Not German but Damn these are sexy

[kwhelan 241]

[Apex 693]

The thread title implies that Germans actually build sexy cars and we should be surprised that an Italian has managed to build something beautiful.

Would be more impressed if a thread said, German and its sexy.

[lord_jagganath 421]

I swear this looks like a swoopier late model Nissan Skyline/Fuga

[M5V8 337]

running costs of a ferrari, depreciation of a Massa. What's not to like?

[Phil-540i 166]

Would be more impressed if a thread said, German and its sexy.

K, just for you then.......because we aim to please around here......

GERMAN, & ITS SEXY

Heidi Klum

Claudia Schiffer

Edited December 12, 2013 by Blue-540i

[allan 295]

Poke poke their goes that stick again Have a Merry Christmas every one.

[_ethrty-Andy_ 2132]

saw one of these yesterday actually was probably the previous generation, looked very similar

unfortunately was only idleing and i could barely hear it.

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2956]

Would be more impressed if a thread said, French and its sexy.

Fixed!

Running costs of a Ferrari, depreciation of a Massa and reliability of an Alfa!! Although that's not true any more now the Evil-Empire (aka VAG) have taken over the design and production of most of the vehicles - still assembled by Tonis though so you never know!!

[Apex 693]

Sorry, I feel asleep for a hour after looking at a picture of a BMW and dosing off.

The Italians and the English build sexy cars with soul that break down...

The Germans build solid boring cars that are over engineered.

The French build crazy joie de vivre cars that are practical but frustrating at times.

The Japanese and Koreans build reliable appliances.

The Americans and Australian build cars to make money... and yet loose money?

You would "don't give a f**k" rich or crazy pore to buy a Maserati... either way it will cost a fortune.

[Kepes 231]

Is this the 2014 quattroporte? Always liked the look of the older ones to be honest, like the 2008-2011 models looked the best IMHO but it's just me. Still nice looking though no doubt

[Apex 693]

The new Gibli or what ever it is called is nice also. Looks almost f30 at the front.

[gjm 3258]

I like Maseratis.

I like Maseratis.

I like Maseratis.

I like Maseratis.

There. I've said it. It's out there. It's the first step to finding an answer. I hope.

But it's hopeless! What sort of a person would sell a perfectly good piece of solid English or German engineering in order to buy something made of chocolate and wrapped in aluminium foil?

Yes. I did. But if we discount the Lancia and the Alfas, I only did it twice, so that's OK, isn't it?

The first time I did it properly. Spent the money, got a good Biturbo (4-door, Quattroporte), looked after it and lived to tell the tale. Of course, seeing someone else mercilessly thrash their similar car, seemingly without a care in the world, and get away with it was annoying. So I sold mine and bought something solid and reliable.

Later, I was offered a long-time garaged 'boxy 2-door Maserthingy'. Yup - that's how it was described to me. I thought it would be another Biturbo and nearly didn't have a look, but found a Ghibli under several years dust. Apparently it had stopped working (surely not! Never happened to a temperamental Italian car before, has it?) at the top of the drive, and had been rolled backwards down the drive and into the garage where it stayed for several years. Nothing actually broken, but the leather seats were dry and had been damp at some stage. Yes, I bought it. For the equivalent of (now) $800.

An Italian 2-door twin-turbo V6 sports car, with an iconic name, for 400 quid. Wow. Those were the days.

It just needed new fuel lines throughout the entire car. The owner didn't mention he'd run it dry on fuel, left it for a while, put fuel in it, run it dry again, and the lines had picked up rust from the tank and clogged the lines. Perhaps if the fuel gauge worked properly that wouldn't happen?

Actually, very little electrical worked. Again, no great surprise. But the engine did. If I ignored the musty smell inside the car (driving with the window open let's you hear the exhaust note anyway) and made sure I was home before dark (when the headlights did work, they were a bit dim) it was fine. This time it was my turn. I looked after it, letting it thoroughly warm before giving it beans (lesson learned from 2 1970s Alfas), and maintained it - oil changes every 3000 miles and so on - but I drove it like I stole it. And it was brilliant. Even if I smelt a bit musty after being in it for any length of time - pulling car it wasn't. I eventually sold it to someone who was going to strip it and race it... Apparently he was doing really well before the engine let go first time out.

More recently, and post-marriage, children and so on, I was on a training course in London (before moving here). Every morning, I'd walk from digs in Waterloo across the bridge, turn right down the Strand and then walk up Chancery Lane. And the first time I saw what looked like a lovely Quattroporte. Much newer than mine had been, but wonderful. And the driver would use the loud pedal, a lot. Amazing sound.

