If you have a cool $100,000 to spend, Joe Kenwright finds some serious machinery at up to six figures off replacement cost...
BACKGROUND:
Prices in the upper levels of the prestige and sports car market always face realignment when a new Mercedes-Benz S-Class or Porsche Carrera series arrives. Add increased fuel prices and a tariff reduction from the start of 2005, an imminent all-new Jaguar sports coupe, a major Audi A8 update, critical BMW 7 Series revisions, a new Range Rover Sport and an all new Mercedes-Benz M Class and there has never been greater pricing pressure on existing upper crust models.
1993-1997 BENTLEY TURBO R
Why? Volkswagen ownership has added significant equity and youthfulness to the Bentley badge with the smart new Continental GT coupe and coming derivatives. Because the Turbo R was based on the ageing Rolls Royce Silver Spirit/Bentley Mulsanne first seen in Australia in 1981, it is your best chance of getting into a recent Bentley performance model with the distinctive quad headlights in the $100,000 range.
From late 1993, the Turbo R followed the major Series III Rolls Royce upgrade and had its power boosted to 265kW. It was followed by sleeker front styling and new piece front door windows in late 1995.
A final intercooled version arrived at the close of 1996 with 286kW and 17-inch alloy wheels. If you like the sensation of having your lounge room lifted up by a giant hand then hurled down the road, you will love the Turbo R. Despite a half-million dollar price tag when new, service costs are on a par with premium German rivals providing preventative maintenance is up to date. A range of very good private imports (and some not so good) have kept used prices sharp.
2002-05 BMW E65 735i/745i SEDAN
Why? Like or loathe the Chris Bangle look, it marked the end of an era where you needed to find the badge to tell whether you were looking at a 7 Series or 5 Series. The new E65 Series was in your face from day one. I know exactly where the two in my area live and what their owners do and so do my neighbours. If you want profile, presence and pernickety 'iDrive' controls, there is nothing to rival the early examples.
While 'iDrive' seemed like a good idea at the time, any feature that needs two weeks of familiarization can too easily appear as "ican'tDrive" to the electronically challenged. BMW has since had to back pedal on the complexity and tone down the wild looks which leaves the first E65 examples as pure icons of adventurous design or misfits depending on your perspective.
Personally, I find the whole 'iDrive' process intriguing providing you don't have to throw its electronic security module (there is no key) to other drivers. If you don't get a thrill negotiating electronic wizardry, shop elsewhere. It would be a pity as the rest of the car is amazingly competent with a choice of 200kW (735i) or 245kW (745i) and the slick ZF six-speed auto now seen on local BF Falcons.
Laden with gadgetry, it tips the scales just short of 2000kg so it is an exercise in excess as well as complexity, which is why the used market is a little coy over such a recent standout model.
1986-90 FERRARI 328 GTS COUPE
Why? A $100,000 budget gets you comfortably into the last of the classic mid-engined Ferraris based on the icon 308 series or the first of the new generation 348 tb/ts series. As one who was forced to look at both in a previous job where I was expected to drive an exotic classic, I opted for neither when I had my doubts about whether the 348 could hold its $225,000 launch price and the 328 was looking tired against its 348 replacement. That has all changed. Despite their flaws, both now represent outstanding entry points at today's prices for the genuine Ferrari sports car legend.
The 328 GTS is now established as the desirable combination of a decade of constant refinement with the classic looks of the original 308. Towards the end, Fiat ownership had honed away most of the rough edges at the expense of some character. They dropped into the low $100,000 range over five years ago and have not shifted in price since. It is the best chance of buying a recent unleaded mid-engined sports car and holding onto most of your money.
The 348 initially came as a tb Berlinetta coupe or ts T-top Spider and both could prove quite a handful in high-speed cornering. Even today, the 348 looks stunning but there are some big mechanical bills early in its life. On its own, the 348 was a worthy step forward but it pales against the refinement of the F355 upgrade hence the faster depreciation. Forced to make the choice, I would opt for the 328 GTS as I still dream of owning at least one modern Ferrari before I end up like that old guy in the ad...
2003-05 JAGUAR XJ350 XJ8 3.5/4.2 SEDAN
Why? Like most Jaguar fans, I was bitterly disappointed at the all-new XJ350's derivative looks that were more circa-1970s Jaguar XJ6 than 2003. In Australia, owners of the previous and popular X308 series have baulked at a typical $120,000 changeover price to get into a new one when the neighbours wouldn't notice the difference.
Yet every Jaguar expert I know drops into a reverential tone when discussion turns to this current Jaguar XJ8 series. Superlatives like the "best luxury car ever built" or "new benchmark for any Jaguar ever" are typical of the comments from those who service or sell them. In my book, that demands a closer look.
