Other E30-esque daily drivers?

[george graves]

/thread

I second that - the interior is trash - but kinda a cool car. I guess you would call it an import since it's from "ford of europe". 2.3L 4-cly at the mustang got, but turbocharged.

If you get one - make sure you get it with the race-boy wing!

[fengshui]

Definitely Gen I or Gen II Miata. I am 5'11" and 240lbs and I just fit into that thing. It is a great handler stock, and I won my local SCCA regional CS class last year in it.

You can also consider a car that used to race w/ M3s in Europe. Alfa Romeo 75 sold as the "Milano" in the USA. Top model is the Verde w/ a 3.0L SOHC V6 (188hp). Last of the RWD Alfas as well:


-Chris

[Julien]

xr4ti ftw... except that they are hunks of shit :-(

[browntown]

80's volvo's are rwd, their 4cyl motor is indestructable, and take boost well. plenty of people rally them, easy to work on, and an aftermarket available.

see
volvospeed
swedespeed
turbobricks
dot com

[Jonathan M3]

240sx

We've had a '92 hatchback and a '98 SE coupe(current) in our family and I always enjoy driving them. Cheap, fun to drive, tossable, reliable, easy to work on, and decent looking. Though over the past few years or so they've become the new super duper boy racer car to have.
The KA engine sounds like poop and is pretty harsh in the upper rpms, but makes good low-end tq for a daily. The '92 was peppy but the '98 feels like a turd, even though they're rated the same 155hp. I'm not sure what the weight difference is.

[StereoInstaller1]

Porsche 944's

I just don't fit too well(I'm 6'2").

Why those Teutonic torture chambers never came with tilt wheel I will never know. Incredible lack of bottom end torque, leaky, completely untenable as a DD, IMHO. Oh yeah...shitty mileage, too!

As an outside shot, have you ever driven a Subaru SVX? If I lived in, say, Lemon Grove/Encanto and worked in Escondido (which is what I used to have for a commute) that would be a wonderful choice for a car. Odd but great to drive. Otherwise, I would say Ninja ZZR (if over 240Lbs at your heigth) or BMW 1200RS.

[jealous streak]
But, seeing you already have an E30M3, you can just go fuck completely off. I think you should buy a wrangler and move to Golden Hill. You would be so "Popular".

[/jealous streak]


Luke

[dvs909]

240z.... i road in one my friend was restoring and damn!!! its loud, it shakes, and it feels like its a real car!!! i mean your not so seperated from the road its easy to work on, and i mean sheesh its a sweet looker!
________
Honda RS125R history

[shiftbmw]

Wow guys, a lot of solid input.

Looks like a miata would be legit if I was 4 inches shorter. A 240sx seems like a pretty good option all around.

As for a 240z, who doesn't love those? I've only owned 5, and a v8 260z so I don't feel like going that direction again just yet. Oh, and a 240z is a real car as somebody pointed out.

As for the XR4ti or the milano, I don't see those for sale very often. I guess either would be fun. The volvo however is a little lacking in the awesome department.

Lastly, I'm about 70 pounds shy of riding a zzr...


Sweet dudes, thanks for giving me some direction.

[killa325i]

non-M E30 FTW, you did a great job of describing it.

[StereoInstaller1]

Lastly, I'm about 70 pounds shy of riding a zzr...

they do make a 600, you know...heh

[325iCabrio]

Since you're looking for awesome instead of trunk space, have you thought about a Toyota MR2? You could definately get a Mk I, and might be able to get a MkII. I owned a Mk III ('03 Spyder), and that is the best handling car I've ever driven, bar none. The only thing better is a Lotus Elise or a Ferrari F430.

They're all four cylinders, so they're good on gas. Some of the Mk IIs had twin turbos, but they'd be out of your price range. Even so, the Mister Twos weigh in the mid 2500 lb range (the Mk I's around 2100), so they can haul ass. And the great thing about them is that they have a lot of room. I can't fit in a Miata and can barely fit in a Z3, but my MR2 Spyder had plenty of space for me. I had a friend who had a Mk I, and he was 6' 3", and he fit just fine.

Plus, they're Toyotas, so they'll last forever.


Mark I


Mark II

Oh, and Steroinstaller--that little jealous rant almost made me fall out of my chair laughing!

[StereoInstaller1]

Oh, and Steroinstaller--that little jealous rant almost made me fall out of my chair laughing!

Agreed on Mr.2s. Rockin' little cars.

Do you know the "Golden Hill" area of San Diego?

They should change the name to "Vaseline Alley"

No place for a homophobe.


Heh.

Luke

[shiftbmw]

Haha I'm not familiar with Golden Hill...

MR2 could be way cool. I just checked out a porsche 951, moreso for fun than to actually buy, but holy fuck are those things fast.

[E30 Wagen]

Nobody has mentioned Rx7's yet, so I will. They're rwd, and I've seen plenty with manual boxes. Don't know much about them but i've heard that they can be pretty reliable, and fast. Would be something kinda unique to drive. I like how they look at least.

[ping65810]

Some may hurt me on here for saying this, but for a front wheel drive, the Dodge SRT4s feel very similar to an e30 the way you can throw them around, size, and even feel a little bit. Not saying I really like them, but I dont normally like FWD, but I can get in one of those and really have some fun with it.
The e30 is pretty timeless, and I love my e46, but its nothing like my e30 at all. If you want a fun sedan that is a blast to drive, check out a MB 300e/e320. Had one of those, and they actually handle amazingly well, and are very fast sedans.