about owning a bmw or mercedes and when you go and have a look its about 10 years old or more

Instead of being a pretender paying upwards of $30k for such cars isn't it more suitable to wear a shoe that fits your foot and buy a brand new ford/holden/toyota or slightly used etc?

Or am I wrong and these people are cooler and more upmarket?

[Yellow_Festiva]

Depends. Some older cars still look the part as well as being very safe. I was toying with buying a Jag XK8 coupe once, $180K car now around 40-50K.

Didn't in the end because I had to pay for a wedding as well as go from a house to a unit and it wouldn't fit in the garage with the other car. Bought a Fiat Coupe instead for 10K.

Anyway. Buying the car as you suggested is for people who perhaps wanted it, dreamed of owning it but could never afford one new. The only worry is repairs and running costs. As for the coolness factor?? Not too sure to be honest. Cool to the owner for sure, but to others?? Well a person who knows cars will know it's X years old, to the rest it's a nice looking prestige car.

Who knows... in 10 years I may very well have a Bently Continental in the garage.. I love the look of a big powerful prestige coupe but won't be buying one any time soon!

[Chopped]

I would love a BMW 635CSI but lack the room to park it.

Some old cars will always be cool (some never were!).

[Ben73]

I think they are pretty cool, As long as you don't go around acting like you are rich because your car was worth 200K new. Even though you paid 30k for it.

I'd love an old BMW 840ci. It was over 200K new, but can be pick up for 20k these days.
Not sure about reliability. Apparently they cost massive amounts to repair.

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by Chopped

I would love a BMW 635CSI but lack the room to park it.

Some old cars will always be cool (some never were!).

either that or the 850iL very nice

[Road_Warrior]

Originally Posted by GT0132

either that or the 850iL very nice

Damn right, looked awesome then, still look awesome now.

[GT0132]

Originally Posted by Road_Warrior

Damn right, looked awesome then, still look awesome now.

Just checked the web...1990 odd 850iL can be had for around 25-30k these days...but boy expensive to fix when something goes wrong.

[EFFalcon]

I don't think it matters, wgaf what other people think about your choice in cars.

[Professor Farnsworth]

Originally Posted by EFFalcon

I don't think it matters, wgaf what other people think about your choice in cars.

this.

OP: if you honestly worry about what other people think about how 'cool' your choice of car is, and whether it's fashionable, maybe you should get into the latest range of man bags. Probably cheaper?

[Pis-ton broke]

Originally Posted by Professor Farnsworth

this.

OP: if you honestly worry about what other people think about how 'cool' your choice of car is, and whether it's fashionable, maybe you should get into the latest range of man bags. Probably cheaper?

i'll go along with that. its a personal thing and some people mightn't get it.
I real like those old mercs, i reckon a nice looked after one is cool,and i would own one. euro cars always seem to have good leather enteriors. my personal faverate is a 928 s4 porsche which in its day was a good sports car. today, maybe 20- 30k and its mine. if your ok with a spanner you can maintain it yourself and save a packet.

[Sep 97 EL XR8]

It's definately an easy (cheaper) way to get the car you wanted when it was new. The main problem is cost of repairs. If you have a well maintained car, it shold be OK.

If i had the money i would buy a M coupe, i loved the big fat rear flared guards, and the squat rear end.

Looks tough, and go like the clappers.

[Resurrection]

My father has an immaculate 1984 W126 Mercedes Benz 380SE which will one day be mine.

[ego gtp]

Originally Posted by Pis-ton broke

i'll go along with that. its a personal thing and some people mightn't get it.
I real like those old mercs, i reckon a nice looked after one is cool,and i would own one. euro cars always seem to have good leather enteriors. my personal faverate is a 928 s4 porsche which in its day was a good sports car. today, maybe 20- 30k and its mine. if your ok with a spanner you can maintain it yourself and save a packet.

my dad had wanted one of those new but could not afford 200+k for one he bought one 12 years ago. it is in mint condition and his pride and joy and one ORSM machine cheers gary

[KR1STO]

Originally Posted by EFFalcon

I don't think it matters, wgaf what other people think about your choice in cars.

This...!!!!!

[Ibrox90]

Really hulk.........really???

ok I'll bite, It's the same as anything else, it's a matter of opinion, I grew up in the UK, So I find Audi's, Merc, BMW's, porsche and even Aston Martins boring and some what common. Yet here in Australia they cost and arm and a leg and are notoriously expensive to own and fix.

and as EFFalcon said, Its your choice, For example I have a BA XR8 and some guy in his EL XR8 might want my car thinking his is crap. Without realising ID LOVE AN EL XR8.

Different people consider different things desirable, when everyone finds it desirable then you have Value.

For example everyone would love a coupe, I'd Like one but I i had to choose between an XC Coupe and a Triumph Dolomite Sprint I'd take the sprint because I think its cool.

Triumph dolly: $4000

Coupe: 20k +

all a matter of your preferance as to whats cool

When I had my Chrysler Sigma I thought it was a crap run around, only to get thumbs up from the Jap import crews

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

The real deal people offload these cars as warranty has run out and they consider them no good anymore and need to get the new model to remain relevant

And some people buy them new and keep them for 10 years because they like the car and there is nothing wrong with it.

As for your question, I'd say it depends on the car. Old Merc's just look dated, old 911's look 'classic'.

[irish2]

Had a guy tell me his BMW **** on my old 'stang, sight unseen. Well when we got out to the carpark he had this clapped out 80's 3 series. Needless to say it was good for a laugh.

