Anything else then BMW ???

[Jose]

I was just wondering how crazy people actually are for BMW's on this forum. With this I mean, have any of you prevoiusly owned a car other then a BMW or are some of you bimmer drivers for live ?

Would you consider another make and if so, which car would that be ?

I myself have driven many different cars outside BMW such as VW, Audi, Opel(german GM), French ****(never again ), but mostly BMW.

I don't know why but I always end up with a Bimmer.

[liquidtiger720]

Hmm. Well...I'm open to everything. For example...my family has 2 bimmers, 2 mercedes, 1 land rover, and one honda. in the past, we've had toyotas,lexus, and even a buick.

[Booster]

I'm a Nissan/Datsun head myself. I love the old S30 Datsun 240-Z with a turbo.
But I daily drive a Mazda RX-7 convertible, a GMC Turbo AWD Syclone.
In the current stable of shop projects is a 68' Datsun roadster w/v-6 turbo,91'BMW 525I turbo,73' 240-Z turbo,74' 260-Z blowthrough 44mm Mikuni turbo,Widebody 240-Z AWD RB26DETT and a handful of others to bore you with.
Now where did I put that LIFE I was looking for ?? :p
Vinny
Oh......my fav. past car was a AMG Mercedes 560SEC w/all cams,gears,wheels etc !TOO much attention in THAT black ride for anyone ! :(

[Torque]

My family has owned, and I have driven numerous euro cars ... and BMW just seems to be the best -- I found a good deal on the e34 and that was my first car. Shortly after, my dad fell in love with them too, and he now has one as well. Mom was very close to buying one too, but it needed too much work for the price and she went with an Audi.

I don't think I can ever own anything less than BMW after this. I am hooked for life.

[Interceptor]

I was just wondering how crazy people actually are for BMW's on this forum. With this I mean, have any of you prevoiusly owned a car other then a BMW or are some of you bimmer drivers for live ?

Would you consider another make and if so, which car would that be ?I would also consider Aston Martin, Porsche, Ferrari, McLaren, Lotus, Maserati, Bentley or something similar. Unfortunately, BMW is the only thing I can afford that's at least a bit close to ones I mentioned. :)

[kyleN20]

iv only owned bmw, but im only 19, iv had a e30, and now the e34, im hooked, i would like to get a e36 and put a turbo onto it, maybe a sc

[genphreak]

I don't know why but I always end up with a Bimmer. Sorry Jose but we're not mind readers... can you explain why you say this- what choice you feel you now have, given your expereinces to date, why and so forth.

I for one cannot understand why you would say this, I feel I am destined to permanent and monogomous relationship with my BMW.

There seems to be no other option (with four wheels) now...

[Alexlind123]

Since this is my first car, i dont have any experience owning anything other than a BMW but i cant see any reason why i would drive anything else. I like how e34s are designed, not only the exterior styling but also how everything is engineered. I started looking at BMW's because of their blend of luxury and performance. I suppose if i were to have a wife and kids for whatever strange reason people aquire these things, a dodge magnum would be a top contender.

[tnt525i]

I'm a Nissan/Datsun head myself. I love the old S30 Datsun 240-Z with a turbo.
But I daily drive a Mazda RX-7 convertible, a GMC Turbo AWD Syclone.
In the current stable of shop projects is a 68' Datsun roadster w/v-6 turbo,91'BMW 525I turbo,73' 240-Z turbo,74' 260-Z blowthrough 44mm Mikuni turbo,Widebody 240-Z AWD RB26DETT and a handful of others to bore you with.
Now where did I put that LIFE I was looking for ?? :p
Vinny
Oh......my fav. past car was a AMG Mercedes 560SEC w/all cams,gears,wheels etc !TOO much attention in THAT black ride for anyone ! :(
hey a nissan head like me, lol, i had a RB26DETT also in a nissan cefiro, it pulled like a beast

[angrypancake]

I went from an 89 accord shitbox to a '93 525im, and haven't looked back. Now on the second e34, and this one hopefully wont hit any trees.

[Booster]

hey a nissan head like me, lol, i had a RB26DETT also in a nissan cefiro, it pulled like a beast

Nice ! This one ( RB26DETT) has HKS 600-700hp cams and gears ,and the uprated cross-mission gearset for the awd tranny along with a ton of other power adders.Awesome power and more to come.
Regarding "other" cars ....the German cars do have a certain "FEEL" to them that I've always liked, but I find about all manufacturers have begun sampling the same level or bar to their flagship cars.......some bringing it to fruition better than others.
Loving one brand is great but there are so many other goods out there to be tested and enjoyed. I'll leave my DEVOTION and LOYALTY to my human relationships.Cars in my book are meant to extrapolate fun,fury and the pursuit of thrashing performance to the tune of your mood.Period.
:p
..............Vinny :D

[Zeuk in Oz]

Would you consider another make

What has to be realised is that we sometimes need cars that BMW (in this case) don't offer a version of.

For example my daily driver is an F250 7.3 litre V8 turbo diesel crew cab 4X4 ute. Brilliant at what it does but BMW doesn't offer a vehicle similar. Nor does anyone else in Oz, Chev Silverados don't exist here.

My first car was a 1974 Saab 99 LE combi coupe (3 door) with a 2 litre fuel injected engine and front wheel drive. It gave me a real insight into who a car could be engineered, having only been exposed to Fords and Holdens up till then.

