E30 Zone

Hi guys!

Names Simon - classified petrolhead. Essay follows!

Got linked to here from Pistonheads where I am a prolific timewaster.
Good looking forum, had a little read around.

Heres the deal - come the New year when all the holiday madness is over, I think I'm going to be after a new car.
Current motor is a 99 Peugeot 306 GTi-6, my first 'performance' car.
Dont scoff - its flipping ace, a very tidy example, and with 167bhp, 7500rpm limit and 6 cogs its a scream down a winding, yumpy back road.

Problem is, its a bit too sensible perhaps. I used my head a bit too much when I bought it, going for a modernish hatchback (albeit a quick one thats expensive to run).
Although I've only 1 car, I only do about 5 or 6k miles a year - through the week I dont have to commute, or use the car for carrying kids or anything like that. Its just my most expensive toy, for tinkering, polishing, and pleasure driving, long runs on a weekend, and the occasional long trip to see family, down to Le-Mans etc, you'll understand me.

Been looking at all sorts - MX5s (fun, cheap, reliable, sloooow) 944's (amazing to drive, bankruptcy imminent), 205 Gti's (perhaps not that different to what I've got?) etc.

Something with character, excellent handling, reasonable running costs, decent turn of speed, but 0-60 aint the most important thing.
A good club/internet/parts/advice scene is useful too!
Older, simple, sturdy cars, that are not weighed down with useless crap, easy to maintain, that are good to drive due to lightweight, not being overassisted, feelsome controls...

So, I've come across the 318is - done a little research. Its the right size, nice and lightweight, not massive power but the engine is supposed to be a good one?

Found a couple in the classifieds, looks to be lots on average ones around £1500, then I saw this which sold for ~ £2300. This would be right on budget for me - Expect to raise ~2700 from the Pug, so a little left over for the cost of changing.

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C28409



I have to say - its a lovely looking motor! Is that price indicative of what I would pay for an apparently very tidy example like that? Great spec too, Dark colour, X-spoke wheels, Very period looking check trim. I really do love it!

What do these cars drive like then? Nice and composed down a yumpy B-road? (my habitat of choice).

Looking forward to reading more on the forum over the next few days.

yeah they love it but can get a little twirly when it's wet I have had many hours of fun in mine I'd say it was a pretty rewarding car to drive quickly

in comparison the 205 will be more sprightly as it is made of tin foil
the 944 has more out and out grip and not that costly but a bit of a girly porsche I drove a turbo model not long ago and was glad to climb back into my e30 which while not as quick was more pleasureable to drive
and mx5's well

welcome to the forum mate!

205 gti will have be rag to death for every moment of its life so factor in a complete rebuilt of every component.
Mx5 is one of the gayest cars a man can drive. Dispite this they do handle fantastically and the turbo'd imports are mental.
944 is a bit yippy and again it will have been run into the ground and those tunning cost are going to hurt.

i've got an iS, its tatty compared to the one in your pic, no rust or anythin just not mint, its done 188,000 miles though and still drives mega, only thing wrong with it is a stud broken in the manifold to mid section of the exhaust so theres a teeny blow. i absolutely love the thing, dead revvy and mint round corners, thraping round country lanes is where they're best. when i bought mine it had 14's and 4 different types of sh!t tyres on and it handled ace, dead floaty like a mk2 escort, you flick it into bends straighen the wheel and go round on the throttle, however i've fitted some powedercoated black 15" BBS with 4 new tyres on and while it looks the tits i have to say its ruined the handling a bit, too much grip but i've never in my life experience a car so stable on a wet road, it sticks like sh!t to a blanket! i've got another one, grey, had a smack, over christmas i'm puttin the LSD out of the grey one in mine so that should improve things a bit.

i'd defo recommend one, wont be as quick as your 306 and they're a p!sser round bends arent they?! once you get over the disconcerting lunge as the back tyres slip then grip. the other thing about getting a iS is the tuning you can do for cheap. a chips about £100, big bore throttle bodies about £140 when you return your old ones, straight through exhaust etc and you'll be somewhere near your pug power.

i go to le mans every year too, missed last year though. mega isn't it!? we normally camp at beausejour.

MX5 is a lot of fun, very fluid handling but underpowered. 944 is nice, but getting old and when they go wrong its going to cost you. 205 is certainly no better than what you've got for the type of driving you do and you will spend every weekend keeping it on the road (I speak from personal experiance ).

I think your best bet is to try a 318is and see what you think, maybe you could look at a 325i sport too.

One car you could also look at, am I am biased 'cause I've owned three, is the Honda CRX siR Mk2. Fast and a great handling package out of the box.

Cheers fellas -

I've got tonnes of research/knowledge/experience of the other cars, so no need to really comment there!

As for the 306 - yes, it is an absolute weapon, gets faster in relation to other cars the tighter the road gets - in gear acceleration in 2nd and 3rd is screaming, and it has great turn in. One of the only FWD cars drivable on the throttle.

