It's Time We Stopped Hailing Old Cars As The Pinnacle Of Driving Excellence
If you follow us on pretty much any form of social media, you’ll know that at the beginning of November, we gathered together every generation of BMW M3 for the biggest shoot in Car Throttle’s history. You’ll know this mostly because we spammed the hell out of every one of those social media channels with pictures of what we were up to. But hey, who wouldn’t?
There was a recurring theme when it came to the replies on these posts, though: outpourings of love for the original M3: the E30. Many assumed that it’d be crowned the ‘winner’ of the test. After all, it was made in a time before the takeover of electronic driver aids, a time before electric power steering and morbid obesity among cars. So, while it was by far the slowest car we had on the day, surely it would be the most satisfying, involving and exciting one to drive? Well no, actually.
I don’t want to drop a massive spoiler in this piece, but let’s just say when pondering our favourite car of the day, the E30 wasn’t exactly at the forefront of our minds. Why? Because it left everyone who drove it a little underwhelmed. 215bhp is a decent output for something weighing 1215kg, but the way it delivers that power isn’t exactly what you’d call urgent. Then there’s the very slow steering, and the soft, roll-tastic suspension.
In the grand scheme of things, this is not a sharp driver’s car, something we all agreed on during the day. And it’s not just us: our man Alex admitted he’d been told by countless other motoring journalists not to drive the E30 M3, as the reality would never live up to its lofty reputation.
None of this is the original M3’s fault. It’s still an exquisite thing (its classic, boxy proportions are ridiculously gorgeous), and there’s no questioning its motorsport history and how incredible a car it was in its day. But its day was a long time ago: the particular E30 we drove - a Roberto Ravaglia limited edition - is 26 years old, for Pete’s sake. And yet, people haven’t been able to move on, treating cars like the E30 - plus others from and before its time - like they’re the pinnacle of driving excellence. I even recall seeing a review of the E92 M3 in one respected motoring publication which claimed the V8-powered car wasn’t as exciting as the old E30. Are they mad?
If you drive a lot of old and new cars like we’re fortunate enough to, you’ll soon find this idea of performance cars from the early 90s and before being the superior driver’s machines to be nonsense. Steering has never been so quick and direct, while braking and suspension technology has come on leaps and bounds in recent years.
There seems to be this misconception that if you step into an older car, you’ll immediately be rewarded with a pure driving experience, with go kart-like, feelsome steering. Actually, older cars usually have some of the worst steering you’ll come across, often being incredibly slow and woefully vague.
"By all means, celebrate older performance cars for what they achieved in their time. The E30 M3 and countless others deserve that"
Sure, there are exceptions to the rule, and yes, I do think there was a point where cars generally ‘peaked’ in terms of driver feedback and involvement. But I reckon that peak point is much more recent than people seem to think; something we’ll talk about in more detail when it’s time for the full M3 generations test. I also think - particularly at the faster end of the scale - there are signs that the whole feel thing is coming back onto the agenda, despite what the doom-mongers say.
I’m not saying that I dislike classic cars, quite the opposite: they’re usually better to look at, more characterful and entertaining to drive in their own quirky way. By all means, celebrate older performance cars for what they achieved in their time, for how they stood up to their contemporaries. The E30 M3 and countless others deserve that. But don’t whatever you do put them on some sort of pedestal like they’re still the benchmark for driver’s cars. They’re not, and that’s just fine.
Growing up on a diet of World Rally Championship highlights and lengthy Gran Turismo 2 sessions, a life in cars was as good as inevitable for Matt.
Comments
If you’re into the new cars more, then you have nothing to worry about, because you won’t go for it anyways. And if you want to, then of course it’s a pain when you cannot afford something that you really desire, but then you let it be your motivation to work, make something of your life.
There’s no real concrete information here, some comparisson between steering and beaking systems, well, who didn’t know that already?
The History of the E30, how it was made, how BMW’s first e30 got beat by the 190 evo in the Aerodynamics test, changed the m3 and made it the winner of the DTM series with only 6 wins ahead of the mercedes benz 190 that was made during a secret time, even alot of managers on MB didn’t know about it.
