Is an E30 prestigious?

[nando]

Come on dude, you're going to say that getting a car that nobody else has touched or driven (besides maybe a test drive or two) is worthless? You seriously can't see the appeal in that?

Sure I see the appeal. I just don't care about it. People tend to buy new because they want others to think they're well off. A child will often point to somebody with a big house and new cars and a bunch of stuff, and think they are rich. In reality they are probably living paycheck to paycheck with a mountain of debt to support their unsustainable lifestyle.

Financially, it's a bad idea of course, but there's undeniably something to be said about a car that out of the box there are no weird rattles, noises or problems, guaranteed, and it's not going to break down on you unless you seriously mistreat it. You've never gotten sick and tired of some shitbox breaking on you?

new cars don't break huh? then why offer a warranty? Why are there so many recalls? That argument is silly. Sometimes you get a good one, but a lot of times a new car has it's own share of problems. Just look at modern BMWs. I'd take a used car with 75k on it that has all the bugs worked out, than a new car that may or may not have an unknown manufacturing problem. And things like tires, brakes, coolant and oil still need to be dealt with.

I've never actually had the E30 "break down" on me. I try to get in front of any problems before they are actually problems. if I notice something is worn, I order the parts and replace it before it breaks and leaves me stranded. That's part of the whole "maintenance" thing.

Not to say stuff hasn't broken.. but I have been pretty hard on this car. And I've never been stuck somewhere with an uknown issue. that's 100,000 miles of driving an old car. how many new cars will even make it to 100,000 miles? They are meant to be used and thrown away. Quality has been going the wrong way for the last 10 years. Toyota is a pretty prime example of that.

[nando]

Nando, thank you for replying to 90% of the threads exactly as I would. It keeps my level of productivity up while I'm at work.

somehow I'm way ahead on my current project. lol

[OOMPH!]

I don't own e30's for prestige, I own them because I love their classic styling and timeless features. They'll always spark interest, stares and conversation wherever it may be. Imo, I don't feel it's a prestigious car but I treat it as one. On the other hand I had a e36 318 and didn't give a shit where I parked it haha.

[pureaudio]

Come on dude, you're going to say that getting a car that nobody else has touched or driven (besides maybe a test drive or two) is worthless? You seriously can't see the appeal in that?

Financially, it's a bad idea of course, but there's undeniably something to be said about a car that out of the box there are no weird rattles, noises or problems, guaranteed, and it's not going to break down on you unless you seriously mistreat it. You've never gotten sick and tired of some shitbox breaking on you?

Buying new is always a waste of money. Buying used is always a gamble.

I agree buying new is always a waste of money but sometimes you gotta do it. My wife and I have an 03 Civic we bought new but my wife was driving almost 1000 miles a week and we could not take the chance that something went wrong. Up to this point, she was driving a 75 2002 and I was driving a 91 Acura. Waste of money or not, it was like heaven driving a car that did not roar at freeway speeds or rattle the interior off on rough roads. We still have it and it is our little commuter now but the thing still drives and looks like it is brand new because we are the only people who have ever driven it regularly. Yeah...there is an appeal to buying new for sure. Haven't bought new since then but it has been a hard arguement to convince my wife we shouldn't do it again.

As far as E30's being prestigious, of course not but I have one because I enjoy old BMW's. I appreciate many other old cars also but I just happen to prefer BMW. A lot of cars can look great and perform well but I'd drive a bone stock E30 all day long, can't say the same for most other cars from the same period.

[87e30]

Is this a real question? Hell no.

Prestige implies someone will notice it, not just make fun of you for liking it.

[newman]

Does anyone here really honestly give a fuck about some dude that's cramming a Skyline motor into an E30 and making it look like some clapped out over-engineered race car that wont ever hit the track more than once? At the end of the day, the thread may get a lot of play, but its just another novelty that no one will give a shit about next year except for those hitting the Search button. I may drive a piece of shit boxy 4 eyed brick, but we all came here for the same reason and we shouldn't have to create a thread because of this dude to re-evaluate what we already know.

I can't even comprehend your level of insecurity.


My main point is that a car is a car. There are so many people that think that owning a certain car makes them elite, or something. It's just so strange to me. It's metal and rubber and glass and fabric. Who cares where it's made, or by whom?

I just feel like there's a lot of "better than you" attitude on BMW boards in general, but even the E30 boards.

E90 guys think they're better than other people because they have money.

