1994 Alfa Romeo 164 Q4

The 164 split critics when it debuted and continues to polarize today. The main problem was drivetrain. Had it been another large, expensive rear-wheel drive sedan, it actually would have fit in with the competition and maybe even stood out a little on its own merits. But it was given a front-wheel drive platform that was shared with other European automakers like Lancia and Saab. In the US, the only similar cars in its high price range would have been a Cadillac. It didn't stand a chance against BMW or Mercedes-Benz.

It's a shame because the 164 was otherwise pretty neat. Its nearest relative, the 75/Milano, was a sharp, roomy, fast rear-wheel drive sport sedan. The 164 was given a similarly fresh design that contrasted with the more traditional German designs at the time. The body courtesy of Pininfarina is clean, simple and forward thinking. This example looks fine in black, though I prefer the classic red paint typically seen on others. The rare Q4 package adds ground effects and a rear spoiler that gives it a menacing, hunkered down look.

The real sweet spot of the 164 though is underneath the hood glistening in polished chrome: a 3.0-liter 24-valve 6-cylinder engine good for nearly 230 horsepower, really impressive for the day and still decent now. Just like Cadillac's maligned Allante, however, all the muscle was sadly directed to the front wheels, producing quite a bit of torque steer and dismissing it as a serious contender.

This example has just 126k on the clock. The seller says they are the second owner, have records available, did major maintenance and added new parts.

Here's the one saving grace about the 164. It makes for one of the most entertaining, stylish and still useful (with those four doors) second hand car out there, because most of them go for a fraction of what even the cheapest new car costs.

Available here on craigslist for $4,000.

1994 Lada Niva 1600

The Lada Niva is to Russia as the Jeep Wrangler is to the US: that standard, rugged, dependable two-door off-road vehicle. It is made by Russian auto manufacturer AvtoVAZ, formerly just VAZ. The Niva has been in production since the late 70s, remarkably surviving the fall of the Berlin Wall and the collapse of the USSR.

The Niva was the first AvtoVAZ product not to be directly based on a Fiat. It shared some Fiat 124 mechanicals, but the body, four-wheel drive system and independent front suspension were all unique to AvtoVAZ.

Styling is pretty neat. It's typical 70s Eastern European mod, compact, hard angles and pure function but not without some character and soul. The red paint helps brighten things as well.

The seller says this is a 1.6-liter 4-cylinder gas version mated to a manual transmission. It won't win any drag races (unless your racing a Yugo) but it will get the job done and not guzzle fuel. Another bonus is the 4WD system, so fear no winter, either.

Mechanically, the seller says it runs like mint, with new battery, fuel pump, oil and filter and brakes. They say it has racked up just 85,000 kilometers which equals only about 52k miles. Cosmetically, they don't mention the exterior but say inside is immaculate with no rips, scratches or tears.

I would definitely check for rust. Otherwise, this is a sweet alternative to the ubiquitous Wrangler or too expensive and fussy Defender 90.

Available on ebay here with bidding at $2,300.

73K-Mile 1994 Mazda RX-7

Mazda's RX-7 made quite an impression when the charming first generation debuted in 1978. By then, the Germans had long abandoned any notions of mainstream, mass-produced rotary engines. But Japan hadn't given up on the quirky engine setup, which was noted for its smoothness and high output, although not necessarily reliability and efficiency.

Successive generations of the RX-7 have come and gone, but the 90s version remains the most enigmatic. Firstly, it's rare. Mazda only offered it here from 1993-1995 and never sold many, hence pulling it off the market so quickly. Second, it was the only rotary engined car available. The rotary engine is a piece of complex machinery, and is not measured by cylinders. This generation RX-7 came with a sequential twin-turbocharger unit that was good for north of 250 horsepower, impressive for the time. But despite being a quality, capable rear-wheel drive sports car, it was often out-shined by stiff competition like the 300ZX, Supra, Corvette and NSX. Lastly, the styling, while admired for its simplicity, is almost a little too soft and anonymous to stand out in a field of alpha-personalities.

Only three models were offered in North America: base, touring and R. This is a 1994 model that is being offered by a private seller. They don't specify what trim it is, but it seems well equipped with a sunroof, leather seating and a rear spoiler, all of which are rather must-haves on this type of car.

