Is an E30 prestigious?

[ALYKZANDYR]

If the asshole is tailgating you like that, you could just pull off into a parking lot, and if he follows you, and wont leave you alone, can you get him for harassment?

[nando]

When I had my first e30 17 years ago they were pretty prestigious.

Even now, I drive through Miami Beach everyday racing 911s, e46, e90s, ferraris, amgs.. you name it. These more 'prestigious' cars are always trying to get me to race, I guess they think it's easy prey, till I blow em away in traffic or in the tight stuff.

People are always turning heads to see the catless red e30 screaming through millionaires row echoing off the buildings, weaving through traffic the way some of these other cars never could.

I guess it depends how you define prestige.

I can't drive like that. Ever. I got the shit tailgated out of me by a local cop last night. He followed me 2-3 feet behind my bumper for 2 miles. I was going the speed limit the whole time. It was pissing me off..

[Jonny Cash]

^ Did i see you at the AAA on friday night? Red e30, black wheels?

[QWKE30]

When I had my first e30 17 years ago they were pretty prestigious.

Even now, I drive through Miami Beach everyday racing 911s, e46, e90s, ferraris, amgs.. you name it. These more 'prestigious' cars are always trying to get me to race, I guess they think it's easy prey, till I blow em away in traffic or in the tight stuff.

People are always turning heads to see the catless red e30 screaming through millionaires row echoing off the buildings, weaving through traffic the way some of these other cars never could.

I guess it depends how you define prestige.

[onaquest]

I just don't care about owning a new car. My parents were poor and so were most of my neighbors. None of them ever had a new car.. so that meant taking care of your old one. My step dad drove the same 1977 F150 pickup for almost 20 years. He finally had to get a different truck because it was rusting through the floorboards.

My father on the other hand, also had old cars, but he beat the shit out of them. They were always dirty and full of garbage. I don't know how many $500 cars he went through, where my family would have the same $1500 car for years and years.

I'd rather put that $500 a month towards retirement savings and not be living in a trailer eating ramen noodles like the rest of my family in retirement. If I spend $1500 in mods/upgrades/repairs on my E30 a year, big deal. :)

I don't think owning a new car means anything except you know how to waste money. Just look at the current state of our economy to see where that mentality gets us.. of course somebody has to buy new cars so I can buy them cheaper when 2/3rs of the value has depreciated. ;)

well said dude.

[evil_twin]

threads like this are a reminder that I'm wasting $

hahaha I'm with you there, worst investment evAR.

But all in all, I like to say at the end of the day that my car runs better that most of the same aged cars on the street now. I don't mind it being old, I do like how it's easy to find most of the parts. All in all, its just about the same thing as a Civic, 240sx, or whatever car (ie motor swaps over just as easy as doing a k20 motor, or sr20 motor, all the parts fit some how or another).

[bmwstephen]

no, not prestigous, and I don't want it to be. never did.

I'm waiting for the day when E36s and E46s are the $1500, entry level BMWs (E36s are already there), and the people who just want a BMW badge move on to them simply because they're "newer", leaving mostly enthusiasts with the older cars. Kinda how nobody who just wants a BMW would drive a 2002 or E21..

it's strange though, I used to get all sorts of different attention (good and bad) when I first got my car. After 5-6 years, when the E46 was in it's prime i went totally unnoticed. Now that it's really getting older people stare at it again, but now i'm getting more bad attention than I ever did (from cops, wtf, I'm in my 30s, I don't pull a tenth of the stupid shit I did 10 years ago).

Last time I crossed the border, the guard asked me how long I've had my car.. I told him I bought it in 2002. He said "oh, you bought it new huh?". uhh.. no. this was with a set of beat to hell bottlecaps/snow tires, and I hadn't washed it in 2 months.

Ever notice how new BMW owners completely ignore old ones? they really are yuppie mobiles, they don't care about old cars because they aren't new. It's no wonder they've become fat, heavy, bloated, shells of what they once were. I swear the E90 is as big as an E39.

If it makes a difference... I sold my e46 for an e30... (and picked up a new civic as a daily driver) I was so in love with them that I paid 600 over KBB value for one. My friends family calls me nuts but I dunno... aside from the lack of modern safety equipment, my e30 is just 10 times more enjoyable, comfortable, reliable, than my e46 ever was. OH and I don't get the bad kind of attention while driving it either. I'm definitely pissing more money on restoring the car than making the payments on my civic too... =(

[scabzzzz]

I just don't care about owning a new car. My parents were poor and so were most of my neighbors. None of them ever had a new car.. so that meant taking care of your old one. My step dad drove the same 1977 F150 pickup for almost 20 years. He finally had to get a different truck because it was rusting through the floorboards.