E30 guys think they're better than other people because they're purists and don't care that they're driving an old car.

It's actually the reason that I stay off the lotus boards. All those guys think they're so AWESOME for owning a lotus. Or that a lotus is the fucking coolest shit in the whole world... It's just a car.

I don't think any thing I will ever own will make me any more or less of a person.

I'd rather people judged me for the things I've DONE.


Speaking of attention, try being a dirty punk kid driving a white lotus w/ a jolly roger on it ANYWHERE. I LOVE my car, but I wish I was invisible when I drove it.

[87e30]

I can't even comprehend your level of insecurity.


My main point is that a car is a car. There are so many people that think that owning a certain car makes them elite, or something. It's just so strange to me. It's metal and rubber and glass and fabric. Who cares where it's made, or by whom?

I just feel like there's a lot of "better than you" attitude on BMW boards in general, but even the E30 boards.

E90 guys think they're better than other people because they have money.

E30 guys think they're better than other people because they're purists and don't care that they're driving an old car.

It's actually the reason that I stay off the lotus boards. All those guys think they're so AWESOME for owning a lotus. Or that a lotus is the fucking coolest shit in the whole world... It's just a car.

I don't think any thing I will ever own will make me any more or less of a person.

I'd rather people judged me for the things I've DONE.

Woah there buddy, stop making sense.

[Highway1]

we need another option in the poll:

I don't give a f**K, my car's fun to drive!

[kronus]

dang, I missed the morning r3v-bawwwing-at-each-other-because-we-can't-accept-opinions-different-from-ours.

:(

[Wh33lhop]

Sure I see the appeal. I just don't care about it. People tend to buy new because they want others to think they're well off. A child will often point to somebody with a big house and new cars and a bunch of stuff, and think they are rich. In reality they are probably living paycheck to paycheck with a mountain of debt to support their unsustainable lifestyle.

Sure, and I'm with you there (I've got a list of older cars to buy before I ever think about a new one). However, you're overgeneralizing. Plenty of people can comfortably afford to buy new, and it's worth the extra money to them to be able to order exactly what they want and have an example they can be certain is unmolested.

I, too, know a few guys (in the local car club, for example) who don't really have more money than I do, but are living paycheck to paycheck, in debt, paying the minimum payment on their cards, driving around new SRT-4s or EVOs. But not everybody who buys expensive stuff can't afford it.

new cars don't break huh? then why offer a warranty? Why are there so many recalls? That argument is silly. Sometimes you get a good one, but a lot of times a new car has it's own share of problems.

I knew this was coming. I don't buy it. Yeah there are recalls and warrantys etc, but if you're smart about it and buy something that has been on the market a few years and has had most of the bugs ironed out, you typically get a good car. I'm just saying, if you think buying new is stupid, then why isn't buying new parts for your old car stupid? Because you don't want to worry about them failing again and you want them to work like new, right? Again, just sayin'.

I've never actually had the E30 "break down" on me. I try to get in front of any problems before they are actually problems. if I notice something is worn, I order the parts and replace it before it breaks and leaves me stranded. That's part of the whole "maintenance" thing.

Yeah, but if you weren't an enthusiast? If you were a complete moron when it came to cars you'd have no idea what to check or what to listen for, you'd just take it to a shop when something broke. There's more to maintenance than scheduled maintenance, on a 25 year old car shit always goes awry.

I guess my point is, yeah if you know what you're doing, what you're getting yourself into and don't mind getting down and dirty when the time comes, then there's no real reason to buy new. But if you're not car-saavy, or you don't have the time to fuck around fixing stuff and maybe still want something fun, buying new makes perfect sense. You know exactly what the car's been through--nothing.

[Jonny Cash]

I agree buying new is always a waste of money but sometimes you gotta do it. My wife and I have an 03 Civic we bought new but my wife was driving almost 1000 miles a week and we could not take the chance that something went wrong. Up to this point, she was driving a 75 2002 and I was driving a 91 Acura. Waste of money or not, it was like heaven driving a car that did not roar at freeway speeds or rattle the interior off on rough roads. We still have it and it is our little commuter now but the thing still drives and looks like it is brand new because we are the only people who have ever driven it regularly. Yeah...there is an appeal to buying new for sure. Haven't bought new since then but it has been a hard arguement to convince my wife we shouldn't do it again.