They say it has just 73k miles on the clock. It's no garage queen though, and has dings and dents on the body along with a worn driver's seat.

Mechanically, the seller says it runs and drive nice. Reliability will depend on their upkeep, so check for proof. I'd also check for accidents. These were fast cars and inexperienced owners often pushed them to the limits, with repercussions. Scarce parts and service might be expensive, as well.

The seller is asking $12,000, which is a large chunk of change for an old car not in perfect condition. But, the mileage is low enough and the car itself rare that it is still desirable. Knowledge is power and will help in negotiating.

Available here on craigslist.

9,821-Mile 1994 Mazda Protege

Did you miss out on the '94 Protege when new? Here's your second chance. This little puppy has just 9,821 original miles on the odometer. What on earth has the owner been doing with it all this time? One thing is for sure: not driving it.

There is a running joke here about ultra-low mileage second hand cars: they are always the blandest of cars. Why can't it be something rare and fantastic? But then, a low mileage Mustang Cobra or Porsche 356 wouldn't be much of a revelation, since they are already in museums and are always being built and restored. The beauty of finding a low mileage econobox is that literally there may be nothing else like it anywhere, as no one thinks twice about preserving them. So when examples like this pop up, take notice.

The Protege was otherwise known as the Familia in markets outside North America. It was Mazda's entry level car from 1963-2003. This is a sixth generation "BG" Protege, which were produced from 1989-1994. It basically treads Civic and Corolla territory quite well, nothing more or less, although the sheetmetal is extra tidy and slightly better looking. And although many Civic and Corolla were sold and remain on the roads, I can't remember the last time I've seen a BG Protege.

Look at the design. The frugality and economy on display is bold and fresh in an era like now when car design is bulbous, pompous, pretentious and over-the-top. This thing has Unpainted Plastic Bumpers. Sure, they are a little unrefined, but they deflect dirt, tar, rock chips and light impacts mighty well. And if they did hit something head on, you can bet they are easy and cheap to replace. How about that? When is the last time a car manufacturer was worried about ease and cost of cosmetic repairs? There is also no passenger side mirror. I kind of see the wisdom to that, given how it must improve aerodynamic flow on that side by what, a fraction? But it must be a pain parking and backing up, not to mention dangerous changing lanes. Small price. Then there are the simple, machine hole-poked steel wheels as opposed to the grossly oversized rims we get today. These little recessed wheels reduce weight and and are protected from curb rash by the tire rubber.

Inside, accommodations are just as sparse and simple, and the seller says it has the rare factory radio, clock and air conditioning delete option. Conveniences include just power steering and those interesting automatic seat-belts, which, on paper, seem like a great idea. I can't remember how many times I had to prod my parents to use their seat-belts when I was a child (ever the thoughtful child I was). This would have conceivably eradicated the need for me to do so.

Under the hood is a 1.8-liter 4-cyldiner engine mated to a 5-speed manual transmission powering the front two wheels. Keeping under 50 miles per hour on a flat road you could easily see 30-40 miles per gallon in this.

The seller backs up their claims of the super low miles with a carfax report that shows just 1-owner and no accidents, which is really impressive. The condition in the photos also seems unreal. They say it starts, runs, drives, shifts and brakes like a 9k-mile car should. Given that these are reliable, this thing is ready for 200k miles, which, if the average person drives about 13k miles a year, would be 14 years of relatively simple and cheap transportation. Given that the car was built in 1994, that would mean a collective 32 years of on again off again use. That's pretty incredible.

Available here on ebay in Berlin, New Jersey with bidding at $2,776 and no reserve.

62k-Mile 1994 Volkswagen Passat GLX VR6

What is the Volkswagen story? Maker of people's cars? Innovators? Leaders? Followers? Forever indebted to national socialism? Regardless of personal opinions they have been extremely influential in the automotive industry since their formal inception in 1937. For most of the late 20th century, they pushed a fundamental philosophy: the sophistication of rear-mounted engines available prices farmers and peasants could afford. There's a lot to respect there.

This all shifted with the 1974 Golf, however. Sure, the angular styling by Giugiaro was superb, and it was still affordable, but it was otherwise a front-wheel drive economy car. The same consumer money that was used to buy rear-engine technology was being used to buy simplistic front-wheel drive. That is not a fair exchange anymore. You're getting less.