I would be looking for a tidy example to kick off with, its always cheaper and easier than trying to do a running restoration on something.

I was under the impression that prices for a decent 325 are starting to climb - I am much more interested in a VGC 318is for the same price as a tatty 325, if you see what I mean.

This one looks decent overall -

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1991-BMW-318-iS-3 ... dZViewItem

With a cash price set at £2495 - does that seem fair?

How often do these come up for sale in decent nick? I understand its quite a limited edition.

Si.

you would get a nice 325i se for that price

ive got aq good one in the for sale section mate...see what you think...might come n go on the price a tad since its xmas to and im santa in diguise

welcome to the forum mate

But not a nice 325i sport.

i forgot welcome to the zone

I forgot to welcome you to!

Welcome to the mad house!

Welcome to the forum dude

The sterling silver example, does look very tidy indeed and the mileage is reflected in the asking price tbh. Your not gonna get many with that sort of mileage, in that colour.
It would be a good starting point, for yourself to carry out any other mods, due to the excellant condition of this example.
What do you have planned for imminent purchase?

Pal

rebelcruiser wrote:you would get a nice 325i se for that price

bss325i wrote:But not a nice 325i sport.

This is what I have to look into more closely - as I said, I'd rather have a mint example of a 'lower' model than a tattier but flashier one.

It seems the M42 16v engined 318is has a bit of a cult following - I like that. I also like the fact that it is rather subtle compared to the 'm-tech' bodied cars.

Theres less and less room for a turn of speed these days - this is why i like to stick to the slowest, tightest b-roads for my hooning - where lightness wins...

Then an iS is the most appropriate E30 for your needs and budget.

Pal318is wrote: What do you have planned for imminent purchase?

Pal

In the immediate future - get through Christmas and New Year without bankrupting myself!

Then the plan is to do some serious thinking, get the 306 ready for sale, and advertised. I'm in no rush at all to sell, and also in that awkward position of being a 1 car man, so may end up car less for a while - makes it awkward trying to get round the country viewing cars!

Its an option - but one I've not thought of till this week, and the more I look at it it seems very favourable.

Interestingly, what sparked it was flicking through my Le-mans pics ( I was on the WRR site with some of you lot, ) and remembering the various E30's that were with us. I've actually had a good drunken chat with at least 3 members of this forum

I was there in a turd of an audi avant. Was your 306 yellow/bronzey with a crazy horn?

snotrag wrote:http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1991-BMW-318-iS-3 ... dZViewItem

With a cash price set at £2495 - does that seem fair?

How often do these come up for sale in decent nick? I understand its quite a limited edition.

Si.

Welcome to the Forum Si,

What the hell you waiting for? SNAP THAT ONE UP! Or do you have to sell your 306 first?

I recently Unichipped a 306 GTi Ralley and that car was megga on the road. Again as has already been said, the 306 will trash the E30 on a windey road, but the 318is is probably the only E30 this side of an M3 that will feel as "light" as your GTI-6 does.

£2700 for your 306? Is that all they are worth now? Cracking car for that money!!

ShepsEvo3 wrote: Welcome to the Forum Si,

What the hell you waiting for? SNAP THAT ONE UP! Or do you have to sell your 306 first?

I recently Unichipped a 306 GTi Ralley and that car was megga on the road. Again as has already been said, the 306 will trash the E30 on a windey road, but the 318is is probably the only E30 this side of an M3 that will feel as "light" as your GTI-6 does.

£2700 for your 306? Is that all they are worth now? Cracking car for that money!!

Im very busy at the moment, and have to get the whole holiday period over with before I start seriously doing anything.

I'm still in turmoil - theres still a part of me that might keep the car I've got. Not had it long after all. Although its not particularly inspiring to look at, and doesnt have much 'cool' value - it is truly superb to drive.

For anyone looking for something different to their 3 series, the GTi-6 is a performance bargain - not a lot of people acknowledge it, mainly due to it looking like a boggo HDi shopping car! Mines a tidy one aswell, 70k miles, 3rd owner, great nick, but still, only worth 2700 on a good day, if that.

I guess I would have to try a couple of E30's, which brings me to another question. Where can I find about any meets and drive-outs? I fancy popping along and blagging a passenger ride or 2 with any willing volunteers, found this to be an excellent 'research tool' in the past!

Nobody has pointed out the extremely sexy IS with the Zender kit in the for sale section.

Ahh, I'm sure he has seen the sales section ;) Or keep him away, its mine!!!!!

I thought £2700 was cheap for a 306GTi-6, untill I saw this....

http://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C27131

There must be something wrong with that?

Simon,

There is a lad over here on the red rose side.
He is trying to sell his white 318is its on Pistonheads link below...

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/313711.htm

Cheers Gareth.