An empty slot in the garage is a dangerous thing. I bought a 1992 Taurus about 8 years ago and when people ask why, I can only explain that I had an empty spot in the garage.   Like Rob, I've been into German cars ( and bikes ) for a long time.  One thing that I'm sure he knows, is that anything German that is designed and built before 1990 is probably high quality and relatively easy to repair, but anything built after 1990 is another story.   Rob says that the lines of a car, the interior and the driving characteristics are critical to his love for a vehicle.  I have to add one more.....ease of maintenance and repair.  I once owned a 993 Porsche 911.  That car might have punched all of Rob's buttons.  It looked gorgeous, had a beautiful leather interior and it could do 60 in first gear.  The howl of that flat 6 at high RPM was stunning.  But what a monster to service and repair!!  I couldn't wait to get rid of it.  So, while an NA or NB Miata doesn't attract many people,  it's a joy to those who love well designed simplicity.   I've restored Mercedes and know that you can get underwater very quickly with them.  Only buy a cheap Mercedes if you plan to keep it for a long time.  That gives more time to amortize the loss.  Good luck, Rob.   ... View more

I drive a 2014 Tacoma 4X4 pickup during the winter.  All of my cars from the 1980's and early '90's will be safely stored in the garage by the time the snow flies.  Unlike the earlier Tacomas, that were simple, light and pretty, this era is porky, slow and ugly.  But it goes through snow with ease.  Even with all of the electronic gadgetry, the truck is still easy to service.  No one will miss it when it's gone. ... View more

It wasn't that long ago, when E30s were being run out and sent to the scrap yards.  It's still not uncommon to see E30 beaters running down the road.  But those days are probably gone.  I've owned my '87 325is for four years and call it one of the nicest cars that I've ever owned.  There's lots of nice things to say about them.  The E30 has good build quality.  Except for transmission removal, they are fairly easy to repair.  OEM and after market parts are fairly plentiful.  On the road, they are a joy to drive.    The E30 325is has been an undervalued car for some time.  Because parts on these cars are so expensive, it's still easy to get underwater from a careful refurbishment.  I've invested more in mine than it can sell for and I don't mind.   Modern BMWs today are heavy, complex and difficult to service.  There's nothing special about them.  But the E30 325is was still light, nimble and quick.  Everything about them was perfectly balanced. The Germans knew how to get great performance from very little horse power.  There is something to love about that.   P.S.  You did a nice job refurbishing those seats, Rob.     ... View more

I have owned a 1971 R75 for 25 years and also own a SOHC CB 750 for many years.  In the early '70's, the Honda was such a more flashy and attractive bike over the stogy and expensive BMW.  The Honda may not have been the first four cylinder production bike, but they did it in a way that changed the motorcycle market.  The bike had overhead cam, a 5 speed and front disc brakes.  The four exhaust pipes were stunning.  Not only that, but the Japanese bikes of the era came in bold colors with lots of chrome.   My R75 has some modifications.  My high mileage bike wore out the transmission, so I replaced the 4 speed with a /6 five speed and higher ratio rear drive.  Those modifications make the bike much nicer to ride.  The Japanese 5 speed snicks into gear with a gentle touch of the toe, while the German transmissions require a disciplined kick to klunk the bike into the next gear.   Despite it all, I greatly prefer the BMW to the Honda.  The German bike is better for longer rides.  It handles better in the turns and (believe it or not ) the front drum brake stops the BMW better than the Honda's disc.  The big brick of an engine in the Honda hinders it's handling and the steel piston in the aluminum caliper needs to be cleaned every year to keep electrolysis from gumming it up.     Both engines are smooth and dependable, but the BMW is a joy to service and maintain.  The BMW gets my vote. ... View more

Jack sounds like my father........but in reverse.  My dear old Dad could rebuild an automobile engine and fix anything else on it that could go wrong.  But the old man had no interest in cars, except to get him to work and back.    His frivolous son on the other hand, was WILD about cars and motorcycles from infancy.  The old man found it very disturbing and certainly hoped his son would outgrow the passion.  The son didn't. ... View more