To add insult to injury, their front-wheel drive cars grew more expensive than comparative American and Japanese offerings. Suddenly, the people's car was a snob's car. This fate was sealed by the late 90s and early 2000s.

Their Passat of the 80s and 90s did make some practical sense, however. Given the choice of a 1994 Toyota Camry or Volkswagen Passat, I'd choose the Passat. For starters, the 1988-1996 "B3" generation is really good looking, way cooler than the Camry or Accord. For mid-size sedan money, you got very neat and clean German design the Japanese and especially Americans just couldn't imitate. The grille-less front and minimalist headlights are a nod to the company's rear-engine past when grilles weren't necessary, and look to the future with influence from their super low drag coefficient concept car. So the aesthetics were nailed down well.

The other neat thing about the Passat was the range of engines, from four and six cylinder gasoline engines to diesel engines. Their diesels are legendary. For those who want more power, however, there was the VR6, which stood for "Verkurtz Reihenmotor". This was a 2.8-liter 6-cylinder engine whose two banks of cylinders were offset and titled from each other at smaller angles than on traditional Vee engines, so it is not quite a Vee, and yet not quite an inline. It gave the B3 Passat 172 horsepower.

The seller of this example says it only has 62,130 miles, qualifying it as a low mileage survivor. Volkswagen sold a ton of Passat, but most were in Europe. It still lagged behind in sales to the Taurus, Camry and Accord at the time. I can't remember the last time I saw a B3 Passat, but I'll take notice next time I do. This one looks good in a dark exterior color, and comes with top-of-the-line goodies like a factory rear spoiler, alloy wheels, fog lights, and heated leather seats.

Available here on ebay in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with bidding at $1,075.

New Classic: 1994 BMW 530iT

The E34 is an emerging new classic as BMW shifts more radically away from these designs and good examples becoming harder and harder to find each year.

The styling by Ercole Spada working closely under Claus Luthe is nothing less than brilliant. They took everything that was good about BMW in the past and looked into the future, ending with a statement that is timeless, which was no doubt their secret goal. The E34 was a monumental feat in that it leaped beyond the outgoing E28 yet it still retained a core BMW identity of post-industrial Euro-Germanic technology. It's aggressive but restrained, flashy but conservative, formal but sporty.

The E34 debuted in 1988 and lasted until 1995, becoming the standard issue upper-class mobile of the developed world during that era. Along with the E32, they marked a new chapter for BMW as they went toe to toe with rival Mercedes-Benz for the first time. The E34 is every bit as competent and good looking, if not more so, than the comparative 1986-1995 Benz W124.

A lesser recognized wagon version was also offered. Mercedes already established a strong reputation for wagons in the U.S. with the W123 and the W124 continued doing so. It was hard for the E34 wagon to beat. Since the E34 is primarily an ultra-functional car designed for speed, comfort, and reliability, the idea of a wagon is especially sensible, and the design is handled very well.

This is the 530, which was only offered in 1994-1995, the final two years of the E34. It featured a brand new 32-valve DOHC 3.0-liter V8 engine producing a healthy 218 horsepower directed to the rear wheels. Only 37,292 were produced, and even less were V8 station wagons. The larger 540i was also available. In a rare slip up from BMW, these suffered from the infamous Nikasil problem, but if this example has made it to 150k, the block was either replaced or it was never affected.

It's important to note that even Mercedes-Benz never offered a V8 in a wagon. The V8 wagon segment is so small I can't even think of anything similar. A Chevy?

These also came with an over-sized sunroof that opened from both ends, so front and rear passengers could enjoy air and sun from above.

The seller is a dealer and report the odometer as reading 150,562. They do mention an accident appears on the Carfax in 2007, but there is no visible damage, so it was hopefully repaired. They also note some wear and tear on the body, paint, and interior.

Honestly, the condition actually strikes me as slightly better than typically seen and the car looks good overall from a distance as a lot of BMW do. This is so much car for so little price that most flaws can easily be overlooked.

Available here on ebay in Orlando, Florida with a Buy-It-Now of $3,995 and the Make Offer option.

