E30 Zone

Ok. I've had enough of my work car which is a 1.6L 1996 Astra Estate!! And was thinking about selling the Astra and getting a tourer instead. The Astra is ok with lugging everything around but its so boring!

I do about 300 miles a week so my question is which size engine shall I go for?

I feel a 2.5 would be to large, so what about a 1.6 or 1.8? Or is the 2 litre just as economical?

Your thoughts please...

1.8, you need a little bit of poke at least. The 1.6 is slow IMO.

The 2l is as fast as a 1.8 and much more uneconomical.

Although I can't say my 1.6 is that economical.

Would you have a 1.8 over a 1.6? Is there much difference?

The 1.8 is much better performance wise than the 1.6. The 2.5 would be my weapon of choice, but I am slightly biased ! I reckon the 1.8 would be perfect for your work commute though.

You could always drop a 318is engine into a 318i touring.

i have never driven 1.8 but own a 316 touring and i can tell you without a doubt that it is extremely slow around town but it picks up okay on the motorway, the fuel consumption is also appauling as i get about 80-100 miles out of a tenner

i might as well put a 3.5 in there with those figures

bazcoupe wrote:i have never driven 1.8 but own a 316 touring and i can tell you without a doubt that it is extremely slow around town but it picks up okay on the motorway, the fuel consumption is also appauling as i get about 80-100 miles out of a tenner

i might as well put a 3.5 in there with those figures

you class 40-50mpg as appalling?

bazcoupe wrote:i have never driven 1.8 but own a 316 touring and i can tell you without a doubt that it is extremely slow around town but it picks up okay on the motorway, the fuel consumption is also appauling as i get about 80-100 miles out of a tenner

i might as well put a 3.5 in there with those figures

80/100 miles with a 1.6?

What would a tenner get you in a 1.8?

sorry i meant £20 gets me 80-100

bazcoupe wrote:sorry i meant £20 gets me 80-100

£20 gets me at least 120miles.

exactly i think mine might be fookered

My driving style would be classed as 'enthusiastic' too.

And I do have a bit of a petrol leak

bugger where should i check first i think i may have a problem

(sorry for the thread hijack)

Ok, so i'm getting the feeling the 1.8 might well be the way to go. Many thanks,

Let me know if anyone is selling?

i do approx 125 miles a week in my 2.5 touring and pending on how i drive i put about £25-£30 in a week. shes due a service and shes knocking on the door of 150k. fuel in my neck of the woods is £1.07 litr. not bad for and old bucket!

I drive a 1.8 touring, it's pokey enough for what I want (for now) and it'll do about 30-35mpg all day long.

wackiacki wrote:i do approx 125 miles a week in my 2.5 touring ...i put about £25-£30 in a week..... shes knocking on the door of 150k.

Probably improve a little when it's fully run in, and loosens up a it.

tom325sport wrote:Ok, so i'm getting the feeling the 1.8 might well be the way to go. Many thanks,

Let me know if anyone is selling?

.
Send spadge a PM. I think he may still have one.

oze30 wrote:

tom325sport wrote:Ok, so i'm getting the feeling the 1.8 might well be the way to go. Many thanks,

Let me know if anyone is selling?

.
Send spadge a PM. I think he may still have one.

Mine is a 316i Col.

In my experience there is very little difference in performance between a 318i and a 316i.

SPADGE wrote:

oze30 wrote:

tom325sport wrote:Ok, so i'm getting the feeling the 1.8 might well be the way to go. Many thanks,

Let me know if anyone is selling?

.
Send spadge a PM. I think he may still have one.

Mine is a 316i Col.

In my experience there is very little difference in performance between a 318i and a 316i.

how much would you be looking at for it out of curiosity Spadge (PM if you like)

tom325sport, if you already have a 325i, then it's logical to get another one. It makes sense for fault finding and swapping things over (you have a spare one of everything - air flow meter, fuel pump relay etc etc).

Obviously you can burn a lot more fuel in a 325i but when driven graciously they aren't that thirsty. All E30s aren't great on fuel. There isn't that much between them is there!? My 1.3 Toyota gives me at least 160 slow, but relatively entertaining miles for £20. My 325i touring is not quite as good but not too far behind when driven gently as it has so much more torque. maxfield's M40 touring is getting 120 miles on £20. I can do that in my 325i on motorways and some mixed driving.

You do 300 miles on motorways/towns/mixed? The heavier 325i will be much thirstier in town than an M40 equivalent touring as there's that bit extra weight to get moving every time you pull away. I love driving my toyota in town - frugal, much nippier, more nimble and lighter than an E30.

i can manage to get from swansea to my pairents house which is 115miles away for £15 each way and thats with a 320 box and diff.

tylerma wrote:

SPADGE wrote:

oze30 wrote: .
Send spadge a PM. I think he may still have one.

Mine is a 316i Col.

In my experience there is very little difference in performance between a 318i and a 316i.

how much would you be looking at for it out of curiosity Spadge (PM if you like)

Give me a ring mate 07718 901737

toby - unfortunately I don't own an e30 at the moment, but as soon as I get rid of the Astra I can get a Tourer to replace.

I was contemplating a 325i but will hopefully will get one for the summer (hopefully a tech1 or cab)

Will be looking in about a weeks time for a Touring as I have 2 weeks off (half term)

Thaks again to all for their advice.

1.8 is perfectly adequate, 2.5 is no rocketship - but it does sound superb.
TBH, driving E30s is about the feel and handling not power.

Morat wrote:1.8 is perfectly adequate, 2.5 is no rocketship - but it does sound superb.
TBH, driving E30s is about the feel and handling not power.

+1. If you wanted something fast you could get nearly twice the horse power for the same money. Would probably bankrupt you though. Comes back to the trinity of car buying

Reliability
Speed
Value for money

You can only have the optimum benefit of two of the above with any one car.

Id go for the 325 if you can afford insurance etc as the benefits far outway the slight extra fuel if you do motorway miles.


btw its a tourING not tourER