Dan Crouch BlogSports Car and Motorcycle Enthusiast, Web Consultant, and Niche Publisher.

Yet another Renault Turbo 2 has been put up for auction on eBay. Check out this 1984 Renault R5 Turbo 2 for sale in Georgia:

quote from seller's eBay listing:

1984 Renault R5 Turbo 2 Street/Track. Beautifully restored and ready for tearing up the twisties. Originally imported and Federalized by Sun International and then further developed for SCCA competition.

The Rogers Racing TVTV engine has been completely blueprinted, has steel cylinder liners, a specially modified high lift camshaft, heavy duty valve springs, head modifications, and a modified fuel and ignition system. Leakdown was just checked (2/3/09) and the leakage was less than 5% on all cylinders.

This car is obviously far from stock, but looks like it has some well thought out improvements to make it a strong track day candidate.

I know there are several subscribers who have their eyes open for a T2. If I had spotted this one a bit sooner, I would've offered to check it out as I'm currently on vacation in Atlanta. Next time fellas

dc

Update: This listing is very out of date. Why not check out one of these R5's on eBay right now:

Back from the dead, I'm wrapping up a little vacation to Georgia to see my buddy FastEddieGTi for his birthday. Having just ate an enormous steakhouse burger from the Vortex in Atlanta (kick ass burgers!), I have some downtime to catch up on some blogging chores while my food digests!

Without further ado, here are the catch up links to GermanCarsForSaleBlog and RareSportBikesForSale:

1993 Honda NSR250 MC21 SE For Sale - At only $5500, this would be a cool addition for the track or the weekend backroads!

Low Miles 1988 BMW M6 For Sale in Montana - $22.5k sounds like a pretty good deal with this kind of mileage, and documented maintenance and upgrades. And the blue on gray with the M5 rims… Yum!

1985 Yamaha RZ500 For Sale in San Diego - At $7900, this falls right in line with other RZ500’s listed previously.

2001 Porsche Carrera Cabrio - Too Cheap to be True? - So why the skeptism? 996’s of any variation start in the high teens, and those have at least twice the mileage of this car. But heaven forbid this is the real deal… well I just can’t believe it is, but it’s fun to imagine.

A Pair of Ducati 900SS Superlight’s For Sale - These are pretty rare bikes and I think it’s an interesting opportunity for a prospective buyer to consider a well worn example or the museum piece.

1993 Ducati 888 SPO: Yep Another One!! - With a $10888 asking (clever), this is one of the more expensive triple eights to be listed on this blog. While most Ducatisti will agree this where they should be, I think this seller may have a long wait before finding a buyer considering what other examples here in the states have been going for.

Two More Titled MC 21 NSR250 Honda’s For Sale in California - Judging from the pictures alone, I like the Rothmans replica better from the point of aesthetics alone. For around five grand, neither one seems like that bad a deal considering they both have titles!

Is This The Cheapest Alpina For Sale in the U.S.? 1984 BMW Alpina 2.8 B6 For Sale - Now I’m sure “Big Ron” is a reputable guy and all, but I don’t expect this car to be a real B6 considering it’s condition and thorough listing on Craigslist. But if it is a Euro car, and it looks like it could be, and it has Alpina pieces, it’s probably worth that much in parts anyway. Could actually be a really cool basis for a project car. And heaven forbid it’s a real Alpina… It’s probably the cheapest Alpina for sale in the country.

1994 Honda CB400 Super Four - Now granted that’s 47,845 miles and no title. But with all the 2 strokes that have been showing up with titles, surely it can’t be that hard to pull off. This would be such a cool in-town commuter bike!

1990 Ducati 851 Loaded With Expensive Upgrades - It’s sacrilege to even suggest it, but parting this bike could probably turn a tidy profit. Of course that would be a shame because this bike looks so well sorted, and for $5k it’d be a real pleasure to the ride balls off of it!

1991 Porsche 911 Carrera 2 For Sale in New Mexico - I’m having a tough time trying to decide between a Boxster and a 964. My thinking lately is that there are far more Boxsters than 964’s, and that 964 prices might be more stable over the next couple years as a result.

4 Special Edition Ducati Race Replicas For Sale Right Now - I’m really not knowledgable about the values of these bikes. But they are obviously collector examples that will command some premium in the market. Which one would you pick as best value?

1991 Honda NSR250 MC21 For Sale in Vegas Baby - These are getting cheap enough that it’s getting harder and harder to make excuses about why there isn’t one in my garage. Obviously with the sheer numbers of 2 strokes listed on this site, you know I’m a fan. Talk me out of a gray market 2 stroke… or can you at these prices?

