Nonsense Thread

[Northern]

Brilliant cars but boy howdy the maintenance can be a killer. Mum has one, had it since new, now got 240,000km on the clock, 150k miles or so. It hasn't had any major failures as its the 2.7 diesel not the 3.0, which snaps cranks and has myriad other issues, but still needed a new torque converter, is hard on bushes and shocks, and the trans will blow up at some point.
God it is nice to drive though. Tows like a champ too. The V8s are great as well.

I've seen diesels around, but I don't think they were sold in NA in any real volume (maybe not at all?) so options are either be a V8 or SCV6. I've heard the crank issues with the Diesels through LRTIME's Youtube channel.

I think they're the last good looking thing LR ever made. New Defender is OK I guess, D5 went all "Ford Explorer" looking, but they seem like they're depreciating harder than the LR4 and are probably easier on maintenance so I was looking at those around the time I bought my Volvo.
I figure if it's something I genuinely like and won't get bored of once it's old, it will be worth the maintenance cost.
My ideal spec would be a 2014+ HSE with Lux and HD (2-speed t-case + locking rear diff) packages. I just like the facelift front end, and the 8-speed sounds like a big upgrade from the 5-speed. The SCV6 is supposed to be more reliable but I'm on the fence about whether I believe it or not - I half believe it's just because they're newer.

I'd settle for a similarly equipped 2013 because I like the idea of the V8, or for something I would take on trails - a very good deal on anything post-2010 (just because the 2010s are oddballs in a lot of ways).

Around here, they are far too expensive, but pretty reasonable (for 2024) on CarAndBids if I'm willing to travel.
There was my exact ideal spec for sale here recently but I'm broke from kid/kitchen reno/garage build lol

[bangn]

So picked up this thing on the weekend with a gearbox. 960km round trip to get it which was just super but I think it will be good fun in the 323. You could say room is a bit tight right now with everything in and the door shut.

[econti]

Otherwise I have half a mind to just get the nicest Land Rover LR4 I can find and try to keep it alive forever instead of continually upgrading the larger daily.

Brilliant cars but boy howdy the maintenance can be a killer. Mum has one, had it since new, now got 240,000km on the clock, 150k miles or so. It hasn't had any major failures as its the 2.7 diesel not the 3.0, which snaps cranks and has myriad other issues, but still needed a new torque converter, is hard on bushes and shocks, and the trans will blow up at some point.
God it is nice to drive though. Tows like a champ too. The V8s are great as well.

[roguetoaster]

Toast, are you going to rock Ranger instead of the F150?

That's the plan, if it's any good at least. I've been shopping an impossibe to find, at least in the sub 15k range, 2015-19 F150 2.7 regular cab shorty, and want to change it up in the interim. Ideally that next F150 will be an 18 or 19 as the 2.7 got port injection in addition to DI. No 2020s for me with the additional safety shit I don't want.

It's amazing how hard it has been to find that truck with power windows, bluetooth and tow prep. Have found a few but there's always something wrong, and it's hard to get a real answer from dealers.

If I had to I'd settle for an 8ft bed, but it would need to live outside.

[MrBurgundy]

Toast, are you going to rock Ranger instead of the F150?

[roguetoaster]

That would be a good option, but I'm trying to find something that can fit in my garage and close the door. I'm estimating the garage will be around 204" when finished and the internet says your truck is 197 in. So it might fit, but that's super tight.

That's why I was thinking about a small cab short bed mini truck.

I have another 20 inches of depth in my garage and I would say it fits conveiently. However, typical 8ft regular cab trucks either just don't fit or fit with nothing to spare if you tap the rear wall. It's funny since I ended up picking this one because of how it fit in the garage.

LOL oh yea, from 2021 the Year of Trucks on R3V

I think 2024's theme is cheap shitboxes

It would seem so, averaging $1040 per vehicle over five so far this year. The classic buy a cheap car and spend 2x the purchase price on maintenance has pretty much been accurate.

[2mAn]

It even has a build thread on r3v.

