E 30 as a beginners car? clearly no and here is why!
Hard labor: First cars should be easy to get and easy to work on. Both of these parts might be true for the E30, but they need a lot of work, not exactly a good first project.
Cash: Those cars need an excessive amount of cash in the back to be driven on the road. It is not just insurance, fuel and tax, there is also cash for parts. Old cars rust, Suspension will break and the interior will fall apart. Stuff like that comes with age.
Safety: Basically the most important reason not to buy an E30 as a first car. There is a high risk, that it will end you right away. You are 18 running high on hormones and testosterone. Believe me I know. When I was 15 i crashed with my Bike lost a piece of my lip with 16 I crashed twice and both times broken my left arm. I still do not know how I managed to get to the age of 25. I was taking risks wayyy to high everytime. And with 16 I bought an E32 750i which was my first car when I was 17 and driving with my parents and finally 18 while driving alone. But my Dad showed me how to drive this beast fast. Believe me I would have crashed it if he had not taught me that well. And even though he taught me I drifted this car accidentally two weeks after my 18th birthday… I still remember pushing all controls weaving my arms for countersteer. That was fear. Indicator was flashing and wipers going. But an E30 is much less forgiving and if you do not catch it fast enough and crash, there are no airbags, safety features or what so ever. Game over.
I still do not know why so many people want an E30 as their first car. Yes it teaches you things, a lot of things. Yes it handles like a dream and you feel connected to the road like only possible in the best of automotive industry. But hell as a first car, I could think of way more better alternatives than worse. If you want a RWD first car, go for the E36. it is more reliable, easier to fix, suspension is more forgiving and you get a safety cell and most of the time at least one airbag. E34 is also a good first car. Do not aim to high, go for the M50B20 there. You need to shift often and learn revmatching like a pro pretty fast. As a first car I can recommend a Saab 900 second generation, a Saab 9-3/9-5, an Volvo V40, Ford Focus/Fiesta. Go for them at first. After a few experiences in driving and fixing you might get yourself an E30. But do not buy yourself a big project E30, because the buying price was low, and you want your E30 NOW. I hope I have not destroyed too many dreams of first cars here.
Comments
Here’s my take on this. I dont agree on any of the points you make. Any car is just as safe as you drive (of course exculding if a 18 wheeler mows you down). Giving what stories you told us, you’re not the careful driver type. You’re the kind I’d never get in the same car with. The key to not to kill yourself in an E30 is to have it in a decent condition, because it does require it. But if you give it all your love and all tjat you’re able, it will serve you more than well.. I need to look for reasons to work on my car, because it just. doest. break. down. at. all. Wonderful piece of art. The other aspect of survival is knowing your bounds, so you dont think you’re Ravalia the second day you start your car.. But I thought that is common sense, seems like its not. The third part is made up of the engine and the differential. If you have e.g. a 16i with open differential, you’re pretty free to try out things, it takes a special kind of stupidity to kill yourself. That is not the case if you get a 25i with lsd as your first car. But then again, it all comes down to your cleverness, noticing that you might need to go to a racetrack for a session or two…
Regarding the costs, i doubt it costs more to keep it running than any newer car..
hehe my breaks suspension tires engine is always in good condition. And if people are inside I take the foot of the throttle. That is just general decency. But electronics go wrong with mine. And I do not think you can do anything about that. I did not say it costs more than a new car, I just said there are more cheap options. I learned a lot of driving during sessions on track and sometimes closed roads because of construction on sundays…I never messed the car up. The car is actually pretty reliable. And it just failed me twice actually one time crankshaft sensor the other time the ECU decided to go banana. Today I ordered new brakes, because the old ones will not be good for the next season. But hell yeah that you think I do not work on my cars properly. This year I did even make photos for the M5 season start..: https://www.carthrottle.com/post/alz9mkz/
And I talk the regular 18 year old knowing not much about cars… not a basically going to be a mechanic guy…
i totally agree with you tamas. and the e30 is great to work on and you can still get almost all parts new for a good price. there will always be something cheaper but this is a car that has stopped in production long ago. im glad there is still a huge market and normal prices. cant agree with the topicstarter at all, and interesting to see the different opinions ✌
How bout an e36?
pretty good thing.
i didnt say that you dont care about your cars, i said that in general, just its hard to point that out in the internet :D
I meant that it is a vital point regarding the car, maintaining its condition
btw i never had any electronics related problem ever… exept from one time, but it was my fault.
I can’t say I agree with you.
I think being panicky about safety issues will actually screw you out of a first car at a young age completely. When you’re just starting out you likely don’t have anywhere near the cash to buy a modern cuddly safety cushion with windshield wipers. So that just leaves old bangers from the 90’s at least.
Another factor is being aware of what your car can do. A preposterously safe car will make you feel safe, which leads to more wanton risk taking. Because what could possibly happen? Your car is safe enough right? When you drive an older car that lacks safety equipment you should be very aware of that, and adjust your driving style accordingly. Or just accept the increased risk.
Point is, as long as you don’t drive like a maniac, either car (safe/unsafe) will do. Safe cars do not make safe drivers. The alternatives that you bring up are almost exclusively big heavy saloons with expensive maintenance bills as well. Not exactly good starter material either. A newer Focus/Fiesta is also too expensive to buy.
So if you’re just starting out, just remember: don’t drive like a loony (on public roads) and nothing bad will happen to you.
Agree with you on the safety aspect. These are 1980s cars. It’s only been 15 years since every manufacturers are mandated to make their car’s roof strong enough to hold the rest of the car in case of a crash. I will always remember that classic TG Saab segment where they crashed a 5 series on its roof and completely sandwiched itself. That’s not counting that there are other idiots on the roads. I remember this European Car magazine editor’s letter where the editor said that he would rather buy a car to his children than see them die in an old beat up car.