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splitime
splitime Reader
2/4/10 12:06 p.m.

I always find it interesting how people point out being able to drop the top in the miata as a bonus.

Its the biggest flaw in the car to me... right next to being underpowered.

Year round hardtop ftw :)

ea_sport
ea_sport New Reader
2/4/10 12:19 p.m.
nderwater wrote: By the way, you can find high-mile E36 M3's in that budget and still have cash for some safety equipment. Just sayin ;)

I know and it's probably easier to find but I like the shape of the E30 much more than E36 and it seems that in the long run the E30 will still look good way past the E36.

To miatame2: that's a very good review.

Other relevant info: I am average height (5'8") and my mechanical skill is may be a 6 on a scale of 10. So easy to work on also plays a big factor. Although since this won't be my DD I can afford to take longer to work on the car. Also since this won't be my DD I can have super stiff suspension and loud exhaust. I am currently driving a 330Ci with H&R Race springs, Koni SA and reinforced rear subframe. I love my current ride but I am thinking that rather than spending more money on a still depreciating non-M BMW I'd be better off selling it now and use the money to buy and build a fun car (read E30 or Miata) that will probably hold its value better in the long haul and most likely more fun to autocross and track day than my E46. For DD I have a line on a good deal on '08 GTI..or if this doesn't work out I can wait until summer when the new Fiesta comes out.

nderwater
nderwater Reader
2/4/10 2:39 p.m.
ea_sport wrote:
nderwater wrote: By the way, you can find high-mile E36 M3's in that budget and still have cash for some safety equipment. Just sayin ;)
I know and it's probably easier to find but I like the shape of the E30 much more than E36 and it seems that in the long run the E30 will still look good way past the E36.

No argument here - if I had more disposable income, there'd be an E30 M3 in my garage next to the E36 M3 and Miata.

ddavidv
ddavidv SuperDork
2/5/10 5:55 a.m.
Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: I drove a spec E30 suspension on PA roads as a DD for 2yrs. It was not suitable at all. I ended up putting really soft touring tires on it and running them low to put some give in the thing but... then I hit a deer and it became a proper race car and we all lived happily ever after.

The key words there are daily driver. No, I probably wouldn't want to live with it as a everyday car. But it is really not that bad...maybe a little stiff but not really 'bouncy'. And I live in PA too. Ground clearance for the oil pan does become a bit of a concern. You could probably replace the 'race' springs/struts with 'sport' versions and have a car that is nearly as good. I think simply lowering one at all and adding the massive sway bars is the key to happy-joy-joy with one of these.

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