I've now got enough money saved for an E30 M3....

[tomstickland]

...but I'm not buying one. Yes, I've saved over Ԛ£6K now which could be used to buy an M3. However, all the money is earmarked for long term savings and investments etc, so I'm keeping the 318iS and continuing to save everything I can. I love the 318iS anyway, so I don't feel sad.

[Lordschleife]

You're mad!
The price of decent e30 m3's seems to be on the up now, so you could think of it as an investment.
And besides which you could get hit by a bus tomorrow
If I had the money I know what I'd be doing with it

But the IS is a great drive, just sometimes could do with a bit more poke

[Simon]

You're mad!
The price of decent e30 m3's seems to be on the up now, so you could think of it as an investment.
And besides which you could get hit by a bus tomorrow
If I had the money I know what I'd be doing with it

But the IS is a great drive, just sometimes could do with a bit more poke

Agreed, E30 M3 is deffo an investment, exact reason I wouldn't buy a new car these days, with this sort of car, at least you can sell it for the same or more than what you paid for it.

I'm going to put my fire proof jacket on now, as I've never said this before, but I've only ever driven a 318is once, and it did nothing for me, found it quite boring, I think at the time, I was used to the grunt and noise of the 6 pot, and because the 318is didn't sound like much, and didn't have the grunt of the 6 pot, this is why it didn't do much for me.

The M3 on the other hand, then that's just different, the noise it makes at full chat is amazing, and it pulls very well for a measly 4 pot! So this I think makes up for the loss of the 6 pot, though I've still got the touring for my 6 pot fix!

Anyway, buy an M3, you won't regret it!!

[Jhonno]

As has been said M3 values are on the up now.. Its a long term saving and investment lol

[Lordschleife]

Well I had a 325i beforehand - I loved the engine sound, but BMW's are far too insulated, and I could hardly hear the thing from inside.
I nearly went for a 325i sport when I was replacing it, but thought I'd try the 318is too as a few people said it was a good car, and the thirst of the 325i was silly (well the way I drive anyway)
Drove Simon13's and loved the way you get a power band at higher revs - reminded me of my CRX, and just had to have one from that point - always found the 325s delivery though good, a bit too flat and boring.
Another thing I noticed was that horrid nose heavy understeer of the 325 when chucking it into tight bends was gone

Don't get me wrong I love the 325i too, its just a different sort of car, and probably the car I'd recommend for most people over the 318is
I'd say the 318is is the better drivers car though

[Dan318-is]

Another thing I noticed was that horrid nose heavy understeer of the 325 when chucking it into tight bends was gone

Don't get me wrong I love the 325i too, its just a different sort of car, and probably the car I'd recommend for most people over the 318is
I'd say the 318is is the better drivers car though

iv driven one 325i an this is what i found. another good thing about the IS is that it is still controllable for inexperienced drivers like me, becuase the power kicks in later

but back to the m3 point. youd be mad not to buy one, its a completely different league of car!

[Lordschleife]

iv driven one 325i an this is what i found. another good thing about the IS is that it is still controllable for inexperienced drivers like me, becuase the power kicks in later

Yeah that's true, you can spin a 325i on quarter throttle in the wet, cause of all the low down torque, but in a 318is you have to have the revs up a bit to do the same

[Falkster]

Got to agree with everyone. A friend of mine has always had a pop at me having a H reg 3 series (he has no idea what an E30 M3 is) and says why dont I buy a new car and get rid of my two.

He has had his Cupra RRRR or whatever it is for 2 years and has lost over half the value of my M3 in which time Ive lost nil or as Simon says maybe gained a bit.

Saving money is all well and good (Im from Yorkshire and we're tight) but when you buy an M3 you will never lose and you are enjoying your money at the same time.

[Lordschleife]

Saving money is all well and good (Im from Yorkshire and we're tight) but when you buy an M3 you will never lose and you are enjoying your money at the same time.

Nail, head ---> HIT!

