What does it mean/say about us who drive E30s?

[J Mid]

I'm gonna come in with an opinion from the other end of the age spectrum here. I am 16 and DD my e30. I love it and get tons of complements on it at my high-school. Other people seem to love it to. I am able to work on it for the most part and it's a good first car in terms of getting into the mechanics of cars and knowing how things work. They are very simple to work on in the bigger scheme of all cars. I drive an E30 because it's a bit different and you can really go whatever route you want with it. We have all seen so many different types and styles of e30's here on r3v you can really make it your own and that's not something you can say for most newer cars.


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[jasonbk]

I've been daily driving my e30 for last 5.5 years in Toronto (Every day rain, shine or snow - to work, to grocery, to park, to anywhere).

Most of people in my network would simply see it as unusual and old, and they point out that I must've taken care of it well. And they assume it's difficult and expensive to keep it.

I never really get anything but complements when i take mine out - never from girls though, always from guys. If I was gay, this thing would be a sex machine.

I do agree with nando's point. 99% of compliments or stares would come from guys (oddly non-asian). When I cruise around K-town or Yonge & Finch area nobody would look at my little e30 - and every one of my Korean family/friend asks me whether I still have that old car and does it still run

[varg]

I drive an E30 because I wanted something RWD, simple, and light with a strong drivetrain and a good aftermarket. There really isn't much else out there that fits the bill. As a side benefit I got timeless styling, no pointless gadgets and a handsome interior as part of a deal.

With values going up as these cars near classic status driving an E30 no longer says "I'm poor" at least :)

[J Mid]

Hey guys and gals,

Was thinking about this the other day. Sometimes driving certain cars say something about the owners, and of course I was thinking how attached I am to my E30.

What do you think driving an E30 (especially as a daily driver) says about us as drivers? How do you think other driver's perceive us? Are we hipsters or something else?

Since many of us are DIY, I certainly think it says a lot about our commitment to our ride - these cars are over 2 decades old know at the youngest, and it does take a certain amount of care and respect to keep them going.

I don't know how may random people have started conversations with me over my car. I think that because of relative rarity of seeing E30s anymore (especially here in Ontario), it certainly attracts curiosity and some amazement at seeing a 31 year old car still on the road and being used daily.

I'm interested to see what the rest of R3V thinks. :)

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[digger]

maybe we dont like change or "progress" so we hang onto the past. i'm always a bit behind the times with fancy new tech computers/software/phones/tablets etc

unfortunately i have an emotional attachment to mine to.

[rturbo 930]

Driving a car with a manual transmission and crank windows would be way too much work. At a car meet, I heard someone saying to his friends, while looking at the interior of the E30 touring I used to own, "Can you believe it? This is what we used to have to live with!" I know, what a hardship...

My daily is an 86 Jetta GL. It has very few options, which means it has crank windows, and I gotta be honest, I'm done with 'em. The next car will have power windows. One touch windows are a plus. Being able to roll up/down all four windows at once is really nice, as is not having to contort my body in various ways that it isn't meant to go just to reach the rear window cranks. Not even going to try to do it moving.

I've toyed with the idea of a modern car for a DD, but I think more likely it's going to be an '88-89 325i sedan, if I can find a decent one. And it's going to have power windows.

[UlrichFennec]

In my experience, most people don't understand why it would be worth the effort to drive an "old" car. A few of the owners of newer BMW owners I've met have told me they thought my car was cool, but they could never personally daily drive a car without all of the modern conveniences. They assume you must be a mechanical wizard to work on your own car instead of relying exclusively on the dealership to take care of it for you. Driving a car with a manual transmission and crank windows would be way too much work. At a car meet, I heard someone saying to his friends, while looking at the interior of the E30 touring I used to own, "Can you believe it? This is what we used to have to live with!" I know, what a hardship...

With the way modern car design trends are heading, it's honestly not surprising seeing that's the mentality of the general public. A car is seen as an appliance, rather than an aspect of freedom and enjoyment. Everything has to have all these extra safety precautions. Thick pillars that make blind spots more blind so I can't head check. Driver's assists and handicaps for those who can't keep their damn eyes on the road like lane departure warnings and that "automatic panic braking" thing that I've seen going around. I swear if I see that Toyota ad one more time on YouTube...

