Even at 100K plus miles there's sure to be a considerable amount of life left in the car given the reputed build quality of these things.

Had I the garage I once had, I'd be tempted to buy it and have the running gear slotted into my 'sick' '72 Continental Mark IV - that would be interesting....

 

That'll be the accountants at work again.

Any businesses where accountants play a significant role in operational management and/or strategic decision making are in decline - and there's empirical evidence to support this. The motor industry has been crucified by these grey-suited and indifferent individuals.

Mercedes Benz are a classic (no pun intended...) example - production in South Africa and production 'enhancements' to reduce costs have caused massive quality issues (ask any accredited MB body shop about remedial warranty work on quite recent MBs) and untold brand damage.

I work with two clients currently 'managed' by accountants - quite frightening, especially for the poor saps whose jobs rely on these people's decisions and, the long-term brand/company value they're supposedly maximising the ROI of.

 

It's why for years Fords were such shit cars, but they were very successful. Ironically, they're now pretty decent yet the 'image' gets in the way of sales.

The problem is that TC Mits eventually notices and the 'brand value' declines.

Moff's actually right about the economics, since it's relatively easy with CAD/CAM to knock up a new bodystyle on the same ol' underpinnings and charge the earth for it.

A good example of which was Borgward's Isabella in the 1950s; everyone knew they could sell loads more, if there were a four-door body. In the winter of '56, Borgward unveiled a pretty coupe prototype, to much muttering from the engineers and sales and everyone. Borgward gruffly pointed out that he could 'cut off half the roof and double the profit per car'.

Basically, he knew he didn't have the production facilities to produce enough four-doors, which he could only sell for around 500 DM more than the two-door. The Coupe could sell for a good 2,000 DM more, and the low production meant it could be made offline with hammers and stuff!

Fifty years on, surprisingly little has changed with premium German manufacturers!

 

Gaz, you're got it wrong man.

if you want to experience fast for a saloon / coupe for a reasonable price then surely this is going to kill anything else standard on the roads including S's, Elise's, M3's and Cayman (let alone a 911).



Now that is the definition of fast motoring - I know because I read it on here a while back

 

whenever the mileage is omitted

you know it's been to the moon and back

even VW V12s wear out ffs

and so do gearboxes, wiper motors, assorted relays, brakes, heater and sensors

I wouldn't pay more than

 

"Every concevable extra" (sic) could go wrong, and will cost a bomb to repair/replace.

High mileage relative to the age of the vehicle isn't always a bad thing - a rep car that has mostly motorway miles is younger than it's miles whereas a granny car that has always run on the auto choke will be older.

Even so

 

MY 3.0R legacy is quoted as 26 mpg and I stuggle to average low 20's
They will be super cheap at 12 months old, especially with the tax!

Not convinced that Pheaton is good idea either as others have said a lot to go wrong!

I was looking for something like these two as a beater recently and end up with a Legacy 3.0R spec B. It's not too far behind the S on the B roads. Managed to get a workshop manual for it as well.

 

Thing is, a Legacy's the sort of thing I'd choose! far smaller, lighter and more sensibly designed and built.

This Fart On is a Bentley without the pretence; if anyone expects a 12 large W12 luxobarge to be cheap to run, they are slightly psychotic!

 

But isn't it already? In terms of being as common as a Vauxhall it is.
Every segment catered for, from poverty spec. little 1 Series for badge snobs, to basic 3 Series diesels for paper clip salesmen.
With perhaps the exception of the 6 Series and tart cart/criminals M3 convertibles, no longer a purchase that people aspire to any longer.
Worse, there seems to be a stigma attached to owning anything with a BMW badge on it, ie buy a BMW and you're a flash berk