Whenever I think about buying a new car as a daily driver, I quickly remember just how much vehicle you can buy for a fraction of even the cheapest new cars, if you’re willing to put up with some age. Thanks to the beauty of depreciation, big, German executive cars can be easily found for less than half the price of a new Corolla. These two are prime examples.
Last Friday’s cars weren’t weird—on their own, at least. But together, they seemed like a strange pairing. In fact, the vehicles shared virtually one thing: The letter “P.” The lightly rusted Studebaker Lark VI was painted in a lovely shade of pink, while the Steyr-Puch Pinzgauer had a name that started with the letter P.
Though I preferred the off-roadiness and the quirkiness of the Pinzagauer over the Lark, there were 463 of you who didn’t agree, which was enough for the Studebaker to take the win. Not terribly surprising, I guess, seeing as how the pink sedan was cheaper and it actually ran and drove.
When I learned I’d be writing today’s SBSD, I knew of only one district of Craigslist worth going to: The Pacific Northwest. I feel like the region is a bit of a hidden gem for window-shopping for cheap cars, as it’s just as diverse as California’s selection, and just as rust-free. But not as picked-through, since Seattle isn’t known as the driver’s capital of the world. Here’s what I found.
1997 BMW 704iL — $9,500
Engine/drivetrain: 4.4-liter V8, 5-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Victoria, BC
Odometer reading: 132,000 kilometers (~82,000 miles)
Operational status: “Like new”
This generation of 7 Series—the E38 body style, for the nerds—is arguably the most iconic of all the big BMW sedans. Its simple, monolithic design was the last of its kind for the brand before its design studio was helmed by the now-legendary Chris Bangle, who totally revamped the lineup with, at the time, highly controversial vehicles.
Let’s dissect the name of this car. The 7 obviously stands for the model, and “40,” in this case, gives away which engine is under the hood. While it originally represented the 4.0-liter V8 under the hood, this 1997 model was the first year to get the bigger 4.4-liter version, making 282 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. The i stands for fuel-injected, while the L denotes this model as a long-wheelbase model.
Even without the L in the badge, it’s pretty easy to spot the longer-wheelbase 7 Series model of this generation—all you have to do is look at the rear door. If it’s weirdly elongated compared to the front, you’ve got yourself some extra legroom. The beautiful green paint on this model looks to be in great shape, as do the “M Parallel” multi-spoke wheels. The interior, meanwhile, looks to be in weathered (but good) shape, and there’s even a car phone, which probably hasn’t worked in decades.
According to the seller, this 740iL comes with new tires and a new timing chain tensioner, which is a nice addition. They describe it as “like new,” which is pretty good for a car that cost over $60,000 new, and is now listed for $9,500.
2004 Mercedes-Benz S600 – $9,500
Engine/drivetrain: 5.5-liter twin-turbo V12, 5-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Portland, Oregon
Odometer reading: 137,000 miles
Operational status: “Not perfect,” but “pretty darn nice.”
If your tastes lean more modern, let me present to you this 2004 Mercedes-Benz S600. This big Benz came from the next generation of German limousines, when manufacturers began to move away from subdued and boxy designs to more streamlined and curvy.
While this isn’t my favorite-looking generation of S-Class, this top-tier version got a set of lovely chrome monoblock wheels that round out the profile nicely. Plus, this one is painted in an actual color (red), which makes this car extra special, seeing as how virtually every S-Class I’ve ever seen is painted in some shade of black or silver.
The biggest selling point in this car is denoted by the “600” in the name, which signals the mighty engine under the hood. There are 50% more cylinders here than in the BMW, and 200% more turbochargers. Power from the boosted V12 here is vast: 493 hp and 590 lb-ft, enough to dust the BMW with ease.
With all that extra power comes added complexity, of course. Thankfully, the seller’s been meticulous with maintenance, replacing stuff like the coil packs, spark plugs, intercooler pump, radiator, water pump, blower motor, trunk motor, a/c compressor, and engine control module within the last 30,000 miles. More recently, they’ve also replaced some ball joints, sensors, drivetrain mounts, and fluids. But as I’ve learned the hard way, lots of recent maintenance does not always mean a reliable car down the line—something that’s especially true with 20-year-old German cars.
So which one would you rather have? The stately, subtle green BMW or the turbocharged, red-painted Mercedes powerhouse? Both are very much up my alley, so I won’t be upset, no matter which one you go for. So please, follow your heart.
Top graphic images: Craigslist sellers
I’m 1/4 Canadian and live in Washington, so that also simplifies the math. I know from experience that plastic parts get brittle over time, but in the PNW/BC it takes longer because it doesn’t get as hot.
Portland, in my book, qualifies as in the PNW, so that’s not a disqualifier, I just don’t think the M-B looks as good, and the maintenance budget… I might as well own a Cessna 182 or bigger.
But any S600 seller who says it works “pretty darn nice,” is probably not someone who took very good care of it.
Hmm… how fast do I want to go broke?
The odd thing is that you probably will go slower broke with one of these cars, even if tomorrow some other $10k part will have to be replaced, than by buying a $60k car with a 6 year loan. And I’m generous with the $60k and the 6 years.
Sure stuff breaks on these cars and it’s often not cheap, but even if you sink in $30k over the next 5 years ; it will still be EQUAL to that 60k/6y car.
And in the case of both the Beamer and the Merc you’d be driving a very very comfortable top of the line car, with the chance of retaining its value (can it go lower than $9,500) over the years vs a regular car which will absolutely depreciate to way less than 50% after 6 years. Am I right?
Voted BMW. Love that green paint and that era of the 7 class. Pretty timeless and as big of a car as that is, it still drives more like a sports sedan.
I like the looks and the color of that Merc but that was during a time when quality took a big hit at Mercedes due to cost cuts and the disastrous merger with Chrysler. So I usually stay away from that timeframe.
Um… Neither of these are technically limos.
But the BMW is a ;longer wheelbase’ model. and is the better looking car.
So BMW today.
The BMW has an understated classiness. You could pull up to the valet of any fancy restaurant in the US and not be embarrassed.
You can’t be a baller in a Kia Soul.
It’s telling that there are no under hood photos.
Have worked on this generation 7 Series…total nightmare with broken plastic bits and need for special $$$ BMW tools.
Will take my chances with the MB.
The quilted floor covering is absolutely insane. Do you need to wear bedroom slippers to drive in it? Wonder if the MB interiors department thought this was a joke that no one in their right mind would take seriously…
Even though a Bavaria nearly bankrupted me in mid 20s, I went with the 740. I’d probably rather have a Volvo 740, but that’s not an option today.
Like Janice Joplin, I really wanted a Mercedes-Benz when I was a kid, and I really liked the W140 S Class. This iteration, not so much. Although I have put away a fair amount of money, I really don’t want to spend it on either of these. But the BMW just looks better. I loved the faired in headlights of that generation. I had a neighbor who had an M5 from that era and I can’t decide whether I lusted after her or her car more.