In the world of BMW maintenance, respecting the various fluid change intervals and routine maintenance is considered part of the aptly-named “old-school” maintenance schedule. Although the way this system is described changes with each owner, it’s refreshing to see a classic like this 1983 633CSI here on craigslist still receiving the proper treatments as if it were a new car just going through the motions of earning stamps in the maintenance booklet. These older 6-Series always looked a little bit unfinished to me, compared to the later editions that came with factory air dams and spoilers, but this particular example appears better than most – and the newer BMW alloy wheels look pretty sharp. Throw in working A/C and you’ve got a great classic daily for not much scratch. This one will go fast, if everything in the ad checks out – but the day is coming when prices for good E24 6-Series won’t be this cheap. Special thanks to Robert R for this tip!
Archives for April 2015
1989 Alfa Romeo Milano: BMW Alternative?
When I think about what I could have purchased in 1987 as a competitor to my 325is, the first car that comes to mind is the Mercedes-Benz 190E. In fact, I owned one of these many years ago and it remains one of my favorite highway cars. Next I might think of the Audi 90, though I don’t believe it was ever positioned as a true rival to the 3-Series; the point is, I don’t think Alfa Romeo. But the Milano sedan was designed to be a cheaper alternative to the E30 3-Series, complete with impressive driving dynamics, a standard manual transmission, and six-cylinder power. Credit finicky maintenance as a reason why it doesn’t have the legacy of the BMW, but that doesn’t mean cheap projects don’t exist: check out this 1989 example here on eBay listed for $4,800 in Michigan. Read more »
1984 Volkswagen Scirocco: Back to Basics
Over the years, my emphasis on what matters most in a car has changed greatly. It used to be an obsession over exhaustive mechanical records and an ownership history paper trail above all else. And while that’s important and valuable, I’ve learned more often than not there still end up being a host of repairs needed even on cars with lots of records. That’s why I’ve adjusted a bit, now taking into consideration more often the car’s interior condition as well as mechanical needs. When an interior is mint, it tells you a lot about the care that’s been taken elsewhere – which is why this 1984 VW Scirocco on the Samba classifieds caught my eye for $2,000. Read more »
1981 AMC Eagle SX/4: Outdoorsman’s Coupe
One of the lesser known tales of the automotive industry is AMC’s reinvention of itself from a company known solely for producing the Jeep to one that introduced a segment that is one of today’s hottest markets. Although we typically see the negative side of the energy crisis that stripped many vehicles of any performance credibility, the birth of the AMC Eagle was a bright spot: the company created a reliable, affordable vehicle with good power and 4-wheel drive capabilities. While the AMC Eagle is most recognized in wagon form, the SX/4 was a variation on the theme that combined the rugged AMC powertrain with a lifted coupe body. One of these rare variants is available here on craigslist in Michigan for $2,000 – would you consider it for your next hunting vehicle? Read more »