Cheap? American vehicles
Discussion
This is just a heads up for anyone thinking of buying an American vehicle within the next few months. A very good friend of mine works for an auction house and they have been charged with disposing of a large number of American vehicles which are currently owned by American military personnel based in Europe. This will include a lot of pickups, SUVs and of most interest here Corvettes.
Once I have specific details of the vehicles I can put any potential buyers in touch. Most o the stuff is less than 5 years old so late C5s or C6s.
Once I have specific details of the vehicles I can put any potential buyers in touch. Most o the stuff is less than 5 years old so late C5s or C6s.
Cool. I like the idea of some really low budget American thing, ideally not so big its a house but different enough to be interesting. Ideally not a 7 litre of 0 MPG unless it's somewhat interesting (for some reason a Firebird is not interesting to me), but something cheap enough to not worry about it going wrong. An auction would be the perfect spot to pick up something unloved by everybody else! Wood-on-outside estate car not desirable.
Maybe keep thread up to date please?
Maybe keep thread up to date please?
Would potentially be interested Nigel. I am thinking of a C6 at the moment, but of course not a*tom*tic.... (my swear filter is working properly I see). Could hang on a bit quite happily for the right car / deal.
I have just been to look at a paddle shift model at a dealer to find out the price gap on trade-in, but it was off for its SVA. Out of interest, have you driven a paddle shift Vette among your many different ponies? Is it just a command a*to with the usual a*to change slur, or a proper, precise gearbox? The only paddle shift I have ever driven was an early 360f1 which was quite abominal on change up, down and putting itself into neutral just as you wanted to get away at a roundabout.
I have just been to look at a paddle shift model at a dealer to find out the price gap on trade-in, but it was off for its SVA. Out of interest, have you driven a paddle shift Vette among your many different ponies? Is it just a command a*to with the usual a*to change slur, or a proper, precise gearbox? The only paddle shift I have ever driven was an early 360f1 which was quite abominal on change up, down and putting itself into neutral just as you wanted to get away at a roundabout.
I cant see anyone getting anything decent here.Having spoken to,and knowing quite a few American personnel,anything that is decent and worth something is normally shipped back stateside.They only leave the less desirable and crap behind.If you want to see some of whats left behind,then take a look on the forcourt of Mildenhall cars sales.
BLUETHUNDER said:
I cant see anyone getting anything decent here.Having spoken to,and knowing quite a few American personnel,anything that is decent and worth something is normally shipped back stateside.They only leave the less desirable and crap behind.If you want to see some of whats left behind,then take a look on the forcourt of Mildenhall cars sales.
I tend to agree,I have never bought anything American from the Norfolk/Suffolk area,even though I live there.Every time I have been offered anything decent it has been full UK retail money 'cos they if it doesn't sell for a huge profit they get it shipped home F.O.C .
But hope springs eternal !
SeeFive said:
I have just been to look at a paddle shift model at a dealer to find out the price gap on trade-in, but it was off for its SVA. Out of interest, have you driven a paddle shift Vette among your many different ponies? Is it just a command a*to with the usual a*to change slur, or a proper, precise gearbox? The only paddle shift I have ever driven was an early 360f1 which was quite abominal on change up, down and putting itself into neutral just as you wanted to get away at a roundabout.
I've got an '08 A6. It's not a manual, but it's pretty good for an auto and (in my opinion) better than an automated manual. The biggest pain is that the paddles are fixed to the wheel rather than the column, so applying lock and trying to change gear can be interesting (but of course we'd never do that, would we 
) The slur isn't too bad unless you're changing up a very low revs. Downshifting is OK as it does rev-match (but only on the 08 onwards). Once you're in paddle mode, it stays in the gear you've chosen (i.e. it won't kick-down or change up at the redline) unless you let the revs drop way down in which case it'll change down as the revs drop (we're talking sub-1000 revs here!) until it gets down to 2nd gear.
GW65 said:
SeeFive said:
I have just been to look at a paddle shift model at a dealer to find out the price gap on trade-in, but it was off for its SVA. Out of interest, have you driven a paddle shift Vette among your many different ponies? Is it just a command a*to with the usual a*to change slur, or a proper, precise gearbox? The only paddle shift I have ever driven was an early 360f1 which was quite abominal on change up, down and putting itself into neutral just as you wanted to get away at a roundabout.
I've got an '08 A6. It's not a manual, but it's pretty good for an auto and (in my opinion) better than an automated manual. The biggest pain is that the paddles are fixed to the wheel rather than the column, so applying lock and trying to change gear can be interesting (but of course we'd never do that, would we ) The slur isn't too bad unless you're changing up a very low revs. Downshifting is OK as it does rev-match (but only on the 08 onwards). Once you're in paddle mode, it stays in the gear you've chosen (i.e. it won't kick-down or change up at the redline) unless you let the revs drop way down in which case it'll change down as the revs drop (we're talking sub-1000 revs here!) until it gets down to 2nd gear.
) do not really want to go silly on money for a car. I think it could be a manual again for crisp V8 gearchange noises... I would not want to be responsible for nasty slurring noises - unless it involves
alcohol. 
Perhaps I should buy an alcohol dragster instead, and that also solves the problems of changing gear when applying lock.
G4HKS said:
Hey Gary - how come you drive an Audi now?!!!
Are we seeing you and yours on Wednesday?
Hmm, I did think that as I was typing it, but I was too lazy to type C6 as well! I've learned my lesson...Are we seeing you and yours on Wednesday?
Edited by G4HKS on Monday 18th August 20:04
Not sure about Weds - I'm out West during the day so it'll be a bit of a trek to the new venue. If the sun comes out it might inspire me!
vetteheadracer said:
This is just a heads up for anyone thinking of buying an American vehicle within the next few months. A very good friend of mine works for an auction house and they have been charged with disposing of a large number of American vehicles which are currently owned by American military personnel based in Europe. This will include a lot of pickups, SUVs and of most interest here Corvettes.
Once I have specific details of the vehicles I can put any potential buyers in touch. Most o the stuff is less than 5 years old so late C5s or C6s.
Cool Once I have specific details of the vehicles I can put any potential buyers in touch. Most o the stuff is less than 5 years old so late C5s or C6s.
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