More driving satisfaction in the iS

Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:07 pm

Just got to say this after I've just done a few hundred miles round Wales over a long weekend. I did some mountain biking in the middle too.

My love affair with the E30 and the iS in particular continues. First up, Friday morning, with bike and kit on board and I tackled some sodden A and B roads. My confidence in the car has come on leaps and bounds since fitting F1 tyres and playing on gravel. I've started to really enjoy wet corners. I think the most fun was some big sweepers at around 60ish in the wet. I could feel that the car was at a slight angle and could hold it all the way round the corner. Brilliant sensation and something that no FWD hatch would ever provide.

Once again, the total package of the E30 showed through. Comfortable, great seating position and dash layout, quiet ish and it feels so solid. But not vague and insulated from the driving experience like a lot of other cars. In short, a real pleasure to drive.

I also got to try out an Audi S3 for a short trip on Friday night. First impresions were that the car felt really tight. Quite heavy steering too. But then I realised that the steering communicated nothing to me at all. It was like a computer game; steering was purely a mathematical exercise. I also found myself putting down some power on the corners and then had to say to myself "it's not making any difference because it's FWD". I think I'd bore of the car within a few days. Bring back my E30.

Anyway, I had some good runs from Dolgellau down to Machalnyth (sp) and back on damp roads over the weekend.

Monday afternoon I left North Wales at 3pm and had 3 hours of bliss, going via Newtown and Dolfor down to Knighton and then on to Leominster and back to Gloucester. A mixtur of wide A roads and some tighter B roads. Very, very entertaining. And mainly at totally legal speeds too. This car is not about speed or power; it's about being able to point it exactly where you want it to go at all times. I'm starting to really enjoy the combination of steering and throttle that makes this car flow. Flow is the word too; get into the zone and every corner is a delight. Progress is all about momentum conservation.

Did I say that I like it?

Moreover, I did 340 miles on 10 gallons of fuel. Result.

Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:11 pm

how many litres is that lol?

i also have a driving afair with my IS at current but fuel is threatening to end it.

like you say, its not the fastest car in the world, but the look feel and handling of the things is bare none

absolutely awesome

Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:12 pm

45L = 10 gallons = Ãƒ”šÃ‚£43 ish.

Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:13 pm

340 miles for 43 quid

35 gets me 175

something is wrong there then

Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:14 pm

i can't believe someone likes my old car so much! has it still got the leathers in it?

Tom maybe some good springs H&R! would help your fun? very similar to m-tech in ride and handling ( just raises the limits a little) and a touch lower.

makes me enjoy corners in my sport alot more

Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:15 pm

bracknell?

dude your like 10 minutes from me lol

Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:27 pm

Car still has leather interior. I've come to like it now.

Car needs some minor TLC. Front valence is stone chipped and minorly rusting, rear boot still has that Brillo pad look, bonnet and one front wing have thin paint for some reason. Not that I care too much because the thing that I like about the car shines through strong.

I'm going to fit new trailing arm bushes and front top mounts. I replaced the lower wishbones a few months back. The only other thing is that I might fit new shocks; I'm erring on the side of keeping it MTech. Mainly to be peverse and also because I think that BMW got it right first time.

Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:31 pm

i need a complete new front wing :lol!

and a respray

but getting it running and stopping right counts first

what brakes u got mate?

Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:33 pm

Generally, I'd agree that the boffins in Munich get it right first time, but I inherited a 60mm drop when I bought my e30, and it is planted. Toatlly planted. TBH, I am amazed as a, it's a cabby b, it's a six pot and 3, (lol) it's alaways wet up here.

Tue Oct 11, 2005 11:35 pm

perhaps they got it right then, but 15 years down the line technology changes rite?

dont get me wrong, somethings on an e30 will never go out of date

but things liek suspension and brakes, technology moves on and if it can be incorperated and saves money and lives and makes us have 10xmore fun why not?

despite this, if you have an original car, keep it original :lol:

Wed Oct 12, 2005 9:17 am

Sh*t ,that silver turd is still going !, i'd just like to make it clear the warranty expired several years ago !

Wed Oct 12, 2005 12:33 pm

Still going and providing me with cheap fun every day.

Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:24 pm

tomstickland wrote: This car is not about speed or power; it's about being able to point it exactly where you want it to go at all times. I'm starting to really enjoy the combination of steering and throttle that makes this car flow. Flow is the word too; get into the zone and every corner is a delight. Progress is all about momentum conservation.

Thats one of the main reasons I got an iS over another 325i
Straights are just the boring bits that join up the corners

Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:26 pm

when we move back down to Norfolk next year we are probably gonna need to have 2 cars (that actually run) as my missus has a freaky sentimental attachment to the 325 and says we are never selling it and I am forbidded to get a touring, I am thinking along the lines of an iS, better fuel economy and insurance for a 2nd car, and better fun along the country lanes of Norfolk.

Wed Oct 12, 2005 1:28 pm

318-is wrote: and a respray

Begining to think mine might too

Or at least some TLC, theres the odd spot of rust starting to show through now, shame as it used to look fantastic
Cant afford to do anything now, at least it drives well

Wed Oct 12, 2005 2:13 pm

I thought S3's were 4WD mate? Gonna have trouble spinning one up! Must be pretty quick though with 225bhp. Really need to sort out my wheel bearing and suspension woes (Hope that will stop the grinding noise) so I can learn to love my E30 like you obviously do..... (Jealous)

Wed Oct 12, 2005 2:55 pm

I'm with you Tom, my iS rocks, after my previous six pot, the lightened front end makes such a difference. I went gokarting on saturday and found the driving experience very similar, shame none of the guys i was racing knew anything about RWD

Wed Oct 12, 2005 4:16 pm

Lordschleife wrote:
318-is wrote: and a respray
Begining to think mine might too
Or at least some TLC, theres the odd spot of rust starting to show through now, shame as it used to look fantastic
Cant afford to do anything now, at least it drives well

RUST!!! NNNNOOOOOO!!!!!

Wed Oct 12, 2005 4:30 pm

S3 was a mistake; I meant boggo 1.9/2.0 TDi A3.

Wed Oct 12, 2005 5:28 pm

BenE30 wrote:
Lordschleife wrote:
318-is wrote: and a respray
Begining to think mine might too
Or at least some TLC, theres the odd spot of rust starting to show through now, shame as it used to look fantastic
Cant afford to do anything now, at least it drives well
RUST!!! NNNNOOOOOO!!!!!

fraid so mate
Inevitable march of time I suppose, luckly it only looks to be surface rust just starting to appear under the paint work in a couple of spots, so hopefully it can be sorted when I have some spare cash