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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
May 2002
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 New Car..... ?
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Tue, 13 August 2002 09:10
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Time has come for me to get rid of my "token" NON-toyota... it's a 1997 Ford XR6, running dual fuel.
It's been a brilliant car to drive, nearly 3 years of reliable driving (and cheap too - how does 5500km driving from canberra to bundy, around then back for $280 in fuel sound???), and it's a car that can get up and boogie with most cars on the road in terms of performance. Doesn't even handle too badly for a 1700 odd kilo RWD car... 
My problem is, I don't know what the next car is going to be!
I mean, I'm building my celica up for a speed fix, a (few) corollas for my bashing fix, and i'll be getting a 4WD soon to tow them all...
so I'm left with replacing my daily driver with something that won't leave me disappointed.
Something with the all comfortable crap that I've gotten used to (spoilt I know) like A/C, power steering, cruise control, ABS, airbags, etc.
Something that's comfy for a 6'4" guy driving a fair whack of kays (35,000 per year).
Question is... WHAT??? 
The ONLY idea I can come up with is a Subaru Liberty RX 2.5 - it has all the mod cons, AWD etc - I just don't know if it has the poke... (Anyone know if the 2.5 N/A scubie engine can be made to give some good power? anyone driven one?)
I want to keep it under $35k, but I'm outta ideas...
Somebody help me!!!
any suggestions? insights? revelations?
-Nick
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Toymods Board Member
I supported Toymods
Location:
Turramurra, Sydney.
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Wed, 14 August 2002 08:44
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Why not an RS Liberty. Do you have to keep it N/A?
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Wed, 14 August 2002 22:25
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well, i suppose not absolutely, but it helps with the insurance premiums...
Drove the RX liberty yesterday, and it's not too bad. Performance wise though, it's a big of a dog...
Handles well enough in the dry, i'm told the AWD makes a huge difference in the wet.
- brakes were touchy as hell, you cover them really lightly and you're thrown forward a bit in your seat. Very good when you plant the bluntstone on the middle pedal, but i dunno if I like it.
talking to the sales dude (he helps build rally WRXes for some indy group or so he says) the exhausts on the libertys are all really restrictive - a good system will add about 10kw to it for next to nothing.
but the engine - 2.5 litre, 115kw 270Nm or so, it's hardly a ball-tearer through the AWD... :/
Quick enough, but i'd be fanging it all the time to get it to be fun...
Hmm.... RS liberty... twin turbo... wonder who'll insure me... 
Maybe a soarer - did they came out with cruise control and airbags/abs on them?
cheers
-nick
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Thu, 15 August 2002 00:47
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How about a V6 Camry? Plenty of poke, comfortable, and has all the stuff you need.
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Thu, 15 August 2002 04:14
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I second Max... hehehe NOT!
What bout a Soarer mate - or are they a little too old for ya ? round $15k average?! but thats for a twin turbo, but u could get the 3L six (non turbo - better for insrance)
How old are YOU anyway ? under 25 ? is that y ur worried bout insurance ?
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Thu, 15 August 2002 22:02
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camry... yeeehaw...
scuse me, i have shopping to do...
I'm 22, male, rating 3.
I do like the soarers - what are they like on the maintenance side of things?
If I could, I'd either go for the NA 6 or the v8. TT sounds like too much hassles perhaps?
The biggest problem i have with buying another car is that it has to be relatively new, so I can take out a novated lease on it and package it in my salary...
I'd rather pay 9% FBT than income tax... saves me 30 odd percent straight away...
SS commondoors go hard too, or maybe wait for the new XR falcon. I like toyotas though... but not so far as to stretch to a camry...
bah, decisions decisions... 
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Fri, 16 August 2002 00:16
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You say that an SS CommonDoor goes hard and yet you discount a V6 Camry?
Do you know how fast they are? 0-100 is done in around the mid-7 second range. Shame it's a FWD, but at least it's a Toyota. It's gonna last forever and has great resale value. Plus with the new one coming out next month, the price of the current shape ones will plunge very soon.
Camrys have a very boring image, but do you want to buy for its image or do you want to buy the car that best suits your needs?
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Fri, 16 August 2002 03:56
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hmm... sadly enough I can see your point...
I'll go take a new camry for a drive when it comes out anyway, just so i can see what it's like.
