Where have all the buyers gone??

[VR-04-TT]

There was story of a purple Legnum in HPI, although it was tested in NZ-nothing but praise.
Not going to get up and look for the issue number,CBF!

I've got the issue. Issue 52.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s178/VR-04-TT/VR4/HPIIssue63_VR4-Page_1.jpg
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[SupremeMoFo]

Actually yes I can - the problem with second-hand of any expensive brand like BMW is parts still cost as much 10 years later as they did when the cars were new. In the case of BMW that's quite expensive indeed.

The other problem with owning one is everyone will think you're an arrogant tosser.

That's why you don't go through BMW parts - you source OEM parts through importers, which are the same as what BMW would give you but for a hell of a lot less, then get a BMW specialist to service the car rather than a dealership. It's not like these VR-4s don't have a list of parts of limited availability with excessive price tags!!
As for people's opinions of BMW drivers, too bad. Besides, the E34 still has the old-school 4 eyes look - not the plain-jane mid 90s designed BMWs - it has character! And there's the German engineering which no-one can replicate...

 

[SiliconAngel]

Nothing personal, its a Clarkesonism... But BMW drivers didn't get that rep for no reason

They're not ALL bad - Brad happens to own a BMW, but I try not to hold it against him

I've got the issue. Issue 52.

Yep that's the one Paul

 

[SupremeMoFo]

oh, lol, of course. My bad, haha!

 

[Peter_D]

They're not ALL bad - Brad happens to own a BMW, but I try not to hold it against him

Got to agree here. At work our principal engineer LOVES his BMW's. He gets a new one every 4 years, via salary scarf icing. Pete loves his motor sport and is always up for a chat about any type of car. He also used to race in his younger years.

So as Trev said "They're not ALL bad". Well 2 at least.!!

 

[king_panther]

I agree with all the above comments relating to the drop off in buyers ..

I kind of like the fact that not many people are buying these as it keeps the VR4 in a uniqueness category that I like. It's fun with all the looks & staring you get & questions about the car because no one's seen one !

Not having to pay a mortgage or rent really helps me too...

Having said all that, as much as I love the Legnum, once I see them peppered over the roads then mine goes up for sale !

 

[JRVR4]

I dont think they're going to be peppered all over the roads for a long time to come so you've got nothing to worry about

 

[SiliconAngel]

There weren't really enough built for that to be a problem

 

[bradc]

not so sure about that! How many 380's do you see on the road and how many did they build? They probably built more VR-4's in 96-97 than the amount of 380's that will ever be built! (well ok they've stopped making them now, serves mitsi right for building such an ugly car)

 

[SiliconAngel]

Yea but how many have been wrecked or ended up in Europe or NZ over the years? And remember these cars will never be owned by Joe Average Consumer who'll walk into a dealership looking for the Latest Model. I really don't think we'll ever have a lot of VR4's on the roads of Australia - I'd be surprised if we ever reach a couple of hundred per city, and even that's not many.

 

[bradc]

depends if the rules change and you aren't allowed to import them. See in NZ we are only allowed to import 2000-2002 VR-4's now due to some stupid crap rule. So you guys have the 96-99 market to yourselves and England - they can only import cars that are 10 years or older from first registration, so Aus still has most of 98 and all of 99 to themself

 

[ygoslo]

I'm just sitting waiting for the right one to come up... I've got the money but I'm in no rush to buy. As soon as a nice manual Galant with some mods comes up for the right money, the importer who finds it will have themselves a customer....

 

[SiliconAngel]

Tim if you haven't organised a broker and paid them for their services they will find other buyers for their manuals, and considering how rare and sought-after MT cars are you might be waiting quite some time before you see one you're able to buy...

 

[Guest]

How difficult is it to find a manual??

I'm after a legnum with a sunroof, but i want a manual, all the ones on offer are auto.

 

[bradc]

just wait a month and you'll see a few pop up

 

[BuzzPuppy]

well looks like we have two buyers here waiting in the wings

 

[SiliconAngel]

all the ones on offer are auto.

How handy are you with a spanner? *evil grin*

 

[Guest]

I've got a trip to Japan coming up, so I've blown a fair bit of money on that already, but once I cobble the money together again, I'm keen. Will be aiming for a manual, but I might be able to tolerate a tiptronic model (provided it has AYC or something similar to compensate).

 

[SupremeMoFo]

Nearly all of them have AYC Al - good eh?

Think I've gone off the BMW idea... BMW interiors designed around 1990 do NOT stand up to the test of time...

 

[bradc]

all manual Legnums have AYC, and all prefacelift Legnums have AYC. You only have to watch out for facelift auto Type V Legnums

Evan - yeah sure they do, check out an E31's interior, it still looks nice.