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Once I settle down somewhere I would like to pick up an older 7-series to drive around and tinker with. Thats my vote however not really a dream car of mine.
The ML will have the easiest affordability in the repair department. You would have to be a glutton for punishment to go with a 750. If you must have a 7-series, get a 740.
The ML will have the easiest affordability in the repair department. You would have to be a glutton for punishment to go with a 750. If you must have a 7-series, get a 740.
I agree with the comment about the 750. I really like that generation of 7 series, but the 12 cylinder will be very frustrating to own. My friend has a 850i and it is not running 1/3 of the time. I joke with him that it is really a six cylinder car - the other six cylinders are spares.
The Range Rover will spend even more time in the shop.
With any of these vehicles, if the purchase price is too low, you can easily spend the same amount on mechanical restoration. I would agree that the 7-series is the best bet, but not the 750, which is significantly more expensive to maintain and operate than a 740. What may happen with a pre-owned model, with any of these, but especially a niche 12-cylinder is the dreaded deferred maintenance on the part of a previous owner. There are more examples of a 740 on the road, hence the better odds in finding one that has been maintained responsibly.
One thing to remember, though, is that the purchase price is affordable now, but the maintenance bills are still going to be a factor of the original price. That is, unless you can perform the majority of the work on the vehicles yourself. Even when nothing major is wrong, it's not difficult to sink $800 to $1k in the cars in a service visit, especially with an aging flagship.
The ML was not great when new, but it was less expensive, and would have lower general repair bills. The only problem is the frequency of repair would increase, assuming you wanted to maintain the vehicle in top condition. The Range Rover will suffer from higher repair, and likely higher frequency of repair, because they are a vehicle that tends to be bought by some who are looking for the appearance of status, without doing actual maintenance. As such, they may be inexpensive to purchase, but difficult to own, especially when the air suspension malfunctions. That bill is expensive, either in a replacement, or in conversion.
BMW had some great six-cylinder engines in the early 2000s, so if I were to suggest a BMW that would be less likely to give trouble, assuming a prime example mechanically, I would look to a 5-series, especially from the 2002-2003 vintage. Another BMW that's fun, and relatively trouble-free, from the same era, because they were simple cars is the Z3, if you want a roadster. I know that the Z3 is a departure from what you're considering, but they are fun cars to have as a second/third/fourth vehicle.
I know that you said you were going to keep the car for a bit and then get rid of it, but that can be risky with these models, as you may lose a signifcant amount on resale, and/or maintenance/repairs that will likely become an issue. I would steer clear of the RR and the ML, since IIRC, you have an SUV, so you don't need a tempermental $WD (yes $, not 4) in the garage, too.
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All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.
~William Shakespeare (As You Like It Act II, Scene VII)
I get what the OP is saying. When I was a kid there were cars I thought were cool but no way could I afford them. Well....now they are affordable (although not like new anymore). So here's the big chance to get one before they die.
When I was a kid I thought the neighbor's mid-80's IROC-Z was just awesome. I could probably find one for next to nothing and live that nightmare....er um....dream....myself.
What by the way is interesting about an ML320? It was M-B's first mainstream SUV. And not particularly good at anything. It does not have a reputation for reliability. It isn't fast. It isn't very interesting looking.
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