"Amoore100" (amoore100)
10/16/2015 at 20:11 • Filed to: Used Car Face-Off, Volvo, BMW, Jaguar, Bertone
2
40|
"Amoore100" (amoore100)
10/16/2015 at 20:11 • Filed to: Used Car Face-Off, Volvo, BMW, Jaguar, Bertone | 2
| 40 |
For the first time in forever, we have something with less than four doors in the Euro segment of Used Car Face-Off...in particular we have three 80’s touring coupes designed for the open road, one with a durable turbo 4, one with a silky I6, and one with a rumbling V12...which fits your personality and wallet best?
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
An amalgam of Swedish engineering and Italian design flair, the 780 provided both durability and style (?) towards the end of its production run when the somewhat sketch PRV was replaced by the venerable iron block turbo I4...185K miles is somewhat high, but will this brick’s reputation carry it to victory?
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
As the oldest car here, this 6 series Bimmer is looking a bit beat with some rust around the wheelwells and a few loose trim pieces...however, it only has 108K miles as well as a stick shift mated to its classic I6; is it enough to win over your heart?
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
!!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!!
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
Here is a same vintage V12 Jag in what seems to be a decent condition posing alongside someone’s granny...the engine has been replaced for some undisclosed reason but you do get the old one included for $499 extra (for better or for worse). This car is also a Euro model and so has done 130K km (~80K miles) but only 30K miles on the current engine...does the recent overhaul make it a good choice?
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!
CaptDale - is secretly British
> Amoore100
10/16/2015 at 20:18 |
|
I want that Jag!!!
|
Amoore100
> CaptDale - is secretly British
10/16/2015 at 20:19 |
|
Good luck...
aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
> Amoore100
10/16/2015 at 20:20 |
|
V12 jag all day
|
Amoore100
> aberson Bresident of the FullyAssed Committe
10/16/2015 at 20:23 |
|
http://www.streetfire.net/video/070-top-…
RallyWrench
> Amoore100
10/16/2015 at 20:23 |
|
Glad to see I’m not alone in choosing the Jaaaag.. I like 780s, but the coupe-specific parts are unbelievably expensive now (ask Uly). Another bummer about them is that they finally fixed many of the PRV’s inherent issues, then killed it. I really love E24s, but that’s too predictable, and I’d much rather have a 635 with a bit more punch. The Jaguar though... the Jaguar is beautiful, and gives you the opportunity to meet beautiful members of the opposite sex in whatever quaint European village it strands you in.
|
CaptDale - is secretly British
> Amoore100
10/16/2015 at 20:32 |
|
El Rivinado
> Amoore100
10/16/2015 at 20:44 |
|
This is tough. But I’ll say the XJS. I don’t care if it’s a bad idea, it’s got 12 cylinders, its known for having one of the most comfortable rides in any car, it exudes classiness, and it’s black.
And the fact that it's a rebuilt engine, inspires some modicum of confidence.
pip bip - choose Corrour
> Amoore100
10/16/2015 at 21:04 |
|
i’ll take all 3.
Van Man, rocks the Man Van
> Amoore100
10/16/2015 at 21:14 |
|
The Bimmer because I looked at that EXACT same car on Craigslist a couple times. My dad is thinking about a classic BMW and I liked the 635. However, it’s a little pricey for what it is and is more of a project than anything.
Chariotoflove
> Amoore100
10/16/2015 at 21:22 |
|
Jag all the way.
BJ
> Amoore100
10/16/2015 at 21:53 |
|
I voted BMW - probably a better overall GT car than the Volvo. The Volvo is a real looker, though. I want the Jag but, as a beater GT, the V12 is just too much.
But it’s a V12... I might have voted incorrectly.
Chappie
> Amoore100
10/16/2015 at 21:56 |
|
The Swede is cool, and ordinarily it’d be my first choice, however have you ever driven an e24? It’s a more indulgent e28, and that’s a great thing. Plus parts are dirt cheap and mods are a plenty. If it’s not your first choice you’re making a mistake, especially considering price.
