Stick or Twist - e36 328 touring vs e46 323 coupe??
Stick or Twist - e36 328 touring vs e46 323 coupe??
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Discussion

addsvrs

Original Poster:

588 posts

247 months

Friday 29th July 2011
quotequote all
As the title really, currently own a '98 e36 328i se tourer which i love but....going to look at a '99 e46 323i ci tomorrow. Now i havent seen it but my missus has and says it lovely. The guy selling it is the same one i got the touring from, my mechanic that has looked after all my cars past and present.

Being do the pro's and cons all day and havent come close to any decision

touring -
for:
great engine, comfy with the auto, kinda unusual,everything works and dosent owe me a penny
against:
157k mileage, auto making me lazy, showing its age bodywork wise

coupe-
for:
Newer and (maybe) better looking, never had a coupe, manual, cheap!!
against:
140k mileage, lots about, unseen condition/gremlins

so any words of wisdom to help in my decision.....?

Gad-Westy

16,636 posts

244 months

Friday 29th July 2011
quotequote all
If its purely about driving pleasure I found my E36 328 a better car than E46 330. Manual box is nice to have though. Personally I don't think I'd swap but if it floats your boat...

edc

9,679 posts

282 months

Saturday 30th July 2011
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99 e46 coupe. Prime territory for rear subframe problems.

s m

24,494 posts

234 months

Saturday 30th July 2011
quotequote all
Gad-Westy said:
If its purely about driving pleasure I found my E36 328 a better car than E46 330. .
I'm with you there - as a car to thread down some interesting roads, prefer doing it in the E36. I think the quick rack and LSD helps in my decision though - a proper LSD is a more expensive option on an E46 - a torsen diff like a Quaife is the usual option

andy665

4,204 posts

259 months

Sunday 31st July 2011
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Had several E46's but my wfes E36 328i is a far more satisfying / fun car to drive - more raw, more chuckable

jamesson

3,714 posts

252 months

Monday 1st August 2011
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I'd stick. I had an E46 323 coupe, and it was very nice but left me a bit cold compared to the E36 so I sold it and bought back my old E36. Great decision which I don't regret.

s m

24,494 posts

234 months

Tuesday 2nd August 2011
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andy665 said:
Had several E46's but my wfes E36 328i is a far more satisfying / fun car to drive - more raw, more chuckable
I think that was it for me - it obviously feels an older car, but new enough to have most of the e46's goodies. I thought our old E46 saloon was nicer looking but other than that I can't think of anything else I miss about it

Renn Sport

2,761 posts

240 months

Wednesday 3rd August 2011
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The main thing is that your E36 is a Auto which makes a dynamic difference in driving. (The auto is a good car)

I loved our old 328 auto Touring but the manual does give you so much more.


Incidently I have 328 manual, which I have stuck a LSD in and its made the car twice as good (almost).

not sure if anything I have said helps with your decision. probably not smile

s m

24,494 posts

234 months

Friday 5th August 2011
quotequote all
Renn Sport said:
Incidently I have 328 manual, which I have stuck a LSD in and its made the car twice as good (almost).
Well worthwhile mod smile

addsvrs

Original Poster:

588 posts

247 months

Friday 5th August 2011
quotequote all
Well went to see it, and as nice as it was decided to stick to mine. few things on the coupe i decided would annoy me, passanger seat didnt recline/move very freely, alloys needed some attention and at the end of the day the burning question was "was it worth 3 times the value of mine??". No was the answer, so thanks for all the advice guys.

s m

24,494 posts

234 months

Saturday 6th August 2011
quotequote all
addsvrs said:
Well went to see it, and as nice as it was decided to stick to mine. few things on the coupe i decided would annoy me, passanger seat didnt recline/move very freely, alloys needed some attention and at the end of the day the burning question was "was it worth 3 times the value of mine??". No was the answer, so thanks for all the advice guys.
Someone my wife works with asked me if I was interested in their E46 330 saloon a few months back. Even if it had had a sunroof ( which it didn't ) I don't think I'd have swapped. No LSD ( and no cheapo option ), slower ratio rack ( although I could have changed it I guess ) and a bit more of a remote 'feel' handling-wise. Other than the exterior looks ( I prefer the E46 to E36 in saloon form ) it would have been a couple of grand to get a car that's only a smidge quicker at over motorway speeds ( plus an extra 10mph top end ).
I came to the same decision as you