Travel. Did I mention you would be traveling? That’s right. Unless you live in California or Connecticut,[2] you will need to travel some unreasonable distance to go get your CGC. “Okay,” you say, “I am cool with traveling to get my CGC or even having it shipped to me.” Slow down and think that through. Do you travel with a buddy so that they can drive your current car and you can drive your new CGC back home? Or do you buy a refundable roundtrip airplane ticket so that you can cancel the return flight if you buy your CGC? Or still do you have the car shipped back sight-unseen or on top of your travel expenses? If these questions haven’t curbed your enthusiasm yet, then you are committed.[3] So you’ll need to find some mechanics.
Mechanics. That’s right, mechanics – plural. Unless you are MacGyver or Edd China, you will need to find a reputable mechanic to inspect the CGC before your buy it and another to maintain it back home. At this point, the thought of setting aside reserve funds and preparing an annual operating budget for your CGC sounds reasonable and downright responsible.
The Forums. Even though you are likely weeks if not months into your CGC search, this is probably a good time to make like Kenny Rodgers and know when to fold. Let us assume you’ve found your immaculate E24 M6 in Cinnabar Red. The pictures look great and your mechanic said the car appears to be in good order. All systems go, right? Well, you will still want to check out the Internet forums to see what E24 owners are dealing with on a regular basis. And one Google search and two clicks later you will see a convenient compilation of forum threads titled “E24 Common Problems and DIY Fixes.”[4] “It can’t be that bad,” you think. “I know how to change tires and replace windshield wiper blades.” Good for you. But can you remove a dashboard, repair a flywheel, troubleshoot the self-leveling suspension, replace the throttle boot, or repair the onboard computer? Probably not.
Start Over Again. So maybe an E24 M6 is a bit more than you want to tackle. Fair enough. By now you have spent months if not the better part of the year looking at E24s online.[5] At this point, you should turn off the computer, get some fresh air, pay your bills and contact your friends and loved ones (who, by now, have rightly assumed that you have either moved out of state or had a child ... or both). But first, you are going to open that e-mail you just received from your car buddy. “Dude, there’s a 1964 Jaguar MK2 4-Speed with Overdrive on Bring a Trailer!” FML!
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[1] Stop trying so hard, Ezralites. BTE is a fun band and Before the Robots is a great album. But no one will be impressed by your devotion to LSU’s greatest alt rock band.
[2] The concentration of Hollywood and Wall Street types respectively makes these two states fertile hunting grounds for CGCs. The snowbirds in Palm Beach, Florida also have some low-mileage CGCs on hand.
[3] You might even try making a vacation out of it. “Surprise, honey! I got us tickets to see Rick Springfield live in Branson, Missouri this weekend. And while we’re in Missouri, we can drive north to Springfield so I can chat with this guy I met on the Internet about his old BMW.” Expect divorce papers posthaste.
[4] You lost the Gentleman Motorist at “DIY Fixes.”
[5] You will never own one, but at least you will sound like you know a fair but about them the next time you encounter another automotive enthusiast.
Photo(s) from Wikipedia.