Wow!  I owned a 993 Porsche for a short time and the one thing that most impressed me about the car was how difficult it was to service and repair.  Even a very straight and well maintained 993 is a challenge to the home mechanic.  The other thing about most German cars is the expense of restoring them.  People who restore German cars know that you can easily put far more money into them than you will ever sell them for.   Finally, in today's finicky market, the slightest flaw in the CarFax will cause the Greek Chorus on Bring A Trailer to howl in alarm.  I have an E 30 with an accident on the CarFax that will hurt the value when I sell.  This car may be very hard to sell.   But then again, the thing that makes the car restoration/collecting world so much fun is guys like this.  Good Luck with this challenging project. ... View more

I loved this article.  I consider myself to be a disciplined person to a point, but I have lost control of myself a number of times when it comes to cars and motorcycles.  This is especially true when there is an empty space in my garage.  There have been a number of times when I have become obsessed with a certain model of car and every day was a battle for control.  I would search the automobile auction websites, telling myself that I was just looking.  Occasionally, I would find a car that would cause barely controllable obsessions.  I would watch it until it was purchased by someone else, or by me.    My most recent obsessions have been German cars.  I have lost it over a 993 911 and an E30 BMW.  Most recently, I became obsessed by a 1988 Mercedes E Class Coupe.  I had always kind of liked classy old Mercedes, but it wasn't until a pretty sedan showed up for sale at a local used car lot that I became obsessed.  The lines of the car did something to me.  But the sedan had been driven in salt, which killed the deal for me.  But I started searching the internet and stumbled on the 300CE coupes.  The shape of the car blew me away.  I also love in-line, overhead cam six cylinder engines.  These couples sold for big money when new.  Mine had sold for $53K back in 1988, but they sell for peanuts today.    I bought one from Kentucky for $5,500 and had it shipped to me.  Every car that I have ever purchased on-line has turn out to be something ranging from disappointing to disastrous.  This coupe was rust free, straight and a good drive train, but the suspension, brakes, interior and paint all needed work.   About 200 hours and $20K later, I have a restored car.  The driving experience isn't as exciting as the E30, but it's a nice driving car.  I still love to look at it in the garage. ... View more

This article has readers debating about which cars should collectors own.  Should we focus on the simple old cars with carburetors that are easy to fix on the side of the road?  Is it safe to collect more complex cars from later years?  I spent decades restoring 60's cars.  i owned and repaired them since they were just old cars and have made miraculous repairs on the side of the road during trips more than one time.   But now I'm into newer stuff.  I now drive some German cars from the late 1980's and a 1992 Taurus for interstate travel.  German cars from the late '80's are relatively simple and easy to service while being remarkably dependable when properly restored.  The Taurus has also been a great interstate traveler.  Comfortable with cruise control, air conditioning, 4 wheel disc brakes and overdrive that makes 70 mph cruising a breeze.    These cars are not so easy to diagnose and repair at the side of the road.  The trick is to thoroughly service them in the garage before leaving home.  But cars from the '80's and 90's can offer that niche between crude, early cars and the rolling computers that we drive today. ... View more

Mr. Thomas certainly impresses me with his safe practices.  I fully agree with his habit of unplugging any power tool when working on it,  but notice that he still has the guard on his angle grinder.  That is something that one almost never sees in real life.  I've always thought that the guards on angle grinders were designed by liability attorneys.  I will admit that there are no guards on any of mine.  But an unguarded angle grinder can be a dangerous tool that requires constant mindfulness from the user.  It's hard to justify removing the guards, except that it's so hard to use the grinder with them in place. ... View more

