As I cruise listings between while on conference calls and between work tasks, I am finding it a non-trivial task to clearly look at cars as a short term beater solution or a long term "this is her car for the next three years" solution. The line keeps blurring to the point I'm looking at a 2011 (same gen as my wife's) 3.6R Limited which is the loaded version of her car with a pretty powerful H6 and a regular non-problem plagued automatic instead of a CVT with similar miles for $7k. That doesn't seem to be a good idea. Yet I keep looking at them. :rolleyes:

I'm now sitting with beater type cash in my pocket in case that happens this weekend.

And yet you won't buy that kick ass W126.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...enz-300-sdl-2/

W123 ftw.

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/19...00td-turbo-14/

Neat!

You made a comment about driving older cars. And something about spending money to maintain them.

This is my experience with the E61.

I love it dearly but I always think “whatever happens next is going to cost me”.

So, choose wisely. But st the same time you know what an older car costs to maintain. Something with some resale so you can unload on when you need to?

The W123 was the first one I sent him but he passed on that too

Short term? how short?

Swap a lease?

wtf

I talked to her about diesels tonight. She's not into it. i'm getting more intrigued by the hour.

In other news, I'm looking at a 2002 Outback LL Bean H6 3.0 with 190k tomorrow that looks nice in CL pics. Carfax looks like it's been regularly maintained. It reports damage to the left front and front. (Guessing that has something to do with why one of the headlight lenses looks like a 17 year old car and one looks newer.) Ask is $2800
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...850715001.html

Sunday, I'm looking at a 2003 that looks pretty similar in pics, but with only 114k miles. Seller is a tech and former detailer. He's given me some really detailed answers and said he found prior paintwork when he bought it that wasn't listed on Carfax at the time. Carfax still doesn't show anything, but does look like it had all scheduled service done at two different local Scooby dealers through 110k miles, which was about two years ago. It passed VA safety a year ago with about 1200 more miles added. Current owner bought it with just a few more miles on it in October. He's asking $3800
https://washingtondc.craigslist.org/...850506188.html

Curbstoner, except for being up front about it when I got there. Car needs power steering and brake work. Also a slight and subtle high pitched whine under load coming from somewhere. A good little bit of Subaru rust on the underside. Otherwise, meh?

Looking forward to seeing the other car tomorrow.