Project #30 - Make This E30 Great Again: Brilliantrot1990 325iS

[prisonerofdoom83]

Wife don’t need to know you got much more than expected….do it again

[Reichart12]

Wow what a last day run up! Congrats. Also echoing everyone else, time to buy more!

[2mAn]

Thanks guys, I was happy to see the result. I mentioned it in various places, but the liquidation spree continues towards one goal. My wife really needs me to be more present with the newborn and our 4 year old so I have to stop with the projects for a little while... something like 5 years probably.

[MrBurgundy]

Just keep the kids in the garage w the cars

[2mAn]

Psh, you underestimate me…

[roguetoaster]

My wife really needs me to be more present with the newborn and our 4 year old so I have to stop with the projects for a little while... something like 5 years probably.

Look, family first, but just realize that 5 years can instantly turn in to 18. By the time the oldest is 9 it'll be activities and the like. So, I would seriously suggest you try to find a balance that works for you now lest you hold it against your wife later.

Your wife certainly knows this is important to you, but rightly insists that they come first.

I can say for certain that my friends/family with kids who found that balance are happier than those who didn't, but they may have just had better relationships or whatever.

Also, don't forget that you sharing your car hobby is a vital part of yourself, and you don't want to deprive your kids of your passion in case it becomes one they share.

Good luck man, seriously.

[2mAn]

haha thank you, I dont mean for it to sound to negative... I just showed her a few options between rollers and the 'complete' cars, and she isnt trying to kill the hobby she just thinks I shouldnt 'short-change' myself and try to do the 'all-in' approach and have one car I love. I certainly do NOT want to own multiple cars, I dont enjoy the shuffling, insurance, various ages of cars that have various needs.

The 996 and Jetta two-car combo is great, but the passion for the 996 just isnt there and I need to find an aircooled 911 that can perform nearly as well as the 996. Sadly that car is going to cost 2x what the 996 costs, so the funds I have accumulated now PLUS the 996 can do it. I was exploring a 996 PLUS a roller/ project and she rightly-so doesnt think thats a good idea. Its a reality I have tried to ignore as it is the better option. Just have to find a way to offload this 996 without losing 50% lol

[MrBurgundy]

Look, family first, but just realize that 5 years can instantly turn in to 18. By the time the oldest is 9 it'll be activities and the like. So, I would seriously suggest you try to find a balance that works for you now lest you hold it against your wife later.

Your wife certainly knows this is important to you, but rightly insists that they come first.

I can say for certain that my friends/family with kids who found that balance are happier than those who didn't, but they may have just had better relationships or whatever.

Also, don't forget that you sharing your car hobby is a vital part of yourself, and you don't want to deprive your kids of your passion in case it becomes one they share.

Good luck man, seriously.

QFT

x2

So you're going to boil down the jetta and 996 to one car?

[2mAn]

So you're going to boil down the jetta and 996 to one car?

No, 2-car solution. Jetta aka a Daily and a weekend/ fun car.

[MrBurgundy]

No, 2-car solution. Jetta aka a Daily and a weekend/ fun car.

My suggestion is a 912 still

[OSAH racing]

Hello Simon, Old guy here. 62 in fact. I have had an interest in sports cars all my life or since I became aware of what driving a sports car is like. I have had them in various styles, flavors and colors. I prefer German stuff. I am a Porsche guy at heart. But I don't have Air cooled expendable money anymore. It's a tough task to find that perfect fun car that meets your specific Goals. For me, I am a driving enthusiast first. Chassis dynamics and steering are most important but the sounds a car makes (intake and exhaust), its appearance all matters to me. The task is defining what you want to experience and fitting that into your budget obviously. My two-car solution is a pickup and old e30. I am a remodeling contractor, so a truck is necessary, but my truck is not boring. The e30 fits in the sporting category with the mods I have done. I can afford to play with this car, so I concluded its good enough for my expectations. I am getting to the point soon. I still have a desire to seek out other types of sports cars even though the e30 is good enough for me. The desire to find another experience never goes away for me. But I do have two cars that I would buy again. 97 E36 M3 because at the time I didn't understand how overall how great this car is and my No 1, a 1978 Cristal blue 911 SC. Rare color and would be the perfect car for me again. Like the e36M3 its underestimated. First Gen SC's have better flowing heads, solid build quality, air cooled noises and are a bargain in the air-cooled line up. They perform much better than the 74 - 77 cars. In 10 years, they will no longer be 40 grand for a great example. Get one before they are 80 grand.

[OSAH racing]

My Two car solution

[2mAn]

my No 1, a 1978 Cristal blue 911 SC. Rare color and would be the perfect car for me again. Like the e36M3 its underestimated. First Gen SC's have better flowing heads, solid build quality, air cooled noises and are a bargain in the air-cooled line up. They perform much better than the 74 - 77 cars. In 10 years, they will no longer be 40 grand for a great example. Get one before they are 80 grand.

Hey Old guy!

Its funny you mention your #1, because I have had the 78/79 big port 3L on my list, lately I've been leaning towards a 3.2L more recently because of the EFI vs CIS injection and also because if I get lucky I can get one with a G50 gearbox vs the 915. I'm a bit terrified of 'meeting my hero' because when me and the buddies did our little Turo challenge one of my friends rented a 911 with a 3.2 & G50, but being a Turo car it was pretty loosey goosey. I've also driven a few 915 gearbox's and they have never really felt great.

Everything aircooled is expensive so the fact that I'm not rich makes my options limited. I grew up wanting a 964 but that ship has sailed and honestly the 964 I drove was nice, but not $100k nice. 3.6L has great power, but all of these 911s are inferior to my 996 except in one way; the childhood dream. When I grew up the G-Body was the only 911 I knew of and the 964 was the new 911 and the RS America was my dream... Today g-body's are in the 40-50k range for like a level 3 or a level 2 Targa. Clean ones are already $60k+...

All this said, the Lotus Elise has also been whispering sweet LTW things in my ears, as its a better version of my old 2ZZ swapped MR2 which was great, perhaps the best car I've had. What a first-world problem...

[roguetoaster]

Get a Corvair, make it a 4 door for the fam, and the budget.

[MrBurgundy]

Get a Corvair, make it a 4 door for the fam, and the budget.

Yeah it's a 911 but better- especially for a family man