The Jaguar's huge advance is the state of the art all-aluminium monocoque body with strategic magnesium reinforcements that is quite different to the aluminium over space frame Audi approach. The 3.5 delivers 196kW while the 4.2 unleashes 224kW, both through ZF's magic six-speed auto. With a kerb mass of just 1615kg or up to 400kg less than its porky German rear-drive rivals, today's Jaguar is outstandingly quick, frugal and agile for a full-sized luxury car. Europeans who can see past the retro looks rave about it.
Used examples are not exactly thick on the ground but if you take today's fuel costs into consideration and forget about the $50,000 price tags of the previous model, they make plenty of sense in the low $100,000 range. Other family members won't need a training course to drive it.
2003-05 LEXUS LS430 SEDAN
Why? You either rate the Lexus LS430 up there with the best in the world and get over its Japanese origins or you close your mind completely to the outstanding engineering quality, meticulous build quality and amazing reliability over an incredibly long life. These premium Lexus models are as long-lived as the materials sourced on this earth and owner care can allow.
The Lexus badge is the only reason why this $175,000 benchmark comes into the orbit of the $100,000 buyer. The September 2003 freshen-up gave the front some extra attitude and distinctive dual exhausts at the rear. Top shelf features such as rear seat massage, 11-speaker Mark Levinson sound, satellite navigation, rear parking camera, Bluetooth, swiveling headlights, tyre pressure monitoring and laser controlled adaptive cruise control make the LS430 outstanding value as a used purchase.
The 4.3ltr V8 engine is also a benchmark with its 207kW and potential to last up to 1.5 million kilometers with the correct servicing. With a potential operating life of 50 years, the challenge is for most drivers to outlive it!
1998-2002 MERCEDES-BENZ R129 SL500 CONVERTIBLE
Why? A top shelf Mercedes-Benz convertible is always a dream for some and this one was always worthy of the superlatives heaped on it over its long model life which started in 1990. Mercedes-Benz slipped into some bland, slabby styling during this period and while it didn't affect the R129 SL500 as much as others, it suffers by association. The revitalized styling of today's Mercedes-Benz sports models has dated previous models like the SL500 earlier than before.
The SL500 was the original 500SL renamed in 1993 and is the best compromise between the complexity and high running costs of the SL600 V12 and the tame SL280 six. Our $100,000 budget should get you into one of the final specification examples upgraded at the end of 1995 and again at the end of 1998.
The last SL500 specification had a heavily revised M113 V8 engine that cut weight and fuel consumption significantly as the new price approached $300,000. New five-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, twin slots in the front guards and a simpler tail light design were further distinguishing features. Most examples on offer have covered exceptionally low k's and a $200,000 saving over new price is not to be sneezed at.
2002-05 RANGE ROVER VOGUE
Why? Today's Range Rover arrived in a market that was starting to draw a line at massive luxury 4X4 barges that approached 2500kg even if the new model redefined luxury, offroad ability and style in the one package. As owners and the market take stock of where this is all heading with fuel price increases and a rash of lighter and more frugal SUVs, this might be a good chance to buy the best Range Rover ever at an affordable price when it is still almost new.
The 2005 update added more powerful Jaguar V8 engines and the latest six-speed auto, and that brings more of the earlier examples with the BMW 4.4 V8 engine and five-speed auto shared with the BMW X5 or the six-cylinder diesel closer to our $100,000 budget.
Although the new shape added over a half metre in length, turning circle was reduced and luxury levels went up a notch. The first range-topping Vogue examples launched in August 2002 cost $156,000 new for a big saving today. Be aware that their sheer size and excess could make it the focus of future anti-4WD sentiment if it has to live on inner city streets.
2001-02 PORSCHE 996 CARRERA
Why? Porsche purists turn their noses up at the 996 with its extra size and refinement and its departure from the rawness and traditional looks of the 911. Not everyone parks their Carrera in the garage until club track days. Some pre-996 Carreras may well be more agile, quicker and more fun when the roads are empty but as a daily runner, the 996 Carrera is in another league.
There is room for hefty occupants to move, the air-conditioning and ventilation function like a proper modern car and after a hard day's work at the office, it will almost drive itself home compared to the effort required in an earlier model. Right now is a good time to look at a near-new 996 as the latest 997 is challenging owners to update.
My choice is the MY02 update launched towards the end of 2001 with the later "fried egg" headlight style launched with the Turbo so it doesn't look like a Boxster. The engine was boosted from 3.4 to 3.6ltrs for a healthy 235kW hauling a modest 1320kg and the early teething troubles with the six-speed manual were behind it. If a $100,000 car could ever be described as a bargain, this one is when today's prices are such a big saving over the $186,000 new price.