What was the E30's Rival...?

[george graves]

You guys are forgetting that BMW was major upscale yuppy cars back in the day. Way more than it is today.

It was the p-cars, MB and BMW - that's it. Audi's were an odd duck. Not only that but whole unintended acceleration thing back then.

Secretaries drove drove VW's. Hondas/dautsun/toyota were once a pile of shit, but had just turned a corner and were now better than American cars. And American cars were a total POS - the K car at that point had been around forever.

Oh and sabb 900, volvos, and alike. They sold them to all the hippies getting liberal arts degrees that didn't really care about what they drove as long as they were different.

There was no such thing as an SUV outside of a Jeep and the occasional old scout or something.

Most people keep their car for 10 years back then. There were repair stations EVERYWHERE. Gas stations didn't have stores - they had 2 lifts, and they were busy night and day.

[5Toes]

I'd love pics of his car(s). 505's are great cars.


+1. Even though I did not exist then, my relatives, the P.O's of my car, left 'when in rome', depeche mode, and other tapes in various locations around my car

I can snap a few. Haha weird question to ask him though. "Hey Chris, can I take pictures of your euro goodies?"

[ejnight]

"The redline is an exhilarating 6200 RPM"

Had one. Fast car until a guy ran a red.:(

[Massive Lee]

+1. Even though I did not exist then, my relatives, the P.O's of my car, left 'when in rome', depeche mode, and other tapes in various locations around my car

Look for a stash of cocaine too... It was quite popular and "period correct" with the e30 chassis.

[freeride53]

505 turbo... my buddy has one. 1985 I believe. 200,000 miles, still ticking strong. Fun car with the LSD and 5 speed.

The guy also has a citroen 2CV6, 505 wagon, Alfa MKII Alfetta, and a bitchin Saab 95 wagon (the originate with a V4)

I'd love pics of his car(s). 505's are great cars.

The BMW e30 was the Ultimate Yuppie_Mobile in the 1980s. No competition.

+1. Even though I did not exist then, my relatives, the P.O's of my car, left 'when in rome', depeche mode, and other tapes in various locations around my car

[NuthinFancy]

Hot!!!

[eur04lif3]

....and i would have that over an e30 any day :)

[Massive Lee]

Well, there was no 1992 M3, so they could charge whatever they wanted for a vert!

Actually, there were tons of unsold e30 M3s in dealer showrooms for a few years. Which is why BMW NA didn't offer the e36 M3 in its original form when it was available in 1994 in Canada. Instead, there was a cheaper e36 M3 with a stroked M50 motor.

[mamzak]

Really price-point and market-segment wise, at least in the US, I'd say the E30 was pretty much stacked up against:

Mercedes 190e
Maseratti Bi-Turbo
Alpha Romeo Milano
Porsche 924
Volkswagen Golf/Jetta (higher-range ones at least, ie GTi/GLI)
Nissan 280ZX

...pretty much all mid-priced, sporty, but still luxury minded imports. You gotta figure that any of these were not marketed to the same folks interested in 'vettes 'stangs and cameros. Having pretty much grown-up in an '80s import shop I can say the clientel was different than the average American. You were either an import guy or a domestic-only driver.

Finally, a correct answer.

[RainierHooker]

off topic but why did a vert cost more than a m3?

1991 M3 $35,900

1992 318iC $28,870
1992 325iC $36,320

Well, there was no 1992 M3, so they could charge whatever they wanted for a vert!

[ill4noreason]

[5Toes]

505 turbo... my buddy has one. 1985 I believe. 200,000 miles, still ticking strong. Fun car with the LSD and 5 speed.

The guy also has a citroen 2CV6, 505 wagon, Alfa MKII Alfetta, and a bitchin Saab 95 wagon (the originate with a V4)

[freeride53]

volvo 240 turbo, peugeot 505 turbo/405 mi-16, 190 range, audi 80?, acura integra, crx, vw jetta.
on motorweek, the peugeot 405 mi16 & vw jettas were in the same class

[5Toes]

Ford Sierra...

"The redline is an exhilarating 6200 RPM"

[5Toes]

FIAT 125!!! Double lights, similar dimensions, RWD. "Slightly" cheaper though... They start to re-apear on Polish roads as collectioners' items.

Italian ver:




Polish ver:

Produced until like 1972... hmm before the first E30 was ever built... so not this