2001 M Coupe For Sale in Virginia - 27k miles and an asking of $24k? What could possibly be wrong with this car? I like all the modifications, but they do tend to devalue a car in the eyes of enthusiast buyers. And it also has that terrible two tone interior, red and black leather. But at this price, I’d consider it a bargain purchase and have the leather dyed!

1991 Suzuki RGV 250 VJ22 For Sale in California - $6k doesn’t sound too bad, especially considering it’s plated. And are those Arrow pipes? Yum!

BMW 2002 with Dual Webers, 5 speed, LSD, and Genuine Alpina Wheels - For the asking price, and the pile of rare parts that come with it, this could be a great little driver, a potential fixer-upper, or maybe even a weekend racer project. In any case, it’ll be a load of fun!

1984 Volkswagen GTI For Sale: Clean, Original, and Affordable - As a long time MK1 and MK2 VW fan, I’d have to say it’s been since high school since I saw a Rabbit GTi this clean and original. While $4500 may seem like a lot to some, good luck finding one this nice for less.

I was poking around Craigslist and found this fun little plaything: A 2000 BMW M Coupe with the Active Autowerks supercharger for $18900:

quote from Craigslist posting:

60 Photos @ WWW.WINDYCITYMOTORSPORTS.COM We at Windy City Motorsports are very pleased to offer for sale this very rare, and ultra cool 2000 BMW M Coupe. As if the M coupe itself was not bad ass enough, an Active Autowerke supercharger system has been installed to boost power and performance. This intercooled supercharger kit sells for $4,500 plus labor, and bumps the horsepower to 360 at 7.0 PSI of boost. All on 91-93 octane pump gas! This car is an absolute BLAST to drive!!! It is finished in Cosmo Black metallic over a super clean black leather cockpit. Buy with confidence knowing it is an AutoCheck certified accident free vehicle, and is laser straight. Rolling stock consists of the original BMW Motorsport lightweight wheels wrapped in brand new Kumho ASX high performance all season tires. The fluids are fresh, and the brakes are new on all 4 corners. It is ready to enjoy.

55k miles, 360hp, black on black (not that terrible two tone many have), and a somewhat rare sight really. I've always liked the M Coupes and they look so purposeful in person. For $18900, I'm turned on!

dc

Looks like we were right in assessing this e30 M3 I listed in September as a great buy -- because it's now listed in Seattle for over $6k more!

Check out the new listing for this 1991 BMW e30 M3 for sale on Craigslist:

quoted from CL ad for archive:

For sale is a very rare car in excellent condition! Only a few hundred M3s were imported to the US during that last year of production. The car is very stock with only a few modifications. Here's some basic info about the car:

Mileage: 118000
Color: White (Alpinweiss II)
Interior: Black Leather
Engine: 2.3L S14

Add-ons:
Korman chip for better mid-range performance
E36 OEM BMW Business CD Radio
Short Shifter
Staggered wheels (bought for over 1500$ on eBay!)

Recent jobs done on the car:
Front Right Wheel bearing
Complete tune up:
- wires
- spark plugs
- coil
- air filter
- ignition rotor
- distributor cap

Defects:
Scratch on the hood
Crack on the dash (a dash can be bought for 100-150$ and is rather easy to install)

I checked the engine and it has perfect compression on all 4 cylinders. Also it doesn't leak any oil at all. The mechanics on this car are really in an awesome condition. The tires on the original wheels are practically brand new. The ones on the car have some wear but can go for lots more miles. The brakes are almost new as well. The accessory belts should be replaced soon. I already have them and I was planning on replacing them in the summer. It's a real easy job if you have some DIY skills. The car just passed the emission test with flying colors which also proves that the engine is in excellent health and very well tuned. As for the body it is in very good shape. No rust at all. The interior (other than the crack in the dash) is in perfect condition.

Pictures:

http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q183/tcheb/M3/

http://s136.photobucket.com/albums/q183/tcheb/M3_2/

I am open to offers.

I like how he's even recycling the previous seller's pictures!

While I thought this car was a fantastic buy at $12,300 the first time, I'm not so enthusiastic about $19k. It's not that I'm opposed to someone making some money on a good buy, but a big part of me is disappointed a real e30 M3 enthusiast didn't land the car the first time. Maybe one will this time...

dc

Renault Turbo 2 fans rejoice, for there is another stateside example for sale and it's a beaut! Take a look at Jeff's 1984 Renault T2 For Sale:

quote from Jeff about his car:

Here is my R5 with the new wheels installed. It runs and drives perfectly and looks great. It has approx 42,000 kilometers and would be a great addition to any collection. I would like $35,000 with standard wheels or $37,000 with both sets. A good friend of mine bought his 84 in blue a year ago for $48,000 on the East coast and I have to say although his is nice, mine is nicer.