I have owned 2 Saabs (the '86 900 16 valve turbo was brilliant to drive), 4 Volvos ('83 240 GL wagon, '84 360 GLT (horrible), '91 940 Turbo wagon, '96 850 AWD wagon), 2 Range Rovers ('89 3.5 litre V8, '92 4.0 litre V8), 1 Land Rover Discovery TDi auto ('97 model - brilliant) and a '01 Toyota Landcruiser 4.5 litre six cylinder petrol 4x4 ( worst car I have ever owned).
I currently own the '03 F250, an '02 Mercedes ML 270 CDI 7 seater and the '88 525i.

At the time of purchasing all of these cars, the only time there was an equivalent BMW available was the horrible 360 GLT Volvo - I wanted to purchase an (?e30) 318i but she who must be obeyed wanted the Volvo and after all - she was driving it. That was the last time I let her choose.

We have the Merc instead of an X5 because the Merc was a 7 seater - necessary with 4 kids. Similarly the Volvo 940 turbo wagon and the 850 AWD wagons were 7 seaters that BMW did not offer. :(

The point to all this is that it is not always possible to choose a particular marque ( in this case BMW ) because they don't meet all needs. Part of the fun is trying to find a suitable vehicle that meets your needs, regardless of marque. :D

[SC David]

At the SF auto show I fell in love with the Volvo S60R and the Audi A3 3.2 Quattro. If S60R prices fall a great deal within the next 3 years, then I might just have one for my next car.

But, somehow I have the feeling I'll end up in an E39 540 or E46 330 when the time comes...

[Dan in NZ]

What has to be realised is that we sometimes need cars that BMW (in this case) don't offer a version of.

For example my daily driver is an F250 7.3 litre V8 turbo diesel crew cab 4X4 ute. Brilliant at what it does but BMW doesn't offer a vehicle similar. Nor does anyone else in Oz, Chev Silverados don't exist here.

My first car was a 1974 Saab 99 LE combi coupe (3 door) with a 2 litre fuel injected engine and front wheel drive. It gave me a real insight into who a car could be engineered, having only been exposed to Fords and Holdens up till then.

I have owned 2 Saabs (the '86 900 16 valve turbo was brilliant to drive), 4 Volvos ('83 240 GL wagon, '84 360 GLT (horrible), '91 940 Turbo wagon, '96 850 AWD wagon), 2 Range Rovers ('89 3.5 litre V8, '92 4.0 litre V8), 1 Land Rover Discovery TDi auto ('97 model - brilliant) and a '01 Toyota Landcruiser 4.5 litre six cylinder petrol 4x4 ( worst car I have ever owned).
I currently own the '03 F250, an '02 Mercedes ML 270 CDI 7 seater and the '88 525i.

At the time of purchasing all of these cars, the only time there was an equivalent BMW available was the horrible 360 GLT Volvo - I wanted to purchase an (?e30) 318i but she who must be obeyed wanted the Volvo and after all - she was driving it. That was the last time I let her choose.

We have the Merc instead of an X5 because the Merc was a 7 seater - necessary with 4 kids. Similarly the Volvo 940 turbo wagon and the 850 AWD wagons were 7 seaters that BMW did not offer. :(

The point to all this is that it is not always possible to choose a particular marque ( in this case BMW ) because they don't meet all needs. Part of the fun is trying to find a suitable vehicle that meets your needs, regardless of marque. :D


Just wondering why you thought so highly of the Disco I compared to the Landcruiser? My family has owned a selection of Landcruisers, Discoverys and Range Rovers. I thought very highly of the 1992 Landcruiser we had before the 1996 Discovery, 1996 Range Rover, and 2000 Discovery. I do have to say the Discovery II is pretty damn good (with ACE package).


I started my driving life in a 1984 corolla. Drove that for three years, and have been driving my E34 for the last two years. Next car will be an E39, or a SII Range Rover.

[Zeuk in Oz]

Just wondering why you thought so highly of the Disco I compared to the Landcruiser?

Dan, I basically drove the same chasis for 12 - 13 years in the 2 Range Rovers and the series 1 Discovery. All handled like sports cars after the initial body roll which you quickly became used to. They also had unbelievable wheel travel off road.

The Landcruiser 100 series is, in my opinion, a typical Toyota with terrible handling compared to the Land Rovers. The Toyota suffers what I call bump steer when it feels like the steering happens from the rear. Prados do the same thing. The other problem with Toyotas, IMHO, is that they don't understand anything about fuel efficiency. My Landcruiser used 24 litres per 100 km in mixed driving, while my F250 only uses 16.

My Series 1 Discovery was the auto diesel version - 4 cylinder 2.5 litre. It was a fabulously honest work horse - not very quick from standstill but really tough and economical (9 litres per 100 km). You got the impression that the engine was going to last forever. It was a total revelation to me that I would prefer the Discovery with its little, underpowered diesel to the Range Rovers with their petrol V8s.

I agree with you about the Series II with ACE, however I never liked the idle of the 5 cylinder diesel in the TD5. My Volvo 850 was a 5 cylinder, as is my Merc ML 270 CDI, but they manage to idle much more smoothly than the TD5.

I feel that Land Rover should have brought out a more advanced diesel engine when they released the TD5, so compared with the Merc 2.7 litre or BMW 3.0 litre which are both common rail direct injection.

Interestingly I drove a Discovery 3 when they were released a year ago or so, and was really unimpressed with the ride on bitumen - the air suspension seemed to make the car wobble around incessantly.

[HDhandyman]

I like my car for the weight and the engine. I also like the way it feels. That said, I do not prefer the "luxuries" that my car employes. I would much prefer my car with really nicely stiched cloth seats, manual everything, and no sun roof. Don't get me wrong, I love my car, but I do not like being referred to as a Bimmer driver. Nor do I find comfort in the fact any one of my luxuries may break at any time. I haven't had particular difficulty with this car, but I'd like a blend between this bimmer and a basic VW. Just good German engineering built like a rock. Does anyone know if my dream car exists?

