What would be a comparable car to an E30

[CreamE30]

I'm trying to get my buddy to buy an older car and fix it up like I am doing with my E30, and I am trying to come up with other cars that are comparable to the E30. Something that is as (or about as :eyecrazy) reliable, and has the same prices for parts or even cheaper.

[absent]

Depends on what you mean by 'more reliable' and what you mean by 'comparable' and what you mean by 'cheaper parts'. ;)

[CreamE30]

Well, I asked on R3v and some of the things that have been coming up are:
Miata
AE86
MkII VW
RX-7FC
240sx

All of these are some what comparable as far as maintaining goes and the price they can be had for. Or so I've heard over there. Just trying to get a feel for what y'all think.

[garretts turbo]

rear wheel or front drive?

[Lie]

AE86 will have the Initial D tax on it.... I support the idea of a Miata or 240sx

[absent]

I suppose those aren't bad suggestions, but none of those really fell into the same market as the e30. None of them really had much of a 'luxury' edge to them, and none of them had 6-cyls.

If you're looking at it like a smaller RWD chassis from a similar time period, then most of those are decent competitors i guess. And they would mostly satisfy the 'cheaper parts' thing, and in some cases the 'more reliable' stipulation...but i'd hardly consider an old RX-7 or 240SX any more reliable than a 325i. And a Mk.II VW is at a serious disadvantage being FWD, and much cheaper, so i wouldn't consider that much of a fair comparison either.

Personally, i'd be more inclined to match the e30 up with the 'equivalent' Mercedes, Audi, Saab, contemporaries.

But it really depends on what kind of 'competition' you mean...

[KevRC4130]

When I was looking at cars, other cars that I was considering were MKII Volkswagon, Alfa Romeo 164, Alfa Romeo Milano, and Mercedes 190E. Maybe even Volvo 240 or Porsche 944.

[CreamE30]

Well it doesn't need to be RWD like the E30 or have the same luxury options per say.

What about a 2002 sentra SE-R? Any experience with these here?

[HellKat]

190e

[absent]

Well it doesn't need to be RWD like the E30 or have the same luxury options per say.

What about a 2002 sentra SE-R? Any experience with these here?

That's more than a decade of seperation and a very different format. I fail to see how that is at all 'comparable'.

[CreamE30]

That's more than a decade of seperation and a very different format. I fail to see how that is at all 'comparable'.

Yeah, this is true, but I'm looking at more of a practicality comparison and not a statistical one. Yes I know they are different engines, body styles, suspension configurations, and anything else you can think of, but I'm trying to find a good starting car for my pal.

[HellKat]

Well it doesn't need to be RWD like the E30 or have the same luxury options per say.

What about a 2002 sentra SE-R? Any experience with these here?

vw gti. fun model to tinker with and mod!

[absent]

Yeah, this is true, but I'm looking at more of a practicality comparison and not a statistical one. Yes I know they are different engines, body styles, suspension configurations, and anything else you can think of, but I'm trying to find a good starting car for my pal.

If you're just looking for something fun for your friend that isn't an e30, but is sort of in the same ballpark so you can have a fun little friendly rivalry, then i'd suggest something like a Mk.III VR6? Still FWD, and it's never going to out-handle an e30, but they're definitely still pretty fun in their own sort of way. And they're pretty solid cars aside from random electronic gremlins (and it's not as though BMWs are free of electrical problems either :stickoutt).

[phathom]

good starting car, I know I'm going to get flamed for this, but 4th gen Honda Accords, 90-93, cheap enough, reliable, easy to work on, cheap parts and maintenance has some luxury feel compared to other cars around the time and even more backseat legroom than my E46. It has a good aftermarket if you feel like modding or even going FI, even on the stock engine for cheap. I had mine for years, did everything to it, and loved it, too bad I wrecked it then blew the engine for the 3rd time doing F.I. on a nonbuilt block otherwise I would probably still have it and not even be on these forums...:shifty

[DrewDude320i]

E21. Duh.

[Bene36m3]

Why doesnt he just get an e30 then?

If not i would tell him to get a 240 and sr20 it.

[VNG704]

Why doesnt he just get an e30 then?

If not i would tell him to get a 240 and sr20 it.
RWD > FWD but, still nice: a mid/late 90s 200SX se-r (fwd) and gti-r(227hp jdm turbo motor) it.

[Charlie]

Another e30.

Duh.

-Charlie

[GR330ZHP]

Sentra???? :confused A car with no tach, to me, IS NOT a performance car...maybe thats just me idk...

If its not an BMW, go with a VW! I would say an Audi before the VW, but most of the older ones tend to have been beaten on, and are not cheap to fix.

But definetly the next choice is VW...if its something a little older, go with a Mk2 GTI or even a GLI Jetta with a VR6 swap...
If its for something a little newer go with a MK3 or 4 Jetta VR6 or GTI...

Again I would go with an Audi first like a B4 90 Quattro for older, or a B5 S4 for newer, and its QUATTRO, but it won't be on the cheap side if its been beaten on...

Go with a VR6! IMO:redspot

[phathom]

90-93 VW passat FTW! Those things got some serious balls, they are definitely underated and will be the snot off of all those rice boys all day long, only problem is not much aftermarket for them, but they are nice and luxurious as well as sporty and fairly good mpg.

[NMMR]

does he not like e30's or something?

[oldymcoldington]

When I was looking at cars, other cars that I was considering were MKII Volkswagon, Mercedes 190E. Maybe even Volvo 240

affordability is important i take it? all of these cars would be comparable and i second Kev's post

[weenstan]

The 190Es for SURE, or the AE86.

[Pino]

The 190Es for SURE, or the AE86.

Yep. Love 190e's..... fantastic combo with the e30

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v409/magicpenguin7/Cars/Anthony%20190E/DSC_0114.jpg

[Bene36m3]

RWD > FWD but, still nice: a mid/late 90s 200SX se-r (fwd) and gti-r(227hp jdm turbo motor) it.

Ummm, im talking about the 240sx, not the 200sx. They are RWD, not FWD.