[m3ben05]

Everyone is spot on. I bought my cecotto around 18 months ago for Ԛ£6800, spent a bit in the right places and now munich legends have valued it at around Ԛ£8350

All in i have probably spent just under 2k on the car in that time, so Ԛ£500 for the joy of owning such a car is nothing

BUY ONE, BUY ONE NOW

[whiterhino]

i have to agree with some of the previous comments.a 325i does not hesitate to throw the back out .I cannot comment on 318is never been in one but as for an M3 from what ive seen and learnt in very little time of owning one 6k gets a car needing alot of work more like 8-15k.when i say 15k thats for a sport evo if you can find one.The driving experiance of these cars is phenominal whatever the model.I still have much love for my old sport and all 325isports they are great cars and alot faster than people give them credit for.My best pal has a 172 clio and he was always looking into my tailpipes very closely i might ad

[tomstickland]

Nah, you're all thinking from an E30 enthusiasts point of view. I'm thinking from a long term money saving point of view. Sure, I'd like an M3, but not that badly. Not badly enough to ruin my savings plan.
However, in 12 months time I'd have money saved and could also justify buying an M3. There's more to it than that. My iS is a bit of work horse and I don't feel bad about loading it up with Ebay parts etc. It's low hassle of ownership. If I had an M3 then I wouldn't be thinking in the same way.

As to being underwhelmed by an iS, I can see why people would be on the first drive. It takes a while to like the dodgem-like smooth power and then learn to exploit their cornering ability.

[Karan]

why dont u buy my sport...... 2.7

[tomstickland]

I don't need to buy another car. The iS is great and I've got a long way to go with it yet.

[jonb]

tom

i think you need to drive an m3. although its not a fireball in a straight line it will rip a 318is"s head off and shit down its throat on a nice b road. same goes for most other cars.

[Jhonno]

I think what Tom is tryin to say is there are other things than cars/e30's in life

NOT that he wouldnt like an M3

[Lordschleife]

it will rip a 318is"s head off and shit down its throat on a nice b road. same goes for most other cars.

Yeah I'm forever trying to shake off micras, novas, fiestas, tigras, civics, rovers, kias, etc etc

No, not wanting to sound like a 318is fan boy here (i've driven better cars believe me!) but cmon most cars?

[jonb]

you driven an m3 with nice boots on a good b road?

[Lordschleife]

Yeah...

But sadly an e36
Know the e30 is great though, been in this guys car http://www.joerundseim.com/download/3be ... late_l.mpg

Not arguing the m3 point - e30 m3 is definitely the car I want next - ticks all the boxes of what I want

[Lordschleife]

Sorry - think I was at cross purposes with you here
Thought you were saying most cars would destroy the 318is down a b-road, but I think you mean an e30 m3 would destroy most cars down a b-road? If so agree totally!

[tomstickland]

I think what Tom is tryin to say is there are other things than cars/e30's in life

NOT that he wouldnt like an M3

You've hit the nail on the hammer with the head there.

[Moofles]

I think what Tom is tryin to say is there are other things than cars/e30's in life

NOT that he wouldnt like an M3

You've hit the nail on the hammer with the head there.

glad the thread came to this conclusion before i post

buying an m3 would no way be as good an 'investment' as proper investment, i.e. saving, so it's not possible to make it sound as though it'll 'be no different, the money's just in the car'.

with an m3, you'll have running/maintenance/repair costs sucking away from your savings money without having enough increase in the value of the car to make up for that (and in fact, match the interest you'd get with a savings account).

[Simon]

I think what Tom is tryin to say is there are other things than cars/e30's in life

NOT that he wouldnt like an M3

You've hit the nail on the hammer with the head there.

glad the thread came to this conclusion before i post

buying an m3 would no way be as good an 'investment' as proper investment, i.e. saving, so it's not possible to make it sound as though it'll 'be no different, the money's just in the car'.

with an m3, you'll have running/maintenance/repair costs sucking away from your savings money without having enough increase in the value of the car to make up for that (and in fact, match the interest you'd get with a savings account).

