BMW forums...

[davestlouis]

I'm starting to think I should stick to what I know and buy a few more Mbz cars this summer. Never know when something interesting will fall in my lap. As an aside, a 1994 Jaguar XJ6 sedan got towed in to the shop today...gold with tan leather, good condition, needs a hood,grilles and the top tie bar on the radiator support. The A/C is blowing hot, but the radiator isn't leaking...137XXX miles. I think I can get into it for $500 or less, as-is, where-is. I must confess I was amused to see that it has a power steering leak every bit as bad as the leaks on my Mbz. Any thoughts on the nightmare I could be stepping into? We don't do a whole lot of Jag's and what I know about them is limited to 2nd and 3rd hand information.

[suginami]

Originally Posted by davestlouis

I'm starting to think I should stick to what I know and buy a few more Mbz cars this summer. Never know when something interesting will fall in my lap. As an aside, a 1994 Jaguar XJ6 sedan got towed in to the shop today...gold with tan leather, good condition, needs a hood,grilles and the top tie bar on the radiator support. The A/C is blowing hot, but the radiator isn't leaking...137XXX miles. I think I can get into it for $500 or less, as-is, where-is. I must confess I was amused to see that it has a power steering leak every bit as bad as the leaks on my Mbz. Any thoughts on the nightmare I could be stepping into? We don't do a whole lot of Jag's and what I know about them is limited to 2nd and 3rd hand information.

One of my neighbors was a Jaguar dealer technician for many years, and switched over to the Mercedes dealer about 5 years ago.

He tells me that the Jaguar 4.2 liter straight 6 engine is a lot like the Mercedes straight 6. They are very durable, but have the same perodic trouble with head gasket oil leaks.

[davestlouis]

I don't fit in the Jag very well but I suspect I could get my wife to drive it, then I could sell her Jeep and have NO car payments for the first time since the late 80's.

[t walgamuth]

if you buy the jag i would recommend fixing it and selling it off before something else fails.

they are sweet looking and driving cars though.

tom w

[davestlouis]

The guys at work keep telling me to do the same thing with these Mercedes...and this is a Mercedes dealership where I work!!!

[t walgamuth]

well, there is some truth in that statement for any old car.

but the benzes are worth fixing, right?

tom w

[davestlouis]

They keep me out of taverns...don't have any time or money...and I get a kick out of driving cars that aren't depreciating.

[t walgamuth]

yep, me too.

tom w

[Robert W. Roe]

I have driven two BMW's or so in my whole lifetime.

My first was in a 320i when they first came out in the late '70s.

During my test drive, I stopped on an icy, well, actually frozen solid puddle for a stop sign.

The attempts of me, or the salesman feathering out the clutch could only get the rear tires to spin helplessly.

It took the salesman pushing the car forward using all of his force standing on a spot where he could get good footing, with me easing out the clutch at idle almost, until we got this car to budge off of this frozen puddle.

He said this was because of the BMW's perfect 50/50 F/R weight distribution. I don't think the summer tires helped either.

I thanked the salesman and drove off in my 1972 MB 280SE.

[tram]

British Made Wagen.

[300SDog]

Originally Posted by Robert W. Roe

....because of the BMW's perfect 50/50 F/R weight distribution.

And it's got *perfectly square* wheelbase geometry too - wide tracking width almost equals wheelbase length especially on the original 2002...... A feature shared with the Mini-Cooper. But is perfectly square geometry and 50/50 weight distribution desirable?

You can never fishtail a BMW with controled oversteer the way you can an E-type Jaguar, Austin Healey 3000 or Triumph Spitfire Mk2. And wailling around corners in perfectly controled skid with fishtailing rear end is incredible fun!!

Early Brit ragtops even had reverse button emergency brake levers that would not hold tight unless you pushed the button. And since you could pull the emergency brake handle and the button catch would not engage, the driver could brake the rearwheels for perfectly controled bootleg spin-out 90 to 180 degree fishtail manuever like you see in the movies.

For vintage radical handling sports car chassis' leave it to the Brits for building the best. I think the Jaguar project could be interesting but you will never find parts for cosmetic overhaul, lucas switches and electrics, smith guages and interior fiddly bits like door panels and trim.

[davestlouis]

I think I have staved off my yearning for a BMW...bought another 1978 280SE today on ebay.

[suginami]

Originally Posted by davestlouis

I think I have staved off my yearning for a BMW...bought another 1978 280SE today on ebay.

Excellent. Can you provide a link?

[suginami]

This must be it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1978-Mercedes-Benz-280-SE_W0QQitemZ4630762697QQcategoryZ6329QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[davestlouis]

I don't have a clue how to do that...if you clue me in I'll gladly do it. BTW, if you look in Mercedes for sale on ebay, under "other" there is a 6.9 that some genius cut the top off of...