.

not sure how this discussion even came about, but as we know married life is a tough compromise.. I wont even argue, its whatever she wants. :whip:
If I had it my way I'd only own old cars/trucks. But women want to get in and hit the gas NSA, so you have to bite the bullet sometimes. On the up-side of things its nice to have something more refined for the long drives out of town.

[newman]

I bought 2 new stis... I don't know if I'd ever buy a used STi...

[Wh33lhop]

I can't even comprehend your level of insecurity.

My main point is that a car is a car. There are so many people that think that owning a certain car makes them elite, or something. It's just so strange to me. It's metal and rubber and glass and fabric. Who cares where it's made, or by whom?

I just feel like there's a lot of "better than you" attitude on BMW boards in general, but even the E30 boards.

E90 guys think they're better than other people because they have money.

E30 guys think they're better than other people because they're purists and don't care that they're driving an old car.

It's actually the reason that I stay off the lotus boards. All those guys think they're so AWESOME for owning a lotus. Or that a lotus is the fucking coolest shit in the whole world... It's just a car.

Car guys will be car guys. Nobody ever said we were logical. Even if you go to the maxima forums you'll find people who are only into maximas and think they're the shit (I saw a thread where the OP "walked" a beat-to-shit C4 L98 vette and therefore, all corvettes were slow and maximas were sports cars--I am not joking).

I'm not going to lie, I'm a BMW fanboi through-and-through, I love their design philosophy, but I'm under no false impression of what they are. I just wanted a fun car, I like straight 6s and I'm poor. Boom--E30.

Speaking of attention, try being a dirty punk kid driving a white lotus w/ a jolly roger on it ANYWHERE. I LOVE my car, but I wish I was invisible when I drove it.

If your E30 looked like mine, you'd be invisible whether you liked it or not. :p

[nando]

Sure, and I'm with you there (I've got a list of older cars to buy before I ever think about a new one). However, you're overgeneralizing. Plenty of people can comfortably afford to buy new, and it's worth the extra money to them to be able to order exactly what they want and have an example they can be certain is unmolested.

I, too, know a few guys (in the local car club, for example) who don't really have more money than I do, but are living paycheck to paycheck, in debt, paying the minimum payment on their cards, driving around new SRT-4s or EVOs. But not everybody who buys expensive stuff can't afford it.

sure, and like I said - I understand the appeal. I just don't care. Just like how a sociopath understands empathy, but doesn't feel anything. :p

I knew this was coming. I don't buy it. Yeah there are recalls and warrantys etc, but if you're smart about it and buy something that has been on the market a few years and has had most of the bugs ironed out, you typically get a good car. I'm just saying, if you think buying new is stupid, then why isn't buying new parts for your old car stupid? Because you don't want to worry about them failing again and you want them to work like new, right? Again, just sayin'.

No, I don't expect new parts not to break. In fact I've replaced lots of things multiple times over 100,000 miles. The difference is I'm not making a monthly payment on those parts. And I usually get to upgrade them at the same time :)

Yeah, but if you weren't an enthusiast? If you were a complete moron when it came to cars you'd have no idea what to check or what to listen for, you'd just take it to a shop when something broke. There's more to maintenance than scheduled maintenance, on a 25 year old car shit always goes awry.

then I'd have to pay extra for my ignorance. Some people don't have the time or don't care. That's fine. It just means I can save some of that money others would be paying a shop or a bank. It's like when I paid extra for somebody else to insulate under my house. I don't want to crawl under there, so it costs me money.

I guess my point is, yeah if you know what you're doing, what you're getting yourself into and don't mind getting down and dirty when the time comes, then there's no real reason to buy new. But if you're not car-saavy, buying new makes perfect sense. You know exactly what the car's been through--nothing.

if you are going to keep it until it's finally dead, or no longer worth fixing, then yes I agree - it would be nice to know the entire history of your car. But that wasn't really my point. Some people buy a new car every couple years, because they trashed their "old" one, or simply because it's "old". A 2 year old car shouldn't need replaced. For a lot of people a new car is about perception more than it is about not having to worry about it breaking. All cars break.

[newman]

Even if you go to the maxima forums you'll find people who are only into maximas and think they're the shit

Lol, I used to have a modded maxima. Had a To4e turbo on it @ 10 psi, that was fun. :)

(I saw a thread where the OP "walked" a beat-to-shit C4 L98 vette and therefore, all corvettes were slow and maximas were sports cars--I am not joking).

I RAPED a dude in a c4 vette in my stock sti...

This isn't that surprising, but it was funny because I was towing a jetski. :)