Fellow car peeps opinions needed please!
Discussion
Right guys, my wife, friends and even work colleagues are tired of listening to me blabber on about whether I should keep my current car and restore it or finally call it a day and get something new, so I'm hoping you lot my be able to help me finally make up my mind.
The score is that I've owned my BMW E30 325i for years now and although she still pulls well and has had some money spent on her over the years, it could still do with a full respray and leather refurb to really get it close to how I want it. This would work out to about £4k's worth of work for a decent job and would ultimately lead to a pretty sweet retro classic. Of course being over 20 years old now it would still require further spending down the road on other bits but that's the key cost for now.
Now the problem is that I'm not a millionaire and have other grown up costs to think about like plans for kids next year, a second 'family' car to buy at some point, house costs etc. So throwing £4k+ into a car that would serve purely as my Sunday drive (I get the train to work) isn't an easy decision.
So I've been thinking of what else I could get for a few grand that would still be special in terms of car kudos, something with pace and able to put a smile on my face not to mention something that is a great car without needing after market modification.
I know you're probably thinking of lots of options right now but trust me I've most likely thought of them too but for various reasons have whittled it down to 2 options; Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0 or Mazda RX8 PZ (Prodrive edition).
Here are my thoughts on the options;
BMW E30 - would be good to satisfy emotional attachment and with the money spent on it would make a really cool retro classic. But requires a good chunk of money to be spent on it and generally wouldn't be used for much more than a Sunday blast and looking pretty on the driveway.
Alfa GTV - faster, cheaper, future classic and it's an Alfa! But would worry about things going wrong with it and not completely convinced by its looks from certain angles if I'm honest.
RX8 PZ - again faster, cheaper not sure about it being a future classic but lots of fun to drive I hear and probably something I could have a lot of fun with on a track provided I keep the oil topped up. Suicide doors also make it the most practical when considering kids in the future so would probably end up being used more regularly than the other 2 options. As an all round package for the money I'm quite taken with this option but my main hesitance is that ultimately it's a cheap Japanese sports car and would worry that I'd be swapping something retro cool for something that some may see as a hairdressers car and not really have as much pedigree/kudos.
Thoughts please??! - just on these options - before anyone suggests it, no I'm not keen on a newer 3 series Beemer.
Cheers,
Nick
The score is that I've owned my BMW E30 325i for years now and although she still pulls well and has had some money spent on her over the years, it could still do with a full respray and leather refurb to really get it close to how I want it. This would work out to about £4k's worth of work for a decent job and would ultimately lead to a pretty sweet retro classic. Of course being over 20 years old now it would still require further spending down the road on other bits but that's the key cost for now.
Now the problem is that I'm not a millionaire and have other grown up costs to think about like plans for kids next year, a second 'family' car to buy at some point, house costs etc. So throwing £4k+ into a car that would serve purely as my Sunday drive (I get the train to work) isn't an easy decision.
So I've been thinking of what else I could get for a few grand that would still be special in terms of car kudos, something with pace and able to put a smile on my face not to mention something that is a great car without needing after market modification.
I know you're probably thinking of lots of options right now but trust me I've most likely thought of them too but for various reasons have whittled it down to 2 options; Alfa Romeo GTV 3.0 or Mazda RX8 PZ (Prodrive edition).
Here are my thoughts on the options;
BMW E30 - would be good to satisfy emotional attachment and with the money spent on it would make a really cool retro classic. But requires a good chunk of money to be spent on it and generally wouldn't be used for much more than a Sunday blast and looking pretty on the driveway.
Alfa GTV - faster, cheaper, future classic and it's an Alfa! But would worry about things going wrong with it and not completely convinced by its looks from certain angles if I'm honest.
RX8 PZ - again faster, cheaper not sure about it being a future classic but lots of fun to drive I hear and probably something I could have a lot of fun with on a track provided I keep the oil topped up. Suicide doors also make it the most practical when considering kids in the future so would probably end up being used more regularly than the other 2 options. As an all round package for the money I'm quite taken with this option but my main hesitance is that ultimately it's a cheap Japanese sports car and would worry that I'd be swapping something retro cool for something that some may see as a hairdressers car and not really have as much pedigree/kudos.
Thoughts please??! - just on these options - before anyone suggests it, no I'm not keen on a newer 3 series Beemer.
Cheers,
Nick
Yeah wouldn't be too fussed on the wrap myself, but if the car is solid then that money would be wisely invested in it IMO. You'll end up with a smashing car, which you'll either fall back in love with, or sell much more easily at a higher price
I'm probably the wrong person to be commenting on this though as wholely biased towards all things E30. You need to get some Alfa and Mazda fans to comment, although who doesn't like (and want!) a nice E30/M20 combo these days
I'm probably the wrong person to be commenting on this though as wholely biased towards all things E30. You need to get some Alfa and Mazda fans to comment, although who doesn't like (and want!) a nice E30/M20 combo these days
Ha thanks mate and yes you're right about the other opinions but good to hear yours. Oh and I really regret the wrap now but thanks for not being too harsh about it 
Part of me really wants people to champion the rx8 option but then I'll watch an episode of something like Gas Monkey Garage and then wonder how I could ever even consider a cheap Jap car replacement?!
Part of me really wants people to champion the rx8 option but then I'll watch an episode of something like Gas Monkey Garage and then wonder how I could ever even consider a cheap Jap car replacement?!
rb5er said:
So many cars out there for that money that I would much prefer over any of those 3.
Someone had to say it.