The Camry's aren't exactly slow, but... they're a camry! and they're FWD, and i'm used to RWD - never really drove a FWD for any length of time.
I would be buying it for a little of both looks and go - ie I won't drive a car I hate the look of, just as I won't drive a car I hate the handling or pickup of...
I'm going to head down to the caryards now to have a poke around... I know there's a nice soarer out at one of the fyshwick caryards, i'll see what its like
Cheers
Nick
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Location:
Sydney, Australia
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Fri, 16 August 2002 05:11
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You might just scrape in a 1999 model IS200 for around $35,000...
Camry? Max, your job in Canberra is starting to effect you...
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Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Fri, 16 August 2002 05:45
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Max - u living in canberra permanently now is it ??
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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
August 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Fri, 16 August 2002 06:02
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IS200 and Camry just won't give too much power.
How about a Liberty B4, Turbo, AWD, and all the things you want.
I forget how much hp they had, but at least 260hp.
Anyway, they are pricy, 45k ?...don't know...
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Location:
Cabramatta, NSW
Registered:
May 2002
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Fri, 16 August 2002 06:33
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I love canberra!
ok ok, i'll prolly get shot down for it, but I do. It's nice here.
what do you do for a living Max?
only here for 6 months?
B4's are 55k, same as an STi (+onroads etc) so a bit higher than I want to go.
Spoke to a guy out at fyshwick - said he gets GT v8 soarers through at around 16k mark, 1991-2.
but... there was a beautiful black mkIV supra sitting there.. 1994 one... twin turbo... manual... *drools*
but he has 37,990 on it... 
a 2nd hand audi A4 1.8T quattro for about 30k perhaps? anyone heard anything good about them?
-nick
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Location:
Sydney, Australia
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Fri, 16 August 2002 06:46
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Arrggh!! Stay away from the Audi... my boss has one, I don't know if it's just his or not, but it's been back to Audi quite a few times... it's done 60k km's, he doesnt drive it that hard, and so far it has had changed:
- CVs
- first the head
- then complete engine rebuild
- turbo
- gearbox ($18k!!!) - prob still exists even after changing
- interior - bits ordered 3mnths ago still not arrived
- dash, electric probs
- lots of other stuff
All still under warranty, luckily.... I don't know if they're all like that, but his one is a lemon.. Audi were helpful at first, but lately he's been having to write letters to Audi to get anything done...
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Fri, 16 August 2002 07:01
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fark...
I'll be stayin away from that one then...
maybe a v8 dual fuel hilux... lift kit, 33"ers on it... bullbars...
go the opposite way - if I can't beat em at the lights I'll just drive over them...
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Fri, 16 August 2002 07:20
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second hand VW Passat. they go hard. triptronic (or whatever). all the comforts. depending on year of make you'll pay probably high 30's
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Location:
Melbourne
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Fri, 16 August 2002 15:19
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W124 Mercedes, 300CE-24 or something of that calibre, very comfy, got some poke, and look sweet when dropped with deep dish wheels and a very mild kit
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Location:
Camden, NSW
Registered:
June 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Sat, 17 August 2002 05:13
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Import a supra or skyline, comfort, style and performance...plus da chicks dig 'em, what mor could u want?
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Location:
Travelling overseas
Registered:
July 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Mon, 19 August 2002 23:24
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How about a Gti Golf? 110kw, 0-100 in 8.5, top speed 216km/h. I went for a ride in a mates and they are quite classy too. Cost $38k can get leather for a couple more g's. Good economy from the 1.8 turbo too.
The V5 Boras arent bad either.
Or even a 2.5L RS Impreza if you want to stay N/A? 0-100 in 8.9, 0.1 quicker than the Liberty. If you are doing a lot of k's I hear the scubies are good. Low 30s price tag too.
