we need to talk, i'd like a summer home in the motor city.

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"It's normal for these things to empty your wallet and break your heart in the process."
2012 SLK 350
1987 420 SEL

Suicide is not the way out honey.

They should have a reality show where they set 10 people loose in Detroit for 3 months June-August and have a prize for the survivors if there are any.

Actually, Mistress, if you go in the right area, there are some nice ones in relatively safe areas. If you were serious, I could find them for you.

The right condo would be good also, to reduce your maintenance costs in the off season. Unless you need a bonded house-sitter, which is also possible and cheap.

Farm land is so cheap I am seriously rethinking my plan to leave. Instead, I'll buy 4 acres off a farmer friend who is having hard times and put up a mostly energy-independent repair facility and fun house for my stuff.

MY friend the PhD chemist-nudist is now making his own natural gas from the stuff he gets from farmers and selling the leftovers to the fertilizer industry. Last year he made $38,000 on a 1,240 hour investment, a little over 30/hour. He calculated the whole thing out. He did spend an additional $9,000 on equipment, but he can resell that and break even or close, on that as well.

My plan is less ambitious: I want to use passive solar, wind power and wood, and erect a separate building for wrenching and making as much biodiesel as my cars can handle.

The whole thing will cost about $ 16,000 and provide me 6,000 sq feet of space for storage repair and fun. Not including the indoor/outdoor target range.

You guys are invited, but please-- only MBs or Citroens...well, maybe Borgwards and Bimmers

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Strelnik
Invest in America: Buy a Congressman!

1950 170SD
1951 Citroen 11BN
1953 Citroen 11BNF limo
1953 220a project
1959 180D
1960 190D
1960 Borgward Isabella TS 2dr
1983 240D daily driver
1983 380SL
1990 350SDL daily driver alt
3 x Citroen DS21M, down from 5
3 x Citroen 2CV, down from 6

Most of these need "some" TLC...
This one is $1,650 and includes a lawn, windows, and a roof, 4400 square feet, right by the highway so quick in/out! Also appears to be an abandoned gas station behind it.
http://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/12830-Evanston-St_Detroit_MI_48213_1108178407

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1980 240d
1999 SL500

At that price, buy the house and strip it for copper and reusable building materials. Raze the house after you've recouped your expenses and pay tax on a vacant lot.

Heck, FEMA could buy these houses for Katrina victims cheaper than a trailer, although a little harder to move

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

In St. Louis old brick houses are stripped for the copper, and "brick rustling" the brick by thieves. They should just go to Detroit and do it legally, they may make more money that way. Those poor brick colonials

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1980 240d
1999 SL500

Used brick is a valuable commodity, and you could hire labor to clean them for next to nothing. I smell opportunity.

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On some nights I still believe that a car with the fuel gauge on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio. - HST

1983 300SD - 305000
1984 Toyota Landcruiser - 190000
1994 GMC Jimmy - 203000

https://media.giphy.com/media/X3nnss8PAj5aU/giphy.gif

That's not a bad idea...

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1987 560SL
85,000 miles

I'd imagin most of them are already stripped of copper.

I would take a property in Detroit if someone paid me to take it.

I'm quite happy building cheap $300k spec homes, in my little corner of the world.

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2016 Corvette Stingray 2LT
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Obama wants to save Africa, why doesn't he fix Detroit first?

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1983 300D

You can also thank Mr. Bush for spending millions in AIDS relief and saving many many lives, but I guess we should have spent it on Detroit instead. Great point.

Edit: Sorry, I don't mean to be scathing but really, sweeping unbased comments are a huge pet peeve of mine.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

That is not a bad idea. Reclaimed hardwood floors from some older homes is problably worth as much as the copper.

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1984 300TD