[SteveJH]

Originally Posted by irish2

Had a guy tell me his BMW **** on my old 'stang, sight unseen. Well when we got out to the carpark he had this clapped out 80's 3 series. Needless to say it was good for a laugh.

But until you saw it, it could have been an original model M3. Possibly even with a bit of "work" done on it.

[irish2]

Originally Posted by SteveJH

But until you saw it, it could have been an original model M3. Possibly even with a bit of "work" done on it.

He meant it attracted more attention as it was a luxury car. Even if he did mean performance, a modded 80's M3 would be hard pressed.

[b0son]

friend of mine has a V12 Toyota Century. when you see it, you think Yakuza

[GreenR]

Completely personal choice. New is not always better.

[Autolite]

Hey HULK BA, I did exactly what you are saying.I purchased a 2000 CLK 320 because I have always loved this coupe and they still look good compared to todays cars. I dont give a damn what anyone else thinks. I could have purchased a number of newer cars but this is what I wanted. Does that make me pretentious or a laughing stock? Maybe the un-educated may think so.

[Ducati888]

Originally Posted by Autolite

Hey HULK BA, I did exactly what you are saying.I purchased a 2000 CLK 320 because I have always loved this coupe and they still look good compared to todays cars. I dont give a damn what anyone else thinks. I could have purchased a number of newer cars but this is what I wanted. Does that make me pretentious or a laughing stock? Maybe the un-educated may think so.

Yeah baby. To this day, it's the only (affordable) Merc I'd be seen in. If I could get one today, I would. They are totally cool.

I think, with the exception of the very high end Mercs & BMWs, that the Germans are taking the **** with their current designs, seeing how ugly they have to make their cars before the brand snobs stop buying them. Case in point - the current CLK that looks like a squashed AU Falcon, and the Porsche Cayenne. They both make my eyes bleed from theri horridness. Worse than Susan Boyle does.

Not sure if they are as cool as XB Coupes, but one day I'll have both and do a roadside stare test. Suspect the XB will win that though, but probably more because of the colour and offensive V8 burble.

[blueoval]

I love the older shaped Audi A4's and A6's. (about 2004-2005 models) They still look dam nice to me even though they are older. I remember when I first saw them, I thought I could never afford one. Now that they are older, and hence getting cheaper, I am considering one hopefully next year.

In the end, I am tired of buying cars that my mates thought were cool. We all tend to fall towards peer pressure of the 'what other people think are cool cars' category, and end up buying something that others like rather than yourself.

It's only that I am older now, that I want to by something that I like and enjoy rather than what other's consider 'worthy' etc.

[Franco Cozzo]

I wouldn't mind a mid-late 90s 7 series BMW, 740/750IL.

[Ben73]

Originally Posted by Big Damo

I wouldn't mind a mid-late 90s 7 series BMW, 740/750IL.

I love them. I was seriously considering buying one couple of months ago.


But it seams nearly all e38's have over 200,000kms on them which is a bit of a turn off for me.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by Ben73

I love them. I was seriously considering buying one couple of months ago.


But it seams nearly all e38's have over 200,000kms on them which is a bit of a turn off for me.

The thing that turns me off big time is all the electrics, I'm an apprentice auto electrician, but damn, imagine something going wrong on that.

Circuits would be extremely complex, a metric assload of wires everywhere, eleventy billion sensors, 20 year old electrics etc.

[atec77]

Originally Posted by HULK_BA

Are older but higher spec cars classy and cool to own or just embarrassing.

I'm talking about 10+ year old cars and assuming they are in good condition. Cars like mercedes or bmw or audi, porsche even.

Are these sorts of cars classy and cool or hasbeens and embarrassing to own and drive. People that are wannabes but can't afford the real thing (todays model and as such todays fashion).

The real deal people offload these cars as warranty has run out and they consider them no good anymore and need to get the new model to remain relevant.

I've seen a few people boast about owning a bmw or mercedes and when you go and have a look its about 10 years old or more

Instead of being a pretender paying upwards of $30k for such cars isn't it more suitable to wear a shoe that fits your foot and buy a brand new ford/holden/toyota or slightly used etc?

Or am I wrong and these people are cooler and more upmarket?

Old Euros are cool , I own several of them in various stages of drivability and thats the rub , being very expensive when new doesn't mean they last any longer without maintenance , although the M3 when it's back on the road wll be a sleeper extreme

[KPCresta]

HULK you cant judge a car just by its age. I recently purchased a 2000 model Lexus LS400. I got it for 22K and yes they retail for 150K.

Though I purchased it of the second owner who was a wealthy self-employed man and he had it since it was 4 years old. It is in exceptional condition both inside and out for its age.

It is also the smoothest and most luxurious car I have ever driven. At work we have a few upmarket company cars (VE Caprice / Statesman / FG G6E) and the ride quality and NVH levels are around the same.

For my price range of around 25K max I believe I made the right decision. As it is just essentially a re-badged Toyota reliability is second to none.

I would think twice about purchasing a 10 year old Audi / BMW / Mercedes though as parts are notoriously expensive and you wouldnt have much of a choice when it comes to choosing someone to service and repair them.

In around 3 years time I will decide to purchase either an FG F6 of FG GT. I love both cars. I predominantly am a fan of jap imports though I do have a soft spot for the 'Blue Oval'. The new 'coyote' GT is an absolute animal. Amazing how just a tune and cat back exhaust achieves easy 11 second 1/4's.

[irish2]

Originally Posted by KPCresta

Posts 1

Welcome to the forum KPCresta. Or should we call you KPcart?