I apologize in advance, but I'm going to be the skunk at the garden party today.  That's because I have some complaints about eBay.  I have purchased a car and a motorcycle thru eBay, along with a bunch of other stuff.  Most of the time, things go OK, but sometimes they don't.   A few years ago, I purchased an E30 BMW from a high volume eBay seller/dealer in Miami.  The dealer had lots of positive feedback and very little negative feedback from buyers, which meant a lot to me.  The seller presented the car as "turnkey perfect" and the pictures and descriptions all stressed the quality condition of the car.  I called the seller and spoke with him a couple of times and he reassured me that I would love the car.   But when it arrived, the car was nothing like described.  In fact, it wasn't driveable and wouldn't pass inspection in my state without major work.  I complained to the dealer and he dropped out of sight on me, refusing to respond to my calls and emails.  So, I started to leave Negative feedback on the eBay website.  An eBay message popped up urging me not to leave negative feedback and urging me to negotiate with the seller.  I made numerous attempts to do just that with no response from the seller.  Finally, I received an email from the seller asking me what I wanted.  The car had traveled over 1,000 miles to reach me, so returning it wasn't a good option.   I requested a partial refund and the seller dropped out of sight again.    After a few more weeks, I decided to write off the loss and leave negative feedback and move on.  Shortly after that, I received a message from eBay that my feedback had been deleted and that I had committed "extortion" against the seller.  In fact, this dishonest seller knew how to game the system and baited me into a situation where my feedback would be deleted.    With eBay, there is no way to renegotiate.  They made no effort to hear my side of the story.  Their decision was final and their high volume seller was protected from a negative comment.    Buying cars from on-line auctions is what everyone is doing these days.  We should never be surprised when the car or motorcycle shows up in worse condition than described.  But eBay isn't a trust worthy selling agent.  You the retail buyer have no protection on eBay when the chips are down.....so beware!  You have been warned.   In the end, I paid about $5,000 too much for a one owner, low mileage, rust free BMW 325IS.  The car turned out to be an excellent candidate for restoration.  I love the car after putting about 150 hours and another $10,000 to make it the car that I thought I was buying. ... View more

This is an interesting article.  I own an '88 Mercedes W124 coupe, which might qualify to be on the list.  But the Lincoln and the Thunderbird are cars of note.    The 1970's were a very bad decade for the American auto industry, but Ford made some good attempts to produce new designs with higher quality.  The Fords of the late '80's and '90's were pretty good vehicles.  The body styles of the Lincoln Mark VII, Thunderbird, Mustang and Taurus were ground breaking.  The sharp edges and boxy body styles of the 1970's gave way to the rounded "Jellybean" curves that Ford introduced.  I love the looks of both the Lincoln and the Tbird.     I have owned a number of Fords from the 1980's through 2005.  Many commenters give these cars a bad rap, but my wife and I have driven many hundreds of thousands of miles in these Fords with little trouble.  The key is good preventive maintenance.      ... View more

Fashion cycles come and go.  What is hot today may be old and cold tomorrow.  Anyone who has been around cars and motorcycles for a while has seen this.    The problem with barn finds, is that they are still #4s.  It will probably cost more to restore one than it would cost to buy a nice one that someone else has restored.  And when people are no longer interested in rusty old barn finds, you will just have a #4 bike.  What will you do with it in the meantime? ... View more

This is a great article.  The NA and NB Miatas are wonderful, but undervalued cars.  They are perfect for the novice home mechanic, because they are so beautifully designed and so wonderfully simple.  Hopefully, your son will learn the joys of driving something that he has repaired.   Have patience with the boy, Larry.  It may not be easy, because it takes a long time for a young boy to learn the patience and skills needed to be an adult and a mechanic.  But my father taught me how to build things and how to work with tools and I am forever grateful.  Hopefully, your son will be too. ... View more

I must add two more essential measuring tools.  One to measure the shank size of bolts and nuts in SAE & Metric.  The other is a thread pitch gauge.  I have thread pitch gauges for both metric and SAE, but use the metric gauge far more often.  ... View more