BTW--to the best of my knowledge, new VWs are ****, and old ones need a ton of mods to stack up with the likes of BMW. Would one of the wise care to prove me wrong?

[Dan in NZ]

I like my car for the weight and the engine. I also like the way it feels. That said, I do not prefer the "luxuries" that my car employes. I would much prefer my car with really nicely stiched cloth seats, manual everything, and no sun roof. Don't get me wrong, I love my car, but I do not like being referred to as a Bimmer driver. Nor do I find comfort in the fact any one of my luxuries may break at any time. I haven't had particular difficulty with this car, but I'd like a blend between this bimmer and a basic VW. Just good German engineering built like a rock. Does anyone know if my dream car exists?

BTW--to the best of my knowledge, new VWs are ****, and old ones need a ton of mods to stack up with the likes of BMW. Would one of the wise care to prove me wrong?

I have cloth seats, and no sunroof. Halfway there!

[HDhandyman]

I have cloth seats, and no sunroof. Halfway there!

really? !!

[Dan in NZ]

Dan, I basically drove the same chasis for 12 - 13 years in the 2 Range Rovers and the series 1 Discovery. All handled like sports cars after the initial body roll which you quickly became used to. They also had unbelievable wheel travel off road.

We've only had the 80-series landcruiser, but yeah, I see what you're saying. The 4.2 Diesel Manual was a good combo, at least while I was leaning to drive on it...

I'm a big fan of Land Rovers, once you get used to maintaining them. The series II range rover will probably be my next car, you can pick up a 1996-97 4.6 HSE with less than 100,000km for under 20K here. Fuel cost is astronomical in the V8's, so would only get one if I was doing low miles at the time. Petrol was a big reason my parents switched to the diesel auto Disco II, as I was ski racing at the time and putting $100 in the rangie every weekend gets tiring.

[Interceptor]

BTW--to the best of my knowledge, new VWs are ****, and old ones need a ton of mods to stack up with the likes of BMW. Would one of the wise care to prove me wrong?I've seen euro E34s here with manual window lifters, cloth seats, no sunroof and no A/C. Maybe you'd like one of those. They're dirt cheap here.

[HDhandyman]

I've seen euro E34s here with manual window lifters, cloth seats, no sunroof and no A/C. Maybe you'd like one of those. They're dirt cheap here.


I just live on the wrong side of the planet. I'm sure I could find a ton of nice cars in Europe. When I was in Italy, even the taxis were nicer than most cars here (my specs withstanding).

[Rory535i]

I'll always own a BMW as long as my financial situation allows!

[wingman]

I bought my wife a Subaru wagon a while ago. I've since bought her another one. They're great for family lugging but for me...I can't gget enough BMW. I'm so mad for them I bought this!
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c301/wingman_1968/wreck.jpg
Anybody pick the model?

[Nick.Hay]

Ok,

I LUUUURRRVE my E34!!

My friends (partricularly female ones) cannot begin to fathom why its always getting a wash, or why I'm always spending so much on bits and peices for it. Or why I'm so choosy regarding parking spaces. Or why when I do find a space, its usually the most remote parking space available!! My car is the one that gets the most votes among peers for long trips too!!

They think its a bit unhealthy that my laptop wallpaper is my car, the screen saver is "BMW" flipping about, my Mobile phone background is my car, and my message tone is an M5!!

They are also worried that I can pick a kidney grille from 3 miles away, and always make them rewind the movie when I see a BMW...

My male friends worry alot, coz while they are checking out the sexy blonde twins, I'm checking out the E36 cabrio the blondes just got out of...


Obsessed... Yes.
Enthusiast... You betcha. And proud of it too!!


I also have a soft spot for 70's Toyota Corollas
http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=15087
Easy to drive, easy to mod, easy to repair, and easy to make indecently quick!!

Other models I consider 'automotive porn' include:
http://www.autoscout24.ch/etthumbnails/t0006142.jpg
AUDI RS4 AVANT

http://www.cars-on-line.com/15100/77porsche15148.JPG
76 911 wide body (one of these was on the list instead of E34... Test drove one, but it wasn't a good example)

http://bema.times.lv/E34_7.jpg
But this is the car that will DOUBTLESSLY replace/compliment my current E34 at some stage.... I LOVE Tourings!!

[Jose]

The reason I say this is that I only like the older bmw models pre-91. Newer types don't give the real bmw driving feel, the complete driving experience, like you're the one doing all the hard work in fast curves, the newer ones just feel like a Toyota or Nissan, predictable and safe. I've owned up to 15 E30's 8 E34's among which two M5's, 1 E32, so you would think I'd be fed up with these by now but I keep buying them over and over again. Yesterday I bought a E30 chassis to build one from scratch again.

I like Audi's too,because of their tremendous build quality and strong engines, but I only use them for long voyages, such as to my home country Spain. They are the best thing for those trips, so extremely quiet, calm, controlable and spacious for my kid aswell.

[mikell]

Enthusiastic for the e34, but own others, too. Trouble is, BMW is leaving me - too much of the luxo add-ons for my taste - more gizmos mean more things to break, and that doesn't even get to the Bangle question. I really do not care if I have the electronic ass wiper. And run flat tires? - Please! Just give me a full size spare.
We have an Audi A-6 that seems to have way too many small but expensive things going wrong after less than 50k miles.
We also have a '96 Honda Prelude and a new Acura RSX in the family. Good reliability and parts cost and DIY serviceability are pretty good.
So, if the e-34 goes tango uniform on me, will I buy another Bavarian? Hard to say - they'll need to make real nice with their newer offerings to get me, unless I can find a well-loved e-34.

