Local Used Car Lot

I drive by this place every day. The proprietor, Mr. Clarke, is a real car nut. He sells cars that HE likes. As you can see, he has pretty good taste in cars . . . usually. Anyway, if you're looking for something better to drive than your sisters Neon, check this place out.
Tanque Verde Motors

Tucson Cars and Coffee January 2012 Edition

This time my wife came with me to Cars and Coffee. A few of the same cars from last month and quite a fer new ones. Mother_of_10 likes Corvettes. . . . a lot, so the first one here was her favorite of the show:



Then it was Ferrari Time.


And then my V12 Mercedes found a twin:

Mine on the left and Fred's on the right.

Here's a cute beach bug!

These Corvettes were at the show last month too:

If I Had to Replace My Mercedes

So, if I had to replace my 1997 Mercedes SL600, what would I get? The other day my wife asked me if I had thought about how long I was going to keep my roadster and I honestly told her that I was so satisfied with it that I hadn't thought about what next. With my previous cars, I was on to thinking about what next fairly quickly. I like the M-B SL600 so much that I am not looking for the next best thing. At least, not yet.

But since she mentioned it, I started to look around just a little. I don't like to buy brand new cars for myself because I find I can get so much more car for the money if I buy used or vintage. That tactic has enabled me to own a 2001 Cadillac STS, a 2001 M-B CLK55 AMG and a 1997 M-B SL600 . . . all together for less than the price of a Cadillac STS. That is over $265,000 worth of cars for less than $60,000.

In response to my looking around, here is what I have come up with as a nice replacement for the Benz:


A 2001 Ferrari 456M (GT)


Here is some info:
The 456M GT is a 2+2 berlinetta coupe, which means it has a snug two-place rear seat in addition to the customary front buckets. As the company puts it, this is “the evolution of a very popular concept amongst Ferrari clients who want a real Ferrari with the practicality of rear seats for two additional passengers.” In contrast to the mid-engine 360 Modena, Ferrari’s least costly model that is equipped with a V-8 behind the seats, the 456M GT has a V-12 engine mounted up front. The list price for the 456M GT is (in 2001) $226,975, while the automatic-transmission GTA goes for $232,170. That makes the 456M Ferrari’s most expensive model in the U.S. market — at least until the 550 Barchetta goes on sale in spring 2001.

MPG City: 10 Highway: 15 – 16
Available Engines
442-hp, 5.5-liter V-12 (premium)

Transmissions
6-speed manual w/OD
4-speed automatic w/OD

0 to 60 time is about 5 seconds, which is about the same as my M-B SL600. The top end is faster and the quarter mile time is close to the same. Maintenance costs are higher than the Mercedes and insurance costs are probably just a little higher, but probably not much.



All in all, I would say it would be a nice upgrade. I think I could stroke my ego just a bit with this car!

Saturday's Airplane Ride

Last week my son and I went out flying with a friend. He has a couple of biplanes, but his Cessna 337 Super Skymaster was our ride for the day. See this link for info on the Cessna 337 Super Skymaster.Here are pictures of our little event:





My son





Cessna:
Empty weight: 2,655 lb
Powerplant: 2 × Continental IO-360-C air-cooled flat-six piston engine, 210 hp each

Mercedes:
Curb weight 4,455 lb
Powerplant: 6.0 liter DOHC 4 valves per cylinder V12 slightly modified 420 hp

Here are some videos:
Take Off



Landing



Fly By



Taxiing

Tucson Cars and Coffee December Edition

December 10th was Cars and Coffee at Encantada Mall in Tucson. My son and I drove the SL600 up there. many people commented about cramming a six liter V-12 engine into such a little car. We had a lot of fun. My highlight was the 1972 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona. My son was thrilled with the Lotus Elige and the Lamborghini Diablo VT. Here are the pics:

My son thinks he could fit in a Lotus and for sure the Lamborghini Diablo. I have my doubts. He is 6' 4" and about 210 lbs. Not a giant, but a bit over the average. I don't think he can fit . . . at least not comfortably. See:

I think he would be far more comfortable in the next car, but not near as happy!

Or maybe this one:

I'm a MODERATOR! So watch it!

I was asked to be a moderator on a very cool web forum called Arizona Firearms Forum. So far the forum is doing very well. It is young, but growing daily. Please visit and enjoy the discussions. Peruse the items for sale. There are great deals to be had there. For instance, in the Rifles For Sale section I have a Remington 742BDL in 30.06 with a great scope on it for only $600.

The Worst Car I Ever Had

A 1981 Chevrolet Citation.

Hands down the worst car I ever had, and I've had more than a few. It was 1987 and I was in graduate school and desperately needed a car. I was basically broke, which doesn't help car-buying. I found a used car lot that said credit was no problem and I could make the payments right at the lot. $50 a week and only $200 down. I scraped up the money and made the deal. The citation had the venerable Iron Duke 4 cylinder set transversly with a 3 speed front wheel drive automatic transmission. It had Throttle-body injection and was as gutless as just about anything you could get in 1987. But the price was right.

I drove it for a few months, made my payments, was only left stranded by it twice until . . . the crank broke. Literally, the crank broke in two. I was only a mile or so away from home, so I had a buddy help me get it home. I popped the hood open and had him turn the key while I was looking at the motor. The starter was turning and the engince was turning over, but the fan and the pulleys were not moving. I drug the car into the garage and popped the valve cover off and saw that the valves were not moving either, yet 3 of the 4 cylinders were moving up and down. So I pulled the motor and tore it down to the block. the crank had boken between cylinders one and two and so the timing gear was not moving either. I replaced the crank, replaced the con rod and piston on #1 and honed out the rest fo the motor and replaced all of the rings. I put it back together and stuck it back in to the car and fired it up. I set the timing and had it back on the road. Total time about 5 days. Not bad.

I drove it another week or so and then the motor went POP! I kinda knew what it was. I figured I had the timing set too far advanced and I just blew a hole in the new cylinder. I pulled it back into the garage, pulled ol' Iron Duke out again and replaced the piston, slapped it all back together, started it up and was a bit more careful in setting the timing . . . then I drove it right down to the car lot where I was making those pesky weekly payments. I parked the car in the lot and took the keys in to the manager and dropped them on his desk and told him it was his again. I took the verbal harrassment from him as I walked to the street and sat down on the bus bench waiting to be acquainted with public transportation. All the time I was waiting for the bus, about 10 or 15 minutes, the car lot manager was telling me what a jerk I was, that he would sue me, that I was irresponsible and that I couldn't do that. The thing is, though, I had read the contract. The bus came, I left, he had his car and I was hoofing it and using the bus for a few more weeks until I bought another really cheap car . . . but it lasted a bit longer.