trust

here's what I'm planning on doing:

swap a rebuilt (possibly euro spec) engine along with the tranny, which will cost roughly 8000 (including labor).

redo the car in nightblack pearl (another 3000)

redo the interior, with the red and black theme going on (which will be 3000)

so that's what - 15K + for a practically brand new car.


- OR -

I could just put that down for the 2005 STi.


What do you think?

BlownV8

Go with the newer car and a warranty. After investing $15,000 in a car, you will still have a car worth only $5,000 to $8,000 and you will still have issues associated with an old car. Not to mention, the STi will be more fun to drive, much better acceleration, newer safety features, and it has all wheel drive. No brainer to me. However, I'm sure some of the diehard 126 fans will disagree.

awinata

What kind of car and year? I am convinced that nothing is better than a 126 (they don't make them the same anymore)... and I would love to restore mine... but I wouldn't spend that much. If you need to replace all those things, maybe the car has too many problems to begin with and not worth restoring.

Just my 2cents,
Asher

braverichard

I am a strong W126 fan and as long as you're fine with not enjoying the advantages the W126 has over the STi (bank vault feel, interior room, road stability when there's good traction, M-B prestige), go ahead and purchase the STi because the STi has even more things over the M-B than the M-B has over it (new car warranty, four wheel drive, new safety features, new car that's less likely to be troublesome than an old car, lower fuel consumption, better performance, lower post-warranty repair costs).

With my tastes, the STi isn't even a car I would consider buying. At 6' 3" and 300 lbs, that'll be a tight squeeze for me to be begin with, before I even consider all the other advantages the W126 has over it. :p