Affording an E30? Your thoughts and knowledge needed.

[lukeADE335i]

My 320i (I know you didn't get these in the US) was the best buy I ever had. 3 years, nothing but oil changes, but I knew it was good when I bought it as the P.O. had a folder 2 inches thick of receipts.

If you can find a good one, reliability can be a good. Of course, modding is another story, and since I then threw in an M30, reliability has still been good, but I can tell after a year of driving it's going to break other things - rear subframe bushes have just let go, so while the subframe is out I'm going to refresh the rear end.

That said - lots of good advice here. My wife has an '06 Kia Rio - not great as a drivers car, but has been ultra reliable over 7 years, is well screwed together and uses very little fuel. Those things depreciate like no tomorrow, so I'd just go some kind of commuter as others have suggested.

No - it won't pull chicks (unless they are looking to buy your car off you!)

[mrsleeve]

this tread made my head hurt I mean the 1st page was ok.


My advice a as new as possible and well maintained 3-4k dollar ecco-shit basic Eccono shit box as you can find. Drive it till it falls apart and dies a miserable death. You need to get from point a to b and not worry about impressing or having fun with your car while in school and just out of school.


Once you get done with your studies then you can buy what you really want

[Heir2Air]

Why no Hondas? Also, in the Ford arena, I humbly suggest a V6 Probe. They're kinda fun and sound great. Also the Mazda MX6 (it's badge-engineered stablemate).

And one last suggestion.. a truck?

That's a good suggestion. A lot of older trucks are still on the road. Things are reliable and can take a beating

I need something thats good on gas. So the V6's are pretty much ruled out. I'm looking at a 2001 Tiburon. From what I've read, they are slower than the ZX2, but feel sportier and give the better driving experience. The Tiburon also looks better. Sadly, not only are they a bit slower, but they also manage to get a little worse MPG. Granted, none of these cars are fast, so I'll be sticking my foot in it to go anywhere in a hurry regardless.

Better experience, or better performance? Thoughts?

[shameson]

And one last suggestion.. a truck?

That's a good suggestion. A lot of older trucks are still on the road. Things are reliable and can take a beating

[evandael]

I am stilling looking out for a Focus in my range, but all I see are wagons. And I actually lowered my budget a bit, so that 122K mile 1999 ZX2 for $1900 is dressed to impress. Going to see the car this weekend. Maybe tomorrow, actually. Continually, your input is welcomed and appreciated.

Why no Hondas? Also, in the Ford arena, I humbly suggest a V6 Probe. They're kinda fun and sound great. Also the Mazda MX6 (it's badge-engineered stablemate).

And one last suggestion.. a truck?

[KIRIEIW]

I would say get a e30 cause there cool little cars. Just really check out the cars, like REALLY! look under the car for rust cause there's a good chance there will be rust if it's not a California car and its seen every snow season for 25years...

[Heir2Air]

I flew to LA, bought an E30 I had never seen in person from a guy I had never met, and drove it 500+ miles back home on a Saturday in the middle of a semester of school.

A year and half later I can easily say it is the single best purchase I have ever made and one of the best decisions I've made in my life.

People have tried talking me out of following my dreams my entire life, and I've learned it's much better to make dumb mistakes doing what you want than to miss a golden opportunity.

Come back to r3v when you grow some balls son.

Lol, yeah, thanks for the advice. Words to live by...

Anyone have any other suggestions for a car to watch out for? By the way, the Best Buy interview went well today. Tomorrow I go out there to solidify my hours and pay. Should be able to keep the summer job and hopefully even make a little extra dough from BB than I had planned for.

I am stilling looking out for a Focus in my range, but all I see are wagons. And I actually lowered my budget a bit, so that 122K mile 1999 ZX2 for $1900 is dressed to impress. Going to see the car this weekend. Maybe tomorrow, actually. Continually, your input is welcomed and appreciated.

[SlamedIAm]

I flew to LA, bought an E30 I had never seen in person from a guy I had never met, and drove it 500+ miles back home on a Saturday in the middle of a semester of school.