[Jay 535i]

I'm open to anything, but always prefer a real drivers' car, which a BMW always is (okay, some rare exceptions).

Last car was a 1995 Audi S6. My 535 is slower than that, but much more of a drivers' car. It's a good stopgap until I can finally afford a Porsche.

[wingman]

The Oldtimer Centre in Sydney was selling an E34 recently with cloth seats, no sunroof and...wait for it...wind-yourself manual windows!

[DaCan23]

I will have my E24 & E34 for pretty much ever. Hope to have a 2002 or 3.0 sometime, would like to add a gas saving E30/E36. If my parents ever get sick of their Z3 I'd take it. Eventually some M will be owned. Would own a E39 or E46. Would have to, to bridge the gap as you'd never see me in a E60 or E90 or X3. BMW will always be my 1st choice. I've had 6 other cars but they were high school cars or post college need a reliable new car. Only one I cared too much about was the 89 Peugeot 505 Turbo 5 Speed, which I wish I still had, but head went and I decided not to repair, was in FL, dad in CT....

Hopefully they'll put out some nice 3/5 in 8 years, and get rid of this ugly run of the mill design that aint BMW. All the tech stuff cold care less about, active steering whateva I know how to drive, I-drive whateva I can multitask.

[Russell]

1600-2002 euro verson?

[zuzuk212]

hey a nissan head like me, lol, i had a RB26DETT also in a nissan cefiro, it pulled like a beast

I'm also a Nissan nut :) My first car was an `84 Z31 300ZX ... fell in love with it, even though it's under powered, it handles nicely. Still have it, even though it needs a great deal of body work ... DAMN DEER! Practically bullet-proof engine 215k miles!

Had an accord, from my girlfriend ... going from the Z to that was painful, no power 4cyl, horrible turning radius ... blah, but it was good for transportation.

2000 A4 ... piece of CRAP, water pump went before 50k, replaced air bag controller at $800, it's got electrical gremlins and a total pain to work on because there is no room and other disassembly impossibilities. It's an over priced VW, though I haven't had one, friends have and I firmly believe that VW's are also garbage! I'm working on her to get rid of it.

My parents have had a variety from a Road Runner (my first drive when my mother left me unattended :D ), Cordoba (big car with a big ass engine), Toyota Camery (blah good for transportation), to an `73 MG midget ... made up a lot of new words working on that ... fun little car, when running.

I love my e34 because it gives me the semi sport feel I've been missing (but more practical than the Z), the look and wrenchability.

Ken

[iainand]

my current model is E34 525 TDS, next will be an E39 2.5 or possibly 3.0 diesel again.

i started in beemers with a 1988 E30 316 auto (1.8 carb engine) - surprising good fun (read, surprisingly tail happy)

then a 1985 528i manual - had all the toys and great to drive.

before those 3 and some at the same time, i've also had the following

1995 Ford Scorpio (competitor for E34 - no comparison!!!) second car
1995 Vauxhall Astra (cheap run around) second car
1994 Fiat Punto (had for 6 years)
1987 Nissan Bluebird Turbo (different!!!) second car
1997 Nissan Micra (second car for winter, cost £100 sold for £700)
1990 Fiat Uno (upgrade from fiesta, still student)
1990 Citroen AX GT (second run about for fun - good acceleration)
1982 Ford Fiesta (skint student)
1987 Seat Ibiza (first car)

some of you state side guys may not recognise some of these, probably best you dont in some cases!!

Now i wont see past BMW, had my 525 TDS for over 2 years now, will upgrade to E39 sometime, then on to more 5's in time. Will prob be in 5's from now on................................................ ...........

[wingman]

Well spotted Russell. 1967 1600-2. 6 volt system/matching numbers/rusty as the gates of hell! I learn't alot about car restoration from it, that is, I learn't to not buy resto jobs...

[granit_silber]

Here's my list

1975 Plymouth Grand Fury Custom (loved that car!)
1991 Isuzu Impulse (w/ Lotus suspension)
1992 Oldsmobile Regata
2002 Honda Civic 4-dr
1992 BMW 525iA
2005 Honda CR-V (wife's)

Each one of those cars came with their own list of highs and lows. But overall they were great.

I wouldn't say that I'll never buy any other marque, but it wouldn't hurt my feelings if that's how it turns out.

I would love a non-rust bucket 2002 or tii and I have always loved the 3.0 CSi Batmobile. However, if I ever part with the e34 I'll probably grab a e28 533i 5-sp and begin playing.
-ashley

[Gayle]

The right vehicle is like the perfect accessory to an outfit. That is why it is important to have a well stocked garage. BMW (and especially the e34) is definately best of class, but as others have pointed out, BMW just doesn't make all types of vehicles.

I find myself missing my jacked up nissan truck with the tubular steel bumpers--it was the perfect "get out of my way or I will run over your ass" vehicle. Never worried about the doors getting dinged. And having a tool box always amused me. I have another truck now (F-150) and I love it, but it just doesn't have the same bad boy vibe the nissan had.

I also find myself missing our wrangler that we sold in May. Its turning radius was to die for. It was the ultimate urban assualt vehicle for over crowded mall parking lots with small spaces as you could turn on a dime. We always kept the full tops off of it and just used the bimmini top that covered the front seat. It was like a convertible without the sunburn. When I owned these two, I always chose to drive the wrangler over the e30. And recently when I was driving the e34 across a dirt parking lot at a construction site (location of a beer festival) I was asking myself, "now why did I sell the wrangler?"

