deskthority

I used to like cars, but I guess I kinda lost interest as I don't like driving. Well that's not true, I do like driving, I just don't like sharing the road: with other drivers, traffic lights, speed cameras etc. So I don't do much mileage any more, down from at least 20,000 per year in my commuting days to more like 20 a year now!

My current car also kinda reflects that, being a diesel Mondeo, though ironically it's probably the quickest thing I've owned too. People also tend to get out of its way, rather oddly.

Also not a Tesla fan particularly: I'm impressed with what their claims might accomplish, though I do find Mr Musk to be quite a difficult man to like (or trust).

Polecat wrote: Newest of my eight old clunkers. (1966)

Alright! An Econline? My dad used to have a '61. He bought it with 200k miles on it and sold it for twice what he paid with 500k miles on it.

I drive a '97 Lincoln Town Car at the moment. A luxury police cruiser, basically.

ohaimark wrote: I drive a '97 Lincoln Town Car at the moment. A luxury police cruiser, basically.

Is it true that in the US you can buy used police cars and similar ( post vans and so on) ? And that they are usually very well maintained ?

At least here in Germany you can buy such cars, but I doubt they are well maintained.


However, I plan to go SUV with my next car and buy a used Leopard tank:

7bit wrote: At least here in Germany you can buy such cars, but I doubt they are well maintained.
[…]

I think one of the reasons that German police cars are silver now instead of white as before is because of a better resell value. AFAIK the cars are only leased and the blue parts on the cars aren't lacquer but foil.

andrewjoy wrote:

ohaimark wrote: I drive a '97 Lincoln Town Car at the moment. A luxury police cruiser, basically.

Is it true that in the US you can buy used police cars and similar ( post vans and so on) ? And that they are usually very well maintained ?

Police cars, yes. It's not uncommon at all to see civilians driving decommissioned standard issue police cruisers. Of course, the POLICE vinyls are gone, and all flashing lights are removed. Many of them still have the search light next to the driver side mirror though, which, if I've been told correctly, must work to pass inspection if it's installed.

I haven't personally seen any little decommissioned USPS post trucks running around in civilian hands, though. I'm sure someone out there has got their hands on one, though.

that is cool!

I dont think it would work in the UK , i dont want an old clapped out astra diesel

ohaimark wrote: I drive a '97 Lincoln Town Car at the moment. A luxury police cruiser, basically.

The fact that the words "town" and "car" are in the name of that vehicle shows that car culture in the US is a bit different from the rest of the world xD .

Chyros wrote:

ohaimark wrote: I drive a '97 Lincoln Town Car at the moment. A luxury police cruiser, basically.

The fact that the words "town" and "car" are in the name of that vehicle shows that car culture in the US is a bit different from the rest of the world xD .

During my first visit to the USA, their train on the East Coast was 8 hours late for me - perhaps it does not happen as often. But then everyone needs to drive a car, otherwise the public transport is either handicapped or for weird close-to-homeless people (such as students from Graduate schools). People and military consume gasoline and other oil products like drinking water, and then the oil company giants and the Wall street giants continue to run the system, supported and defended by a whole team of highly waged law practitioners.

Until the status quo changes, everyone needs to drive a car in the US.

My first car during my years in the USA (same model same color)



It's old, but it is from the rally era and its frame is identical to the M3, a foundation for the current sporty design of Mini Cooper (which is designed by the German BMW, not really English anymore).
I ended up putting 2-3 times the money I spent initially on this car, for upgrades and stuff. And have been working in the garage and also as a helper in a very friendly mechanic shop to learn to do all the stuff by myself. Had the passion to rebuild beautifully the well-balanced engines of these "Oldtimers".

E30 series for life.

P.s. I don't mind fitting some other more powerful inline-sixes engines inside.



Links for E30 car porn.

I'm not a "gearhead" at all but when I recently go to try this CLA45 from the carsharing company I use it was interesting to say the least. NOT something I would ever buy for myself though, the insurance must be insane.

7bit wrote: However, I plan to go SUV with my next car and buy a used Leopard tank:

I saw some chap who'd restored a Scorpion tank and was zipping around the public roads in the thing. It's a lot smaller than a Leopard, being not much bigger than a typical family car, but it looked a lot of fun to drive about. Expensive to fill it with petrol though.

Menuhin wrote: My first car during my years in the USA (same model same color)

[image]

It's old, but it is from the rally era and its frame is identical to the M3, a foundation for the current sporty design of Mini Cooper (which is designed by the German BMW, not really English anymore).
I ended up putting 2-3 times the money I spent initially on this car, for upgrades and stuff. And have been working in the garage and also as a helper in a very friendly mechanic shop to learn to do all the stuff by myself. Had the passion to rebuild beautifully the well-balanced engines of these "Oldtimers".

E30 series for life.

P.s. I don't mind fitting some other more powerful inline-sixes engines inside.
...

