325ix Baur Convertibles. Yes you read that right

[Dave_G]

yeah, it's too bad, but better to save the punishment of rocks and salt for a modern throwaway car. My E30 stays parked in the garage during the winter for the same reasons.

Like many of us, I've had that same internal debate with myself. However, I have come down on the other side of the fence. When a modern throwaway car is as fun to drive as an iX on a twisty, snow-covered mountain road, or drift sideways around a frozen lake, then I'll agree with you. But so far I still haven't found a car that gives me as much fun in the snow as an iX.

When it recently came time to retire my old '91 iX, I considered long and hard what to replace it with, and finally decided on: another '91 iX. :) Sure, I'll treat it the best I can, wash it frequently, have it oil undercoated, and try to keep it well cared for as long as possible, but I'll still be driving it through awful conditions. I love seeing old E30s preserved, but I'm not a museum curator -- I'll leave E30 preservation in the hands of those more capable of carrying it out. Life is short -- I'll be the one out in the snow with the big grin. :D

[bradnic]

yeah i'm in the same place with my latest (and hopefully last) IX. will de-rust the heck out of it and take as good a care as I can, but I'm definitely winter driving it. I've got my vert for the dry weather, and a tricked out allroad ride the DD chores.

[nando]

Like many of us, I've had that same internal debate with myself. However, I have come down on the other side of the fence. When a modern throwaway car is as fun to drive as an iX on a twisty, snow-covered mountain road, or drift sideways around a frozen lake, then I'll agree with you. But so far I still haven't found a car that gives me as much fun in the snow as an iX.

When it recently came time to retire my old '91 iX, I considered long and hard what to replace it with, and finally decided on: another '91 iX. :) Sure, I'll treat it the best I can, wash it frequently, have it oil undercoated, and try to keep it well cared for as long as possible, but I'll still be driving it through awful conditions. I love seeing old E30s preserved, but I'm not a museum curator -- I'll leave E30 preservation in the hands of those more capable of carrying it out. Life is short -- I'll be the one out in the snow with the big grin. :D

I wouldn't call my E30 preserved - it's definitely a driver. I just don't see the point on beating the shit out of it. It aged more in the last couple winters I drove it than it had in the previous 10..

[Southernboy]

If I had the opportunity to really drive mine on snow covered roads, then I honestly might think about taking it out in the winter. But here in Switzerland, they are so meticulous about cleaning, and salting the roads, that 98% of the time you only drive in a wet salty slushy mess.
A few years ago a friend came down for a visit in his iX and wanted to take it out on some snow covered roads. One could imagine in Switzerland that this wouldn’t be a problem. We wound up driving over an hour up in the mountains till we found one tiny dirt road that hadn’t been cleaned.
Dave is right when he says that there’s nothing else out there that as fun to drive as iX, and drifting one of these in the snow is an absolute blast. However at least for me there aren’t enough opportunities to really enjoy it versus the wear and tear caused during the whole winter.
Here’s my current winter car, which is also pretty “entertaining” on a snowy road…:)