But BMW convertibles are good. My husband came home this week and told me that there is a gray 96 328 convertible for sale at the indy's and I was like "oooo--is it stick?" Then I had to remind myself, "just say no". It is too hard to keep 4 vehicles running. I plan on keeping the e34 for about 20 years, but I would like to have another convertible and there is a gorgeous X5 at my firm that I want when the current owner gets tired of it. I think there will always be at least one bmw in our driveway, but I think our fleet will always be intergrated.

So this is the "convertible" that beat the bmw:

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/Side.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c21/e34Gayle/20drear.jpg

[Qsilver7]

... I started looking at BMW's because of their blend of luxury and performance. I suppose if i were to have a wife and kids for whatever strange reason people aquire these things, a dodge magnum would be a top contender.

okay, test drive the hot lookin' Dodge Magnum (I'll give 'em that)...then get behind the wheel of an (e39) 540iT Sport...and report back which one you'd want to load your future family up in! :p

http://www.touringklubben.com/jorgen_petersson/alle_007.JPG

http://www.touringklubben.com/steve_soderstrom/DSC03876%20u%20n.jpg

[callen]

My cars........in order of ownership

76 Olds 442 Started (started with two 350's ended up with 455) first car had it for 10 years...lots of fun..wish I would have kept it..but did rag it out.

71 Chevy Vette 454 4spd...still in the garage...stoplight monster...rough, loud (sidepipes) thinks its a work of art.

77 Datsun F10 (first Nissan FWD) 1.3 or 1.4 L engine...fun but slow and guttless.

81 Olds Cutlass 4.3l first GM computer car..lots of vacume hoses...slow...was cruiser though.

91 Chevy Lumina..bought it new...good FWD car..very dependable...ex girlfreind got it.

94 530i 5speed...bought with 30K miles...just sold with 150k miles...lots of work..good car but kinda glad it's gone...was full time job.

91 535i 5speed...my work horse..still running strong with 250K miles. Needs some cosmetic work...doubt I'll sell anytime soon.

89 735il cruiser...bought cheap with bad head gasket..fixed it then found out the real list of stuff that was wrong...90% done....actually like driving the slow moving tank..very smooth and love the LAD suspension.....great tow vehicle and long distance cruiser

99 MB SL 500...for the wife...fast clean....great open air driver. Fit finish great and sure seats won't wear out like all my BMW's.

[callen]

grand fury....wasn't that like 35 ft long......had a Girl Friend with one....did like it...very roomy inside (-;

[callen]

I have...drove a Magnum Hemi...not RT and it was nice...but as your inferring.....interior was plasticy and very cheap looking....very little driver feel and felt like you were driving a tank. Still nice though....for what it was and half the price of a new 540.

[granit_silber]

grand fury....wasn't that like 35 ft long......had a Girl Friend with one....did like it...very roomy inside (-;
Yeah LOL.
I once had 22 people including me inside it (8 of those were in the trunk with the lid closed). The timing chain broke during my first date with my High School girlfriend. So after dinner and a movie she helped me push it home.
Several months later, after a $150 detail job, the A/C compressor blew up right before I picked her up for prom (and when I say "blew up" I mean it). :)

I loved that car, but got rid of it when I leaned against the rear ds quater panel and the side light went into the trunk. Only the paint was holding it in the panel.

For those of you who don't who what one looks like, here ya go....

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.chez.com/yvincent/marques/plymouth/grande/75granfury2.GIF&imgrefurl=http://www.chez.com/yvincent/marques/plymouth/grande/grande.html&h=49&w=160&sz=10&tbnid=wRBq1ravTVYJ:&tbnh=28&tbnw=92&hl=en&start=22&prev=/images%3Fq%3D1975%2Bplymouth%2Bgran%2Bfury%26start %3D20%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26lr%3D%26client%3Dfi refox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official_s%26sa%3DN
Click the '74 for front view and "75 for rear. I had the '75 custom who, who!

-ashley

[onewhippedpuppy]

I got rid of my '87 944 Turbo for my 540/6, traded straight across. I made the hard decision that I needed a more family friendly car when I got tired of only driving my 951 alone, a car seat in the back is hell for the person in front of it. Anyway, I expected to miss it, but I don't. I love my E34, it's almost as fun, and far more comfortable. Plus, the V8's torque is nice compared to my 951's turbo lag. It was damn fast after 3k though, what a rocket.

Though I want another Porsche, it will be as a third car as long as I have a family, and right now I can't afford a third car. Probably that only thing that will compete with a BMW for my next car would be an Audi. I had a '99 A4 and loved it's incredible fit and finish, the 1.8T was ok but the car was FWD. :( Other past cars include:

'70 911T- Lots of character, almost as much rust. I will own another.
'93 240SX- Nice handling, totally gutless.
'87 200SX- Ok handling, totally gutless. I totalled it twice in High School.

[ArtemLepilov]

I had a 92 Toyota corolla that i got for free, got rid of that thing for a very very cheap E30 that I never even registered ($250), then I went with a 95 Jetta that was a shitbox: leaked oil everywhere, etc... And then I ended up with my E34. I love every moment of driving it. It is an amazing car and I would not go back to anything but a BMW.

I just read the 951 Post. Now is there a way I can somehow proove that an E34 is a better car than a 944/951/S2??? My roommates are completely into these cars and it just ticks me off every time they mention that a 944 is a better car. Anyone had any experiences, etc???

