Hi there. I've just gone through the same (I think) thought process that you're undertaking now. I'm 20, in college, and wanted my first car. Started reading, learned about e30s, and fell in love with both the car and the abundant information within the lively and established communities.
I found a bronzit for 1500 with 168k on it, some rust here and there, but overall a relatively unrusted car, besides the exhaust (for almost two decades old and in the north east). I talked the previous owner down to 1100 and drove away with a huge smile.
I've now owned the car for about 6 months and haven't had anything major shit the bed on me. Let me tell you this, and think this through: you need to recognize this is a restoration process. Shit will need to be replaced, period. And unless you like paying up the ass for labor, you're gonna need to have a solid tool set with at least some competence to turn wrenches, debug, and fix shit (it's easy to learn with forums like r3v though!). All the rubber will need to be replaced for the car to feel like it should, which I've just dropped 2k on (shocks/springs/sways/all new bushings+mounts/shifter bushings cause it was sloppy/other miscellaneous things that needed replacing).
As long as you realize this is not the type of thing with an upfront cost that doesn't require much financial input thereafter, and can live with a few long nights in the garage every now and then, I'd still say go for it. The car is fun as hell, and still turns heads when you drive it around town
.
Good luck, and be patient!!
I found a bronzit for 1500 with 168k on it, some rust here and there, but overall a relatively unrusted car, besides the exhaust (for almost two decades old and in the north east). I talked the previous owner down to 1100 and drove away with a huge smile.
I've now owned the car for about 6 months and haven't had anything major shit the bed on me. Let me tell you this, and think this through: you need to recognize this is a restoration process. Shit will need to be replaced, period. And unless you like paying up the ass for labor, you're gonna need to have a solid tool set with at least some competence to turn wrenches, debug, and fix shit (it's easy to learn with forums like r3v though!). All the rubber will need to be replaced for the car to feel like it should, which I've just dropped 2k on (shocks/springs/sways/all new bushings+mounts/shifter bushings cause it was sloppy/other miscellaneous things that needed replacing).
As long as you realize this is not the type of thing with an upfront cost that doesn't require much financial input thereafter, and can live with a few long nights in the garage every now and then, I'd still say go for it. The car is fun as hell, and still turns heads when you drive it around town
.Good luck, and be patient!!
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