Author Archive for Gunnar
Gunnar Heinrich is publisher of Automobiles De Luxe online and is executive producer of the Automobiles De Luxe Television series on PBS member station CPTV.
eBay Watch: 2008 BMW 128i Convertible
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img CarOne via eBay Motors ::: 2008 BMW 128i
BMW’s one-series has had its detractors.
Materials are too cheap, they say. They bemoan that the coupe and convertible both have the face of a pug and the belly of a pig, referring to the squished fascia and the doorsills that seem to sag in a low arc toward the road. It is, also, cynically overpriced.
Or was. The entry 128i convertible starts featuring BMW’s lovely 3L, 230 hp straight-six motor started in the low $40Ks. Time, 18K miles, and a little depreciation have cropped that figure down to size. The buy-it-now price on this still-warrantied black on black, off-lease, babied Texan 128i stands as a more equitable $25,950.
Did I mention that at that price you get a modern Bavarian droptop/boulevardier whose magnificent driving characteristics are more insync with BMW’s sporting heritage than any other (non-M) Bimmer since the E30 3-Series?
Pugs and pigs be damned, that’s one sweet car.
[eBay]
2011 Bentley Continental GT: Evolution Not Revolution
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Bentley Motors + Autoblog ::: 2011 Bentley Continental GT Début
WATCHING the teaser on Bentley’s posh new reveal site – ContinentalGT.com – and finding no tasty clues what-so-ever (c’mon a fender? a signal? anything?) I headed over to Autoblog which has already posted shots of the 2011 Bentley Continental GT. The industrious John Neff at work, no doubt.
If what we see is the reality that will present itself next model year, Bentley’s taken a relatively cautious, evolutionary step with its bread and butter coupe.
The most important changes to what’s billed as an all-new Continental GT – are headlights and front airdam that echo the Mulsanne saloon. The GT’s front fenders, too, have been softened to give the profile a better sense of length and less heft.
Is it prettier than the first Continental GT, released all the way back in 2003? Not so sure. More on this next week when the Continental’s officially unveiled on September 7th.
Bloody Fantastic Porsche Carrera GT Video
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: YouTube ::: Porsche Carrera GT Video
JUST listen to the Scottish host say “six hundred and twelve brake horsepower” when discussing the magnificent Porsche Carrera GT. Scratch that. How about just him speaking “power” which sounds more like “Pouerrrr.” It’s enough to amuse this Yank to no end.
Scotland rocks. As does the Carrera GT.
Anywhoo, take a wee gander at this bloody great film featuring the Porsche’s onetime flagship. It’s a corporate showcase of what some say was the last decade’s best supercar. Hard to know without driving Carrera GT and the Enzo back-to-back but we can live vicariously, can’t we?
Through a wily Scot, no less.
Swade + Swedish Car Day
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: Steven Wade about to enjoy a Saab Sonett II
ONE of the great pleasures of writing automotive drivel content for the net is connecting with other automotive aficionados from far and wide. They don’t come further than fellow scribe and Tazmanian denizen Steven Wade a.k.a. “Swade” from SaabsUnited.com.
Steven and his Tennessean cohort Mike a.k.a. “Eggs ‘n Grits” have been good friends and their writings for the Saab community are now the stuff of web legend. And it was fun chewing the fat with them over sausages and hamburgers Saturday night.
Swade and Eggs were both present in the Boston metro area for Swedish Car Day, an annual gathering of the Volvo and Saab Party Faithful at the Larz Andersson Auto Museum hosted by the nation’s oldest Saab dealer – Charles River Saab.
At Sunday’s Svenska service, Swade gave an address to the congregation on the state of Saab – which in the marque’s current state of independence from GM is in a critical moment of do or die.
On BMW’s Outstanding E32 7-Series
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: YouTube ::: img Sara (1997) via IMCDB ::: BMW e32 7 Series
PRECIOUS little’s written of the BMW e32 7-Series (1986-1994).
What’s online, generally, is content posted by owners that enthusiastically showcase their 735i’s aftermarket performance mods or 750iL’s 0-60 time on YouTube. Fine ‘n dandy, but none of these casual entries really do justice to the vintage e32 7er – a sharp, powerfully understated sedan with true Continental swagger.
Truth is – BMW’s e32 stands as one of the best model lines ever to roll off the line at Dingolfing.