Thanks, Artem :)

[wengenstein]

I have a similar story.. My first car was an '87 SAAB 900 I got for $1. It was a great car but eventually I had to junk it. I was pretty SAAB loyal from then on and I still have my '01 9-5.. I got my E34 about a year ago though and I think I've been converted. (especially since I don't like the direction SAAB has been heading in as of late :( )

[SharkmanBMW]

I'm a Nissan/Datsun head myself. I love the old S30 Datsun 240-Z with a turbo.
But I daily drive a Mazda RX-7 convertible, a GMC Turbo AWD Syclone.
In the current stable of shop projects is a 68' Datsun roadster w/v-6 turbo,91'BMW 525I turbo,73' 240-Z turbo,74' 260-Z blowthrough 44mm Mikuni turbo,Widebody 240-Z AWD RB26DETT and a handful of others to bore you with.
Now where did I put that LIFE I was looking for ?? :p
Vinny
Oh......my fav. past car was a AMG Mercedes 560SEC w/all cams,gears,wheels etc !TOO much attention in THAT black ride for anyone ! :(


Is there a place we can see pics of these?? sounds incredible! I love the old Z's.

[SharkmanBMW]

BTW--to the best of my knowledge, new VWs are ****, and old ones need a ton of mods to stack up with the likes of BMW. Would one of the wise care to prove me wrong?


My friend has a VW Jetta, 2000 model... Bilstein and Neuspeed suspension, Nice, light 17" BBS wheels & toyo proxes tires - and it has started to feel more like my 330, but a huge cost...
Realistically, all the $$$ in the world won't make a VW handle like a BMW, but from stock, you need to spend at least $1500 on suspension goodies to bring it remotely close, not to mention upgrade the shitty OEM VW tires!

[SharkmanBMW]

I have had a few vehicles I am not proud of, but they did the job!
starting with my first car in 1989

1984 Hyundai Pony, FREE
1.4L 4cyl rear wheel drive auto, learned how to drive with this shitter, got me ready for BMW! Scrapped it after tranny let go at about 70 k miles. I used to do a little off roading and snow bank crashing, drifting 101 in the snow!

1985 Chrysler Daytona Turbo, $600usd
2.2L turbo, pretty scrappy but fast when the turbo kicked in! Floor was rotted out, water pump let go, cracked head, - got it all fixed and scrapped the car on a curb in the snow (the sub frame was rotten so it just let go!)

1992 Geo Storm GSI, leased new (Isuzu Impulse)
1.8L, 150 hp, handles like a little go cart, but what was I thinking??!?!?!? Mistake! Traded in for...

1994 Nissan Pathfinder SE V6, leased new (subsidized by my company)
Fully loaded version, took it off roading every weekend, it stood up extremely well to what I put it through. Almost rolled it once in a sand pit, but it all in all was a BLAST! Mud bogging with the big Blazers and Jeeps, getting stuck and pulled out! However, it was a total pig on gas... I did over 40k miles in 11 months, so it hurt! Sold!

1995 VW Jetta VR6, leased new
Fully loaded - heated leather, 5spd, BBS wheels, I modded the suspension, (bilstein, neuspeed), upper strut bar, upgraded engine mounts, oversized throttle body, chip, P-Flo with heat shield, Brembo x-drilled rotors & Hawk Pads, modified exhaust, tracked the car often, went through about 8 sets of tires, some Toyo R1 for the track, Dunlops, pirellis, toyos for the street (not including the 3 sets of winters). The set up was so stiff, it chewed tires endlessly! The headrests were embroidered VR6, it had white "Oettinger" guages... it was a real sweet car, NOT riced out at all, it looked stock but low, white on black, with the side marker and tail lights smoked, OH YA! MOMO steering wheel and matching ALU/Leather knob... That was as close to a BMW as a VW will EVER get!
STOLEN!!!!!!!!! march/99....

1986 BMW 325e, $1200
had the M skirts and wheels... looked like the top model of that year, but a 325"e". Loved it, I was comfy and it felt right! Brakes seized, traded it for

1985 535im, traded +$500
Had the M package look, skirts and wheels, 5spd, TONS of power, a blast to drive, car was rusty and exhaust was falling out, I had no cash at the time
so I put it in storage for sale

1990 Honda Civic Lx, FREE from MOM
great shape, low miles, auto, just keeps on running. It has been my winter car since 2001, was my daily driver for awhile, still have it, bumpers are dinged, but car keeps running!

1994 BMW 540i, $9k (bought in summer 2003)
E34, what more do I have to say? I was blown away with the speed, smoothness..... still have it, for sale...

2003 BMW 330Xi, leased
E46, great handling, great power (but not enough after driving the 540!) It has the BMW feel for sure, but the 4wd removes some of the rear wheel drive pleasure. It will make up for it in the snow :p The 540 is older, but smoother, classier and faster... I felt as if I had downgraded when i first drove away in the 330, slower, more noise and road feel - not all bad... now I appreciate the car fully, especially it's safety, which is why I bought it.

I looked at subaru, VW, Audi..... VW is not what it was, and is $$$, Subaru is nice, but I really don't like the frameless windows... (windnoise??, safety?), Audi seems to be underpowered unless you modify a lot, and it is $$$.
Saab... my friend bought the new top model, 4cyl. Turbo... it sounds like a little shitbox at idle, a luxury car should not be a 4cyl - my 3 cents!
BMW is still my choice, I am on my 4th, I love the feel, I feel like I am part of the equasion as a BMW driver, you feel the road, you are in control, you can swerve, brake and swerve, you are always in control of the car... ..... do that with an american car and you may be in for a surprise! The japs are not bad, great reliability for some, but they are miissing the "FEEL" that BMW provides.

