Want to ditch my modern car and get something with a soul
Discussion
I've got a 1992/J BMW E30 325i which I love, it puts a smile on my face and the driver involvement is why. My daily is a BMW E92 330i and whilst it's an accomplished car in many ways it is not engaging. The best way to put it is that I like it but I don't love it.
I'm only 25 so my E30 is the oldest car I've driven, to me it's a classic but I appreciate it is a modern one and to many isn't a classic at all.
Possibly due to spending too much time on PH I have a reckless idea - sell the E92 for £5,000-£7,000 on a good day and buy something with passion (not necessarily Italian). No brand allegiance, ideally something which can carry four grown ups and has four doors. I have a family but no need for oceans of boot space in an estate. Open to barges too but would probably cry when parking. Would quite like a big NA V8 before they all disappear though. Never owned a turbo car but I'm open minded. This would be a daily driver car and I don't want another project to go with the E30, I accept presentative maintenance and am used to babying cars with servicing but don't want to have the AA on speed dial. My commute is 16 miles each way on A roads so horrendous fuel economy isn't too big of a deal.
I thought I would ask the experts as there's too many for me to narrow down and I'm limited with my knowledge beyond the blue and white roundel!
I'm only 25 so my E30 is the oldest car I've driven, to me it's a classic but I appreciate it is a modern one and to many isn't a classic at all.
Possibly due to spending too much time on PH I have a reckless idea - sell the E92 for £5,000-£7,000 on a good day and buy something with passion (not necessarily Italian). No brand allegiance, ideally something which can carry four grown ups and has four doors. I have a family but no need for oceans of boot space in an estate. Open to barges too but would probably cry when parking. Would quite like a big NA V8 before they all disappear though. Never owned a turbo car but I'm open minded. This would be a daily driver car and I don't want another project to go with the E30, I accept presentative maintenance and am used to babying cars with servicing but don't want to have the AA on speed dial. My commute is 16 miles each way on A roads so horrendous fuel economy isn't too big of a deal.
I thought I would ask the experts as there's too many for me to narrow down and I'm limited with my knowledge beyond the blue and white roundel!
SoupAnxiety said:
Would quite like a big NA V8 before they all disappear though.
Monaro is your answer here, ran mine as a daily, not one major fault in 135,000 miles.SoupAnxiety said:
This would be a daily driver car and I don't want another project to go with the E30, I accept presentative maintenance and am used to babying cars with servicing but don't want to have the AA on speed dial. My commute is 16 miles each way on A roads so horrendous fuel economy isn't too big of a deal.
Otherwise, as someone who has attempted to do this too often, I'd recommend keeping the modern BMW (can't believe they're up to E92 already!) and getting another cheap classic to play with, something like a Spitfire.Well OP I think your with the correct marque to be honest. You need a BMW e39 M5 in your world.
Does everything you want it to.
Other then that no other classic is going to do that unless you go for something considerably older which will mean you probably wont be able to drive it every day.
I would look at the Mercedes W124 as I personally found this car to be very nice steer. Its not sporting but fun to hussle.
Actually thinking about it again... M5 thats the answer
Does everything you want it to.
Other then that no other classic is going to do that unless you go for something considerably older which will mean you probably wont be able to drive it every day.
I would look at the Mercedes W124 as I personally found this car to be very nice steer. Its not sporting but fun to hussle.
Actually thinking about it again... M5 thats the answer
Renn Sport said:
You need a BMW e39 M5 in your world.....
The OP already has an old BMW, so is there not a danger that the e39 M5 will not just be another old BMW, albeit a faster one?Don't get me wrong, they are great cars but for me they are not yet within the 'classic' territory like the first generation M5. If the OP is looking for something with 'soul' it needs to be something a little further away from his existing BMW's.
How about a V8 Range Rover, Bentley Turbo, V6 Turbo Renault GTA, Lotus Excell, Jaguar XJS, or even a proper classic BMW 635i
NDNDNDND said:
Something American is a good shout, but my god that one is ugly!The Surveyor said:
NDNDNDND said:
Something American is a good shout, but my god that one is ugly!A 5.7 litre LS1 V8 and a manual box go a long way to compensate though!
Yertis said:
SoupAnxiety said:
Would quite like a big NA V8 before they all disappear though.
Monaro is your answer here, ran mine as a daily, not one major fault in 135,000 miles.
Can be had (just about) in budget for a good one. Plenty of character, good handling by muscle car standards, reliable, cheap to run and insure (bar fuel, and even that's not too bad). That LS1 V8 is a peach of an engine. Sounds great with a less restrictive aftermarket exhaust too 
Yertis said:
another cheap classic to play with, something like a Spitfire.
Aargh! What's he done to deserve that? I had a Spitfire 20 years ago, it was bloody grim then. No performance, rust, poor handling, poor fuel economy, spent more time being repaired than driving. An MX5 is better in so many ways, that's why I have one in the garage. I wouldn't have another Spit as a gift, unless it were an absolutely as-new top of the shop resto. Sorry.ohtari said:
HustleRussell said:
rb5er said:
Get yourself a 350z, 200sx, impreza, evo, gt4 etc etc
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