A year and half later I can easily say it is the single best purchase I have ever made and one of the best decisions I've made in my life.

People have tried talking me out of following my dreams my entire life, and I've learned it's much better to make dumb mistakes doing what you want than to miss a golden opportunity.

Come back to r3v when you grow some balls son.

That's great it worked out for you but isn't a realistic situation for a lot of people (OP included). Not sure what exactly this topic has to do with following dreams or growing balls. If anything toughing it out through school for a career he aspires for is more relevant to following one's dreams than buying an e30 and hoping it makes it home.

[mikracer]

OP should also understand that most people on this forum are fanatical about their car. Changing certain parts because they simply don't like it rather than a necessity to change the part happens a lot on here. Any car might have some quirks, but if you can live with them and it doesn't effect the reliability of the car, then you should be good to go.

[87e30]

People have tried talking me out of following my dreams my entire life, and I've learned it's much better to make dumb mistakes doing what you want than to miss a golden opportunity.

I agree. I did some crazy things with/around e30s while in college too. I also didn't have the same requirements as the OP. I didn't rely on my car for livelihood and I didn't work 40 hr weeks on top of school... not sure about your position but cut the guy some slack.

[Threehz]

I flew to LA, bought an E30 I had never seen in person from a guy I had never met, and drove it 500+ miles back home on a Saturday in the middle of a semester of school.

A year and half later I can easily say it is the single best purchase I have ever made and one of the best decisions I've made in my life.

People have tried talking me out of following my dreams my entire life, and I've learned it's much better to make dumb mistakes doing what you want than to miss a golden opportunity.

Come back to r3v when you grow some balls son.

[Heir2Air]

Honestly, I would love to be able to work on my car when things go south or to just do routine maintenance. The problem isn't my unwillingness, its my availability. This summer may possibly be busier than the school year simply because I will have two jobs and a class. But once the fall semester starts, I will have 14-17 credit hours and be working 20-40hrs a week. I can't afford to not master what I am being taught. I refuse to not master what I am being taught. But do not fret, good people of r3vlimited (lol), an E30 is in my future. I appreciate all of the thoughts as they did indeed help me come to a sensible conclusion. I will more than likely buy the ZX2 by Tuesday.

[GillesBigCowboy]

Buy a Hondota is really the advice for this guy?
I'd say buy an e30 and/or a decent bike and/or scooter.
All my e30s have been very reliable, and if you are a car enthusiast, you should get a car that you will enjoy driving. Maybe you will have some maintenance headaches, but you're an engineer! Just fix it, and keep driving.

[LivingLegend06]

I put 50k miles on a $900 E30 over the course of four years while only spending about $250 on maintenance in that time ($200 of that was for brakes). I bought the car when I was broke and going to school for a ME degree.

Any car can be extremely reliable or unreliable, just make sure that whatever you buy is in good shape to begin with or you will be fighting a losing battle.

[Heir2Air]

NO. Don't get a ZX2, they're dreadful cars to drive. If going that route, you can get a higher mileage focus which are much better to drive and are a better chassis. Also with a ZX3 you have the utility of a hatch. The 2.0 zetec motor with a 5spd is fairly quick for what it is and will still average over 30mpg if you drive normally. Plus you can add the SVT suspension kit for like $250 and it makes it alot more nimble in the corners.

<--- Owned an SVT Focus for 7 years.

Good thing is, the only other car I have driven for any real extended period of time is my mom's 2003 Mazda Tribute. I think the Focus SVT/ZX3 looks good, but the Focus wagon no so much. Sadly, wagons are all I see. No SVT's in my price range currently on CL, and I could have this car as soon as early next week. But I will keep the suggestion in mind. Also, parts for ZX2/ZX3 are all cheap from what folks have been saying, so I would be able to get some performance improvements regardless. And again, I have nothing but a stock 03 Tribute and my sisters 2010 Jeep Compass to compare it against.

Oh, I was looking at Neons as well. But I think I'd rather have the ZX2. Any other cars I should be looking out for?