Ha, fair comment but there are reasons for my shortlist. If it were purely a case of cool car for a few grand then it would be different but needs to have some level of practicality and cost effectiveness. Someone had to say it.
You could end up spending a few grand on an absolute turkey that costs a bomb. The two you mention could well throw up far more expensive bills than the BMW could even dream about.
If it works and is rot free and you're not bored of it, keep it! You don't have to do respray and interior at once,
Perhaps even look for some second hand bits for the inside to keep the costs down?
If it works and is rot free and you're not bored of it, keep it! You don't have to do respray and interior at once,
Perhaps even look for some second hand bits for the inside to keep the costs down?
Yeah but let's say we forget the Alfa and I manage to find a top notch RX8... So the choice would then be a mint BMW E30 or ready to go RX8 PZ with change left over (don't forget money gained from sale of E30 also) to line up a few track days not to mention a few quid towards the family car?
Don't know enough about the RX8 to comment authoritatively. There's no shortage of threads on here about them though, performance bargain vs potential money pit discussions a-plenty!
Still think your E30 is far cooler than a RX8 though!
Genuine classic vs cheap and mostly unloved sports car. (I'm sure it's got it's ardent fans but it's unlikely a future classic!)
Still think your E30 is far cooler than a RX8 though!
Genuine classic vs cheap and mostly unloved sports car. (I'm sure it's got it's ardent fans but it's unlikely a future classic!)
I have just bought an Alfa GTV 3.0 V6. It's a 1998 'S' with 62,000 on the clock.
Frankly, if you 'get' Alfas, then you'll love the GTV. It's a great little car - quick, great noise, and the Busso V6 is one of the great all-time classic engines. It looks amazing - when it's polished up and parked in the right light it really is a pretty thing.
I have bought mine as a car to tinker on - I'm useless at spannering but this year thats going to change!
Bad bits - well it's a 16 year old Italian car, and so while it's been well rustproofed body-wise, the suspension bits are as rusty as you like, so it needs new springs, shocks, and the rest of it needs de-rusting and painting, which won't be cheap.
If you buy a good one for £3k or so then you'll be laughing. Buy a bad one and it will drain your bank quicker than a coke habit.
Frankly, if you 'get' Alfas, then you'll love the GTV. It's a great little car - quick, great noise, and the Busso V6 is one of the great all-time classic engines. It looks amazing - when it's polished up and parked in the right light it really is a pretty thing.
I have bought mine as a car to tinker on - I'm useless at spannering but this year thats going to change!
Bad bits - well it's a 16 year old Italian car, and so while it's been well rustproofed body-wise, the suspension bits are as rusty as you like, so it needs new springs, shocks, and the rest of it needs de-rusting and painting, which won't be cheap.
If you buy a good one for £3k or so then you'll be laughing. Buy a bad one and it will drain your bank quicker than a coke habit.
Thanks for the opinion bqf! Good to hear an Alfa-man's opinion on it. However I think the costs that even your relatively low-mileage one needs is enough to put me off for now. It's just that after years of spending on the E30 I think I now either want to call it a day and get something that's good to go with nothing to spend on apart from fuel and tax OR carry on with project E30 and make it something really special.
NIX325 said:
Thanks for the opinion bqf! Good to hear an Alfa-man's opinion on it. However I think the costs that even your relatively low-mileage one needs is enough to put me off for now. It's just that after years of spending on the E30 I think I now either want to call it a day and get something that's good to go with nothing to spend on apart from fuel and tax OR carry on with project E30 and make it something really special.
Well, i'd probably cast the net wider than the Alfa or Mazda then.....The alfa is something you have to love and spend money/time on, and the RX8 can go bang quickly and expensively.....In your position i would stick with the BMW and make it v special...good problem to have though I guess!
I'd buy the RX8.
To me it's one of the most special cars out there, and at a bargain price.
If I didn't have the Cerbera I would buy one in a heartbeat.
E30 is lovely too and would be my next choice. Although pretty, the Alfa is not a great steer (IMO!) and has a very awkward driving position (IMO!).
Good luck
To me it's one of the most special cars out there, and at a bargain price.
If I didn't have the Cerbera I would buy one in a heartbeat.
E30 is lovely too and would be my next choice. Although pretty, the Alfa is not a great steer (IMO!) and has a very awkward driving position (IMO!).
Good luck
I'd be tempted to get your E30 sorted. I saw a black E30 325 sport in Keswick as a young 'un and that want I had then is still here now. If I could afford a second car for the weekend and wasn't such a mechanical retard then I'd be browsing the classifieds now. To buy a good sorted retro classic, you'd have to spend a fair bit so to only spend 4k to get the one you already have sorted then that's what I would do.
Here's my 2p:
The E30 would be a fantastic project to work on, and ultimately its car you've had for a while and probably means a lot to you. Restore it and use it, it's appreciating quite quickly now and a good condition one will be worth a few bob in years to come.
If the above isn't for you go and get the RX8, buy it with wide open eyes and don't expect it to run faultlessly for years. It will be massively rewarding and has one of the greatest engines fitted to a car. However it may go wrong in the future which could cause financial ruin and heartache.
The E30 would be a fantastic project to work on, and ultimately its car you've had for a while and probably means a lot to you. Restore it and use it, it's appreciating quite quickly now and a good condition one will be worth a few bob in years to come.
If the above isn't for you go and get the RX8, buy it with wide open eyes and don't expect it to run faultlessly for years. It will be massively rewarding and has one of the greatest engines fitted to a car. However it may go wrong in the future which could cause financial ruin and heartache.
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