Be realistic: What IS a car that is a good replacement for a E30?

[DrJosh]

I look at this list and Id prefer to have my E30 over all of them.

Well duh. I think that is why we all own E30s and not any of the others.

How a about shifting gears and getting into some American muscle? 67 firebird. Cheaper than Camaro but pretty much the same thing. And you can actually make muscle cars handle contrary to popular belief.

[Reichart12]

My friend had a fox body mustang that was kinda fast. Could be a fun car if set up right, and they're cheap.

I find myself looking at the wrx wagons I think 2009-12ish but they're in the 20k's. Might find a used lot with one with a small warranty.

[flyboyx]

dodge neon
yugo
kia sol

[nrubenstein]

In a similar price range? The only thing to think about is an E36 M3, but cheap E36 M3s are at least as tired as most E30s these days.

[econti]

Really I don't think there is a true replacement outside of a BMW. Few mates have S14s and 15s and they just aren't the same. They don't have the charm of a E30 and are not built nearly as well. Been in, and driven with, a multitude of cars in the same sort of class and nothing compares that I've found.

E30s seem to be unique in that they are a classic that people recognise as such, and yet are totally happy to daily drive and are economical and reliable etc while still being amazing fun to drive hard. Nothing else that I know of, that we have here, seems to match that.

Never sell your 30s boys

[bumada]

I'm never selling it because the price of them keep going up. It's my retirement planning.

[zig553]

Suprised no ones said E46 yet. The 330ci with ZHP has always caught my eye. Some of them even come in AWD if you need it. If you weren't worried about price you could even get a 1-series, some in my area are in the 15-18k range.

[BobombETA]

In a similar price range? The only thing to think about is an E36 M3, but cheap E36 M3s are at least as tired as most E30s these days.

Came here to say this. People slap half the parts off of one on their e30 anyways. From window switches to drivetrains.

[nando]

Suprised no ones said E46 yet. The 330ci with ZHP has always caught my eye. Some of them even come in AWD if you need it. If you weren't worried about price you could even get a 1-series, some in my area are in the 15-18k range.

they are nice cars but they're a lot more bloated, larger, and just don't feel the same. my E90 330i is a great car but it's not a replacement for an E30.

1 series might come close. the newer cars do have better steering feel, but the rest of the car just isn't as responsive. the lack of an LSD and the super annoying traction control are a big factor.

[jalopi]

if you're under 6' tall, don't weigh more than 170lbs AND have a comfortable DD, get a miata. to beat its smiles-per-mile you pretty much need to be driving an exotic supercar while getting road dome from a supermodel

if you don't pass any of the three standards i listed don't get a miata. you will be a miserable person.

you say you like MR2's though, eh? the zzw's are OK if you really want a convertible, but if you want something REALLY fun that will try to murder you like an 80's lamborghini then get a turbo sw20. it's got a timeless design style, still looks relatively new by today's standards and is stupid fast if you do any sort of work to it

[pandaboo911]

I'm 6'3 200lbs and don't have any problems in either of the Miatas I have :/

[Aleman]

Drifting is fun and those are damn good cars. Hard to find clean ones because of the drifters though.



I really like the MR-S but in Australia they are all semi auto and adding the clutch pedal to convert to manual seems like too much cost/effort. If you could get one in manual, it would be a great car. They look pretty damn good with a hard top but lack of space would be a killer if it was to be your one and only car.

Do something crazy and import a VS SS 5.0 Ute from Australia.

Or if it's old German metal you prefer...

http://countryclassiccars.com/mercedes-truck-1979/vehicle-details/?vin=4SXXTYSN2MLQ9SN6F

[LJ851]

The E30 is a pretty difficult car to replace.

You can have tons of fun in an older car like a 2002 or 510 but you are really going back two generations of cars and its noticeable.

Newer options tend to get more bloated and complicated and that is noticeable, too.

The E30 is truly a great mix of simplicity, lightness, and reliability that is fun to drive.

[N2MYE30]

E21? Its what got me into BMWs.

[CENTURION]

88-89 3rd Gen Honda Prelude Si.
that car was a lot of fun to drive. only complaint was oversteer.
revvy reliable and lightweight. oh and boxy