Supercar Alert: 1994 Jaguar XJ220 on Ebay

The XJ220 is easily one of the coolest and most beautiful cars ever made. So-called for its targeted top speed of 220 miles per hour, it was never originally intended for production, but was so well-received at the 1988 British Motor Show that Jaguar did make just 281 examples for public consumption. One can imagine the awe it inspired as Thatcher-era yuppies licked their lips and feasted their eyes on it.

The original concept had a V12 and all-wheel drive. For production, a twin-turbocharged V6 was used instead to reduce weight and complexity and increase balance. It was mounted in the rear of the car and pumped out 542 horsepower to just the rear wheels.

Keith Helfet's styling is truly something to behold, a masterpiece looking both back and forward at the same time. It almost reminds me of something Luigi Colani might create. In the 80s, Jaguar was moving away from their luscious curves of the 50s and 60s and towards harder edges and boxy shapes in vogue at the time and employed to great effect by the Germans and Japanese. But when the XJ40 debuted in 1986 with large rectangular headlights, it backfired, and almost killed the brand, along with quality and reliability issues. The XJ220 revived association of Jaguar with sensuous curves and did so in a manner that was futuristic and classic at the same time. It's a huge home run and is one for the ages.

Inside, occupants are surrounded by sculpted leather racing seats, stitched leather dashboard and extra analog gauges on the door.

The seller says this example has just 960 miles on the odometer and is clearly a near-mint museum-quality collector's piece. The XJ220 is amazing to look at, very fast, and extremely rare. It is a classic supercar from the late 80s/early 90s heyday of supercars, and is a high point in Jaguar's history.

Available here on ebay in Barrington, Illinois for $300,000 or "reasonable offers".

Mega Rare 1994 Cizeta Moroder V16T

Have you ever wondered what the godfather of synth music would drive if he could create his own vehicle? Look no further than this beast. The godfather is Giorgio Moroder and the car is the Cizeta.

If you think this looks a lot like a Lamborghini Diablo, it's no coincidence. When Lamorghini was readying to replace the aging Countach towards the end of the 80s, Marcello Gandini, creator of the original, offered a wild new design. But Chrysler had a controlling interest in Lamborghini since 1987 and softened the edges of what Gandini submitted. Gandini took it as an insult, so he and a band of employees quit and joined forces with Claudio Zampolli to create a new brand and execute his original, pure, undiluted vision of an all-out supercar.

Gandini's vision features harder corners, crisper lines and geometric shaped. There are no circles, except for the wheels. The rear tapers dramatically down to the nose, pulling the side windows with it. The front features four (!) pop up headlights in stacks of two, smoked turn indicators, and four fog lights below that. In a slight misstep, the cheese-grater side intakes are too similar to the Ferrari Testarossa, but later versions would have more creative vertical slots.

The seller provides one dark and blurry photo of the interior. It's all-business and no-nonsense, swathed in dark plastics and leather.

In the rear is the stuff of fantasy. The Cizeta is powered by a two transversely mounted 90-degree flat plane V8 engines in one 5,995cc block. That's right. This monster has 16-cylinders working to move it from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds!

The Cizeta was launched with a glittery presentation at the 1988 Los Angeles Auto Show, beating the Diablo by two years. The press was excited, and the idea of having synth maestro Moroder's involved upped the glamour and coolness factor by an infinite degree. The car was priced at $300,000. It made quite an impression, but this was out of reach for all but a select few. The economy was slowing down, and tastes were changing. As such, just a mere 8 were made until the company dissolved in 1994. It was also never made street legal for North America, and a red example was famously (and shamefully) confiscated by the U.S. government in 2009, with a local agent snootily claiming it posed a threat to "public safety and health". What a load of sh*t. Don't they have anything better to do than steal private property? Bill Clinton's infamous Show & Display law (to help pal Bill Gates nab a Porsche 959) still lets people import non-street-legal cars, but just not for use on public roads. So what gives?

It's not exactly clear what has happened to Cizeta in successive years. And although Moroder invested in the car and original press releases bore his name, it never actually appeared on the car except on the prototype. Sources say Moroder pulled out in 1990, and the original Italy-based Cizeta company went bankrupt in 1994, but a website is up and running and accepting orders of the vehicle at a build-on-demand basis. Zampolli was last heard moving to California and founding Cizeta Automobili USA. Did he own the red car that was confiscated? Is Cizeta still alive? Will they ever be road legal here?

