Your biased opinions please.

[warren t claim]

Work have just offered me a longish contract therefore allowing some new shite budget.

 

I quite like the following,

 

A 924 like this...

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/1987-PORSCHE-924- ... 4ced5d2cd8

 

Maybe even an earlier example with the VW engine for ease of maintenance. I would even consider an auto because I know a clutch change on these is a pain in the arse.

 

A Merc 190 like this...

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mercedes-Benz-190 ... 3efbeee636

 

I would even consider a manual with keep fit windows. Although I don't fancy a 2.6 a 1.8 would be OK.

 

An E30 like this...

 

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/E30-BMW-318IS-Whi ... 56391d0996

 

I do like these. I was hoping for a tidy 4 pot one, maybe an auto.

 

Does anyone have any experience of any of the above, either good or bad? Or can anyone suggest any alternatives for similar money?

 

Ta!

[Cavcraft]

You want a 190E manual?Pm me if you do, have a rather nice one sat in my garage right now.

[mk1_4dr]

+1 for Billys 190. Its an absolute stunner

 

I can tell you that a 320i Auto is not good on fuel. I suspect Im getting maybe 22-25mpg. Which, quite frankly, is shit. Comfy though

[VWPowered]

mercs nice, but porsche nicer

[Pete-M]

I've not clicked the links, so these are just my views of the three models in general.Cheap 924s aren't much fun, but a good one will handle rather splendidly. Not tail happy, but fun in a balanced and grippy kinda way. The Porsche engined ones are fun - but they cost a lot more to keep 'right' than the LT powered ones. Beware billion owner ones with anything wrong with them, if there is one fault, there's more likely than not a lot more hidden behind the scenes. Check the electric windows work as the mechanisms are a bit on the weak side. Also listen out for whiny transaxles, slippy clutches and sloppy gearchanges. Steering rack is almost identical to a Mk1 Golf one, so there shouldn't be any play at all.I'm not a fan of the 190E after the one I had soured me completely. Manual Mercedes gearboxes aren't the nicest, I've always avoided them wherever possible, but if you want a nice 190E and a manual is available the 'box isn't enough to ruin the car. A lot of auto 190E boxes are tired now so the difference is nowhere near as vast as when they were new. Central locking can be tiresome to sort, electric window failures are more often than not dodgy switches. Play in the steering is common and there are a load of fiddly as fuck bushes in the front suspension. Make sure it's not dribbling coolant from all over the place and beware of rattly water pumps.E30s can be a giggle, and the 318iS is mucho sought after as it's as quick as a 320 but about 10 mpg better on juice. It's killing me to say that as I've never been a fan of BMW 4 pots (M3 excepted, naturally) as the 6s are so bloody smooth, but having run my 318is for a couple of weeks now I'm still amazed by the fuel economy compared to the 6 and 8 pot BMWs I've had in the past. It's amusingly nippy as well. Not as refined as a 6, but it's fun to hurl it about in a way that somehow feels wrong with a 320i or 325i. Clunks from the rear suspension will be the top mounts - replace 'em with Z3 bits to cure. Boxes can be crunchy. Beware accident damage!! Some have LSDs I think, they can groan in tight corners.All three have crap rear legroom, all three have cheap bits available from GSF etc, and all three are capable of 250k miles if looked after. If it's one of those you want, I'd just search for the best of any one available in your budget.

[Tayne]

.

[Mr Lobster]

Does it have to be an auto? If not then of the three then I think I'd have a 318is please.