Comparable car to the E30

[eric (^__^)]

Interesting thread... here are some less obvious choices:

- Merkur XR4Ti (if you can still find a decent one)

- Alfa Romeo GTV6 (or the mechanically similar Milano if you need 4 doors)

I forgot about those beasts. The Alfa requires access to a guru to fix anything major (from what I've seen), but they are sweet cars fo sho

I've always been curious about the XR4Ti. I used to laugh at it because it looks like a car designed and marketed in Peru, but they are strong and probably great to drive. Plus it's all Ford running gear so you can't lose there.

[eric (^__^)]

And although it would be fun to own a Corolla GT just because of the nostalgia, I'd go MR2 instead.

[whiltebeitel]

An FC, and swap a LS1 into it when the rotary dies. :P

[eric (^__^)]

FC's are basically aerodynamic E30's that carry their weight better.

[brgracer]

+1 on the miata for being inexpensive, RWD, great handling, light, easy to work on, cheap used parts, and easy to modify/FI. But I'm biased as I own a couple, and recently picked up an E30 b/c I heard that it handled like a miata....haha... <puts on flamesuit>

[eric (^__^)]

miatas are awesome, but I would hope that e30 guys wouldn't need much of a thread to know that by now

[whiltebeitel]

+1 on the miata for being inexpensive, RWD, great handling, light, easy to work on, cheap used parts, and easy to modify/FI. But I'm biased as I own a couple, and recently picked up an E30 b/c I heard that it handled like a miata....haha... <puts on flamesuit>

Nobody make gay jokes about e30's though...

[TDE30]

Interesting thread... here are some less obvious choices:

- Merkur XR4Ti (if you can still find a decent one)
- Fiero GT MKII
- Saab 900 Turbo SPG. Hemmings Sports and Exotic Car just published a buyer's guide on these in this month's issue. And this would be my pick if I HAD to go FWD.
- Audi 200TQ Avant. Beyond cool and can be modded to 300+ HP easily.
- Alfa Romeo GTV6 (or the mechanically similar Milano if you need 4 doors)
- Peugeot 505 Turbo
- Renault Fuego Turbo. Flame suit on, no pun intended. And if you can find one, let me know...

A couple people mentioned the MB 190s. In Cosworth tune these are fun, sorta of like a bigger, less responsive E30 M3. And unlike E30 M3s their prices are still well within reach.

Good points man. The GTV6 and 900 Turbo SPG both have enormous soft spots in my heart.

I've driven a 190E a few times, it's no fun at all unless it is the Cosworth-massaged 2.3 16V. The handling is surprisingly different than an E30.

[lylefk]

I'd really take a look at the Datsun 510...it was mentioned in passing a few posts ago, but definitely worth looking at....very similar to the e30...light, cult following, look similar even...I love em. I'd love to have a white one with a built sr20det swapped in...you can find them in that price range, too:

[e30pwr]

mr2 maybe?

[JasonC]

Personaly i'd stick with the 67+ darts. On the 66 and back, far as i know, you can not use headers on the small blocks. Fenderwell headers would have to be used. But on the 67+ abodys. Chassie headers can be used on the big blocks and small blocks.

And the "building domestics are cheap" thing is far from the truth. They cost just as much to do as any other car.

edit: Also another type of car to look at if he looks at domestic FWDs. Would be mid 80's-early 90's turbo Dodges. Like Shelby Daytonas, GLHS Omni's and Chargers, CSX Shadows, R/T Daytonas and some others...

edit edit:Also something else that is smaller and would be fun. But different. GMC Syclone or Typhoon.

[BeirBrennerE30]

944/951
audi 90 coupe/s2
corrado vr6
mkII GTI
Rx-7
MR2
miata
galant vr4/evoIII
240sx
r32 skyline

thats my list of fave cars if you add the 993 turbo and e30

[chileelky]

A nice scene

[2002maniac]

2nd gen rx7 with a ford small block.

[z31maniac]

z31 300zx, they are more of a sport tourer but has rwd and turbo and can be made to handle on rails. cheap too.

Yup, these cars are fun to drive and built like fucking tanks. Like the E30 they rear suspension geometry is not optimal. They are also a bit portly, hence the sport tourer. But it sure was nice to have a 21 gallon tank, didn't have to fill up very often.

I miss mine, I'd love to get another one at some point.


And +1 to the 510, it was an E30 or a 510 and I settled on going with a newer boxy sedan.