Fortunately, this example is somewhere in Europe, where it must be legal to drive. The seller states it is one of 3 built in right-hand drive, and the only one in blue. They don't list an odometer reading, but say it is in excellent condition. I'm betting it's been barely touched.

This thing has enormous history, super-low production volume, and tons of style and power. The fact that it's such a naughty car to have here only makes it more seductive and elusive. I love it.

Find the dealer listing here in the Czech Republic, and a classic car site ad here, where they say the price has been reduced to $500,000.

1994 Jaguar XJ12

How would you like four-doors and 12 cylinders for $1,999?

The code-name XJ40 body was nearly 15 years in the making. Jaguar had intended it to replace the XJ Series II, but production was delayed for one reason or another. Styling, however, continued at an even pace over the years, culminating in a debut at the British International Motor Show in 1986. The Series II XJ, meanwhile, was sold alongside the XJ40 until 1992.

Below is a development photo.

So what does 15 years of continuous styling yield? Sadly, not a shape everyone loved. Purists scoffed at the squared off edges and single-piece rectangular headlights that replaced the iconic quad round lamps. The instrument cluster was digital. The car was more modern than gothic the way Jaguars of the 1950s, 60s and 70s had been. But if the goal was to modernize the XJ, Jaguar succeeded. In a lot of ways, it was actually a very carefully crafted and good looking car. It still retained the classic long and low profile, and the rectangular headlights actually looked better on the boxy shape than the round units they later added did. It was offered in a bunch of rich colors and it looked good in every one of them, too. Jaguar had to move forward and they did so in the most appropriate way possible.

If most people were eventually won over by the styling, the XJ40 gained no fans for reliability and build quality. Sure, it's a solid car, but it just wasn't designed or made the way Mercedes-Benz were. The problem is that the XJ40 was intended to compete against the Benz, but it fell short yet again. By the end of the 1980s, when the Japanese had jumped into the ring with the Lexus LS400 and Infiniti Q45, both of which were faster, cheaper, far better made and arguably better looking, Jaguar was lagging far behind. They've never really recovered, either.

However, Jaguar still had one card up their sleeve their Japanese competitors didn't: the V12 in a four-door sedan. Jaguar had pioneered this setup, and had offered it before Mercedes and BMW jumped into the game. But Jaguar hadn't offered the V12 in the U.S. since 1979, and the XJ40 series only gained the 12-cylinder in 1993, just a year away from the whole car's demise entirely. By then, however, it made sense, as BMW had the 750iL and Mercedes the 600SEL. Could Jaguar keep up? Would it matter?

Jaguar's engine was a 6.0-litre HE version of their long-running V12 engine that dated back to 1971. More than 140 inner body parts had to be re-designed to accommodate the new V12. It was the same V12 used in the XJS during the same period, and produced a very healthy 318 horsepower powering the rear-wheels.

Only a total of 2,991 were ever made, and just 1,325 were exported around the world. By the time this powerful car debuted, the XJ40's reputation was too damaged to ever recover, and sales reflected that. If you thought the 6-cylinder XJ might be problematic,12-cylinder reliability and upkeep could be an absolute nightmare.

Fortunately, if you want to find one, they are available at inexpensive entry prices. This example is being offered up by the owner who says it runs great and has a functioning tachometer, speedometer and odometer. They state the mileage as 137,000, and wears new tires and a new battery.

I'd ask about any maintenance history available. But if you're looking for cheap and fast transportation, this could easily fit the bill and provide more than enough entertainment as well.

Find it here on craigslist in Tucson, Arizona.

A Whole Lot Of Car: 96k-mile 1994 BMW 740i

This is a lot of car for not a lot of money.

The E32 was BMW's flagship sedan from 1987-1994. These are beautifully crafted cars, inside and out.

Styling is courtesy of Ercole Spada working closely under Claus Luthe. Together, they created a modern classic that finally brought BMW up to the level of Mercedes, at least in the eyes of critics and car enthusiasts alike. The car was meant to take on the legendary but aging W126, and if it didn't match that car's reliability, it certainly did match or even surpass in performance, handling, style and comfort.

