Smell my finger
New member
Hi BMWfanatics. I'm a new member and I need your help.
I am a 21 year old student living in Cape Town and I've finally saved up enough money to buy my first car. I've loved bmw's all my life and of course I started deciding if I want an e36 or an e30. Having driven both models(e30 320i, e30 325i, e36 318is, e36 320i) I decided that I liked the e36 318is the most).
Side note:
(My budget for the car alone is 30-40k. I do know my way around cars and apprenticed in 2 machanic shops and also worked in suspension repair and fitment shop as a summer job between semesters)
Straight off the bat I realised that the e30's are way too heavy on fuel my liking. The owner(325i) reported fuel consumption of 13 and occasionally 14L/100km when city driving and 9-10L on the highway. This concerns me because I travel 150km(x2) once a month to go back home. I do realise that 318's and 316's are available but everyone tells me their just too damn slow. The e36 318is however, has a little more punch...not much...but enough for a driver that's used to driving a little corsa.
The e36 320i left me undecided. The sound was just amazing but it felt marginally quicker than the 318is while cornering much worse and having fuel consumption that seems a bit much for a 2L. I enjoy driving on mountain roads so cornering is very important to me.
An older gentleman suggested a e36 323i. He says that fuel consumption is relative to how you drive. Shifting at low rpms and only feathering the throttle in a 323 can give you 9L/100km in the city...apparently. A 323 does sound fun but fuel economy is a concern.
I complain about fuel consumption a lot but I do cycle to and from campus 2-3 times a week because I just love cycling. Maybe the e36 320/323 won't hurt my pocket that much after all.
Please give me your honest opinion and don't be afraid to hurt my feelings lol.
I am a 21 year old student living in Cape Town and I've finally saved up enough money to buy my first car. I've loved bmw's all my life and of course I started deciding if I want an e36 or an e30. Having driven both models(e30 320i, e30 325i, e36 318is, e36 320i) I decided that I liked the e36 318is the most).
Side note:
(My budget for the car alone is 30-40k. I do know my way around cars and apprenticed in 2 machanic shops and also worked in suspension repair and fitment shop as a summer job between semesters)
Straight off the bat I realised that the e30's are way too heavy on fuel my liking. The owner(325i) reported fuel consumption of 13 and occasionally 14L/100km when city driving and 9-10L on the highway. This concerns me because I travel 150km(x2) once a month to go back home. I do realise that 318's and 316's are available but everyone tells me their just too damn slow. The e36 318is however, has a little more punch...not much...but enough for a driver that's used to driving a little corsa.
The e36 320i left me undecided. The sound was just amazing but it felt marginally quicker than the 318is while cornering much worse and having fuel consumption that seems a bit much for a 2L. I enjoy driving on mountain roads so cornering is very important to me.
An older gentleman suggested a e36 323i. He says that fuel consumption is relative to how you drive. Shifting at low rpms and only feathering the throttle in a 323 can give you 9L/100km in the city...apparently. A 323 does sound fun but fuel economy is a concern.
I complain about fuel consumption a lot but I do cycle to and from campus 2-3 times a week because I just love cycling. Maybe the e36 320/323 won't hurt my pocket that much after all.
Please give me your honest opinion and don't be afraid to hurt my feelings lol.
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