Is it worth buying a car older than 1995?

whiteboy

Or more precisely 1989! I'm tempted on buying a BMWE30 but it's 22 years old

ShadowHearth

It's worth it.

I would trust more some okay carina or primera then anything pass 2000

My skyline is 94 too.

Older car has
Much less stuff to go wrong. That is ofc if it wasn't destroyed before...

Nissan doctor

I don't see any issue with the age, its the condition of the car thats important. E30's are still popular so parts aren't an issue and a well looked after one will be both much more reliable and much cooler then any new BMW.

kildare.17hmr

Nissan doctor wrote: »

I don't see any issue with the age, its the condition of the car thats important. E30's are still popular so parts aren't an issue and a well looked after one will be both much more reliable and much cooler then any new BMW.

+1 on all that, some nice E30's goin around, my mate had a 325i e30 and it was a great car

brendansmith

I wouldnt tbh.

The older something is the more wear & tear it has been through and the chance are you will be replacing bits and bobs the whole time.

Matt Simis

brendansmith wrote: »

I wouldnt tbh.

The older something is the more wear & tear it has been through and the chance are you will be replacing bits and bobs the whole time.

So how should he go about getting a new E30 then?

Captain Slow IRL

Go for it!:D

They're beautiful pieces of machinery that have better build quality than 90% of the tin cans on the roads today.

peasant

brendansmith wrote: »

The older something is the more wear & tear it has been through and the chance are you will be replacing bits and bobs the whole time.

Of course you will ..but you have to do that whether the car is 5, 10 or 20 years old.

The 20 year old bits will be simpler, cheaper and most of them you can fit yourself

My daily driver is 21 btw

It IS important though tho start with a good, well sorted base. An old shed is a nightmare

locteau

I have a 1996 Nissan Terrano, 2.7 diesel automatic

Bought it for 1500 euro. Drove 56000 miles in 12 months, cost me in 12 months €350 to pass NCT, and €430 in services and refurbish the alternator. Tax is the most annoying €1300 but no loan to pay etc.....

I have a 1981 Porsche 924 and Porsche 928 automatic, the first car cost me £500, and spent €1500 in two years to make it really good looking car. The 928 I bought it for £1000 and working on it myself (I am not a mechanic, have no garage etc...) The two cars cost me €50 euro tax each year.

Definitely worth it, even if my example is a bit extreme with 3 cars.

biko

I have a 1993 BMW. Yes it has minor issues but it drives well and also I enjoying fixing stuff.
You'll find that people with older cars are enthusiasts more than people that just buy a car to take them from A to B.

Owen

ShadowHearth wrote: »

Older car has
Much less stuff to go wrong. That is ofc if it wasn't destroyed before...

I never ever bought into that philosophy. Older cars have nearly the same amount of systems just with varying methods of implementing them. They still have fuel pumps and fuel filters to go wrong, instead of injectors failing there's carburettors to get blocked up, and instead of electronic ignition systems, there's distrubutor's to get worn points and damp caps.

Sure the new cars have control units which can pack up - but not as often as people would have you think.

no1beemerfan

I've an '86 E30 (which I'll be selling soon ) that I've had 6 years and except for a bit of wiring getting worn out its been excellent. Yes you'll have to replace parts etc but thats part and parcel of owing any car.

The E30s are fun to drive so go for it!

Ferris

I had a '90 316 which was a great car. It was well able to keep up with traffic and was easy to drive every day. They're quite low for getting in and out of is the only thing everyday and they won't have good A/C or ventilation.

The engines are generally as reliable as modern units and the 316 was ok with the juice. Main problem was suspension and rust. They rust pretty badly so you will need a sorted one or a minter, and then you will need to protect it. Rust spots are wheelarches, sunroofs, windscreen surround, scuttle panel, bootlid, boot floor and engine bay bulkhead.

If I was gettin another it would be a 318is or the 325i, probably the 318is as it would use less juice everyday. Avoid red ones as they fade.