16 and buying a car.

[catalyst.]

after reading the thread that tool posted about buying an m3 or m5 i am posting this. try not to bash me to much

Im 16 too, and im debating either an e30 325is or an e36 318 (cheap) or maybe an e36 325 if i can get one for cheap enough.

what do you guys recommned? honestly i think i will end up hurting an e30 325is, but the e36 is to expensive

[rwh11385]

Oh no, you will hate an E36 318. Imagine the downside of the E30 318 (needs more power) and the bad parts of the E36 (heavy) put together to make one fat, slow car.....with an engine that is nice for a light 2600lb car, but shit for a 3000lb one.

And the E36 325 is only good if you like soft, pimp cruisers. The E30 is fun and you feel it more. Read the whole long "Would you trade your E30 for an E36?" thread......

[bimmerphile]

I think an E30 is a good platform to learn to drive on. Not saying that the E36 isn't, but it's definitely more "cooshy"

If you pick up an eta, you can not only save some cash (which = better car/mods later) but have something that you can putz around in, beat the crap out of, and potentially wreck without feeling too bad.

[Jarvis]

Also keep in mind that even if you can find the newer E36 for as cheap as an E30, insurance will still be higher. For high school kids paying their own insurance, after 2 years you'll probably pay more for insurance than you did for the car.

[spencers]

I think an E30 is a good platform to learn to drive on. Not saying that the E36 isn't, but it's definitely more "cooshy"

If you pick up an eta, you can not only save some cash (which = better car/mods later) but have something that you can putz around in, beat the crap out of, and potentially wreck without feeling too bad.

Agreed

[brodee]

Not to mention e30 body parts are cheaper for you to replace when you wreck it, and at some point you probably will at some point.

[randomtask37]

i say find a 318.

very fun platform, yet not enough power to get you into too much trouble.

ill tell you from experience that u DONT want to have an accident.

[Jarvis]

i say find a 318.

I agree. 168hp may not really be a whole lot, but to a first time driver in a 325i it's more than enough to get speeding tickets very easily. 318s are still very tossible and you won't be tempted to speed as much, because it'll take you that much longer to get up to illegal speeds. Also, while 325i's aren't necessarily bad on gas mileage, 318's sip fuel - often a concern for high school students who'd rather not spend all their $ on gas.
So an early 318i will still be a very good platform for learning to control a RWD car, it's light and tossable, gets great gas mileage, and is cheaper to insure.

[hamann318is]

318is, I don't know why people say these aren't fast. I speed all the time, it's hard to keep it under 40.

Go for an ETA or 318i. Something you can beat up.

[Jarvis]

318is, I don't know why people say these aren't fast. I speed all the time, it's hard to keep it under 40.

Go for an ETA or 318i. Something you can beat up.

I don't know about everyone else, but when I suggested "get a 318", I meant an 84-85 318i (M10 powered). Those ARE slow. ;)

[Bokes]

318is, I don't know why people say these aren't fast. I speed all the time, it's hard to keep it under 40.

Go for an ETA or 318i. Something you can beat up.

I don't know about everyone else, but when I suggested "get a 318", I meant an 84-85 318i (M10 powered). Those ARE slow. ;)

yes, they are slow. i had one and it was slow as balls. still fun to drive though.

[hamann318is]

318is, I don't know why people say these aren't fast. I speed all the time, it's hard to keep it under 40.

Go for an ETA or 318i. Something you can beat up.

I don't know about everyone else, but when I suggested "get a 318", I meant an 84-85 318i (M10 powered). Those ARE slow. ;)

Thats why I clarified with the "i". I love my M42, as if you couldn't tell. ;)

[peteM3power]

I love my M42

Agreed. I love mine too. They are not the fastest car by any means but once they get up the rev range they go quite well!

Either way, I would just make sure that you get an E30 over an E36 as they are more rewarding and fun to drive!

--Pete