We purchased a VW Fox wagon for my wife in order to avoid running her E21 BMW in the winter salted roads of Upstate NY.  We found the Fox on a local used car lot.  It had been in some kind of front end collision, because the front clip was from another car and the Fox had been repainted.  I can't remember the asking price, but it was astonishingly cheap.   We used the car for two years before giving it to her son.  It handled well in snow and never broke.  It was easy to service and held up very well.  But while it was fun to drive in the beginning, it began to feel like an incredibly BORING car over time.  Certainly not a car that you would want to take on an interstate trip.  ... View more

This beautifully written story takes me back 20 years to the deaths of my own parents.  They died 6 weeks apart.  Like Sam, I was young and felt so much of my own life ahead of me.  Yet I knew that something that had always been, would never be again.    We knew that our mother would die many months ahead of the fact and that our father would never survive the loss.  After their passing, everything still seemed much the same, yet everything was different.  This story reminded me of those feelings.    Please accept my sincere regrets for your loss. ... View more

Kyle is a very thoughtful and intelligent writer.  I always enjoy his columns and they often evoke a reaction in me.  In this column, he writes about the pros and cons of vintage car ownership, as if it's a choice.  For me, it wasn't.  From my very earliest recollections, I have been a car fanatic.  There was no alternative path for me.  It was always going to be cars and motorcycles.  And because I wasn't born into a rich family, I always lusted for the cars in the back row of the used car lots.   I was raised in a working class trades family.  Everyone in my family worked with their hands.  So if I was going to love cars, I was also going to work on them myself.  There are some pros and cons about that.    I wasn't raised to wear a suit, white shirt and tie to work, but somehow that happened.  I can't tell you how many professional meetings I attended on Monday mornings, where it was clear that I was the only one who had been working on greasy cars all weekend.  I was often embarrassed by that grease that just wouldn't come off my fingers.  One of the cons of classic car ownership is that class thing.  Some people simply look down upon those who get their hands dirty.   That is even true among some members of the car community.  This next comment is going to piss some people off, but when I was a member of my local Porsche club, there was a very distinct sense of awe mixed with contempt by some of the members when they considered those (few) of us who worked on our own cars.    In many ways, it's a lot easier or at least more natural to own a classic if you can rebuild it yourself.  It gets expensive and frustrating when you have to rely upon someone else to fix that old machine in your garage.  And driving a car that you have restored has to be one of the most satisfying things that I can think of.  It takes a lot of skill, discipline and determination to tear apart a car and get it back together again.   Restoration of old cars gives us all a little more self reliance in a complicated world.  For me, the Pros far exceed the Cons.  Thanks for your article, Kyle! ... View more

I own a 1987 BMW 325IS and a 1988 K75S motorcycle.  I see the similarities between the two.  Both are light, have silky smooth acceleration, great handling and braking.  Both have high quality components and are relatively easy to service and repair.  Both are great fun to drive or ride. ... View more

This is a great article, Rob! I have been there. I am into German cars from the 1980's now, but spent decades restoring A body MOPARs in my less affluent youth. Like you, I dragged parts cars home, scavenged all of the regional pick & pull yards and saved all of the parts that I thought I might someday need. The inevitable day arrived when it was time to thin out the pack. Like you, I spent hours cleaning up and separating the wheat from the chaff. Although old Dart and Barracuda parts aren't as desirable as BMW stuff, I had some very rare and NOS parts. I had NOS front fenders, early disc brake systems, fast ratio steering boxes, four speed transmissions with Hurst shifters, early Formula S and high performance parts galore. I packed it all up in my pick up and U-Haul trailer and drove down to Chryslers at Carlisle. My wife and I spent the weekend in the hot sun and sold what we could. Before heading home, I carried away good used fenders, dropped them off in other booths and ran away. When I got home, I calculated my take from the sales and subtracted the cost of gas, rental trailer, nasty hotel, tolls and food. I hardly broke even. I would have done better by taking it all to the local junk yard. ... View more

