im at a crossroad

[canakami]

^honestly

It sounds like you made up your mind, so why ask? Bottom line is getting a new[er] car is the same as throwing away money. How about you tally up payments/insurance/maintenance on whatever you've set your sights on, put that money away over the next six months, and then think about it again. It'll probably be enough to build a FAST e30 with good suspension and 0 things to worry about so long as you build it right.

Every now and then I drive my gf's Mini; awesomely comfortable, actually handles really nicely, and gets phenomenal gas mileage. I also drive my buds 06' STI, which compared to most things I've owned is ridiculously fast. Driving both if those cars as often as I do make me consider buying something newer. Like an e46 M3 or an AP1 S2000.

But, I always hop back in the e30 with its coils and sticky tires and suddenly remember how much more awesome it is that I'm the only thing metering rear tire slippage with my right foot, and that I can feel the front tires deflect over mid corner surface imperfections.

You don't get that kind of awesome from new cars, screw em.

[Violet88]

Buy a Honda and go away.

bye, have fun.

[emerson.]

just dont have the time or space anymore to work on my dd. im gonna have to take it to a shop just to get the brakes done, I keep the car im goin to have to do the same thing with the exhaust and suspension work. that equals A LOT of money

[mikeedler]

bye, have fun.

[Nick_S]

What you would spend in car payments, insurance, and registration for one year on a new car is enough to completely refresh+upgrade an E30 + have enough left over to take it on a roadtrip.

But, I am against buying new cars more than almost anyone. I also enjoy working on and modding cars. Different strokes.

Agreed 100%. My E30 cost me $20 in insurance a month to keep. My brother spends a tick over $400 a month for a '12 GTI and while it's quicker and a bit more comfortable and is a very very nice car. that's not what I want to spend my money on. If I spent $400 a month on my E30 it would be brand new or better in 6 months. I came from a much quicker and better handling car to my E30 and have driven plenty of other cars in my life. Nothing comes close to the feeling of driving the E30. I never really knew what people meant when a car has "soul" till I drove one, they just have so much character and such a raw feel to drive. If you're bored of it but still like it, change it up it's appearance, upgrade the suspension, engine swap it. It would be a whole new car.

[Threehz]

What you would spend in car payments, insurance, and registration for one year on a new car is enough to completely refresh+upgrade an E30 + have enough left over to take it on a roadtrip.

But, I am against buying new cars more than almost anyone. I also enjoy working on and modding cars. Different strokes.

[einhander]

W20 mr-2

[IRON-E]

my e30 needs rotors, pads, stuts, cabs, exhaust, the works. if im doing suspension, then im spending the cash on proper parts (bc's). to bring the e30 up to par im spending 1.5-2k to be road worthy. or I can leave it as is and sell it to some hipster kid for 4k as is. im not coming up with problems, im looking at what is in front of me

1. Rotors + Pads = $250.00
2. Cabs/lollipops = $180.00
3. Struts/dhocks = $660
4. Exhaust = $400
5. Coilovers kit = $350

Mind you, most of these things listed, can be had for way cheaper prices than what is posted. DIY and have fun with your old car., personally the last thing I want right now is more bills, in the sense of a newer car + ins.

[Kevinl]

Out of those 2 I would go for the Frs the Sti is a maintenance pig it needs brakes and tires every 15,000 miles

[Bearmw]

Double down on displacement and have a beater 4 cyl. dd.

[Fusion]

E46s feel like 4 tons of lump, whereas E30s feels like 1100 pounds.
I can never get over it when I drive my borther's 328ic.

[GillesBigCowboy]

Save your money and focus on enjoying the turns.
2 or 3 e30s are better than one.

[emerson.]

no fwd.. honestly looked at a Hyundai veloster til I realized it was fwd

[InuFaye]

go buy a brand new kia.

[emerson.]

One is worried about maintenance, but is willing to pay 300 per month in insurance . . .
Spend $100 on new parts for your e30 everything , within a year the car will be as solid as it can get.

Sounds to me like someone is coming up with problems that don't have to be problems.

my e30 needs rotors, pads, stuts, cabs, exhaust, the works. if im doing suspension, then im spending the cash on proper parts (bc's). to bring the e30 up to par im spending 1.5-2k to be road worthy. or I can leave it as is and sell it to some hipster kid for 4k as is. im not coming up with problems, im looking at what is in front of me