When the second generation 7er debuted in 1986, the über-saloon launched the Roundel well into the 90s with pioneering technology and engineering that set the benchmark for performance in the luxury sedan market.
An ungoverned 750i/iL could sail past Mercedes’ 560SEL to 185 mph. At the time, that was no small feat.
Auto, Motor und Sport via Fuenfkommasechs.de
Catch is – the e32 started the industry trend towards a heavy reliance on electronics that’s hurt the model’s longevity. Good, functioning examples of 735i/iL, 740i/iL, and certainly 750iLs are increasingly rare due to high running costs. In particular, repairs of the 750iL’s 5.0 Liter, 300 horsepower V12, Germany’s first automotive 12 cylinder engine since the Weimar, are notorious for being Jaguar-involved and costly.
Still, sterling examples expertly showcase Bavarian road-going finesse and classic Teutonic taste. All the more reason that more should be written on the great e32.
ADLX Classified: Jaguar E-Type / XKE Wheels For Sale
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: Jaguar XKE / E-Type Wheels
FOR SALE: original set of Jaguar XKE / E-Type wire wheels.
Each E-Type rim is triple laced with 72 spokes – all of which are accounted for and in strong condition. By no means pristine, these 15″ E-Type rims are still in good overall condition, original, and were fitted to my mother’s 1970 Jaguar E-Type, Series II roadster.
As she no longer owns the E-Type, she really doesn’t have use for the spare set of Jag wheels. Though my inner gearhead thinks they’d make for good decorative pieces on the wall in her garage, I’m sure they could be put to better use.
Three of the E-Type wheels are still fitted with the original Michelin 185 SR 15 radials and one with a period, studded snow tyre.
She says she’ll gladly consider all reasonable offers. gunnar [at] automobilesdeluxe [dot] tv
Christophorus – The Porsche Magazine
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Porsche Cars, NA ::: Christophorus – The Porsche Magazine
AS an exercise in preaching to the choir and pitching converts-to-be, Christophorus – The Porsche Magazine – is a slam dunk, us Yanks might say. And, of course, the Columbian title gives the joke away that Christophorus is meant for Americans only. A disclaimer on page nine tells us so.
Porsche does a lot of things right. So – a marketing coup like Christophorus which is neither unique nor original (Mercedes, BMW, etc. all have their own publications) is another good sign.
The mag’s photography is CAR sharp. Every Porsche simply pops and I’ve never been enticed to look at a Cayenne twice, but in this instance I did. In this month’s issue (No. 344), the piece on Hong Kong inspires travel and the “Life Styles” bit about the art of sipping coffee in public featuring lovely brunette and espresso on carmel 911 cabrio is rich and aromatic to the eyes.
The writing is, well, a little commercial but that’s understood in this context. The point is the package sells the cars and the lifestyle. Christophorus demonstrates that Porsche knows how to tickle its clients.
And how to entice the rest of us.
Second Generation Mercedes CLS Takes A Bow
by Gunnar Heinrich ::: img Daimler AG ::: 2012 Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class
SEVEN years after forging a new niche – the four door coupé (with careful emphasis on the accent aigu over the “e” in coupe) – the Mercedes-Benz CLS-Class embarks upon its second generation which bows in Paris. Only this time the CLS will face plenty of competition; from the Aston Martin Rapide and Porsche Panamera to Audi A7 and BMW Gran Coupé. And despite the original CLS’ dowdy appearance that many misguided critics thought “sexy”, we should thank Mercedes for having the foresight to attempt to reintroduce sex into the sedan marketplace.
The first (C219) and likely the second generation CLS-Class coupés were/are based on the (W211 & W212) E-Class, only the new CLS is sculpted to appear even more provocative with “refined sportiness”, “athletic proportions”, and a “perceptible design idiom.” I’m not actually sure what that last bit meant but only know that Mercedes means business when they say it.
The original CLS-Class sold 170K units worldwide. With all-LED exterior lamps (71 bulbs in all) and more flame surfacing than a crême brulée shop (there’s that accent again!) we can expect similar enthusiasm particularly from the newly moneyed East.
As for skeptics, given that some of us thought the original CLS looked like it owed much to the late 90s Mercury Sable, the jury’s still out on the next generation.
And Now Your Automotive Moment of Zen LII
Mercedes-Benz E-Class Wagon (estate) in Top Gear