One day I'd crossed the road and saw the other side of the car. Looked like it had been on the losing end of an argument with a bus - stoved in, creased, and red paint. The driver didn't seem to care. I suspect he was one of Graham's "don't give a f**k" rich types.

Yes - I'd have another. Some people never learn, eh?

[Phil-540i 166]

Sorry, I feel asleep for a hour after looking at a picture of a BMW and dosing off.

The Italians and the English build sexy cars with soul that break down...

The Germans build solid boring cars that are over engineered.

The French build crazy joie de vivre cars that are practical but frustrating at times.

The Japanese and Koreans build reliable appliances.

The Americans and Australian build cars to make money... and yet loose money?

You would "don't give a f**k" rich or crazy pore to buy a Maserati... either way it will cost a fortune.

LOls - hard case............

Hmmm - the English build sexy cars?? A Triumph 2500. Morris Marina. Landrover. (Pick ANY model). Austin Princess. Austin Allegro. Any Austin..... Any Rover. Rolls Royce. Might wanna go have a wee lay down on a soft couch & talk sexy + English cars, through with someone suitably medically qualified maybe......

Italians, yes - mostly I agree...........

German, boring?? An M5, or new M3............I'm fairly certain that with a closed track, free fuel, & access to tyres, it would take me a long long time to get bored. (And probably, I have a short attention span usually, maybe.....I bore easily.......)

French - great cars, for non - English speaking countries........

Japanese, & Koreans - true to a point, excluding ISF Lexus, & various premium / sport models from past & present that have a bit of difference to them, eg: Starion, Celica, RX2-7, various Nissan modules......

Yank / Aussie - yes, funny that bit. Yanks especially build motorised armchairs with multiple cup-holders that go ok in a straight line, but don't handle too $hit hot. Australia builds taxis, & premium sports models based on them that typically haul a$$ & handle fairly well.............

I'm still stuck @ the English & sexy bit probably,thus no proper justice............

[Apex 693]

Was a very broad generalization Blue.

[Phil-540i 166]

No $hit - if that was any broader, it'd be taking up both lanes plus a bit...............

[lord_jagganath 421]

I'd have to argue that the English made more desirable cars in the past than the competition at any one time, because they had SO MANY MARQUES. Lo and behold the desirable marques have stayed on. (also i am a sucker for punishments and missed opportunities, like the SD1, Healey, and MGB V8)

[E30 325i Rag-Top 2956]

To have cream on the top, you have to have a lot of milk underneath it. The cream would be...

Aston Martin (any of them, from any era.)

Jaguar old ones and new ones, not the ones in the middle

TVRs - for fun and scaring you half to death

Lotus'

TR2,3,4,4A,5,250 and 6

Austin Healeys

Ok, so most of them are no more and those that are left have non-British owners, but you get my point. It's all about horses for courses really, if we all liked the same thing, life would be ever-so boring.

[Apex 693]

we would be bimmersport.co.nz

[kiwi535 538]

Was a very broad generalization Blue.

so broad as to make it pretty pointless imho.If you find BMWs so boring why do you even come here?

[Allanw 1071]

Austin Healeys

Have two of them next door - they sound awesome! So does his RV8!

[Apex 693]

[deeveus 81]

Jeez apex you're a bloody negative bugger lol. The reason I come here is because I enjoy German build quality and refinement, I doubt there's a site as popular as this that specialises in Toyotas in NZ which IMO belong to librarians that collect stamps.

[Phil-540i 166]

Aww I dunno, I've had a coupla Toyota's (over 40 Hilux's & Landcruiser's), & they're not that baaaad.........actually I'd probably pay good money to see some librarian chick have a go at hacking round town in my ute........

Wheres ya Ranger gone Clinton - shed list had a clean-out........??

[Phil-540i 166]

Jeez apex you're a bloody negative bugger lol. The reason I come here is because I enjoy German build quality and refinement, I doubt there's a site as popular as this that specialises in Toyotas in NZ which IMO belong to librarians that collect stamps.

You on the pi$$ tonight, fixing that poxy trailer plug........................???

[deeveus 81]

You on the pi$$ tonight, fixing that poxy trailer plug........................???

Take it easy lol.

That sig somehow appeared back after I removed it more than 8 months ago. List has been updated. Also, I'm yet to see a refined Landcruiser or Hilux!

Edited December 20, 2013 by The Diesel Guy