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Get an old second generation Lexus LS400, best engines in the world, very rugged, go on for 300,000 miles, great mpg, not excessively complicated and you can pick them up for peanuts....like around $900 in the UK for a mint one.
And 300,000 for a petrol engine is pretty magical.
You'll get all the luxury...leather, air con, console etc for peanuts.
The cars you'll be looking at will all have high mileage by nature, the Lexus is the only one that will keep on going on though.
Put it this way, I was seriously considering buying one with 140k on the clocks, just to pull the engine and put it in my 3.5 tonne deisel pickup for a bit of fun.
(We are all about efficiency, reliability and power to weight in Europe, a 6.2L Hemi would weigh more than my pickup and since we are limited to a gross weight of 3.5T and 5.5T train, without excessive tacho rules, it would be a waste of time, not even considering that deisel has been $2.20 a litre, or $8.32 a US gallon for the last 6 months now and rising).
I'II just add that my 74 horsepower Ford Transit can carry 1600kg (1.6T) of stuff on a 10' x 7' tipper body, weighs in at 1900kg kerb weight and does 32mpg loaded...and yeah it is a '97. In terms of efficiency, I bet that blows your minds eh! The equivalent F350's I've seen do about 10mpg and weigh in at over 3 tonne kerb weight unladen with a tipper body that is effectively the same size or smaller even and all I see is people running compost about in them, which weighs nothing and leave the engine running whilst they chat to people at the side of the road......what a waste...FFS. F350's are for show, a Ford Transit is for a pro. The secret is the monocoque sheet metal chassis design you see....which rusts out in about three years...lol.
Anyway LS400 all the way. I wouldn't touch a used beamer. The really old E class Mercs were ok too.
In a land where everybody runs BMW's, Mercs, Audi's or Lexus, the LS400 has proved itself top of the pile for cheap, reliable luxury.
However, if reliability is really your thing, get a 1990-2000 Ford Transit, that will do 450,000 miles on two oil changes and if the cambelt snaps, you can repair it at the side of the road with a hammer and get moving again. Body options include 10' x 7' tipper, 13' x 7' x 7' Box van pickup, 13' x 7' pickup, Dual Cab or single cab and van. None of which are available in the USA. Ear defenders and a welder for the bodywork are a pre requisite though and should be sold with the vehicle. The old '90's Toyota Landcruisers will also go on forever.
Just think, if you all paid $8.32 a gallon you could have free healthcare and benefits for all and you would know most of the cash goes to central government, rather than Jo Smo down at the local station who has decided to put up his prices for the weekend as its the 4th July.
It all depends on what you want. In my opinion, a truck is a mobile wheelbarrow, so I stripped the cab out for weigh so I can run as much as I can in it for the best fuel economy and running costs. I also have the opinion that a mobile phone is for phonecalls and frequently gets run over, so I have one that costs $15. If the badge and status is your thing, then an old Lexus isn't for you.
Jag S type are cheap too, although lesser luxury. They are basically Ford's a Mondeo chassis and running gear design with a Ford Lion V6 engine, good engine's them. LS400 is better though.
So....in summary it has to be a '90's LS400, a '90's Toyota Landcruiser or a '90's Ford Transit....I don't think you have any more options. Merc and Beamer parts are hineously expensive and you'll be able to get parts shipped for the Lexus...which you probably won't have to do, in fact you could probably just buy another one.
High mileage, luxury car with unknown history? Has to be the LS400, it's the only choice you have I reckon.
Don't let it's American looks deceive you, it's a proper car.
Ride like a pimp on the wage of a prossie!
And 300,000 for a petrol engine is pretty magical.
You'll get all the luxury...leather, air con, console etc for peanuts.
The cars you'll be looking at will all have high mileage by nature, the Lexus is the only one that will keep on going on though.
Put it this way, I was seriously considering buying one with 140k on the clocks, just to pull the engine and put it in my 3.5 tonne deisel pickup for a bit of fun.
(We are all about efficiency, reliability and power to weight in Europe, a 6.2L Hemi would weigh more than my pickup and since we are limited to a gross weight of 3.5T and 5.5T train, without excessive tacho rules, it would be a waste of time, not even considering that deisel has been $2.20 a litre, or $8.32 a US gallon for the last 6 months now and rising).
I'II just add that my 74 horsepower Ford Transit can carry 1600kg (1.6T) of stuff on a 10' x 7' tipper body, weighs in at 1900kg kerb weight and does 32mpg loaded...and yeah it is a '97. In terms of efficiency, I bet that blows your minds eh! The equivalent F350's I've seen do about 10mpg and weigh in at over 3 tonne kerb weight unladen with a tipper body that is effectively the same size or smaller even and all I see is people running compost about in them, which weighs nothing and leave the engine running whilst they chat to people at the side of the road......what a waste...FFS. F350's are for show, a Ford Transit is for a pro. The secret is the monocoque sheet metal chassis design you see....which rusts out in about three years...lol.
Anyway LS400 all the way. I wouldn't touch a used beamer. The really old E class Mercs were ok too.
In a land where everybody runs BMW's, Mercs, Audi's or Lexus, the LS400 has proved itself top of the pile for cheap, reliable luxury.
However, if reliability is really your thing, get a 1990-2000 Ford Transit, that will do 450,000 miles on two oil changes and if the cambelt snaps, you can repair it at the side of the road with a hammer and get moving again. Body options include 10' x 7' tipper, 13' x 7' x 7' Box van pickup, 13' x 7' pickup, Dual Cab or single cab and van. None of which are available in the USA. Ear defenders and a welder for the bodywork are a pre requisite though and should be sold with the vehicle. The old '90's Toyota Landcruisers will also go on forever.
Just think, if you all paid $8.32 a gallon you could have free healthcare and benefits for all and you would know most of the cash goes to central government, rather than Jo Smo down at the local station who has decided to put up his prices for the weekend as its the 4th July.
It all depends on what you want. In my opinion, a truck is a mobile wheelbarrow, so I stripped the cab out for weigh so I can run as much as I can in it for the best fuel economy and running costs. I also have the opinion that a mobile phone is for phonecalls and frequently gets run over, so I have one that costs $15. If the badge and status is your thing, then an old Lexus isn't for you.
Jag S type are cheap too, although lesser luxury. They are basically Ford's a Mondeo chassis and running gear design with a Ford Lion V6 engine, good engine's them. LS400 is better though.
So....in summary it has to be a '90's LS400, a '90's Toyota Landcruiser or a '90's Ford Transit....I don't think you have any more options. Merc and Beamer parts are hineously expensive and you'll be able to get parts shipped for the Lexus...which you probably won't have to do, in fact you could probably just buy another one.
High mileage, luxury car with unknown history? Has to be the LS400, it's the only choice you have I reckon.
Don't let it's American looks deceive you, it's a proper car.
Ride like a pimp on the wage of a prossie!
it looks badass and has 650 hp on tap, meets emissions standards everywhere, it will be under warranty, gets over 20mpg's, and you're not likely to see another one in your neighborhood 
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