The first picture shows not an M3. It is a normal E30 coupe with some ugly 3rd party extras from the 80s.


The New Mini (not to be messed up by the original Mini) is based on the E46 and shares for example its rear axle which is entirely different (and heavier) from the construction used in E30 or earlier models and E36 compact.

seebart wrote: I'm not a "gearhead" at all but when I recently go to try this CLA45 from the carsharing company I use it was interesting to say the least. NOT something I would ever buy for myself though, the insurance must be insane.

[ugly Mercedes]

Now wonder that the insureance is so high: Car sharing cars are not used by experienced drivers and are usually used for those illegal city races.

7bit wrote:

seebart wrote: I'm not a "gearhead" at all but when I recently go to try this CLA45 from the carsharing company I use it was interesting to say the least. NOT something I would ever buy for myself though, the insurance must be insane.

[ugly Mercedes]

Now wonder that the insureance is so high: Car sharing cars are not used by experienced drivers and are usually used for those illegal city races.

Right, the joke is this particular model is only usable by members over the age of 40 ! All the kiddies got very grumpy when the company announced that... Of course I don't have to pay insurance for this...

Sorry can't find this link in english:

http://ngin-mobility.com/artikel/warum- ... vermietet/

And 7bit for your post

[ugly Mercedes]

I have this:

7bit wrote:

Menuhin wrote: My first car during my years in the USA (same model same color)

[image]

It's old, but it is from the rally era and its frame is identical to the M3, a foundation for the current sporty design of Mini Cooper (which is designed by the German BMW, not really English anymore).
I ended up putting 2-3 times the money I spent initially on this car, for upgrades and stuff. And have been working in the garage and also as a helper in a very friendly mechanic shop to learn to do all the stuff by myself. Had the passion to rebuild beautifully the well-balanced engines of these "Oldtimers".

E30 series for life.

P.s. I don't mind fitting some other more powerful inline-sixes engines inside.
...

The first picture shows not an M3. It is a normal E30 coupe with some ugly 3rd party extras from the 80s.


...

Which says that as a broke student I could not afford an M3, and had just a E30 with some "sports package". The rest are also not M3.
Read about the development of Mini Cooper frame almost 10 years ago, you might be correct.

andrewjoy wrote: Is it true that in the US you can buy used police cars and similar ( post vans and so on) ? And that they are usually very well maintained ?

Well maintained? Yes. In most cases, though, the fleet vehicles have far too much mileage to be reliable for a household. If you know people or watch auctions it's possible to get a gem every now and then.

It looks like this one:

ohaimark wrote: It looks like this one:

I driven in one of those...huge and very comfortable. Plenty of room for large keyboards...

It is in the rankings as one of the top 10 largest sedans ever manufactured. 219 inches (5.56 meters) long and quite wide too.

seebart wrote: I have this:

[beautiful Mercedes]

Let me guess: 170, post war era?

BTW: One day, you should find a paint shop that does the partial painting in the same color as the rest of the car!

vometia wrote:

7bit wrote: However, I plan to go SUV with my next car and buy a used Leopard tank:

I saw some chap who'd restored a Scorpion tank and was zipping around the public roads in the thing. It's a lot smaller than a Leopard, being not much bigger than a typical family car, but it looked a lot of fun to drive about. Expensive to fill it with petrol though.

Are tanks still exempt from the congestion charge?

7bit wrote:

seebart wrote: I have this:

[beautiful Mercedes]

Let me guess: 170, post war era?

I have no idea !

7bit wrote: BTW: One day, you should find a paint shop that does the partial painting in the same color as the rest of the car!

It's not mine. When I wrote "I have this..." I meant I present this...it's in my neighborhood.

Lustique wrote: Are tanks still exempt from the congestion charge?

Nope.

It is either a 170V or 170S, still not sure.


I can't continue sorting my keys until I've found out ...

7bit wrote: It is either a 170V or 170S, still not sure.


I can't continue sorting my keys until I've found out ...

I can ask the owner next time I see him but...just goooooooooooooogle it.

[EDIT] It's a 170V:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercedes-Benz_W136

OK. it is a pre war 170V


Now, I have to take a look into the original brochure if the spare wheel cover was an extra and which color code the paintwork has ...

7bit wrote: OK. it is a pre war 170V

Yeah and the owner uses it for his normal daily driving...

Menuhin wrote: My first car during my years in the USA (same model same color)

My man!

gkubed wrote:

Polecat wrote: Newest of my eight old clunkers. (1966)

Alright! An Econline? My dad used to have a '61. He bought it with 200k miles on it and sold it for twice what he paid with 500k miles on it.

Mine's a '66. Bought it dirt cheap, sans drivetrain, twenty-some years ago, dropped in a 302 V8 and some disc brakes up front, no power anything, no smog checks, cheap parts, and 21 MPG. Plus it's mid-engine and corners like it's on rails. It's been cross-country twice, goes everywhere I go, but what do I know?