The price of taking of Mercedes was that the 7-series would never again be like the smaller, lighter, and less complex E23 that came before this model. But for a moment, at least with the E32, it was worth it in an overall better car.

 

They were initially powered by either a six cylinder engine or the notorious V12. Then, in 1993 the 740i/iL 8-cylinder appeared and the 735i/iL 6-cylinder was dropped. The V8 provided similar performance to the V12 without the maintenance headaches (although the Nikasil engines proved problematic after all). E32 production ceased in 1994.

Even sweeter was the short-wheelbase 740i, forsaking the longer wheelbase variant's complex air suspension and lengthy body.

The 4.0-litre V8 pumped out 282 horsepower, healthy for the time and still respectable today, although we have six cylinders producing that much now.

Used BMW cars in the USA run quite the gamut in condition. "Everybody" wants a BMW, with the classy Claus Luthe-era styling, rear-wheel drive and powerful engines. Since they depreciate fairly normally, when prices drop they end up in a variety of different hands, some of whom don't have the means or dedication to maintain these properly. In short, finding clean, relatively low mileage examples like this is increasingly rare, especially for the E32, which have all but disappeared from US roads.

The seller says this car has under 96k miles and has had recent maintenance done. A Quick carfax check will flesh out the rest of the story and either make this the winner it looks like, or something to avoid.

But for only $3,800, this sure seems like a really slick, very comfortable and capable cruiser. Me want, very very badly.

Find it here on craigslist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Power Hauler: 1994 BMW 530iT

File this under 'cars I'd love to actually own and drive regularly'.

The E34 chassis cars, which were produced from 1988 to 1995, are my favorite BMW of all time alongside the similar-looking E32 7-Series which ran from '87-'94.

Not only do they offer all the prerequisite excellent rear-wheel drive handling, powerful engines and top-notch build quality, they are brilliantly designed and styled. Just as Italian Bruno Sacco was responsible for the peak Mercedes designs of '80s, Italian Ercole Spada was the utter genius who penned the E32 and E34, considered by many to be the finest BMW designs ever, yet nobody knows his name. They are perfectly realized cars, the summation of everything BMW had been going for. They were nothing like what came before and nothing like what came after, certainly not today.

This is a 530, which has a 3.0-litre 8-cylinder engine that produces a healthy 282 horsepower. It's also a "T" for Touring, or station wagon. While some wagons loose the sex-appeal of their sedan counterparts, that didn't happen with the E34. The wagon is every bit as handsome as the sedan, and in some ways even better looking. The rear back slopes perfectly, and the taillights are slightly broader to balance the larger glass hatch. The whole thing looks low, sleek and aggressive thanks to the car's already awesome stance and the merciful absence of roof racks (though that doesn't stop owners from frequently adding aftermarket ones).

Have I mentioned these were designed so well?

Forget your Volvo station wagons. With ample trunk space, rear-wheel drive and V8 power, this is THE family hauer to have.

The seller states this car only has a few flaws: some dings and dents, and a leaking exhaust.

Inside, we have one of the greatest interiors of all time. Everything is where you expect it to be, every shape and form perfectly crafted for both aesthetic and functional success. The white leather was beautiful when new but usually wore awfully with subsequent owners and shows dirt clearly. Definitely invest in industrial leather cleaner and spend a warm dry day gently working them.

The seller lists the mileage as 166,000. That's a lot. These also had a known V8 engine problem where the Nikasil that lined the cylinders reacted poorly with low-quality U.S. gasoline, preventing the engine from starting. The solution was a whole new small engine block. Ever a responsible company, BMW extended the warranty on these cars. If this one made it to 166k, the block has either already been fixed or there never was an issue.

This thing will be especially sweet if you snag it for under $5k. With the high mileage and typical wear and tear, it's just not going to feel as good if you pay anything over that. But it's still a great car and you really can't go wrong with it. They are rare, but not extinct yet. Pre-owned BMW cars are among the worst used cars out there because they've typically been passed down the food chain several times to people who can't afford or don't know how to properly maintain them, so they end up filthy and trashed, on top of just plain driven a lot, being "the ultimate driving machine" after all. But there is nothing else like it on the market. Even today's gee-whiz 5-Series doesn't offer wagon version here.

Find it here on ebay in Williamson, New York.