TjRubley.com

BringATrailer beat me to the punch featuring this great MK1 GTi for Sale on VWVortex (FL, $10.5k):

I had actually spotted this MK2 GTi, for sale by the same owner as the car above, this morning surfing the Vortex before work:

1992 Black GTI 2L 16 valve, 100% restored to factory correct specs (FL, $11.5k):

A bunch of whining kids start piling on about how high the prices are on these cars in both threads. While the prices are potentially record setting, I have actively been on the lookout for a clean MK2 GTi or GLi and examples of decent quality often have asking prices of $5k+. The fact that these are FAR nicer than the decent one’s I’ve seen, they should command a significantly higher asking. And while the kids would love to own these, the kids that grew up with these cars can see the value and can actually afford to buy them. I doubt they’ll sell overnight, but an enthusiast or a creative investor will eventually step up.

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Anyone who has seen Ronin knows how badass the BMW e34 M5 is. But even though lots of ‘affordable’ M5’s are showing up on eBay and Roadfly for under $15k, I wouldn’t touch one with a ten foot pole. The M5 motor is very sophisticated and maintenance intensive. Properly maintained cars trade hands for more like $18-25k and up.

Which is what makes the 540i M Sport so attractive. It’s practically an M5 with a more simple V8 engine under the hood. And while the V8 won’t spin and sound like the inline 6 in the M5, the power isn’t off by much. Considering the very low production numbers, I’ve seen at least 6 for sale in the last 6 months. Here’s a nice looking one in Vail for $9500(!) :

1995 BMW 540i Sport 6 speed on Craigslist

[...]Nearly fully refurbished ‘95 BMW 540i Sport 6 Speed manual, Calypso Red Metallic (burgundy) over Natural (tan) leather interior in excellent shape (built 9/95), with BMW updated Alusil engine block at 60k. Sport package & cold weather package: traction control, heated leather sport seats (driver and passenger), M Sport suspension, body trim, sunroof, am/fm/cass/cd changer, with 282 HP and 295 Ft-Lbs of torque (stock). Garaged, non-smoker, cruise, pw, pdl, pm, BMW alarm w/remotes, memory seats/mirrors, and climate control w/ice cold a/c. No accidents or leaks, with 122k of mostly hwy mlg, & no tears/cracking in interior (only minor wear).[...]

The biggest issue of concern has already been addressed with the replacement of the long block. Read more about this unique model at the 540i Sport FAQ.

For such a low entry price, this looks like great fun and easy cruising!

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After going up to Portland and back a few times by rental car in the past few months, I find myself seriously regretting the sale of the e36 m3. It handled this duty so well, and the Dodge Avenger rental car… Well it’s a pile of shit in comparison except that it’s nearly brand new. I have no other words of praise for it.

So naturally while hanging out on the Portland I-5 parking lot coming back from Webvisions, I fantasized about eating up back road in a comfortable German sports touring machine. Not new of course, because that’s not reality. A modern classic, used German car, in the $10-15k range. AKA “the so affordable range, you could get one at a moment’s notice.” Or so I always care to believe!

Naturally I hit crazedlist.org to check out all the west coast listings for a German Tourer. First up:

1988 Porsche 928 S4 in Portland, Oregon for $10.5k on Craigslist

The Exterior Paint Is Original & In Very Good Condition Without Dents Or Door Dings. The Interior Is Near Perfect With Only Minor Warping On the Right Rear Panel. The Dash & Pod Are Flawless.

The Car Comes As Shown and Priced With Porsche Factory 993 Cup Wheels. I Will Reduce to $10,500 With Stock Slotted Wheels. New Price Reflects Brand New Shocks With Ride Height Adjustment and Alignment.

I know 928’s are maintenance nightmares, but they are so sexy. And the one I drove years ago was a 1984 928S model. It was a very comfortable car, but with a terrible 3 speed auto transmission. This car being a later model 1988 year and an S4 features much more horsepower, and 4 speed auto. This combination should really make this car much more alive. And the white on white, while very Miami Vice, still appeals to me as a product child of the 80’s. It’s already a standout car; why not make the interior just as eye popping?!

This car has important recent maintenance and looks sharp with the 993 rims for $11.5k. If you can handle the couture interior, this looks attractive to me!

Check out other Porsche Cars For Sale Posted on TjRubley.com

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This e34 Touring 540i Sport has been for sale since at least this past winter when it first caught my eye on RoadFly. I like it a lot and the OEM modifications are very evident of a true enthusiast’s touch – and thousands of dollars to do right. But unfortunately, the price is high enough to surpass even 540i/6 prices in many cases. It might be able to command that kind of price if it were a factory offering, but in the end it’s a very well executed project car. And unfortunately the owner is obviously very honest, and even shows a handful of pictures pointing out the rust spots. While it appears to be surface rust, it is rust. Of course I’m spoiled in the Pacific Northwest, but this kind of price for a project would require a perfect representation in my opinion. Or the perfect fit buyer of course. You could do worse in some parts of the country for $10k, and therefore it might make sense for the right buyer. But I think this car is more attractive at $7k.