My father on the other hand, also had old cars, but he beat the shit out of them. They were always dirty and full of garbage. I don't know how many $500 cars he went through, where my family would have the same $1500 car for years and years.

I'd rather put that $500 a month towards retirement savings and not be living in a trailer eating ramen noodles like the rest of my family in retirement. If I spend $1500 in mods/upgrades/repairs on my E30 a year, big deal. :)

You're speaking the story of my life bro, except I'm a few years behind in age. The only thing about new cars (even BMW's) that appeals to me, is the fact that I can just get in it and drive and not have a single fucking worry other than what I'm going to listen to music wise.

[nando]

The cult following creates the prestige. No? Makes sense to me. The people that want to spend the same amoutn of money buying a mint late model E30 could have bought MANY other cars that are MUCH newer. But the fact that the market keeps the price high on these cars and the demand up for the nice ones, and not the E36's, still speaks to me. Sounds like it does to you too.

I just don't care about owning a new car. My parents were poor and so were most of my neighbors. None of them ever had a new car.. so that meant taking care of your old one. My step dad drove the same 1977 F150 pickup for almost 20 years. He finally had to get a different truck because it was rusting through the floorboards.

My father on the other hand, also had old cars, but he beat the shit out of them. They were always dirty and full of garbage. I don't know how many $500 cars he went through, where my family would have the same $1500 car for years and years.

I'd rather put that $500 a month towards retirement savings and not be living in a trailer eating ramen noodles like the rest of my family in retirement. If I spend $1500 in mods/upgrades/repairs on my E30 a year, big deal. :)

I don't think owning a new car means anything except you know how to waste money. Just look at the current state of our economy to see where that mentality gets us.. of course somebody has to buy new cars so I can buy them cheaper when 2/3rs of the value has depreciated. ;)

[Stephen]

My girl loved my e30...


until she realized how many hours i spent working on it.

And i hate talking about my car to non enthusiasts. i always say "old bmw" to downplay it. most think its kinda cool, but not everyone

[Jonny Cash]

Question for old people (blunt): Was the E30 ever "prestigious"?

Like in 1986, if you walked into the dealer and plunked down 26K for a 1986 325es, and drove down the boulevard, did that smack of prestige, or were you just regarded as a douche?

Yes it was. My grandfather bought three new. 85-6-8. In the 70's-80's driving a european car was much like setting yourself apart from the norm. Owning a bmw was being part of a secret owners club- you know, another one drives by and you give eachother the 'nod'.

Not so much anymore. Now you're considered a douche to drive one. And i'd agree.

In another decade most will be crushed and it will have a collectors market. Not prestigous now, but one day will be considered one of the best cars ever made- There i said it.

[scabzzzz]

that's because people don't take care of their cars. most cars look like they're 25 years old after 4-5 years. Ever seen a 20 year old Toyota Corolla? Me either, because they're destined for the scrap heap as soon as they roll off the assembly line. The new ones are even worse.

it doesn't make sense to me, people pay $300-$1500 a month to drive a new car, and never take care of it. It's the second biggest expense after a house. And they trash it.

All old cars were new at one time or another.. and it really doesn't take much to keep them nice. wash it once in a while, change the oil, replace worn parts. Even if it's a 1987 Chrysler K-car. Just wash the fucking thing and clean all the garbage out of the inside and it won't seem like such a pile of shit.

The cult following creates the prestige. No? Makes sense to me. The people that want to spend the same amoutn of money buying a mint late model E30 could have bought MANY other cars that are MUCH newer. But the fact that the market keeps the price high on these cars and the demand up for the nice ones, and not the E36's, still speaks to me. Sounds like it does to you too.

[nando]

true story, people at work were talkin about how i must be rich cause i drive a bmw. Then i said it was an 89 and they were shocked that it wasnt rusted/faded and generally crap. some people just dont know what theyre looking at. And new bmws are stupid

that's because people don't take care of their cars. most cars look like they're 25 years old after 4-5 years. Ever seen a 20 year old Toyota Corolla? Me either, because they're destined for the scrap heap as soon as they roll off the assembly line. The new ones are even worse.

it doesn't make sense to me, people pay $300-$1500 a month to drive a new car, and never take care of it. It's the second biggest expense after a house. And they trash it.

All old cars were new at one time or another.. and it really doesn't take much to keep them nice. wash it once in a while, change the oil, replace worn parts. Even if it's a 1987 Chrysler K-car. Just wash the fucking thing and clean all the garbage out of the inside and it won't seem like such a pile of shit.

[FredK]

Llello. Helluva drug.

[Jonny Cash]

^ you've lost me. Never seen someone so passionate, about not being passionate. Or something like that.... Did you eat lead paint chips as a kid?