newer car options = e30?

[///M42 sport]

Just wondering what kinda choices are out there that have similar qualities to the e30. And I mean things like practicality, reliability, enthusiast following, availability of aftermarket parts, relatively cheap to own, and cool looking. Also it has to be non bmw.

Nothing really comes to mind. ?

[e30_3I8I]

Nothing can compare to an e30.

[5Toes]

Mini Cooper S.

I saw one with a Dinan badge today in fact... totally badass. It had coilovers and was just totally awesome

[FeatherChini]

MAYBE...BIG MAYBE, a 1980's turbo diesel Mercedes. Even though I HATE Mercedes with a passion...lol

[NyC35AV]

Nissan 240 s13 ect. Real wheel drive, cult following loads of aftermarket support. It sure isn't an E30 but I couldn't really think of anything else that met all this criteria...^^^^ lol I used to own a 82' W124 inline 5 300SD turbo diesel, slow as bell but it sure was something. Oh, didn't realize you said newer....hyandai genesis coupe?

[VinniE30]

Just wondering what kinda choices are out there that have similar qualities to the e30. And I mean things like practicality, reliability, enthusiast following, availability of aftermarket parts, relatively cheap to own, and cool looking. Also it has to be non bmw.

Nothing really comes to mind. ?

e30 is all of those things so why not e30? You basically want to pay the price of a new car for an e30?:roll:

[kamotors]

I bought a 10k car and it doesn't really do anything better than an E30... Its not more comfortable, not more luxuruious, and doesnt get better gas....but its AWD and haz TURBO PWER!

[bmwstudent]

why non bmw? have you lost the faith?

[Kershaw]

I bought a 10k car and it doesn't really do anything better than an E30... Its not more comfortable, not more luxuruious, and doesnt get better gas....but its AWD and haz TURBO PWER!

i bought a $40k car, and its more comfortable, more luxurious, and more powerful than the e30. maintenance is a crap ton more expensive and mpg is worse.

so i started buying e30s. :rofl:

[ALYKZANDYR]

early 2000's AMG benz's. this eara the cars didnt hold their value at all, S55, SL55, and CL55 can be had for 18-25K. Only catch is this is when mercedes purposely cut the build quality, to make more $$ so the cars arent that reliable.

early 2000's lexus Is300 E39, E38's aswell

but really, the E30 does everything so well that unless you need a bigger car with more space ( E39, E38, S55) why not just stick with E30?

[Earendil]

There are two conflicts with what you want, "New" and "Cult following". When looking for a new car I specifically wanted something that had a good "following", if only because I wanted good DIY information.

What I found was that the few cars made in the last 10 years that had communities around them, the communities were people whose only question was:
"I've got 15 grand, which mechanic in my area can give me more power for that much money?".
It was retarded.

To get a good DIY community that loves their car, and not just what their car gives them, I think you need one of two qualities:
1. Cheap ass owners.
2. Owners that can't find a [good] mechanic to work on their car.
E30's tend to fall into both categories :D

I ended up with an 11 year old car as a DD. It has an awesome community, and the car is finlly being picked up second and third hand by people that are cheaper, and want to do repairs themselves. I'm hoping that the aftermarket parts department will start showing options in the sub grand category in a couple more years. The car? An E46.

TL : DR
People who buy new cars don't want to fuck with them, they want to pay someone else lots of money to fuck with them. No need for a community to do that.

The exception to the above would be solid track cars. I'd bet the reason for the Mini having a solid following would be based on the number of them that hit tracks. At least, with the people I know that have Mini's, they take them to the track.

As for cars that are LIKE an E30, I've heard the Z4 is the closest BMW has ever gotten to an E30, and that was from a writer at Roundel that owns 3+ E30's.

[ACHTUNG]

What about Miatas and S2000s?

[NyC35AV]

[QUOTE=Earendil;

I ended up with an 11 year old car as a DD. It has an awesome community, and the car is finlly being picked up second and third hand by people that are cheaper, and want to do repairs themselves. I'm hoping that the aftermarket parts department will start showing options in the sub grand category in a couple more years. The car? An E46.
[/QUOTE].

THIS! I currently own 99 323i 5sp. It needs work to say the least but nothing crazy. Supensuon bushings, brakes ccv and just did the belts and tensioners today. A lot of helpful DIY out there.

[Earendil]

What about Miatas and S2000s?

I'd say both those cars fall into the "track worthy", and thus have good communities around them even if they are newer/nicer cars. I'd say the Miatas far more so though.

[urbancynic]

I'd say either a mini cooper s or a vw gli or gti.

Both have a large following and lots of aftermarket support.