Best DD for the money?

[InuFaye]

I really want to get a 135i.

[slammin.e28]

Paying homage to Motherland? These cars are expensive when comes to repair. Parts take forever to order from England. Not a definition of dd.

Wait what?

I've always gotten stuff next day for mine.

[mrsleeve]

For what its worth. I had a 98 Cavalier 2d base model with the 2.2 and a 5spd. I paid 450 bucks for it, (in 04) had to put a clutch in it and did some basic maintenance all in all had about 650 bucks in it. Drove it like I stole it, and used it like a work truck on construction sites for 4 years. Put 85k miles on it in that time, with out doing anything to it at all other than change the oil. Sold it a buddy of mine for 650 bucks, who then put another 100ish K on it till he was t boned. All with just 1 wheel bearing and minor wear items. It had something like 270k on it and still going "well" till he got hit in it. That 2.2 is hard as hell to kill,

[graphikg]

e34 touring - Cheap and its a tank. Plus - very versatile.

[Wild Ride]

I would DD an e34 touring but only a really nice one with a motor swap and a 5/6 speed like a m60, s52. I understand wanting to be a loyal BMW owner but the US offerings just don't do it for me.
530i is the maintenance of an 8 and the power of a 6 and the aluminum blocks are prone to failure.
The 525i auto is really really slow and still less reliable than a volvo red block. The suspension engines and electrical systems are literally twice as complex with twice as many moving parts.

If you want a nice cheap wagon there are better options. If you want to spend 8k and build an uber wagon yea I would totally do an e34 or e39.

I almost bought an e34 touring but found a volvo turbo wagon was faster, lighter, just as comfortable, cheaper to maintain and more robust and cost 50% as much. During the PPI on the e34 all the suspension bushings were toast and the car was running on 7/8 cylinders, sagging headliner broken full length moonroof to start it off. The volvo? Dana 30 rear axle, crank up the boost and for 1k in mods the stock trannies will hold 250whp the stock blocks and heads will hold 300whp+. For $2500 the Stock block with H beam rods and junkyard 16v head swap with valve springs will hold 500whp and 700ft/lb and pull 10/11 second 1/4 miles.

See doesn't this look like fun? I bet this guy spent 8k all in. At the 4:00 mark he dusts a modified e30.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAfd7_xX-bw

[TimKninja]

All this talking of DDing the E30 makes me want to say fuck it and drive it through the winter anyways. I put 10k on it in the summer with NO problems.

I'm DDing the family beater right now, an 03 Corolla. I can't imagine anything any more dull.

Kinda looking torwards w123 or MK3 Jetta/Golf as Winter car now .

[dnguyen1963]

Wait what?

I've always gotten stuff next day for mine.

Maybe, there are more dealerships in VAGINIA.

[illest318i]

Any japanese small pick up, those things last forever.

[G-Man]

An E30 5 speed eta car makes a great commuter car. They get good gas milege, diving board bumpers help in city traffic, and they are fun to drive. My current 86 E30 325 eta 5 speed has 320K on it and it keeps on ticking....

G-Man

[InuFaye]

Maybe, there are more dealerships in VAGINIA.

We have like 3.

Roanoke, Richmond, and VA Beach.

[slammin.e28]

Maybe, there are more dealerships in VAGINIA.

WorldPac ^_^ Dealers don't support anything prior to 1995 anymore.

[graphikg]

I would DD an e34 touring but only a really nice one with a motor swap and a 5/6 speed like a m60, s52. I understand wanting to be a loyal BMW owner but the US offerings just don't do it for me.
530i is the maintenance of an 8 and the power of a 6 and the aluminum blocks are prone to failure.
The 525i auto is really really slow and still less reliable than a volvo red block. The suspension engines and electrical systems are literally twice as complex with twice as many moving parts.

If you want a nice cheap wagon there are better options. If you want to spend 8k and build an uber wagon yea I would totally do an e34 or e39.

I almost bought an e34 touring but found a volvo turbo wagon was faster, lighter, just as comfortable, cheaper to maintain and more robust and cost 50% as much. During the PPI on the e34 all the suspension bushings were toast and the car was running on 7/8 cylinders, sagging headliner broken full length moonroof to start it off. The volvo? Dana 30 rear axle, crank up the boost and for 1k in mods the stock trannies will hold 250whp the stock blocks and heads will hold 300whp+. For $2500 the Stock block with H beam rods and junkyard 16v head swap with valve springs will hold 500whp and 700ft/lb and pull 10/11 second 1/4 miles.

See doesn't this look like fun? I bet this guy spent 8k all in. At the 4:00 mark he dusts a modified e30.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAfd7_xX-bw

Making me ponder here... What Volvo wagon are you talking about? What model?

[uofom3]

Whats wrong with e30?
Its cheap, reliable and easy to fix...

This.

[dnguyen1963]

This.

E30 is not cheap anymore. Have you seen the asking price lately?

[bmw325_num99]

The answer is Subaru

Manual transmission, 4-cylinder Subaru wagons (but not the 1998-2002 2.5L variety, 2.2L are fine). Anything before and after works. I am on my 5th Subaru wagon and could not be happier.