help which to buy?

[loudnfast]

Hi new here but i have owned 3 different e30s ,I love them but i think its time for me to buy a newer bimmer, the thing im wondering for those of you that have driven an e30,e36,e46im really concerned about losing that gokart feeling i love the e30s for the way they handle the road and the ones ive had,i spend the money on to upgrade , and they seem pretty fast ,easily pass most cars on the freeway but i want to go faster and also want to have a car that has potential ,the e30s i seemed to max out the engine (without spending insane amounts ) .im worried about the e36 because they just look like there a big car,i have about 10 to 12 grand only to spend on a used car, should i go for a e36 or should i sell my baby (89 325) which i know i love to drive, and try to get an early e46.i would love to keep it but i guess my question is ....will the increase in power and handling of an e36 make it as fun as an e30 to drive ,or should i sell the e30 and try and get an early e46 if i can afford it (that would leave no $$ for mods) ....i have a hard time believing any car is as fun to drive as an e30..hope im proven wrong

[witeshark]

AFAIK the E36 and E46 handling is no less fun than the E30. I'd suggest having a few test drives

[RSF5]

Yeah try out some different models.

[94bmw325i]

M50, or M52 in your e30 could be done for probably not too much money.

[mullethunter3]

If I didn't love my car so much, I would dump it for an E30. It's so much lighter and more fun to play with than the E36, it's not even funny. Take some serious test drives in an E36 and E46, then decide.

[devinwwu]

stick with the e30!
i got a chance to drive david's e36 325 before he sold it and while it was very responsive it just felt less connected to the road as my e34 or e30 does. I have the m30 in my e30 and its awesome. they are great little cars with tremendous balance and feedback!

[nick_318is]

E30 FTW, i might pick up another this spring and do a swap on it.

[Dudesky]

E30- great car, less mechanical problems.

E36- tough car to keep maintained and restored, but she'll make you happy when all is said and done.

E46- don't know too much about them, except to say don't get an earlier one because they had a few problems that needed ironing out.

My opinion: Stick with what you know, save the bucks left over and stash it in the bank

[RSF5]

Tough choice. Tough choice.

[BMWLotAttendant]

Ok. If you are looking for the "gokart" type feeling, and you've owned a couple e30s.....the only more "gokart" type feeling is in the e36.

The e46 is a different body style and smoothness that no old bimmer can touch. The e46 and e90 are more about a smooth ride and comfort. The e30 and e36 is about something totally different.

If you don't believe me, go drive them.

I would have to recommend getting and e36 M3....but if you can't afford that, then I'd have to say e36 328i manual (5 speed). If you can get the sport package (328is, 325is, etc.)...I highly recommend those for an even more of the "gokart" type feelings.

10-12 thousand should get you a decent e36 with mid-miles and money to mod. I just drove an e36 M3 with a supercharger. It had problems, but it was all "raced" out with racing seats and a "Rooz" type shifter. But it was ok.

Anywho

e36 for my vote.

[xsperf]

buy an e36, mod it to get that "go-kart" feeling, i know what you mean by the e30's handling, but sometimes you just gotta have more power

[defkon99]

Assuming u have 1 car i would just buy the e36 and have the e30 on the side and maybe soon enough drop in that M50 its always good to have 2 Cars incase u need one to mod and 1 to drive!

[celsdogg]

Originally Posted by xsperf

buy an e36, mod it to get that "go-kart" feeling, i know what you mean by the e30's handling, but sometimes you just gotta have more power

and more weight

[Mercenary(FH)]

E36 is fun to drive. but Little things will frustrate u. LIKE DAMN DOOR PANELS

[mullethunter3]

I know. That's what you get for trying to be environmentally friendly. Shitty door panels.