[onewhippedpuppy]

I had a 92 Toyota corolla that i got for free, got rid of that thing for a very very cheap E30 that I never even registered ($250), then I went with a 95 Jetta that was a shitbox: leaked oil everywhere, etc... And then I ended up with my E34. I love every moment of driving it. It is an amazing car and I would not go back to anything but a BMW.

I just read the 951 Post. Now is there a way I can somehow proove that an E34 is a better car than a 944/951/S2??? My roommates are completely into these cars and it just ticks me off every time they mention that a 944 is a better car. Anyone had any experiences, etc???

Thanks, Artem :)

It's pretty apples to oranges, my 951 was very firm riding, dead before 3000 RPM, then took off like a rocket from that point on. Easily the fastest car I have ever been in over 3k, I was told that when new it had the fastest 50-100 time of any car on earth. Spectacular highway car, with great A/C, cruise, etc. Amazing brakes, amazing handling but not rough riding.

The 540 on the other hand is just smooth. Linear acceleration from idle, firm but comfortable ride, well balanced steering, easy but communicative. It's still fun, but much better for a family.

Your friends are right that the 944 series is a great car, I can't say anything bad about it. It's a great sports car, the 944 Turbo is a bargain, it's hard to get a car that's faster and handles better for the money. E34, again I feel is a bargain, it's tough to get a better sports sedan for the money. Both great cars, but very different.

[BMWDriver]

My wish is to own a BMW, always. We shall see what the future holds.

My E34 is my second car, recently bought. The previous was a Toyota Starlet, 1981, that I owned from 89 to 91. It's a model that did'nt last here in North America, but is very similar - almost identical - to the Toyota Tercel of those days. Had fun with it, took it apart some, repainted, did a cheap body job myself to deal with the hevy rust, put in a basic sound system to replace the radio tapeless one... beat it like crazy, blew the alternator because of high revs...

Nothing I would dare do to my E34, except for going up to 5000 rpms on occasion to test her a bit. And I find she's awesomely powerful, though it's obviously not a 540, what with the slow pick up on the first gear (low torque at low rev I gather). And I so love the sound of the engine; music to my ears.

So, I suffered public transportation for 14 years. What a change.

It does not mean I will not have other brands, of course. I actually considered buying a two doored Honda Prelude, but found my lust for BMW had waited too long, and life being so short I succumbed.

Preferably, any other make will come in as a second car for as long as I have a say in it. But it doesn't matter what you own, something always breaks and needs fixing.

I'd probably love to take a Porsche or a Ferrari for a spin, but I find owning either might bore me compared to a BMW. I much prefer subtelty to red hot flashyness. The ultimate for me would probably be a 6 series. And, oh am I ever glad to see they took it out of the closet ! Perhaps ten years from now I will have one. (The older 6 series are just too old to own for an every day ride).

For me, it's simply a dream dear to my heart come true, one that I hope will last.

[gj1968]

My first car was a Toyota Camry SE. Nice sporty car but only lasted me 3 years since it was totalled when my brother and I went for a camping trip in VA.

I bought an Acura Integra brand new in 95, a 3 door coupe. Luv this car.. fast, high reving and nimble but doesnt have much torque. Had difficulty going uphill. But boy nothing beats it when it comes to hauling things. Once I was able to fit two 27inch TV , still inside the box plus other stuff on this car. Had very little problem on this car.

I got my first Bimmer this summer, a 2002 530i with SP. Damn best car I have driven. I thought the Acura's door were heavy. The 530i is just rock solid... shouting quality all around. The feel of the clutch and the way the transmission moves from gear to gear is so wonderful. The wife has a 99 honda accord with manual transmission. The clutch of the honda is clumsy and the transmission not as smooth . Overall the Accord feels so light compared to the 530i. :p

Unfortunately my Acura got into a bad accident and was declared total by the insurance co. I have been looking for a second car with winter fast approaching since I will use this for my daily driving. For 2 mos. now I have been looking for another car. I have test driven several used cars and the 530i just spoiled me that I want to go back owning another bimmer.

Finally decided to narrow my search on another BMW. Tested a couple here and there. The older BMWs just drive differently compared to newer non Bimmer cars. They are so smooth, nice handling compared to cars that are 7 to 10 years newer. Finally found a 1991 525. It just needs a new home and some TLC and I think it will be with our family for a while.

[Incantation]

well "better" is subjective.. and really who cares what they think

having said that an e34 m5 will eat a 944 alive.. the turbo as well, but maybe not as alive
heh

[onewhippedpuppy]

Really, as much as I love the M5, I think it would be overmatched against a 951. A 951 stock will run 0-60 in about 5.9, that's in a turbo car that's very hard to launch. Comparable to an M5, but I think after 50 or so it would be all over, the 951 pulls harder as speeds increase. On a track I don't think it would even be fair, there's probably at least a 6-700 lb weight difference between the two, and a stock 951 is pretty potent from a handling standpoint. But, it's all BS until somebody tries it, which would be a pretty cool race.

[Guapo]

Really, as much as I love the M5, I think it would be overmatched against a 951. A 951 stock will run 0-60 in about 5.9, that's in a turbo car that's very hard to launch. Comparable to an M5, but I think after 50 or so it would be all over, the 951 pulls harder as speeds increase. On a track I don't think it would even be fair, there's probably at least a 6-700 lb weight difference between the two, and a stock 951 is pretty potent from a handling standpoint. But, it's all BS until somebody tries it, which would be a pretty cool race.

Also, it is very easy to get a lot more power out of a turbocharged car. I have approx 360 rwhp (safe tune) on my 300ZXTT on the stock turbos. Much more difficult to get more power out of an NA car.

