Well, I've now experienced driving an eta...

[BS87]

My old eta was fun, i was enjoying the low end torque... then i got my cabrio and said..
"holy shit, i can keep going after 4k!!"

[KenC]

whats the difference? different soundproofing? different side panels, like door panels and stuff:?

That's what I'd like to know.

[EtaSport]

stock eta, 4 doors, automatic transmission, and 2.71 diff make for one unpleasant driving experience. 2 doors, 5 speeds, and a 2.93 are a little better.

I drove an 87is 5 speed with 212k miles and it was an absolute dog until it hit 3500 rpms and even then it didnt impress me. I believe that this car had valvetrain problems, so my experience in the car might not be a testament. However my car has been pitted against a good iS (uphill too) and it didnt get overtaken until around 75 mph, top of third. There is a large drop above 4th. I will agree that the eta has no pulling power or passing speed, but it is nice down low. The owners manual has a printed 0-50 time of 5.9 seconds, but it takes nearly 3 more to make it to 60.....

That said, I ran with m42technik's 318is on the highway. I downshifted to 4th first, and then he followed but we were pretty much dead even in terms of no one pulling away.

[uofom3]

maybe there is a realy technical difference... but my dads 325es doesn't feel weak in the doors or anywhere else. It also pulls hard, i'm pretty sure it'll hang with an i motor car that doesn't have a ton of mods... and it for sure has a TON more torque, it's a fun car to drive... My personal thoughts: Compared to my 318is that i had?? kicks the m42's ass all day... the eS had go from 1k rpms to the end, where the 318is seems like it should start to haul ass and the nothing happens (lots of noise, not a lot of momentum), this was especially true when nearing and over tripple digit speeds.... Compared to my old 325is: Not as much total power, but that car also had a nearly fresh motor. That said, i think the eS is just as much total fun to drive. With the right sort of modifications you can make most e30's fast, but they all do well what they're supposed to do well: Handle

[rwh11385]

etasport, my 325is doesn't feel like much of anything stock, but put a chip. blammo! you have fun! now, one may think more and more mods would make it even more fun. But i don't want to go poor finding out. well, not just yet at least.

i can't wait until I get the fun of m20b25 + chip + 4.10lsd. :twisted:

[Digitalwave]

etasport, my 325is doesn't feel like much of anything stock, but put a chip. blammo! you have fun! now, one may think more and more mods would make it even more fun. But i don't want to go poor finding out. well, not just yet at least.

i can't wait until I get the fun of m20b25 + chip + 4.10lsd. :twisted:

4.10 LSD rocks, especially with a lightweight flywheel.

[Ryan Stewart]

The Eta didnt have less insulation or anything, that particular car is a just a pile.

Even before dynamat my car was very solid and quiet. Most likely all the seals are gone and the door mechanisms are loose.

At least you now know why I am anti-eta. Once you drive a better E30 you can see how it kinda fools people into thinking its more than it is.

[M42Technik]

That said, I ran with m42technik's 318is on the highway. I downshifted to 4th first, and then he followed but we were pretty much dead even in terms of no one pulling away.

You caught me off guard! Rematch!

I drove an ETA when I was E30 shopping and it had a sick plaid interior, and I just remember wondering why it was so sluggish and when I saw the tachometer difference between a 325is I was test driving and a ETA....I never looked back.

However, I do wish I had the chance to find a 325is and put some chrome bumpers on it.

[Il Duce]

what the fuck is the point of this post, does it make you feel good about yourself?
my ETA would own a stock i, so i am content with it.

[DEV0 E30]

what the fuck is the point of this post, does it make you feel good about yourself?

Easy, our time will come. They have no idea. (evil laugh)

[mikeedler]

I know that the M10 cars or the 316/318s here in germany had a lot less sound deadening and cheaper tininner everything(carpet/trunk carpet/ doorpanels missing insulation) and so on. Its just that the ETA models suck so bad that they have a bad carma floating around them!

[MR 325]

what the fuck is the point of this post, does it make you feel good about yourself?
my ETA would own a stock i, so i am content with it.

I'm allowed to talk shit, I have both

[rwh11385]

what the fuck is the point of this post, does it make you feel good about yourself?
my ETA would own a stock i, so i am content with it.

OH NOES!!!!!!111!!! Jay pissed off all the eta drivers because their cars suck!!!111!!

[royalflush313]

Mystical, your new ride looks much much better than your red thing :shock: ;)

[Spencer]

The door thing is very true.

I had my eta for 4 years it was the first e30 I looked at. Since I sold it i've been looking at the 318iS and 325iS - the first time I opened the door I noticed how much better the late model cars feel.

Now if I could just find one good enough to buy... :evil:

-Spencer