What was the E30's Rival...?

[e30trooper]

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

1991 M3 $35,900

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

[2slowe30]

e28s

[mikeedler]

just look at the old DTM videos.

the old 5.0 stangs
Ford Cosworth Sierra
Opel Kadett GSI-- the U.S. version was the Pontiac LeMans ca. 1989
Merc 190
the Golf II GTI- was over here the enemy of the e30s

[call me jack]

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.

i can't believe you were the first person to say the milano/75; what the first car that came to mind when i thought of a that is any thing close to an e30, in terms of power, weight and handling.

[AbeSonic]

the commentary on that video was PAINFUL to listen to.. since when is an M3 SUPERCHARGED?? I hate it when shit like this is on, because99% of the time its FAKED and totally FULL OF SHIT.


Back on track though, E30 vs Merc 190

Yeah the commentary was painful.
I wonder if that car is/was on R3v... lmao

[Massive Lee]

The Mercedez 190? Nah... It can't be...
I'm relatively familiar to the Euro world but I can't think of a worthy Rival...
Examples:
Subaru STI VS Mitsubishi EVO
Toyota Celica VS Eclipse VS Integra
Datsun 510 VS BMW 2002

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

[call me jack]

thanks! i would put their price in close relation to a c4 corvette... later years at least.
early years are too far off in prices to compare but an early e30 would probably compete similarly to a 350 camaro or a 302 mustang. (personally being a domestic person i would take an e30 over nearly any 80's car though)

Funny you mention that. i have records for my car from back in the day when it only had 10 miles on. A guy traded his '85 z28 for my brand new '87 bmw 325(e)

[Lance Racing]

Were these co-designed by Lotus?
Seems like I remember an 80's hatch - that while I despised the maker, it looked great - and someone had indicated that Lotus helped design its exterior..

The suspension was "designed" by Lotus was the deal on this car.

[Lance Racing]

Ford Sierra...

Wow, didn't they realize they were promoting a marshmallow suspension? Jeez.

[scottinAZ]

e30 vs camaro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TNd0_ctaOSk

the commentary on that video was PAINFUL to listen to.. since when is an M3 SUPERCHARGED?? I hate it when shit like this is on, because99% of the time its FAKED and totally FULL OF SHIT.


Back on track though, E30 vs Merc 190

[Sean]

It broke down! lol Hella

Wrong. It didn't. Notice during the scene where they show the car "breaking down" it's a slow motion version of the previous scene where the cop almost rear ended the M3 because the Camaro had drums and the M3 has real brakes. hehehe

I hear they went to his house later and arrested him. They just didn't want to show that someone evaded the cops - much less a 15yo. Frankly, I wasn't all that impressed by that cop's driving. Why did he have to swerve last minute around the spike strip? He doesn't communicate with his officers to say what lane its in? HAHAH

[Supadave]

I still say the MB 190

[ACMF74]

Ford Sierra...

my buddy had this it high school. it was so hot it literally caught on fire

[Simon S]

ah.
Interesting.

[quickervicar]

Were these co-designed by Lotus?
Seems like I remember an 80's hatch - that while I despised the maker, it looked great - and someone had indicated that Lotus helped design its exterior..

Lotus helped to tune the suspension. There were little green & gold "Suspension by Lotus" badges on the back.

As far as styling goes, IIRC Pininfarina originally designed that car way back. It was supposed to be the Mk 1 VW Scirocco, but VW thought it a bit too progressive & expensive to build. Isuzu bought the design about 10 years later. Makes you wonder if VW would have proceeded as planned, would the Corrado have looked like the current Scirocco?