I'm looking for a daily driver. Right now I'm looking for something classy but fun to drive. I work in alot of nice neighborhoods and don't want to appear as some young kid in a wannabe race car (I'm 23). I'm thinking of either a MKII Jetta or an E30 and I'd REALLY like the E30. I've got up to $4k to spend but I'd really like to spend less. Above all, I need it to be reliable. I think tastefully modded E30's look amazing and I've heard awesome things about them.
So I have a few questions.
1) Which model E30 would you guys recommend? The 325is seems to be the obvious choice but they're getting harder to find and they sell for $3k-$4k even with high miles (near 200k). Would I be better off purchasing a 325i and modding it? would it be cheaper and/or better than purchasing a 325is?
2) What're the differences in MPG between the different models?
3) How many miles are too many? How much life do these cars have in them? I see alot of them with high miles but I'm scared I'm going to be making alot of costly repairs if I purchase one, even if it's seemingly in good condition. There's a 325is here for $3500 with 197k on it, that seems nuts to me but maybe it's normal?
Any other input you guys have would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
A lot of the guys have way more knowledge than me on this topic but the basics are 325e usually are unbreakable. Very good reliability, aswell as gas mileage. But you pay for this in performance. 325i have way better performance not as good gas mileage still pretty reliable and easy to work on. 325is same as 325i with a LSD (limited slip differential) sport seats nice "is" lip different steering wheel (i believe). 318i slower than 325i but according to many better handling but this is very debatable. Again pretty reliable and has timng chain instead timing belt which is a large bonus. As fore how many miles some say the 325e is just broken in at 400 000km but like anything other car you have to look for low mileage but also maintenance such as timing belt on the 325's aswell as water pumpetc... Hope this help. Please anyone correct if im wrong.
-Jesse
325i
The gears in an "is" just piss me off on the highway, and if you're going to do suspension it's not like you're going to keep the "is" springs etc. anyways. So to me, the "is" really isn't worth the extra $.
Test drive both, the 1991 318is is said to be a little bit more reliable than the 6-cylinder models.
yes, and enjoy the gutless acceleration of the 318is along with it's gears that will start reaching their top end at 100 mph.
Don't listen to the haters. The M42 engine in the 318i/is is a great little engine. It is rev happy and the 130 something (134 I believe) HP propels the 26xxlb 318 very well. The light weight does help handling and this is not debatable. The 318 is more nimble than a 325. It even has high skidpad ratings than an E30 M3.
Beyond the timing chain advantage, the 1991 318 also has self adjusting hydraulic valves and a forged crank. It is a very solid little engine and will last a very long time. You can also expect 30MPG which is easy on the wallet.
BTW, a 318 will get over 120MPH rather easily. I don't know the top speed because I've never tested it in mine.
ah yes, the 318 haters haha. been to 138 in mine and wasn't even redlined in 5th, but thats just what the mph said. supposedly they are not that accurate, but it was hella fast for my car, and hella smooth at that speed. there are upsides and downsides for both cars, and the owners of each will continue to battle it out forever. just drive both and decide which you like better. you can't go wrong with any e30Originally Posted by DirtyHarry
IMO, the 325e. I love my '85 and I get arround 28mpg. It can be EXTREMELY fast when you want it to be, but it's also a relitivley safe car. Price is usualy less than 3k, and for a stock one you could probably go 1.5k
How the FUCK does a 318 have a better skid pad than a M3??? That doesnt make any sense at all. Them M3 is probably lighter or at worst the same. and it has a wider wheel base and wider tires stock. Not to mention stiffer suspension and a lower stance.
Here is what you should get....
http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=2227410 for more info...
It's common knowledge, the M42 318is got higher skidpad rating than the M3 of tht generation...it's a wierd anomally.Originally Posted by pbbreath
That IS a pretty cool Jetta, though.
Yet more proof that benchracing doesn't work. An M3 would eat the 318 alive on a racetrack, but the skidpad numbers might say otherwise. Like somebody above said, it's one of those ever-present anomolies in the automotive worldOriginally Posted by pbbreath
BMW CCA Member #480924
Ok so I found a couple clean 325e's an a 325es. What's the difference between a 325es and a 325is besides the engine? What can be done to boost the output of the ETA engine and what would the output be once it's modded? Someone was saying something about putting an iS head on an ETA engine and then basically having a stroked iS engine, is that true? What would the output be then? is it possible to get around 200hp with the ETA engine? Did they improve alot between say, 1986 and 1991?
just get the VW lol
Personally, I would go for the 325es. I own a 325e and love the thing, my father used to own a 325es. I got my 325e with 68k on it in 2002, of all the cars to find with really low mileage I had to get the one built like a tank.
According to my father his 325es was much better than the normal 325e. Of course he is old so everything he used to own was better than it is today.
I hear they get much better once you chip them. Replacing the flywheel with a lighter weight one might also make it feel a lot faster.
I get 26mpg doing pure city driving. On the highway I get somewhere between 34 and 36 and with gas prices these days that really helps. Maintenance isnt terrible either.
Last edited by fragmaster170; 10-09-2005 at 07:39 PM.
The Eta engine will always be slow. It feels fast but its horrendously slow. For a beater though its the best engine because its easy to drive and gets pretty good mileage.
Been to 125mph several times and no such thing!Originally Posted by DirtyHarry
That pretty much sums it up.Originally Posted by Ryan Stewart
-This is true. If you are interested in a ETA get an '88 325 or 325es since the 88 had a coupl more horsepower but isn't quite as rediculouly slow as an 84-87, and had a 1000 rpm higher redline and a shorter (2.93 v 2.79) rear-end for easier driving. My car is NOT FAST but is a blast to drive, easy to drive sportly, and gets near 30 mpg AND still outruns Civics (not saying much...). Oh, bought it for $1700 with 200 000 miles on it and it drives like a charmOriginally Posted by fragmaster170
-Slushy 1989 cirrisblau-metallic 325i
sorry, butOriginally Posted by fragmaster170
Do You want me to take a pic of my OBC?
Really? My friends E36 318ic automatic struggles at 110 pretty badOriginally Posted by Fly2002Fly
Get the i, if rpm's and hp are more important than a little better gas miliage and low speed torque. I'd suffer the pain to be able to tear it up in the i every so often.
An automatic E36 convertible and a light E30 5-speed coupe are two completely different animals.Originally Posted by KillerZJ
BMW CCA Member #480924
I'd go with a 318is, it's got a lot of spunk for a daily driver w/ a 4 cylinder. I found mine for $3,000 with 130,000 miles and good maintenance on it. Cheaper than a 325is but still is a lot of fun.
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