Car pontification....keep E30 vs E36 vs kit car

flang

The 320 has a M50B20 engine which runs at 150bhp yet the 318is uses the M42B18 engine which runs at 134/138bhp.
The standard 318 uses a M40 engine running at 115bhp.
Id far rather have a 6 cylinder 2.5

tomstickland

The E30 320 doesn't make 150BHP, maybe you're thinking of the E36.
The E30 318iS had a 16v M42 engine that makes 135BHP. The E36 318iS had the M44 engine, an evolution of the M42 with a bit more capacity, torque and about the same power.

Anyway, I spent £1000 on the suspension 6 months ago, fitted a Z3 steering rack a few weeks ago and have bought an LSD from America.

Suspension
http://www.flickr.com/photos/92961862@N00/sets/72157600969309074/

Rack
http://www.flickr.com/photos/92961862@N00/sets/72157603477586953/

Driving it
http://www.flickr.com/photos/92961862@N00/sets/72157602372340051/

Anyway, as you might have guessed, I'm firmly down the "keep the E30" path now.

shown73

I'm just amazed that the politically correct brigade hasn't invaded this thread with howls of derision and protest, as they seem to do every time someone asks about non-standard lights, number plates, etc. I get a lot of satisfaction from tinkering, and it's harmless, as it is with most people. Thank goodness there are still some non-conformists around, even if they are a dying breed.
Re the Westfield, I gather you are single.....If not, you're b----y lucky!

stumpjumper

Westfields and Caterhams and the like are very cheap to insure with specialists, £100-300 depending on power/age/NCBs - i got quotes on a standard Caterham 7 with a 1700cc Crossflow for about £250 as a 23y.o. with no NCB, and keeping it on the street.

the thing is Westfields ARE hardcore cars, with very little creature comforts, which is why they are mostly second cars. But there are a few nutters who do use them every day.
Personally BMWs do nothing for me... far rather have a Westie. or for everyday useable lower powered cheap thrills get a MX5 (and then always supercharge it later to get an easy 200bhp in less than tonne of car) all for about £5k

DKLS

Go for the westie, My mate bought one and slotted in a 1100 CC bike engine, its strictly a second car, due to lack of creature comforts, but my god does it accelerate and go around corners. At that price, you couldnt get any more fun for your money.

tomstickland

I am pretty hardcore. I drove around for 2 years in a car with no interior and earplugs in. However, the main problem with kit car is fitting mountain bike on the back and the practicality in poor weather.

Personally BMWs do nothing for me...

They didn't do anything for me until I drove a 1990 E30 for a few days. They really are great fun to drive. Think of a rear wheel drive Mk2 Golf GTi, combined with cheap and easy to maintain. Fun handling but also practical and quite comfortable for when you need to be sensible.

flang

tomstickland wrote: »

The E30 320 doesn't make 150BHP, maybe you're thinking of the E36.
The E30 318iS had a 16v M42 engine that makes 135BHP. The E36 318iS had the M44 engine, an evolution of the M42 with a bit more capacity, torque and about the same power.
.

Apologies I was under the impression you had an E36 318is :beer: .
You either love or hate BMWs but I can tell one once you have one theres no going back! I love roundabouts in the rain

Paul_Baldwin

Hi Tom,
as an ex nutter Stumpjumper refers too I'd just like to point out that kit cars arent that hard to live with. Mine didnt even have a heater and the last couple of years I drove it the hood was all but useless as the stiching round the back had rotted. I used to do up to 15,000 miles a year in mine, in sunshine, rain, sleet, snow and ice. Yes at times you did have to wrap up warm to drive it but you get used to it. Even in torrential rain you only used to get a few drops come in, so what, you get wetter walking from the car to the door of whatever building you may be travelling to! You dont even need a hood the majority of the time even in the rain, because of the steeply raked windscreen, over 30mph and you stay dry. The only luxury item I had was a radio with speakers mounted directly behind the headrests so you can hear them
On the plus side, its exhilerating being so open to the elements and so close to the floor, the handling is excellent, insurance is cheap and depending on engine economy is reasonable as long as you stay below 80 ish on a run.
Buy a mountain bike rack and adapt it to fit where the spare wheel does and buy some tyre foam.
I bought my Vindicator when I was 21, I'm 34 next year and Ive still got it, get one before you end up being in the flat-cap generation
Paul.

tomstickland

You are a very bad influence. Trouble is that I've invested quite a lot of effort in my E30 now, so I'd be sorry to see it go.

Paul_Baldwin

LOL. Maybe so? The E30 looks like fun too tbh, havent owned a beemer yet but its definately on the list Sounds like it makes more sense to get some more use out of it first. Has it got enough poke to do any proper drifting in it?
Then again, its the cheapest time of the year to buy a nearly finished kit car!