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
Stil driving my e30 as first car and stil lover every thing about it. I can work on every thing my self and parts here in EU are cheap. But i know what you mean. Think it true if you want to buy it as first car. Mine apinion is you better buy it as an second car and not as youre daily
Im sorry, but i couldnt dissagree with you more. They are extremly easy to work on and very simple. I had a e30 for both and second car, my parents didnt teach me how to work on them or drive them. I taught my self and was smart about it. They didnt pay for my parts or insurance, all paid by my minimum wage job. If you crash your e30 and bite the big one in the process thats Darwinism’s fault, not the e30s. I highly recomended them as a first car. Not so much now since e36s are the budget bimmer, but the e30 is still king.
Well, if don’t have any driving experience when getting your first car you shouldn’t get one without ABS & airbags. Nevertheless I personally wouldn’t want to have a daily driver without these features anyway
I daily an E30 and I will do it until it kills me! It’s pure joy and happines and it is THE legend of automotive history!
In the country (Bulgaria) I live, you can do everything you want.
I started driving my brothers E30 at 16 and now Im 23 and i have my own since 4 years. It is great and the roads here are good for drifting, I drift it everytime I can. Only bad thing is the money for tires and suspension repairs, everything else is great about driving an E30 all seasons of the year :)
Ofcourse, the way I drive my E30 is illegal but if they dont catch you, then you are innocent :) and besides it makes me and most of the people smile
Lol, same story with AE86 😂 I got lucky though, my car isnt too bad. Can daily it even
A better first car is a CRX or EF Civic.
I have driven almost daily for two years a FWD and now I want to buy an E30 325ix Touring with an M52B28 swap. Wish me luck :)
The Volvo V40? Are you serious? Those things are as reliable as an iPhone that has been on the bottom of a lake. They should be avoided at all costs. I’d rather ride a bike than to drive a V40 again.