The E34 is my daily smiles car. The Z is for when I'm feeling randy ... :D

http://www.guapozx.com/guapozx/d/2586-2/P1020694.jpg

[ArtemLepilov]

Hm, Thanks a lot guys for the replys :) I still think my car is sweet and for what it is it was a hell of a bargain. :p

In any case, I suppose a 944 is a nice car, 951 is even sweeter but Ill stick to BMW :D And maybe later on, I will try to make a BMW thats a lot better than a 951.

I believe an E34 M5 would not be able to take on a 951 - since the 0-60 time for the 951 is less than 6s, when the M5 does it in a little over 6, but then again - maybe Jon is willing to do some racing over here against a 951? ;)

[onewhippedpuppy]

Nice Z, if it wasn't a 2 seater I probably would have gotten one of those instead of the 951. If you don't mind the lag you can get more bang for the buck mod wise out of a turbo car, no comparison. What's it take for 400HP out of your Z? Isn't it chips, exhaust/ test pipes, and intake? There were guys on Rennlist with well over 300 HP out of their 951s without ever cracking open the engine, fun in a 3100 lb car. Still, I'd take my 540 around town any day, it's hard to beat that torque.

[Guapo]

Nice Z, if it wasn't a 2 seater I probably would have gotten one of those instead of the 951. If you don't mind the lag you can get more bang for the buck mod wise out of a turbo car, no comparison. What's it take for 400HP out of your Z? Isn't it chips, exhaust/ test pipes, and intake? There were guys on Rennlist with well over 300 HP out of their 951s without ever cracking open the engine, fun in a 3100 lb car. Still, I'd take my 540 around town any day, it's hard to beat that torque.

Well, there have been some folks able to get 400 rwhp out of the stock turbos, but they're really pushing the limit of efficiency and safety. In my current setup, I'm probably closer to 380 rwhp right now, and basically wil need to go to larger turbos to get more power. I've been concentrating on suspension and brakes lately, as I have more power than I need to get me into trouble.

The stock ZTT had 300 at the crank, which puts it at around 240-250 at the wheels. An intake, exhaust, and ECU for roughly $1500 would typically get you over 300 rwhp, and it basically goes up from there.

Mine started life as a non-turbo, and I converted to TT. With free flowing exhaust, the stock turbos have very little lag. I get 300 rwtq by about 3300. Also, since I have the shorter gearing of the non-turbo, on-highway boost is instantaneous. The NA chassis is also lighter than the stock TT, which was a bit on the portly side at 3600 or so. I also have 740cc injectors and larger IC's that allow me to run 18 psi, which is about all the stock turbos are good for before they lose efficiency.

As for the motor itself, there have been guys running over 500 rwhp on stock internals with larger turbos. But since swapping turbos means a motor pull, not many people put larger turbos on without doing some kind of engine work.

[540Dave]

I have had a few higher end Volvos (850 turbo), an 80's RX7, my parents have had mostly Fords, one with a 302 Boss engine which I drove very irresponsibly in my youth. I even owned a Lada. A couple friends showed me the way with their 325i 5spd beauties. I went with my 95 540i as a first BMW. This car is more competent at high speed, has a nastier powerband, and just plain looks meaner just sitting there stock than any other car I have owned. Any time someone has pulled out in front of me the car brakes firmly and holds it's line no matter what I am up to at the time. With a big set of Blizzaks it's even pretty good in the snow. You could go out and spend a home mortgage on something to totally outgun this car but for the bucks you can't beat it. I'll never go back.

[Booster]

Is there a place we can see pics of these?? sounds incredible! I love the old Z's.

Oh Geez.........I forgot to subscribe to this thread and just now came back across it to answer your question.Sorry.:p
The Widebodied AWD RB26Dett Datsun 240-Z pix can't be posted due to my agreement with Z Sport magazine for an exclusive article once completed.Otherwise I'd love too.
I do have some pix of the other early turbo Z's that I still have and drive occasionally.( when I can bring myself to stop tweaking them further towards their Zen )lol.
I'll see about posting a few.

1)-73' turbo t/3-t/4,close ratio 5-speed and 411 dLSD diff,leather,MOMO goodies etc.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/vinceinator/63e1cb37.jpg

2)-Same Z...engine compartment, all personally done works.

http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b277/vinceinator/6eeaf9a3.jpg


Lots has actually changed and upgraded on this car, I'll snap some more shots if anyone is interested further.
I love cars in general....at least the ones produced in limited quantaties.
I have a 91' GMC AWD Syclone,turbo'd,IC'd,-daily
...........89' Mazda RX-7 convertible-daily
...........81' Jeep Scrambler,all stainless parts,leather ,Deer antler knobs and handles,African Zebra wood trimmed,wool carpet-leather surged...etc.
..........74' Small bumper'd 260-Z ,triple 44mm Mikuni's, t/3-t/4 turbo ,SK surge box,15x10 Centerlines,bodykit,racing seats etc.
.........68' Datsun 2000 Roadster w/turbo Z31 V-6,steel flares.
........70' Guards red, 240-Z,Was my first car 27 years ago.The start of all of my modding/fabricating days.



.....and of course the 91'Black 525I thats recieving the turbo bits upgrade to become a fun daily driver this Summer, I hope anyway.:)
Cheers...........Vinny

[Guapo]

Nice Z!

[Booster]

Hmmmm....strange. I responded with some posted pix from page one of this thread and it posted them BACK ON PAGE ONE ??:(
HAhaha.......anyway.....for those who care, they are of of some of the work I've done on one of my early Datsun 240-Z turbo cars.
Be nice......it may not be for everyone.:p
Vinny