If you could bring a car back from Europe, what would it be (realistically)?

[ShaffertE36]

Renault 5 Turbo or E30 Touring or Euro Spec E36 M3....the list can go on...but definitely Renault 5 Turbo but that could be realistic to some, not realistic to others

[2mAn]

My vote goes to "something you can get parts for and/or worked on if you bring it back." There are some cool cars suggested here, though most of them are short-sighted.

EXACTLY.

So far the one I like the most is the E34 M5 Touring. The E30 Tourings are cool, but there are too many unique parts that would be a bitch to get. I plan on driving the car regularly so ease of maintenance is important. I actually was looking at the E39 turbo diesel wagons, but service on the euro diesels would be a nightmare. Most of the other cars listed would also be a nightmare...

BTW these cars are all eligible for importation
(http://www.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/import/)

Alpina B10 Series 1989-1996
Alpina B11 Sedan 1989-1994
Alpina B12 Coupe 1989-1996
Alpina B12 5.0 Sedan 1989-1994
Alpina B5 series (manufactured before 9/1/06) 2005-2007

Ive definitely been looking at these as a somewhat realistic option. Prices arent too wild

I also wanted a Z1 (I know Im weird), but I would actually want to drive it and that could spell a disaster. At least with the Alpinas, most parts are somewhat readily available.

[UlrichFennec]

I also wanted a Z1 (I know Im weird), but I would actually want to drive it and that could spell a disaster. At least with the Alpinas, most parts are somewhat readily available.

Isn't a Z1 just a bunch of E30 and E36 parts, save for the door mechanism? I can't imagine it would be that horrible to own.

[James Crivellone]

The E30 Tourings are cool, but there are too many unique parts that would be a bitch to get. I plan on driving the car regularly so ease of maintenance is important.

Most the touring parts are available from BMW without issue, just need to have the car legally imported and they can get parts for them from germany without an issue.

Some NLA stuff (trim, etc) but glass, rear hatch, shocks, seals, etc are all available and not badly priced

[Todd Black 88]

Early 67/68 triumph gt6.
Hard to find a clean one in NA, but seem to be plentiful over the pond........but much more expensive.

[CarsonE30]

Ford Escort RS Cosworth.

+10000000000

OR

Mercedes 450SEL 6.9 simply because I just sold mine and regret it so much.

[M-technik-3]

Is this going to be an everyday driver? Or is it a garage queen style vehicle? Posting from phone so don't shoot me if this has been asked already.

[2mAn]

Thats a good question actually and Im not 100% sure of the answer. My E30 is approaching a crossroad where either it will become a full on weekend canyon carver / HPDE car and the car Id like to get would be a daily, or if I find something special that can also handle those wilder things, then I would "soften" up the E30 to suit daily duties for the long haul.

My E30 has done just fine with being my daily and has given me over 30k miles in the last year and a half with almost no issues for how much I drive and how hard I drive it. That said, it cant do both of those things perfectly so theres been a compromise on both ends and I look at this Euro car as something that would allow it to go one way or another.

Initially I was looking at a Turbo-Diesel Wagon to take over daily duties so that the E30 can be a fun track/ weekend car, but with some of these potential vintage racecars that I could bring over, I could easily make the E30 the solid daily

[BobombETA]

Can you register a TVR here? One of those would be cool to own.

[UlrichFennec]

Can you register a TVR here? One of those would be cool to own.

A Griffith or Tuscan would be pretty boss until they break.

[mr2peak]

Lancia Delta Intergrale
R5 Turbo
Escort
E28 Touring
Mitsubishi evo 1
R32
1996-1999 MR2 Turbo

Remember that you can get a whole lot of Japanese stuff as well. It could also make sense to bring back something that is way more common there, legal here but crazy hard to find. RX3 falls into this category. Not sure how Mini Cooper prices are compared to the US.

[slammin.e28]

Lada...no Trabant wagon.

[Vincent Brick]

Isn't a Z1 just a bunch of E30 and E36 parts, save for the door mechanism? I can't imagine it would be that horrible to own.

It has a torque tube in place of a conventional driveshaft, pretty sure there is a unique trans output shaft housing to accommodate it. Rear suspension is similar in design to E36 but no parts interchange. Engine, some drivetrain, front suspension, and some common parts bin-type stuff is it, there does not seem to be much interchangeability between Z1 and other models.



In the real world where I live in California and only have room/money for one vehicle which must pass smog, I would have to go with the lame and obvious answer of E30 Touring.

If it was a fantasy world where import and DOT and CARB laws don't matter, I have a little more cash and another car to daily drive, it would be something like a Lotus Carlton or Cosworth Sierra or Escort. Or an Opel Monza.

[Wschnitz]

[M-technik-3]

Ford Sierra RS500 oh wait these are priced the same as many E30 M3's these days. Ford RS200