I own a bmw e30 325, and for me, it’s the perfect car as I am totally in love with the inline six engine, it can do so much more than most newer cars can, and it really does give the oldschool feeling. It all depends on how you see it, if you’re going to measure the performance on things, then the e30 will lose. If you’d go ahead and measure the performance against other cars of its time, the e30 will win. I will have alot more fun in a e30 325 than a e36 with 300hp, I know, because I’ve driven both.
It’s up to each and everyone, but the prices on the old M3 will only rise, why? There’s so few of them left, and given the history behind their popularity, it’s not really difficult to see why they are at the prices they are at. If it wasn’t for the e30 m3 revolution, the other m3’s wouldn’t really be as famous, and to those complaining, a MB 190evo 2 in mint condition (there’s about 3 of them on mobile.de) costs 170.000 euros ;)
I think the reason people love old cars so much is because compared to many new cars, and many newer cars of similar value, they’re very involving and enjoyable to drive.
That being said, there are many ‘old but not classics yet’ from ~2000 that go completely overlooked despite being fantastic cars.
As the owner of a classic car, I love that it’s noisy, different, and pretty fun and involving to drive.
BUT I’m constantly worrying about rust, the steering is squidgy thanks to the 30 year old suspension, it’s not really that fast (faster than average, just), and whilst the electronics are still seemingly okay, I do worry about them constantly. Also no air conditioning, radio - it has one but the speakers are terrible.
E30 Fanboys be like
At least in the looks department, E46 wins. Especially in pre LCI sedan form
No! Not the Delta! Don’t you dare say anything about the S4…
From my experience. One of the cons of having old car is appreciation of modern car updates.
I my self have as a daily Accord 2004, and bought with friend a 1984 Fiat 125p as a DIY restoration project.
Driving old fiat on weekend’s always puts smile on my face. But quick change to drive my daily after it gives me even bigger smile whit all updates car-industry had over years(power steering, precise handling, Noise Reduction etc..). Trying to put it short.
“ Driving an old car is like a wild sex. But switching to modern one is like cigarette after it”
I dont have much choice of what i drive, or what will i buy next, but i always seem to pick some relatively cheap old box-shaped “rally-bred” road car. For exp. i drive 1995 106 rallye now, i used to have 1994 clio williams, and probably my next car will be old swift gti of some sort or smth like that. and i know those are not the fastest cars. im well aware that the new hot hatches or, even normal dailies with a few horses more would be faster than these. yes they handle easier, drive smoothly, brake better, and are by far more reliable cars, but something like that will never replace the feeling you get entering a small, “no luxury equipment at all”, car with nothing but a steering wheel and few old switches on a dashboard in front of you, spreading clonking and whining noise from every possible place in the car. and that is what being a petrolhead is all about. you hear something is wrong, you check it, disassemble this, replace that, and in the end the result will be very rewarding. hell, i love my pug. the steering wheel is so hard in the city, it’s not happy on low rpms, it’s loud, rough, uncivilized, old, and you really have to pray to the car gods to get from A to B without it dying, but it really requires you to be involved 110% of the time once you drive it fast. and it CAN drive fast. not as fast as any new hot hatch, but then again, i dont need to be faster, i just want to feel the car and feel the road. that is in my opinion what you get more in old cars-drivers involvement, and that is what it is all about.
P.S. That said, i have to point out that i wouldn’t mind getting a newer car lol and keep the old ones as a weekend runner :)
Still, E30 because Hofmeister Kink
This guy hit it right on, so instead of trying to explain how I feel, I’ll share this..
Bah, I just pulled the ABS fuse out of my WRX. Problem solved.
That article is just plain wrong. Old is better in many cases. And is there any new car that is like the AW11 MR2 or SW20? For example I want a lightweight hot hatch is there any new car that can compare with the 106 Rallye or S16? I want lightweight 4 door RWD car, are there any new cars that are lightweight and have 4 doors? In general, new cars are very heavy and full of electronics which can help any kid who can’t drive. The old cars are for people that love driving and which can actually drive properly. And remember even a thousand horsepower can’t make a heavy car - fast where it really matters.