Help, should I replace iS with MK1 sport?

[reggiegasket]

Hi,
I have a 318iS which I love and have used for the last 4 years. However, I'm thinking about whether a mk1 sport would be better. Any experience? My main issues with the iS is the lack of LSD. I'm not convinced the 325 sport would be much faster. In fact the iS is fast enough top end, but I suspect the 325 woudl be more fun out of corners with the extra grunt. Also, I like the balanced feel of the iS - like a little sports car should, I wonder if the 325 would feel heavy up front? Also, I'm not sure why mk2 sports are so much more money - why is that? My understanding is they are no faster, but not sure. Anyway, I don't want to sell my iS, but the cost of putting a LSD on means a sport seems a better option. Views?

[b4gga83]

What is the point of an LSD?

I would never give up an IS over the sport. They are just sooo much fun to drive the 325 is just too nose heavy, i used to own a 325. But when I had a friends IS for the day I was converted.

[gooner1]

Surely ,as you know your car so well and the fact that good sports are fairly hard to find , you would be better off fitting an LSD. Not sure what ratio your looking for but a 3.64 is only going to set you back £250- 300 max.

[Speedtouch]

LSD reduces the amount of slip by a certain amount (usually 25%) giving better traction out of slippery corners or when you're accelerating hard.

Tech2 Sports are more highly prized because they are:
a) Newer
b) Less rust-prone
c) Better looking

[Dr Firefly]

Didn't IS's come with an LSD?

[maxfield]

Didn't IS's come with an LSD?

No, optional extra.

[b4gga83]

LSD reduces the amount of slip by a certain amount (usually 25%) giving better traction out of slippery corners or when you're accelerating hard.

Crusing in both the IS and 325, I felt as though I could chuck the IS around if I wanted to but when in my 325 it just felt nose heavy, lazy, is the world i'm looking for.

Because I cruise I've never needed an LSD, plus I try not to accelerate out of corners, too many incidents that I care not to repeat! (sorry to jack the thread)

[reggiegasket]

Thanks for that. Main reason for wanting a LSD is that every now and again I do look to put the rear out on 2nd gear corners, just for fun. It's hard without a LSD to get a smooth drift. I've got to the point with my iS that I can't imagine a better balanced car, so the comments about the nose heavy 325 is very useful. I did drive one once and was not impressed, but it was an old shed. Maybe I should accept the inevitable and get that LSD and Z3 rack purchased and gett on with it....

[tomtomtom]

no!

[hammoj28]

If your happy with the iS then i would say just get an LSD for it.

Iv driven a few 325's and i must admit i found them a bit dull to be honest and yes they do feel nose heavy.

[wiledw]

No!

[Bob_S]

had both an is and a 327 tbh i rate the 327 a better car, it's easy to extract silly speeds ans the extra weight up front isnt that noticable down a good a or b riad there isnt much difference apart from the 327 is a lairy hairy chested brute as opposed to the slender and sleek 318is. tbh for the price of an lsd i would look at something else to stabilise the car, such like uprated anti roll bars or a set of bilstein b8 shocks

[Gibson]

Personally. having now driven both a sixpot and fourpot16v i would say the Sport is the weapon of choice. there is no difference with a tiny bit more weight over the front wheels as the fourpot boys would love to have you believe. infact i think it gives u a more reliable handling characteristic (ie if its gonna slide, its gonna be power oversteer. which is awesome) i thought the IS was a little underpowered for the mass of an e30 and the low end torque of the six suits the car much better.

[Rosc0PColtrane]

Best thing to do is to drive the Tech 1 sport (definately a prettier car) and if you like it, buy it. People look for different things from cars. You may prefer the IS, you may prefer the 6 pot. Horses for courses and all that.

Gibson has posted a fair response, Bob has too. You wont get a definitive answer in this thread, though we'll certainly have some fun winding each other up!!

The e30 was famous for it's 6 pot engines for a reason....

Oh and lsd's? Much much better

[Gibson]

RoscOPColltrane.... what the hell are you doing up at 9-00 on a sunday morning? you must be nuts.

I really suppose the only sensible answer is drive both. and then see if you can turn down the power of the 325 in favour of 1 or 2 percent better weight distribution.... i know i couldnt

[oakey]

Without doubt the tech1. I would laugh at the thought of replacing my tech 1s with a 1.8

[e36boy]

Ive driven a couple of 318is and i used to own a tech 2 sport and am going to be in the market for another soon.
The 318is are a nice drive and handle great but for me you cant beat the roar of the six pot and the torque it gives you.
The 318is feel abit under powered to me aswell which is why id go for the 325i sport every time.

[hammoj28]

e36boywrote;

The 318is feel abit under powered to me aswell which is why id go for the 325i sport every time.

Thats the problem with them, they are great fun but they aren't exactly quick.

I have been and still am really tempted in an m50 because it revs in a similar way i expect and has a bit of grunt.

[e36boy]

e36boywrote;

The 318is feel abit under powered to me aswell which is why id go for the 325i sport every time.

Thats the problem with them, they are great fun but they aren't exactly quick.

I have been and still am really tempted in an m50 because it revs in a similar way i expect and has a bit of grunt.

Go for it mate, Ive always fancied a tech 2 with an M50 conversion, I was on egay just the other day pricing up M50 donors..........Id just be happy to get back into a nice tech 2 sport at the moment though with an M20.

[hammoj28]

Gotta admit its always tempted me. Will see what happens, need another project anyway so i dont see why not plus its pretty cheap to do looking at the price of donor cars.