Perhaps I can add a couple of additional reasons why subtle modifications make more sense than going radical. The first is that after market parts often don't fit properly. How many times have you purchased an exhaust header and had it bolt in without requiring modifications? How many times have you installed an after market anti-sway bar that didn't fit properly? If you are experienced with fabrication, many after market parts are a starting point to get to the upgrade that you want. Another reason is that you better keep very careful records of your upgrades. Years later when you're rebuilding that system again, it becomes exceedingly difficult if you didn't carefully record the parts that aren't OEM to the car.  Maintaining good records of after market upgrades is also a big favor for the next owner.  For example, I installed front disc brakes and dual master cylinder in a 65 Dodge Dart.  It required me to source rear brake cylinders from from an early '70's Dodge half ton truck for brake proportioning.  Without good records, the next owner might have a major headache trying to identify the source of the custom brake cylinders.  The more radical the customization, the more complicated long term maintenance can become.  ... View more

Kyle is right on!  If you watch Bring A Trailer, you will see Resto-Mod Broncos with Coyote engines that are often selling for over $100K.  What are people going to do with these trucks?  They are often heavily modified in ways that make them useless.  They have too much horsepower for something that sits up so high.  The high center of gravity doesn't make them better at off roading.  They will still get stuck in sand, snow or mud as soon as the differentials are buried.  They will be dangerous on the road with all that horsepower and high center of gravity.  The original Bronco design was superior by far, although not as flashy.  ... View more

Kyle, sometimes it helps to step back and redefine the problem.  Maybe the problem is simply that your garage is too small.  I've expanded my garage space twice over the years, which has often solved my problems.  The real problem, is that any garage that you build or acquire will be too small in three years.  Science has proven that to be true.   However, you have empathy from me.  I have five cars and three motorcycles and only four of them are running at the moment.  One of my cars is a Miata, which always runs.  Another is a non-running E30 BMW that I spent 150 hours and lots of money restoring just a couple of summers ago.  It's a Motronics problem and I'm having trouble getting up the energy to start the diagnostic process.  But I'm many years older than Kyle and tire easily.   I propose two symptoms of automotive masochism,  although there certainly are more. 1. If you buy anything old and British.  If you are young, the purchase might be simple inexperience.  If you are old enough to know better, it's automotive masochism ( or AM, as it's now called). 2. If you buy a car, truck or motorcycle thru the internet.  Every single car or motorcycle that I have purchased thru the internet has arrived in much worse condition that what was described.  I live up north in snow and salt country, so if I want something that's rust free, I need to get it out of the south.  Whenever I buy some vehicle from an internet seller, I now fully expect to get screwed.  But it's rust free.   Because I'm old and wise now, I determined only to buy very high quality cars that other people have spent too much money restoring.  But when I buy them over the internet, I end up paying for a restored car and then having to spend a couple of summers rebuilding them anyway.  I might have AM, but my wife has another name for it.       ... View more

I owned a '99 Tacoma that was very much like Aaron's.  They are FANTASTIC little trucks.  They almost never break and are very easy to service.  Just don't forget to grease the universal joints on the drive shafts.  Almost no one thinks to do that job.  Upstate New York salted roads finally did mine in.  Now I own a 2014 Tacoma, but it isn't nearly as nice.  The new version has all sorts of electronic features that no one needs and is missing some features (like intermittent wipers), that everyone needs.  It's porky, ugly and slow.  So, hang onto your pretty '98 and enjoy its simplicity.   Second point....The New York State inspection is very stringent.  I own a 2003 Miata that is also a wonderful vehicle.  But if I unhook the battery, it takes thousands of miles for the intermittent monitors on my emission control system to set.  No code, no check engine light and the car still runs beautifully.  But an OBD II scanner will show that the monitors aren't ready.  The car has been back at the dealership and at numerous repair shops after failing the state inspection, which requires that no more than two intermittent monitors can be "not ready".   No one can say why this car takes so long for the monitors to set properly, but they eventually do.  Unfortunately, if something happens to cause the car to lose battery power prior to the yearly inspection, I will have to pay up to $450 to a mechanic to look for a solution.  Only then will the state issue a special waiver for me to obtain an inspection sticker.  If I lived a few miles south in Pennsylvania, it wouldn't be a problem.     ... View more

