I Should Never Have Sold It!!!

[piscator]

Tonight I’m opining the one car I REALLY wish I’d held onto. It’s not a Porsche and I wouldn’t trade my Porsche for one. However, I’ve owned a version of every model BMW from 1969 to 1998 and I would trade any of those for this car. This car had AWD like the Audi’s I’ve owned, but it wasn’t an Audi.

The car I’m missing tonight was made in the 1980’s and had wonderful sport seats with grippy suede leather center inserts. It had a strong V-6 engine and handled beautifully. My particular car was silver and exactly like the one on the cover of Car & Driver. My car was technologically innovative in it’s time and the automotive press loved it!

BUT...I CAN’T FIND ONE!! I’ve searched for years and can’t find my car! Ferraris are ‘a dime a dozen’ and Porsche 959’s are ‘a snap’ to buy compared to my car!

I should NEVER have sold it! My car was quick, agile, and reliable. Audis and BMWs chased me! I put 55,000 miles on it in a single year! And had no problems at all!

I don’t know if many would share my passion for this great automobile, but since many of you could probably offer an accurate guess, I’m posting this as a (hopefully) pleasant riddle. In other words, can you guess what car I’m pining for!

The first Pelican with the correct answer gets a ‘thumbs up’ enthusiast award for automotive knowledge! And, if anyone can help me find a solid example of my car that’s for sale, they will garner my undying thanks!

Good Luck!

Robert

[speeder]

I give up.

[craigster59]

A 1972 911S and it now resides in Turkey. What do I win?

[piscator]

It's not a Porsche, BMW, or Audi.

Robert

[fanaudical]

1980's AWD car with a V6?

Pontiac 6000 STE?

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/pontiac/6000

[Sooner or later]

I was thinking Eclipse but they are mostly 90's

[legion]

Skyline GTR?

[Shaun @ Tru6]

Merkur XR4Ti

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by legion

Skyline GTR?

Nissan GTR is an I-6, not a V-6.

[legion]

Originally Posted by Tervuren

Nissan GTR is an I-6, not a V-6.

I thought some of the earlier models had an I-6.

[David Goodman]

Subaru XT6

[Sooner or later]

Might have a winner with the Subaru

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by David Goodman

Subaru XT6

Flat six, not a V-6.

[Tervuren]

V-6 is specifically mentioned.

Originally Posted by piscator

It had a strong V-6 engine

[Sooner or later]

Damn. There can't be many.

[piscator]

Congratulations Fanaudical! Well Done! I didn't think it would take long, but that was exceedingly quick! You definitely win the 'Thumbs-Up Enthusiast Award for Automotive Knowledge.'

I'm in contact with the gentleman who posted the Hemmings listing, so we'll see where that goes. I'd prefer a later version with the 'sports package' that I bought in 1988. It was silver and (as I said) just like the one tested in Car and Driver

The 6000STE may not have been as exciting to some as the BMWs and Audis, but it was a great 'all-rounder.' It was just so bloody competent: from twisty Vermont mountain roads to miles of boring New Jersey turnpike, the 6000 STE just ate up pavement!

I traded my Pontiac 6000 STE for a BMW 535I, which was also a great car. I was excited to get the 535I but even at that time, regretted losing the Pontiac. The 535i was better in the twisty stuff, but not as competent, across the board. The 535i is a close second as my favorite non-Porsche automobile.

Owning a 6000 STE today as a 'daily driver' would be a real hoot. And it would be fun to dress it out a bit and investigate possible performance upgrades. My idea of the ultimate 'sleeper-car!' Turbo anyone?

Thanks for playing!

Robert

[fanaudical]

Woo-hoo - I finally won something.

I thought that one was the most likely. Only other V6 AWD I could think of that era was the Alfa 33, but I don't think that was full-time AWD.

[LakeCleElum]

Guess it wasn't the AMC Eagle?

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by fanaudical

Woo-hoo - I finally won something.

I thought that one was the most likely. Only other V6 AWD I could think of that era was the Alfa 33, but I don't think that was full-time AWD.

Good job. I would have never guessed it in a million years

[unclebilly]

Gadzooks! That is not what I would have expected...

It reminds me of the 1985 Oldsmobile Firenza that my girlfriend (now wife) had when I met her in 1995...

An east Indian friend of a friend bought a Pontiac 'Goolie' several years ago. Nobody had heard of this model before. It turned out that the 'Goolie' was a blue variant of the Pontiac 6000LE.