Also, electric parking brakes shouldn't be a thing. There's nothing wrong with an old cable operated handbrake. I'd trust that before I'd trust a switch! :hitler:

Hell, I couldn't see myself getting a more modern car for a while. Mainly because I can't afford it, but with something like an E30 or an old Civic...shit just works, and if something doesn't, there's a colossal knowledgebase for troubleshooting and forums like r3v (and at one point, e30tech) for all sorts of information. Most things are relatively simple fixes, it's just a matter of getting off your ass to fix them.

I like simple things. A five speed, a decent stereo, some cozy seats and enough power to have fun within the bounds of the law, but still enough to potentially get me in trouble.

[Roadrunner]

I think that because of relative rarity of seeing E30s anymore (especially here in Ontario), it certainly attracts curiosity and some amazement at seeing a 31 year old car still on the road and being used daily.

Agreed. Spotting another E30 on the road in Ontario is a rare event, sadly.

I never really get anything but complements when i take mine out - never from girls though, always from guys. If I was gay, this thing would be a sex machine.

Maybe it also says "I'm comfortable with my sexuality" to shrug off all the attention from dudes. ;)

Hahaha... I always thought it was hilarious that guys think women will be impressed by all the work they've put into their cars, when in reality it only attracts the attention and admiration of other dudes. When I was selling my previous E30, I advertised being "a total guy magnet" as one of its key features, and sure enough, 100% of the interest in it was from men (most of which could not get permission from their wife to buy it). :giggle:

I think that's the general thing with chicks and old, boxy cars. They're not curvy and modern enough with all the fancy features. "No touch screen? Where's the cupholders?"

You can always add cup holders. Problem solved. :up: I can't stand all of the touch screens and annoying features on newer cars and think most modern cars look shapeless and bloated compared to the near perfection of how E30s were designed, but I'm probably in the minority of women (and people in general) who think so.

In my experience, most people don't understand why it would be worth the effort to drive an "old" car. A few of the owners of newer BMW owners I've met have told me they thought my car was cool, but they could never personally daily drive a car without all of the modern conveniences. They assume you must be a mechanical wizard to work on your own car instead of relying exclusively on the dealership to take care of it for you. Driving a car with a manual transmission and crank windows would be way too much work. At a car meet, I heard someone saying to his friends, while looking at the interior of the E30 touring I used to own, "Can you believe it? This is what we used to have to live with!" I know, what a hardship...

[2mAn]

My wife puts up with it. I just make sure she has the newer, shiny car every few years and she lets me drive whatever my heart desires..

Basically my deal too, though lately I've been plotting what badass SUV I want her to have lol X5 diesel??hmmm

[Das Delfin]

My ex never liked my bmw.. but one time I asked her what she thought of an e36 convertible and she said it was a pansy version of my car. So at least there's that?

[djjerme]

My wife puts up with it. I just make sure she has the newer, shiny car every few years and she lets me drive whatever my heart desires..

[estoguy]

Not true on all girls. My current GF digs the E30 and the couple exes I had before did as well.

[UlrichFennec]

the first comment that a ex gf made about my old eta was "ew". felt bad.

I think that's the general thing with chicks and old, boxy cars. They're not curvy and modern enough with all the fancy features. "No touch screen? Where's the cupholders?" They do like convertibles for some reason, though.

Well...mostly the older ones. But I don't mind. ;D

[e30davie]

I'm not really an e30 enthusiast, i'm more of an old car enthusiast. I just like fixing up old cars and giving them a new lease on life, and my current old car project is an E30. Most people i come across very quickly understand that i do it as a hobby as my "escape time". Something fun to do on the weekends and to take my mind off work.

People are usually quite surprised that i work as an engineer and choose to drive a 32year old car that's really not worth much. Could I afford something newer, faster and shinier? sure. But those cars are boring:)

[nando]

That's why she's an ex right?

Maybe it also says "I'm comfortable with my sexuality" to shrug off all the attention from dudes. ;)