@qualicas  makes an interesting point that if you buy the better car, you end up doing much of the restoration anyway.  I kind of agree.  But it's important to note, that good paint on an old car saves you about $10K in restoration cost.  That's what a repaint costs today.  You can do a garage job, but it will never be the same as a repaint done in a paint booth.  I've repainted a number of cars in my garage.  Orange peel and bugs in the clear coat are signature characteristics of my paint work.  If the leather interior on a BMW or Mercedes is still in good shape, that will safe you between $3K and $6K for rebuilt leather seats.  But qualicas is correct that most 30 year old cars normally need a lot of work.  All of the rubber bushings in the suspension on my 300CE were shot.  Most rubber bushings on a 30 year old Mercedes will probably be past their prime.    Parts for Mercedes Benz are incredibly expensive.  I reduced my costs by avoiding Mercedes parts in favor of OEM suppliers to the greatest extent possible.  Bosch, Bilstien, Febi, Lemfoerder, Meyle all make Mercedes parts for about half the price of Mercedes.  But the costs still add up.  It's possible that Mercedes aficionados may reject a car that hasn't been restored with genuine MB parts, when it's time to sell.  But a beautiful MB 300CE just sold for a little over $6K on Bring A Trailer last week.  So, it that's the going price, I wouldn't be selling my car anytime soon.  It's a great driving car, anyway.  So, I have no desire to sell it. ... View more

I don't know......I used to believe that the best way to obtain the car of my dreams was to buy a basket case and to rebuild it.  I also believed that my sweat equity would deliver a great car for less.  But time after time, I have proven myself wrong.    That is especially true with German cars.  I currently own an '87 325is and an '88 Mercedes 300CE that were purchased needing restoration.  Both were straight, rust free cars with basically good (but leaking and neglected ) engines.  Both had drive lines that were good, but needing service.  Both were neglected, but not abused.  Yet, by the time I had invested 100 to 200 hours of labor, my parts costs escalated the total price way above what I could have purchased a better quality car for.  I now have about $30K in my beautiful 325is and $25K in my 300CE.  I could buy cars that are almost as nice for far less.   Granted, my cars are fully reconditioned and I have paid attention to all of the details.  That means new suspension, brakes, leather interiors and repaint.  It means that every rubber or plastic part that I removed was also replaced (when available).  I also have an intimate knowledge of my cars that only comes with tearing them apart and putting them back together again.  However, it's not a good way to save money on the car of your dreams. ... View more

While I'm on the subject, allow me to rant some more about lessons that new home mechanics might expect to learn. Some days you will get into a project that simply wouldn't go well. The Karma is bad. Things aren't going right. The seasoned mechanic knows when to stand up, pick up his tools, wipe them off and put them back in their proper place. It's then time to clean up the work space, turn out the lights and close the garage door.  Sometimes struggling on simply doesn't result in progress.  Tomorrow the job will go better.  This is what the experienced home mechanic has learned. ... View more

One more comment, If I may.....If you are a new home mechanic, you will make mistakes. You will break things.  You will screw stuff up in tearing things apart and in putting things back together.  Just about everything can eventually be fixed, anyway.  The mistakes are learning experiences.  Don't be afraid to screw up.  Even experienced home mechanics find that car repair can be two steps forward and one step back.  Most old men who have spent their lives restoring cars have many stories of mistakes and setbacks.  It's part of the hobby; not something to be afraid of. ... View more