BringBackTheCommodore
> Amoore100
10/16/2015 at 23:10 |
|
Gotta go with the Bertone. The other cars look fantastic, but the brutish appearance of the Bertone always spoke to my heart.
|
Amoore100
> BringBackTheCommodore
10/17/2015 at 00:48 |
|
It’s classic Volvo, made timeless by Bertone...it wasn’t the fastest but it was basically the last hurrah of the 700 series, and a much better one than the 262C Bertone...
|
Amoore100
> Chappie
10/17/2015 at 00:50 |
|
I had a feeling the BMW would be the best choice in terms of driving dynamics, but for others more interested in durability or um, the side of the road, there’s a Volvo and Jag for them, respectively...
|
Amoore100
> BJ
10/17/2015 at 00:51 |
|
The BMW is kinda the sweet spot...nicer than the 780 with its plebeian 740/60 roots but not as troublesome as the Lucas electrics in the notorious Jag...
|
Amoore100
> Van Man, rocks the Man Van
10/17/2015 at 00:52 |
|
Yeah, I saw the rust and was like, nope, but it’s actually not bad...I just am spoiled here in CA :)
|
Amoore100
> pip bip - choose Corrour
10/17/2015 at 00:52 |
|
Me too. DD Volvo, track Bimmer, hoon/project Jag.
|
Amoore100
> El Rivinado
10/17/2015 at 01:00 |
|
Classiness even with its backwards hood up on the side of the highway...I don’t argue that it should be super awesome and stately but the fact that it has needed another engine in 80K miles gives me reason for concern...
|
Amoore100
> RallyWrench
10/17/2015 at 01:04 |
|
Yeah, I have heard that 780 parts are awful to source, and yes, the Bimmer is a bit basic...as long as the Jag is mechanically sorted, you’ve got a great cruiser until the dark prince of Lucas manifests itself again...
|
BringBackTheCommodore
> Amoore100
10/17/2015 at 12:53 |
|
I think it could be an excellent sleeper candidate, if one worked over the 6 cylinder properly.
The styling, to me, is timeless.
|
Amoore100
> BringBackTheCommodore
10/17/2015 at 15:18 |
|
Well this has the turbo 4, so probably more reliable and flexible...it’s even more powerful than the PRV to begin with...
|
BringBackTheCommodore
> Amoore100
10/17/2015 at 15:47 |
|
Damn, I missed that little detail. Those turbo 4s are pretty stout, I must say. A friend had a 740 sedan with one, it felt like I was getting pinned to the seat when that turbo kicked in.
anon-sxmcyecofnu1eocpqsk9iq
> Amoore100
10/17/2015 at 16:32 |
|
The 19989 Volvo 780... from the future.
|
Amoore100
> anon-sxmcyecofnu1eocpqsk9iq
10/17/2015 at 18:50 |
|
Oops, I screwed that up...you’re the first to notice! Anyways, is this further proof that Volvo bricks have a truly timeless appeal?
|
Amoore100
> BringBackTheCommodore
10/17/2015 at 18:51 |
|
My dad had a stick shift 740 wagon with the turbo four...he used it as a hauler/beater since it had over 300K miles...not slow as a manure wagon when he was doing yardwork!
|
BringBackTheCommodore
> Amoore100
10/17/2015 at 19:44 |
|
Hmmmm.....740 wagon doing pickup duties, that gives me a pickup conversion idea...
