Help me decide between 3 car's to buy Update on car A:

[Il Duce]

the answer is neither. lets face it, you won't do the auto -> manual swap. the 318ic seems cool, but meh. and no to early e36s. 'specially with that many miles. just wait it out. or buy an e30 m3.






(last comment was not a good one, do not take seriously.)

[Rob]

good point ;)
It needs to be used as a DD and a good platform for everything else.

everything else being.....?

[blunttech]

its just an opinion but heres mine. keep looking. id never get a high mile e36. a 318 cabrio is boring (sorry cabrio owners) even if you do an s50 or s52 into it you cant track it. im not a cabrio guy myself altho lots of guys on here have nice ones. if i were really rich id have 1 of each. hold out for a 318is or 325i coupe with a manual in the same price range.(doesnt sound like youre enthused about doing a 5 speed swap) never rush into buying any car, new or old. ive done it too many times
the fact you are asking tells me none of them are "thee car". youll know when it falls in your lap

[Digitalwave]

If you are doing an x50 swap anyways, the tranny swap can go in at the same time and you are going to have downtime no matter what. And whats the purpose of getting a cabrio if you want a hardtop for it anyways?

[Jarvis]

And whats the purpose of getting a cabrio if you want a hardtop for it anyways?

E30 cabrio hardtops are dead sexy.

[Koony]

Why are you limiting yourself to just these three cars? You could have about any e30 for that price. I bought mine off ebay sight unseen for about four grand. Has everything I want except plastic bumpers. That is something that can easily be changed, unlike a transmission.


Don't settle for a car that isn't everything you want..... or damn close.

[E30SRPower]

what do you want it for, ie what purpose? you need to elaborate on your question if you want something other than simple preference based answers.

good point ;)
It needs to be used as a DD and a good platform for everything else.

Don't DD the cabby. Mine is gonna see like 2000 miles a year.

[wastedincome]

Why are you limiting yourself to just these three cars? You could have about any e30 for that price. I bought mine off ebay sight unseen for about four grand. Has everything I want except plastic bumpers. That is something that can easily be changed, unlike a transmission.


Don't settle for a car that isn't everything you want..... or damn close.

I'm not really limited to these 3....But I like to see in person what I'm buying ;)
as far as I'm concerned I rather do a tranny conversion then tracking down good plastic bumpers. (I've tried that game before)

[wastedincome]

And whats the purpose of getting a cabrio if you want a hardtop for it anyways?

E30 cabrio hardtops are dead sexy.

;) ;) RIGHT !!??
Laguna, shadow lined & tint w/ a nice drop :P

[wastedincome]

Well wanting to do some track days, etc is what's kindda killing the cabrio vote.

[golde30]

Well wanting to do some track days, etc is what's kindda killing the cabrio vote.

umm..i have seen cabrios doing track days... can we say daves old mtech2 cabby... and for scca autoX, u can totally run a cabby, mark gold runs his lagun 318ic...

[E30SRPower]

Yeah dude. Mine is gonna geta good flogging on the track/autox course every now and then.

[Jordan325iC]

I'm gonna second the patience vote. When you want a new car, you just want to have that new car. If I had even been remotely hurried in getting my "new" BMW, I would have been much less happy than I am now with my very nice 'vert. Wait for something much closer to what you want.

[DarkWing6]

I'd go A hands down. Being an auto and low miles means you have a cherry motor to work with. $3k ain't a bad price either if it is good shape, especially with the moonroof. You could prolly get the car for around $2750 and then for another grand or so do a tranny swap and suspension and you are set.

[blunttech]

Well wanting to do some track days, etc is what's kindda killing the cabrio vote.

umm..i have seen cabrios doing track days... can we say daves old mtech2 cabby... and for scca autoX, u can totally run a cabby, mark gold runs his lagun 318ic...

must be different rules where you live. here in gods country you cant go near a track with a cabrio. autox yes but not the track