There are some excellent comments and suggestions listed above.  I began working on cars in the early 1970's.  Back then cars were simple.  But more importantly, a home mechanic could buy a basic tool kit and service manual for under $50.  You needed a 3/8 and 1/4 drive socket set, a flex bar torque wrench, screw drivers, feeler gauge, pliers, timing light, duel meter and a tool box.  With a little more than that, you could perform much of the service on your car.  Now, a young person will need far more in the way of tools to maintain many of today's cars.  That is probably a major obstacle for young people today.     I would like to add a few more recommendations.  1. Purchase a car that is easy to work on.  Not every desirable car in good condition should be a candidate for the new home mechanic.  An NA or NB Miata is both simple, dependable and fun to drive.  A Miata is an excellent car to learn mechanics.  An E21 BMW is also an easy car to maintain.  They were the first 3 series cars.  German cars built after 1990 become far more complicated and difficult to repair.  Both the BMW 320i and the Miata tend to be inexpensive to purchase. 2.  When I first started rebuilding cars, I couldn't afford highly desirable cars.  I sometimes encountered car snobs who were smug about being better mechanics and owning better cars.  You would often find these people in speed shops.  Some car clubs and automobile web sites suffer from the same "I know more than you" snobbery.  Avoid them, whenever possible.  Find supportive groups of car friends.  It helps to repair cars with other guys.  You can work on each other's stuff and learn from each other.  Volunteer to help other people work on their cars.  You will learn from those experiences. 3. Get the service manual for your car.  I often buy two different manuals for my cars, just in case I don't understand one, I can check the second.  Also, You Tube offers videos on car repairs that can be very insightful.  Do your reading and research before starting a job for the first time. ... View more

When the first Taurus came out in the 1980's, I was too poor to afford one.  But I rented them when I traveled interstate to visit family.  Hertz rented 3.8 liter Taurus LX sedans and I would put 2,000 miles on one in just a few days.  $25 per day with unlimited miles.  At the time I owned an old Land Cruiser and a V8 Dodge Dart, so the Taurus was incredible luxury for me.  It had cruise, air, a stereo and comfortable seats.  They were able to cruise at 70+ miles per hour.  Taurus's are much maligned today, but I felt very special driving them back then.  The "jelly bean" body style was revolutionary and impacted other brands.  Body styles quickly changed from boxy to rounded in response to the Taurus's popularity.   As soon as they became affordable on the used car market, I bought my first one; a 1989 3 liter GL.  I've owned seven of them in total and every one was a great car.  Some people will rant about the 3.8 liter head gaskets or the weak AXOD transmissions, but we never had any trouble with any of them despite over 700K Taurus/Sable miles.  Diligent service is probably why.    A few years ago, I began looking for another old Taurus.  I wanted an SHO, but didn't want to change the timing belt in that tight engine compartment.  Working on a 3.8 is hard enough.  I ended up with a 1992 3.8 LX with four wheel disc brakes and the premium sound system.  It was a one owner car and the first owner clearly loved the car.  I think the second generation body style is gorgeous.  I also own a 300CE Mercedes, an NB Miata and an E30 BMW,  so I'm not only attracted to cars that no one else likes. ... View more

I owned a '71 Land Cruiser for about 18 years.  I bought it in 1979 and the floors had already rusted out of it.  But it was still a lot better than the CJ Jeeps of the time.  I used it for many years as my Upstate New York winter vehicle.  Back then, I was still storing my favorite summer cars during the winter months.  Every September, I would pull the Land Cruiser out of storage and begin rebuilding it for the upcoming winter.   They were tough vehicles and I loved mine.  But they were anything but upscale or luxurious.  Even with a Man-A-Fre exhaust header, the thing would SCREAM at anything over 55 mph.  By the time I sold it, the thing had dozens of metal patches and plates welded onto the body.  They didn't handle salt very well, but went thru snow and mud with ease.  I still miss mine, but don't know what I would do with it if I still had one. ... View more