LOL oh yea, from 2021 the Year of Trucks on R3V

I think 2024's theme is cheap shitboxes

[Panici]

That said, if I had the money I'd also want to experience at least a year with an E39 M5.
It is funny though, that is an over 20 year old car now. Unless it was a family mover... realistically anything I'd consider is still around 20 years old at newest.

IMO the average newer car doesn't have the "fizz" of older stuff.
I don't care about the latest tech, so all the various screens and voice commands are actually negatives for me.

20+ years old sounds about right for me as well. My newest vehicle is 19 years old this year, oldest is 38.

[McGyver]

You should just buy my 95 F150 short bed, regular cab, RWD, manual transmission since I'm only down in MD. It even has a build thread on r3v. I've only put close to 6k in parts on a 1k truck that I intend to sell for 3k, so it seems normal.

That would be a good option, but I'm trying to find something that can fit in my garage and close the door. I'm estimating the garage will be around 204" when finished and the internet says your truck is 197 in. So it might fit, but that's super tight.

That's why I was thinking about a small cab short bed mini truck.

[MrBurgundy]

It was one of these....

I will always stand on this hill... E39 530i 5spd is the best sedan ever made

[roguetoaster]

Huh, that's a good idea. I really want a cheap manual small pickup for hauling dirty stuff. Prices on the 80s-90s s10/ragnger/sonoma/dakota are all stupid high for such a bare bones car. Maybe an auction would get something decent!

You should just buy my 95 F150 short bed, regular cab, RWD, manual transmission since I'm only down in MD. It even has a build thread on r3v. I've only put close to 6k in parts on a 1k truck that I intend to sell for 3k, so it seems normal.

[McGyver]

You guys might try your local public auction for some adventure. Ended up with two on cheeky low bids today, another SVT Contour (my 4th one), and a manual 2.3l 2003 Ranger. Even with fees and shipping they're cheap.

Huh, that's a good idea. I really want a cheap manual small pickup for hauling dirty stuff. Prices on the 80s-90s s10/ragnger/sonoma/dakota are all stupid high for such a bare bones car. Maybe an auction would get something decent!

[Northern]

To cap the day off a friend offered their high mileage E39 530i sport M/T for a very low price, so I had to say yes to that too.

Best spec. Would love one of these, but I'm also looking at E34 tourings more and more as well thanks to Varg and some other internet builds.
Carsandbids prices are high vs historical values, but still very cheap vs anything else I am interested in, short of an LR3 claptrap for offroading shenanigans with friends

[2mAn]

What kind of Alfa?

[DEV0 E30]

N52s, does anyone make a viable standalone so you don't have to dick around with all of the integrated systems BS that OEM EMS comes with? I'm so spoiled by having had megasquirt in my long term cars that I almost can't imagine any project without fully tunable aftermarket EMS. As for the fit, I have a friend who likes his as a "don't care about it" daily/beater. Also in his stable are 2 classic BMWs I like and an FD, so I trust his judgement that it's fun on the twisty roads up in his neck of the woods and very useful.


This forum software sucks major ass, multi-quote used to be much easier.

Unfortunately, OEM only to my knowledge and there aren't many out there that can deal with the OEM DME stuff.
It's why I have multiple DMEs and two were modified and "jail broken" so I have a backup.
I think somewhere in my endless bins of parts I have an unbroken as another spare.

But yes, the 128i keeps getting recommended and they are going up. Already seen some rather overpriced examples recently.
I think under 10k, that would be a solid attempt to have modern E30 feels.

Agreed, multi-quote hasn't worked for me for many years now, have to manually copy paste.

I'd like to own an E39 manual, preferably with the V8.
Wouldn't be a long term car, but I'd like to see what all the hype is about!

Same. As others have said, steering is better in the 6 cylinder cars, and I knew someone who's dad had 3 528i's.
He considered it the BEST BMW of all time, and didn't want it always in the shop.
He had money to own newer BMWs, but didn't want anything but the E39.
I think 2 were manual and one was auto for his wife.

That said, if I had the money I'd also want to experience at least a year with an E39 M5.
It is funny though, that is an over 20 year old car now. Unless it was a family mover... realistically anything I'd consider is still around 20 years old at newest.