Thanks for contacting me Jeff, and good luck with the sale -- the car looks fantastic!

Contact Jeff about his T2 For Sale

And here is an older post with some good links on further information on the Turbo 2 from Renault.

dc

Collector car insurance has existed for over fifty years, but less than half of the vehicles that qualify for such coverage are not covered by specialty programs. Instead, most owners of collector cars, street rods, antiques, and exotics pay more money than they need to in exchange for standard insurance policies that are often more restrictive and less comprehensive.

If you own a collectible or exotic car, ask yourself the following questions:

• If my car is totaled, will I receive its full value?
• If I file I claim, will I get personal service?
• Do I mind paying for more than one type of liability?
• Do I mind paying a premium than is significantly higher than that of other companies?

If you expect excellent service, full coverage, and answered "yes" to the last two questions, collector car insurance may be for you.

Of course, you're probably also concerned about rumors you might have heard, that insurance for collectible autos comes with a lot of rules and regulations, or isn't meant for cars that are actually driven. Here are five things to help assure you that collector car insurance is a viable option.

1. Coverage: There are three basic types of automobile insurance coverage: Actual Cash Value, Stated Value and Agreed Value. Actual Cash Value (ACV) is what most standard street cars have. It pays out the "book" value of your car minus any depreciation in the event of a claim, which means the older your car is, the less value it has. Some mainstream insurers also offer Stated Value policies, which allow owners to "state" a value for their car or motorcycle that is greater than the depreciated "book" value. While this sounds good on the surface, and it is a better option than ACV, Stated Value policies still include some depreciation, and are also written so that the insurer only has to pay out an amount "up to" the value of coverage, not "equal to." Only Agreed Value policies guarantee a full payout in the event of a claim. With these policies, you and the insurer will agree on a value of your which recognizes the fact that collectible cars become more valuable as they age, and also takes into account any aftermarket modifications or restorations that have been made. Most reputable collectible car insurance companies offer only Agreed Value policies.

2. Valuation: While every insurance company handles valuation a little differently, most follow the same guidelines. Appraisals may or may not be required, but the following factors are considered:

• Originality: If the car is a stock original, valuation is much easier as there are statistics tables and book values that can be used to establish a fincial value. Modified and restored cars are more difficult to compare.
• Aftermarket Parts: The depth and details of a repair or restoration, or a modification, are considered. In all cases, you will get the best value for your car by providing detailed descriptions of any new parts – replacements or add-ons – that have been installed, preferably with pictures and receipts.

3. Vehicle Age: Some insurers require collectible cars to be at least 25 years old, but many are increasingly accepting brand new exotics, street-rods, and other collectible vehicles. Almost all collectible auto insurance is offered on a case-by-case basis.

4. Mileage Restrictions: Most owners of collectible cars, whether they're exotic performance cars or antiques, want to be able to show off their rides, but it is generally understood that such cars, even the exotic sports cars, are not driven to and from work every day. Some companies do impose annual mileage restrictions of 2,500 miles, but most have different scales of usage, and some offer unlimited mileage.

5. Other restrictions: Because collector car insurance is meant for the discerning, experienced, vehicle owner, there are common restrictions that exist. One is that drivers must usually have at least ten years of driving experience, another is that they must have clean driving records for two – and in some cases four – years, and a third is that the car must be stored in a locked facility when not in use. The vast majority of such restrictions are common-sense standards, and not at all detrimental to the enjoyment of your vehicle.

But What About the Money?

One of the major collector car insurance, Hagerty, claims that their policies are 500% less expensive than standard insurers, but this is based on antique vehicles. Still, the average premium on a collector car policy, even when covering a sports car, is significantly less than the same coverage (assuming it's available) would be from an everyday insurer. This is largely because insurance premiums are based on risk, and since most collector car insurance clients are experienced drivers who take good care of their cars, and live in upscale neighborhoods with extensive security, there is a lot less risk.

The bottom line? If you have a vintage motorcycle, a performance sports car, or even a real classic, collector car insurance will save you money, and give you the coverage amount you really deserve.

As I checked my numbers for Saturday's Powerball, I immediately saw that someone had in fact won the jackpot. And it wasn't me. Again!

Before checking the numbers, we took a quick trip to the Evergreen Aviation Museum in McMinnville, Oregon. I've lived here way too long to have never visited. And it's almost equally as bad that I didn't take any pictures. But there are lots to be seen on Flickr and I posted some below:

The museum is fantastic and should be seen for the Spruce Goose alone. But they have a great selection of aircraft that delight on their own merits.