I used to own a V40, that car was surprisingly quick despite the fact it was FWD. Spool the turbo up at a stoplight and it takes off like a shot!
|
Chappie
> Amoore100
10/17/2015 at 21:32 |
|
That car runs an M30B32 engine I believe. Easy to work on, very reliable. the later M30’s with higher displacement could be subject to cracking at the head when boosted, but you aren’t boosting this engine to begin with. If you want more power, you do a swap. It’s just more cost effective and frankly, very easy. It looks like the current owner has taken care of all the basic maintenance and it’s in very good running/driving order, and the rust mentioned isn’t rot. Attend to it now and you are golden. I think it’s an easy pick, swap some billstein shocks and H&R sport springs in it, clean up the trim bits and give it a solid polish and you have yourself a clean, fun german GT that’ll let you throw it’s ass out when you want to. I wish I had 4 grand right now to throw the current owners way honestly since it’s in my backyard lol.
|
Amoore100
> BringBackTheCommodore
10/17/2015 at 23:56 |
|
Well now my dad DDs an ‘01 V70 T5 which is quite quick despite its age and having 205K miles...my first car bought a few months ago is an ‘05 V50; no turbo unfortunately but the 2.4 liter N/A 5-cyl likes to rev and sounds great doing so while producing enough power to be interesting...it sips fuel and hopefully is more reliable without the turbo...
|
BringBackTheCommodore
> Amoore100
10/18/2015 at 09:02 |
|
At the very least, the engine bay will run a fair bit cooler without the turbo, although the engine compartment of the V40 never seemed to suffer heat because of the turbo.
Durability and safety seem to be hallmarks for Volvos. Then again, Volvo does produce heavy equipment, and I figured the heavy equipment engineering practices were carried over to their automobiles.
|
Amoore100
> BringBackTheCommodore
10/18/2015 at 13:34 |
|
Well the old RWD bricks certainly could feel industrial but worked like them too...both of our old 740s ended with over 300K when my dad decided that he wanted to update to something more modern. The FWD Volvos we have now are certainly quite reliable as well but less utilitarian as the old ones...they do cost more to maintain and repair though, so as always it’s a tradeoff but still proves that European makes are not incompatible with reliability...
|
BringBackTheCommodore
> Amoore100
10/19/2015 at 08:22 |
|
Ah, quite true. The worst I saw with the V40 was the fuel pressure regulator. I’ve read along the way that the S80 had an appetite for transmissions, though...
|
Amoore100
> BringBackTheCommodore
10/19/2015 at 10:31 |
|
Only the T6 models I believe had the transmission issue because some brilliant Volvo engineer decided that 268 hp of twin turbo fury was somehow capable of going through a GM automatic 4 speed...
|
BringBackTheCommodore
> Amoore100
10/19/2015 at 10:37 |
|
I did not know that. That’s a little frightening to think about, honestly.
|
Amoore100
> BringBackTheCommodore
10/19/2015 at 18:45 |
|
I believe it was this wonderful unit, known by GM as the 4T65-E which saw use in things like the awful Relay/Terraza/Uplander/ Montana quadruplets as well as the Pontiac Aztec! I hear they were known for failure in those GM models as well which again brings up the question: what was Volvo thinking?
|
BringBackTheCommodore
> Amoore100
10/19/2015 at 20:39 |
|
Mmmmm.....kickbacks.....yummmmm.....
That’s the only thing I can think of at the moment. The 4T65 sounds about as reliable as a TH700R-4.
|
Amoore100
> BringBackTheCommodore
10/19/2015 at 21:12 |
|
GM transmissions...the best in the world...
|
BringBackTheCommodore
> Amoore100
10/19/2015 at 21:43 |
|
Some say, they are average slushboxes. Others say, replace it once, you’ll replace it four times in a row (true story). All we know is, it’s called a horrible business decision for any company!
|
Amoore100
> BringBackTheCommodore
10/19/2015 at 22:00 |
|
Brilliance. I hope they still have that same spirit in the new Amazon show. I wait with bated breath. ;)
|
BringBackTheCommodore
> Amoore100
10/19/2015 at 22:15 |
|
I must agree. They did an outstanding job with BBC, it will be really interesting when they start up with Amazon. Let’s hope they continue the same spirit and vein.
And to start, they can blow up a GM transmission with a stick of dynamite!