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1987 325 Coupe Review

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    1987 325 Coupe Review

    Hey guys, I have some free time so I thought I would put down some thoughts about the car I purchased. Last month I purchased an e30 that was slightly modified and I thought I would do a write up as what I thought of the car now that I have it to where I want it ( for now)

    First off my intro is here http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=262527

    Now, I've had my share of cars. Several Integras, Civics 2 WRXes and at the end of the day the total comes to about 28. Most of the 28 cars were CL purchases just to drive around and sell after a few months. My last really fun car was a 1995 M3 5SP.

    The only other E30 I drove belonged to friend of mine. It was an S50 swapped 1989 Delpine gray which I drove a total of two times. I must say that I was totally hooked the first time around and I had to have one. Suddenly every car I ever drove seemed like an ungainly turd bucket. I was supposed to buy car from him but a new Pruis ended that.

    Now i'm driving my new to me 87 e30 and I'm loving it. I have to admit I've been a little hesitant to drive it at full throttle as it seems to rev alot quicker than I am used to and the rear tires seem to break free at will (bought a new set of Federal 595's today so hopefully that helps).

    This is my first experience driving any e30 so I have no idea what a normal or "stock" e30 feels like. The S52 motor is a great powerplant especially for a car that wieghs so little. Each gear seems to fade into oblivion and the power is just everywhere. I've had fast cars before but this is in a different league and it's a ton of fun. The UUC brakes seem to bite smoothly and stop the car rather quickly. I have never been on a non drag race track so I don't beleive i'll actually use the brakes as they were meant to be but it's nice having the stopping power when and if I need it.

    I've had many "short throw" shifters but the one in this car is especially crisp and precise.. it even feels better than my S2000, I was expecting it to be difficult when I read the parts list but it seems to shift even better than my stock e36 M3 did. The previous owner really did do his best to make the car drive and feel great and my hats off to him.

    One of the best seats i've ever sat in were from my 2003 WRX. I must say that these "sport seats" that were installed and reupholestered are every bit as good as possibly better than what I had in the WRX. The fit of the seats is very snug and supportive. I do not believe I will change them for some from the after market.

    I have to admit that i'm not he best driver, I have trouble measuring distane visually so this prevents me from driving a car as it was meant to be driven, That being said I am very impressed with the handling of the car. I almost get no body roll and transitions from turn to straightening out and vice versa are handled very well. The suspension make me feel like a driving hero and it always gives me a grin when I downshift into a turn and then accellerate as I straighten the car out.

    The first thing I liked about E30's were the bodystyle but now that I own one that is modded and must say I am VERY happy with my purchase. There is a VERY clean automagic white e30 near my house that is for sale. .. part of me wants to buy it just so I have more E30's to look at in front of my house.

    Sure, some of you may think I am a noob beause I recently signed up and bought a modified car and basically just addded a steering wheel and an alarm but the situation came up and I jumped on it. I actually planned to start stock and mod it as I owned it but hey, I got lucky.

    Here's a list of stuff that i've done since I purchased it.
    New KYB struts on front (one was blown)
    New Federal 595 RSR all around
    Steering Alignment
    New Stereo/Keyless Entry
    Momo Type 78 suede steering wheel

    If I had to do it all over again i'd buy this car again at least three more times:):p


    I look forward to meeting some of you in person at gatherings and stuff.
    -Art

    #2
    Hey, I'm pretty new around here too and I'm taking the route you planned to by starting with a stock car. I love mine and enjoy making it better whenever I can. I will admit that you have some...unusual changes in mind, but to each their own I suppose. Congrats on your purchase and enjoy it! Your intro was equal parts funny and upsetting, so well done there.
    Last edited by ELVA164; 10-01-2012, 05:40 PM.
    Interested in vintage cars? Ever thought about racing one? Info, photos, videos, and more can be found at www.michaelsvintageracing.com!

    Elva Courier build thread here!

    Comment


      #3
      Congrats! Glad you like it.
      Originally posted by Sagaris
      He wasn't around because he spent 7 years in jail for assault. There was a group of guys doing a 24v swap on someones car and one of the neighbor kids came over and starting too many questions. Tempers flared, sawzalls did work, and he cut the kids leg off. The victim later joined this forum under the name "5toes".

      Comment


        #4
        Originally posted by Tamataz View Post
        Congrats! Glad you like it.
        Thanks, it's alot of fun.

        Knowing me I will probably never stop making changes to it. Bad habit I have.
        -Art

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          #5
          I lol'd when I read your introduction thread. Nice car good sir, it is very clean. :up:
          sigpic
          IcWhatUdidThere

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by StealthiE30 View Post
            I lol'd when I read your introduction thread. Nice car good sir, it is very clean. :up:

            Thanks, Boy do I wish it was clean. I have about ten million rock chips on the front bumper cover and the little strip of metal under the grill. Since i'm borderline OCD that's ALL I see. I can't stand to bring it to a paint shop and lose it for 2 weeks so I MIGHT just get a place to paint the front bumper just so it doesnt have those little pock marks!

            I'm one of those guys that has to clean the tan interior everytime I see even a spec of dirty.
            -Art

            Comment


              #7
              Jealous. Enjoy the car Deahtoll. Good review and makes me want one even more.

              Comment


                #8
                you know that reminds me, I never really wrote about the cons of the car. One of the cons I want to mention is the fact that it gets alot of attention. I don't know if it is the way the car looks or how it sounds (kind of a mean rumble) but everyone and their mother wants to rev at me. The other day I had my kids in a car and a guy in a Nissan Titan pulls up to me trying to look into the car. His sits there and revs up his truck (while peering over at me) then at EVERY light does a burnout.

                I don't know what it is but driving it around town attracts every type of asshat imagineable.

                In the future I am probably going to add another resonator just to bring the tone down a bit. The car sounds good but I think the days of medium to slightly loud exhausts are behind me. I would prefer to make the car sound 100% stock.. I'm always a fan of the sleeper look.

                My other complaint is that I wish I had the AC :) I am going to have to source some AC parts and get Castro's or something to put it in. i'm not a fan of frying my nuts on a hot day in traffic. Once I deal with the sound and the tempurature I think she will be an excellent daily driver. I guess i'm just used to the luxuries afforded by newer cars I've had (this is my first car without AC).
                -Art

                Comment


                  #9
                  Originally posted by Deathtoll View Post
                  I don't know what it is but driving it around town attracts every type of asshat imagineable.
                  This exact same thing used to happen to me in my first car, a 1980 Triumph Spitfire. The thing was very obviously not a fast car, but it sounded fast enough to get every guy in his mom's Civic to rev next to me at every light. Eventually, I started revving back and then I'd pull away normally while they shot off. Best part was the moment of realization/shame. :p
                  Interested in vintage cars? Ever thought about racing one? Info, photos, videos, and more can be found at www.michaelsvintageracing.com!

                  Elva Courier build thread here!

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by ELVA164 View Post
                    This exact same thing used to happen to me in my first car, a 1980 Triumph Spitfire. The thing was very obviously not a fast car, but it sounded fast enough to get every guy in his mom's Civic to rev next to me at every light. Eventually, I started revving back and then I'd pull away normally while they shot off. Best part was the moment of realization/shame. :p

                    Ever since I put on a 'standard' muffler I have had much less if not any challenges to race.

                    the car feels no different besides being quieter and smoother.
                    -Art

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