1994 BMW Touring 540i/6 Conversion - Owners Personal Site with lots of pictures

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Paul and I hit the Oregon Trail Rally today outside of Vernonia. Perfect weather, great back road trip, and a great crowd to cheer on the drivers. Here are some early pics that are getting a variety of post processing styles.

The Travis Pastrana Subaru WRX

A Vintage Saab

Check out these two studs in the Toyota giving love to the spectators!

Rockstar Subaru WRX

Check out the entire 2008 Oregon Trail Rally Gallery

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Considering this show is in my own town, I had little excuse for not attending the Oregon Vintage Motorcyclists ride for their show this year at the Benton County Fairgrounds. Some really great looking bikes turned out for the ride, probably 60+ strong. And all kinds: restored show bikes, never restored beaten classics, and even some modern classics like my bike and Bob’s RC51. Good group, though there was one down on a great old late 70’s looking BMW. I heard broken shoulder and collar bone… Ouch!

Here are the pics from the Blackberry Curve:

I’m going to miss the show tomorrow so I can hit the Oregon Trail Rally. Don’t you love this time of year?!

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I’ve rented the 70-200 F4L from ZipLens to practice my motorsports photography. Here’s the first result, some 1993 Ducati 750SS Wallpaper:

1993 Ducati 750SS Wallpaper Background for 1680 widescreen
1993 Ducati 750SS Wallpaper Background for 1152

1993 Ducati 750SS Wallpaper Background for 1152
1993 Ducati 750SS Wallpaper Background for 1680 widescreen

I didn’t PS these very much, though the first one did get a blatent gradient overlay applied to the sky. But my intention was to make an 80’s bedroom wall poster effect, and I think I got pretty close for a first effort. Please feel free to leave comments for suggestions and improvements. Enjoy!

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I’ve been off track alot in the last several posts. Lets get back on track with some great available cars for sale, starting with this extra low mile M Coupe:

1999 Silver BMW M Coupe with 11k miles on Roadfly:

Beautiful LOW MILEAGE M COUPE, 11,000 miles!!!, Arctic Silver Metallic, One Owner, Clean Carfax, 5 - Speed Manual Transmission, Sunroof, CD Changer, Heated Seats, Side Impact Airbags, S52 Engine with 240 hp, No paintwork or bodywork, Garage kept and meticulously maintained, This is RARE car and especially with so few miles.

Not sure I’d pay $28.5k for any M Coupe without the S54, but it is likely to be as close to a brand new as possible.

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Paul and I did the Ducati Demo Day at MotoCorsa in Portland this past Saturday. It was completely awesome! Their facility is a very cool place to hang out anyway, but getting to sample their brand new bikes was really amazing. It’s a guided group ride with a dozen or so brand new bikes that riders can preview at no cost. Sharp marketing too because if I had a spare $12-15k for a new bike, I would’ve signed immediately upon our return. Later that night, Paul and I were still trying to convince ourselves it might be doable!

Before heading up, I checked the Ducati website for the current offerings and to make my pick. I wanted to try something vaguely similar to my 750SS, but in a brand new flavor. And the Sport Classic was my pick. I was very excited to find out they had not one, but two openings for Sport Classics for Paul and I to sample at 2 o’clock. His was the up rated S model with Ohlin’s forks, full fairing, and full Termignoni pipes. Mine had the stock pipes, which were way too quiet. When Paul cracked the throttle on his, everyone noticed immediately and sounded much more the business. They really should come this way stock.

While we waited for our turn, the reality started setting in. If I scratched this thing, I would own a second Ducati, costing 4x as much as mine and with a big scratch to fix LOL! That’d be fun explaining to Mrs. Rubley! The butterflies started to swim around in my stomach… I was briefly comforted watching the earlier group leave with a couple of noticeably novice riders who came back unscathed.

Once underway it was a total breeze. There were many similarities to my own bike, and I was at home right away. Riders were guided at a very smart pace and given a great 20 mile tour of the Portland hills. Tour guides front and back made sure we stayed together and stopped traffic at intersections to keep us together. Fantastic route and great planning. By the time we got back, I was grinning ear to ear like it was Christmas morning. I won’t miss it again!

My 20 minute review of the Ducati Sport 1000:

Pro’s - Classic minimalist styling with a comfortable seat, spoked rims, cafe racer clip on’s, and retro decals. Nice modern amenities like fuel injection, 6 speed gearbox, and the refinements that are now found in modern Ducati’s.

Con’s - Not so great on/off throttle response, a gas tank that’s a tad uncomfortable to sit against, and those stock pipes are obviously engineered to be lame so you can upgrade to the Termi’s. But other than that, she was a wonderful ride with very approachable power and controls.

A huge thank you to Ducati MotoCorsa for hosting and Ducati NA for generously loaning me a beautiful new bike that absolutely made my day!

Ducati Demo Day at MotoCorsa 2008 Gallery

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