Coupe or not?

[Daddycoolest]

Ok guys and girls i need some help here, I am the proud owner of an

E30 320i Se 2 door. It is a 1990 model with opening rear quarter windows.

I have noticed on some sites they are classed as Coupes & others as saloons so come on whats your opinion is it a coupe or isn't it.

[march109]

coupes have a lower roof line, the 3door and 5door both have the same roof line, therefore it is a 3door saloon.

[Alfa_Delta]

It's a 2-door saloon as you can't get into the car through the boot, 3-door describes a hatch back.

[march109]

It's a 2-door saloon as you can't get into the car through the boot, 3-door describes a hatch back.

2 door saloon then, but not a coupe.

[maxfield]

coupes have a lower roof line, the 3door and 5door both have the same roof line, therefore it is a 3door saloon.

Agreed.

Even M3's were classed as Saloons.

[aceraf]

Coupes also have pillar-less doors aswell don't they like the e36

[Daddycoolest]

It's a 2-door saloon as you can't get into the car through the boot, 3-door describes a hatch back.

Who mentioned hatchback? lol I know a hatchback has 3 doors but a hatchback aint a coupe either.

I even checked Wikipedia on this and they list it as a 2 door coupe.

[E30Mark]

I always think of it as a saloon, but the ETK always call it a coupe...

[Daddycoolest]

Coupes also have pillar-less doors aswell don't they like the e36

I thought that too but not all coupes are pillar less. I also recall Rover calling their P5 a coupe even though it had 4 doors and after checking Wikipedia for the word coupe it gave other reasons for the name coupe.

Could be a good debate this lol.

[march109]

It's a 2-door saloon as you can't get into the car through the boot, 3-door describes a hatch back.

Who mentioned hatchback? lol I know a hatchback has 3 doors but a hatchback aint a coupe either.

I even checked Wikipedia on this and they list it as a 2 door coupe.

Wikipedia is not really a reliable source, it is only as good as the member of public that wrote it. Man members on here have a better knoledge of bmw's than the bmw pages on Wikipedia.

I would suggets the article needs updating, according to most car designers a coupe has a lower roofline (than the comparable saloon model) and often pillarless doors.

Even BMW call it a saloon

[Daddycoolest]

After reading this 1 i think mine is a coupe,

A coupé (from the French verb couper, to cut) or coupe is a car body style, the precise definition of which varies from manufacturer to manufacturer, and over time. Coupés are often sporty variants of sedan (or saloon—asee American and British English spelling differences) body styles, reduced from 4 doors to 2, with a close-coupled interior offering either two seats or 2+2 seating (space for two passengers up front and for two occasional passengers in the rear). Before the days of motorized vehicles, the word referred to the front or after compartment of a Continental stagecoach.

well with how i have my seat reclined i know i would not want to be in the back too often lol.

[march109]

[Daddycoolest]

[ric325i]

this frustrates me no end!

how can an e30 be classed as a coupe!?!?!?!?! please.

i have read the definition but it all comes down to the shape. the e30 is a saloon no matter how many doors or window or............its a saloon. end off.

saloon.

ah, no.

saloon.

shhh.

saloon.

oi. saloon

[bss325i]

2 door saloon. You wouldn't call an escort mk 1 or 2 a coupe either would you? They both have the same roof line as their 4 dr variants. A 2 door E36 is a coupe as is an 8 or 6 series.

A 2 door E30 is a saloon, end of.

[march109]

[StuBeeDoo]

I always think of it as a saloon, but the ETK always call it a coupe...

The RealOEM version of ETK calls the 2-door a Coupe because it's American. It also refers to the 4-door as a "Sedan".
The European version calls it 2-door.

Look at it this way. Check what the Germans call them - they should know, they built them.....
Zweiturer (English = 2 doors)
Vierturer (English = 4 doors)
Cabrio
Touring

[Daddycoolest]

2 front & 2 rear belts no centre strap was fitted, been baffling me too i might add as i would say they are saloons but could come under the coupe banner and more and more people reffer to them as coupes even traders in their adverts.

[StuBeeDoo]

2 front & 2 rear belts no centre strap was fitted, been baffling me too i might add as i would say they are saloons but could come under the coupe banner and more and more people reffer to them as coupes even traders in their adverts.

Just one more example of the current thinking that American "bastardisation" of our language is perfectly acceptable.
It won't be long before there is nothing either British or English left in our country.

[Blitz]

I always thought of it as coupe because of only 2 doors. But I always mention an E30 being 2 door or 4 door.

[fuzzy]

id class a coupe as a 2 door with rear hatch(usually sloped) that alows you to gain entry to the main cabin with no permanent steel firewall dividing the 2 areas. a 2 door e30 doesnt allow that so id class it as a saloon. i dont think theres a definative hard and fast rule for it though as there seems to be exceptions to every rule
i like to refer to a 2 door as a coupe though purely to annoy the bmw purists who get very defensive about such things before moving in for the kill with the old 'estate' clincher

[78dude]

I will say that the E30 2-door version is a sedan or saloon. I dont know why ppl call them coupes because it isnt in my point of view