But compared to buying a newer car though....

I think the whole reason the post has gone the way it has because of the title...read it again!

[E30Mark]

Buy another house / flat, proper investment for the future...

You could buy a M3 for Ԛ£6k and throw the rest of your spare cash at it, but we all need to start to think of the future, the government aren't going to look after us...

Keep the iS, and marry a rich girl

[M5pilot]

M3's certainly do seem to have jumped in value. Last year they really droppped but then there was a lot of crud for sale out there too.

A standard 200bhp M3 is not really a match for a 2.7 like GUG but once you throw a bit of money at them (cams etc) there are very few 2.7's to touch them.

But then power is only a small part of the driving experience of the M3. You do have the superb balance........oh and there is those wide arhces to consider too!

Buy one, you'll never regret it!

[Moofles]

You've hit the nail on the hammer with the head there.

glad the thread came to this conclusion before i post

buying an m3 would no way be as good an 'investment' as proper investment, i.e. saving, so it's not possible to make it sound as though it'll 'be no different, the money's just in the car'.

with an m3, you'll have running/maintenance/repair costs sucking away from your savings money without having enough increase in the value of the car to make up for that (and in fact, match the interest you'd get with a savings account).

But compared to buying a newer car though....

I think the whole reason the post has gone the way it has because of the title...read it again!

yes, actually the whole thread was just a statement and a bit curious to say the least LOL

but the way it went seems to be:

- i can buy an m3 but i won't
- why not you're mad
- because i've got the money earmarked for investments and savings
- wha? an m3 is an investment

so i came in and said "no it isn't"

i think it was actually *other* people (not tom) who started mentioning newer cars (actually it was you simon ) but that really wasn't part of the equation...

[Simon]

i think it was actually *other* people (not tom) who started mentioning newer cars (actually it was you simon ) but that really wasn't part of the equation...

My point is, I'd rather 'invest' my money in an E30 M3, and enjoy it, rather than saving it elsewhere, and when compared to buying a newer car, you doing better things with your money...imo!

[maxfield]

Buy 1 you only live once

[Moofles]

i think it was actually *other* people (not tom) who started mentioning newer cars (actually it was you simon ) but that really wasn't part of the equation...

My point is, I'd rather 'invest' my money in an E30 M3, and enjoy it, rather than saving it elsewhere, and when compared to buying a newer car, you doing better things with your money...imo!

fair enough - it is what i'd personally do too, because i don't feel the gain in real money is enough to warrant discarding that much 'entertainment'

i was just explaining why i said what i said (that an m3 isn't a proper investment, i.e. from monetary terms only)

[JOSEMI]

I would buy the M3 as well, they are such an awesome ride and you don't lose your money buying them ! You won't lose investing your money in one, and by the look of it they may even go up !

Jose

[dazleeds]

Buy another house / flat, proper investment for the future...

You could buy a M3 for Ԛ£6k and throw the rest of your spare cash at it, but we all need to start to think of the future, the government aren't going to look after us...

Keep the iS, and marry a rich girl

surely you mean buy the m3 and marry a rich girl
after all it will be the last thing you pay for

[JOSEMI]

surely you mean buy the m3 and marry a rich girl
after all it will be the last thing you pay for

true ! make sure you get that something for yourself before you are not allowed !!

Jose

[dazleeds]

exactly jose

and if it ever goes tits up and she bins ya the m3 is all yours bought and paid for

maintained in the meantime by the rich little hotty

[JOSEMI]

I think we may have reached a fair conclusion to this thread !!

Jose

[tomstickland]

Many correct conclusions reached in this post.

Personally, it was just a sort of moment, when I realised I could and possibly buy an M3 for cash if I wanted to.

However, the iS still keeps me entertained and is fully paid for, cheap to run etc.