Upon returning to the house, the bug to fly was really hitting me hard. So naturally I went surfing for King Air videos and found these two that I think you'll enjoy.

The first is a great landing in Nelson, BC, set to the sound of Chris Cornell performing Seasons:

The second is the absolutely disgusting commercial for the King Air. Even if I was that wealthy, I'd like to think this ad would turn my stomach. You be the judge:

Long story short, I'm very seriously considering joining the OSU flying club, which makes getting your license and access to aircraft, very reasonable. Gotta live the dream in any capacity you can right?!

dc

...King Air C90GTi that is.

The missus and I just finished a weekend road trip in the 5'er to Vancouver for a night at the Heathman Lodge. On the way back down I-5, we saw the sign for the $143mil Powerball and started fantasizing about what we'd do with a net of like $35mil, after cash up front (50%) and taxes (~50%). At the top of my list would be flying lessons to get my license and acquire a King Air to fly us and our friends around the west coast.

A 30k foot ceiling and pressurized cabin allows us to fly over the weather. Leather seating for six plus pilot, and even a lavatory makes for a comfortable ride. A 1200mi range at 300 miles per hour would allow us to easily hit the Bay Area, or Seattle, or Vegas, in less than a day.

It's fun to dream and it made the miles melt away pretty quickly. What crazy vehicle expenditure would you make?

dc

New Years Day I took a trip down to the Sports Car Shop in Eugene. My close friend Paul works there and the owner, Bob, approached me about pictures that they needed for a couple of the incoming cars. One of the cars is a 2006 Jaguar S Type R:

I'm a 'prosumer' quality photographer with only a little gear in my bag. But considering the equipment, I'm okay with how these turned out. Especially this close up of the leaping cat and Jag badge. I made wallpapers out of these in 1680 and 1152 resolutions:

This is quite a striking car in person. I didn't get any seat time in the car, but the specs speak for themselves: (Edmunds.com)

The standard engine is a supercharged 4.2-liter V8 rated at 400 horsepower. A six-speed automatic transmission sends the power to the rear wheels. Performance is exemplary, with a 0-to-60 time of just 5.3 seconds, according to Jaguar, and an electronically limited top speed of 155 mph.

I'll be going back down to shoot outdoors later this week. I'll get details then regarding price, miles, etc... Stay tuned!

dc

Looks like the NSX market isn't immune to the recession either. A scan of NSX Prime Marketplace (the place to surf NSX anything online) a year ago and you would've been hard pressed to find any NSX for less than $28-30k. There are at least 3 right now for less than that and with decent mileage. Both of these stood out to me because of the color combination's, decent mileage, and the somehow reasonable looking $25k price tags.

First up is this Black on Ivory NSX For Sale in San Diego:

quote from seller's NSXPrime listing:

Black/Ivory

5 speed
72,044 miles

Only mod is Flowmaster Exhaust, but it still looks stock with the original tips.
A/C Head Unit was replaced a few months ago.
Clean Title. Runs strong. Selling because it doesn't get driven enough.
Extra set of Stock 1991 Wheels+Tires Included.

Next is a Silver on Black NSX For Sale in Florida (I presume):

quote from seller's NSXPrime Listing:

1991 Acura NSX
5 Speed Manual transmission
Not in snap ring range
68,000 miles
Only 467 sebring silver cars ever produced!
Car has only ONE OWNER before me. It has never been in an accident.
I trailered the car to PA at the end of 2007.

All original with the exception of
-new koni adjustable struts (originals ones included)
-custom exhaust
-8000k philips HID (self installed)
-window film
-upgraded chrome wheels from 00 model (original ones included)

No issues except
-climate currently only blowing on high, needs hvac rebuilt
-super tiny ding on lowest part of front right fender
-front spoiler is scratched, I will include a new one, but you install.

Service Records
-When I was reviewing the records I left it outside overnight during a rain storm, all of them blew away and I had to go hunting for them. I believe I lost about 20 pages.
-engine serviced, timing belt and water pump around 55,000 miles
-clutch and transmission rebuilt around 45,000 miles
-lots of other work, 90% of work done at Acura of Pompano Beach / Rick Case Acura.

Buyer will have one choice of
1. chrome wheels currently on the car.
2. solaris silver wheels nearly perfect

I would soooo love to have an NSX in the garage. Even though a collision would bankrupt me, the rest of the package is so well balanced and reliable. As prices come down, it's even easier to justify the thought. I'd go with the black one for the great color combo, but that's getting a bit nit-picky as both are beautiful. I wouldn't kick either one out of bed for that price!

dc