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Location:
Sydney
Registered:
June 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Thu, 22 August 2002 10:46
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i think a 98 magna would be nice, cheap and the rest.
down side, it is a FWD and i think that mitsu gear boxes are pretty delicate 
the hilux sounds like a good idea though
mazda astina are pretty quick 0-100 but again a FWD
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Location:
Colac, Victoria
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Thu, 22 August 2002 11:32
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35K huh ?
ok lemme think
2000 model XR8 ( 200KW model ) Better handling than a dunnydore -little less straight line poke - upgrade from what you had
Camry touring ( V6 - handles well but the front wheel drive thing
GTS-T Skyline ( R33 model ) late ninties - RWD - turbo - nice handler but a pig to find insurance for i believe
MA70 supra ( pre 1995 twin turbo's can be had for this ) RWD turbos - goes like stink - insurance - well - it can be had but youll pay for it
ST205 Celica GT4 GROUP A - Seen a few advertised in the papers for the 30K mark - goes hard - they are a Limited edition - Will Kill evo's and WRX's with some tweakering
ST185 Celica GT4 GROUP A - about 25K for these puppies - a little down on power than the 205 - they are rare , look Shite hot with a good set of wheels - and with the 10K you have spare you could mod the tits off it and make it a definate monster
R32 GTR - Ive sen a few examples under and around 35K
SUBY RX - youve mentioned these
Suby WRX - Smaller + pokier - but everybody has them now if they dont own a VT SS commodore ..
Just a few i can think of off the top of my head
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Epping, Sydney
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Thu, 22 August 2002 12:16
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$35k?
go thru prestige imports, get yourself a manual RZ supra... they average about $32K, not counting tires or rego
so give that another $1-2K, and you have yourself a VERY fast car, with plenty of potential to mod, all the little luxuries (unless you're after a reversing camera or something), reliability a plenty, sexier than almost anyhting else, and very nice handling
ok, so the handling isn't up to a WRX or an EVO, but it is still very nice (despite what some people say)
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Sydney
Registered:
June 2002
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 Re: New Car..... ?
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Thu, 22 August 2002 12:25
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Not that im being biased but the ST205 has plenty of poke even whilst stock 0-100 in hi 5's to low 6's. A bit of extra boost will see you to the low 5's very comfy, abs, a/c, air bag great handling but no cruise conrol.
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Fri, 23 August 2002 07:04
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ST205 - is that the one in your avatar gee120?
Where can I find some specs on them?
What are they like in terms of space inside? I'm 6'4"...
I heard that GT4s are apparently pretty bad in terms of mechanical repairs etc?
95 supra... yumm!
Only problem with a lot of the "performance" cars these days is the insurance on them (yeah same old rant I'll stop now).
This is really just going to be an everyday car, and one that I'll be doing a lot of driving in, round town mostly but also a fair whack of highway driving. I'm kinda leaning towards waiting to see what the new XR6/8s look like and maybe even spending the extra dollars... maybe.
Insurance on the supra is gonna be in the order of 3500 or so I'd say, same with GTR. celica I don't know, but seeing as it's turbo AWD... :/
Thanks for all the great suggestions though! I'm learning a fair whack just by looking around too...
-nick
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I supported Toymods
Location:
Sydney
Registered:
June 2002
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Location:
Colac, Victoria
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Fri, 23 August 2002 08:51
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As an assist - i was Quoted $1300 dollars to insure a ST185 Grp A with NRMA recently
Im a rating 2 driver - 24 years old - and a clean drivers record ..
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Location:
Newcastle
Registered:
June 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Tue, 27 August 2002 18:28
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go the V8 soarer. They are an awesome piece of machinery. And you will have some cash left over to tinker with it.
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Location:
Brisbane
Registered:
February 2004
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Sun, 14 November 2004 02:55
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Out of curiousity what did u end up gettin?
Just curious cos now im in the same boat as u and want a mkiv supra but am scared of insurance, not to mention the great potential of killin myself!!
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
October 2004
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Sun, 14 November 2004 04:16
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@ Nark...Is your car your avatar?
If not I swear I have seen an identical one at ANU.
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Location:
Ballarat, Vic.
Registered:
September 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Sun, 14 November 2004 04:39
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Subaru Legacy GT-B wagon???
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Location:
Canberra
Registered:
May 2002
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Re: New Car..... ?
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Sun, 14 November 2004 05:39
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I went and got a BA XR6 Turbo (best and fastest NEW car for the money I've driven), then sold it after 18 months and bought a soft-top Pajero... been 4WDing madly for the last 6 months.
Now looking for a faster roadcar that can handle long trips, wondering if I should go back to a Ford...
Thinking about another EL falcon actually! *grin*
I was sorely tempted by a 1990 Lexus SC400 - what a nice piece of work the 1UZFE is dammit!
But for now, I'm back again looking around, so same thing goes again - suggestions for ANOTHER round of change...
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Re: New Car..... ?