Cars to Buy NOW ?

[LongRanger]

. . . BMW's e36/8 M Coupe. S54-powered only.

Talk about a car nobody gets. Allegedly first cobbled-together as an after-school engineering exercise (ala MBz 6.3), this thing is universally panned for its uhhh . . . off-beat looks. Originally built with the 240 HP S52 in the US (or the more spirited 321 HP S50B20 in Europe), the ultimate S54 315-325 HP version is/was the quickest BMW ever sold --- zero-to-60 MPH = 4.3 sec. Redlines at 7600, curiously 400 RPM less than the identically-powered contemporary M3.

OK, besides looking like one of Shaq's high-tops ---- and about as big --- this little missile is famous for tearing out its rear floor . . . due to its carry-over e30 rear suspension structure failing to cope with double the power it was ever designed for. After-school, huh? Prolly detention.

Any M Coupe is a relatively rare car, just over 6300 built over 5 years. But only 1139 S54s were produced, 690 for the US.

I vividly recall my first test-drive in an M Coupe . . . one that started-out with me and a Sales Guy calmly sauntering down a quiet side-street, but then rapidly degenerated into a stupid adolescent speed-fest, with me at one point rocketing past the Newport Beach Golf Course, dissuading a distinguished-looking Republican foursome from crossing Irvine Blvd --- by hurtling sideways through the cross-walk. I think I must've been in 3rd, around, mmmm 6000?, when I saw them, lifted, felt the car give a twitch (juuuuust a bit) then caught it, just as we went cannon-balling by. And things went downhill from there. Sales Guy said he had no idea the car could do stuff like that. (Me, neither.) After hammer-turning back into the Dealership, I quietly dropped-off the car, then took off before the cops got there. Then changed my pants. And my address.

And that was the insipid little 240-horser.

An S54 car? OK, lemme see. Take out one sniveling 200 lb Sales Guy and add 80 HP? Holy $h!t. Be like trying to slice bread with a tomahawk. Not exactly the auto-crossers choice, but, at 3100 lbs, let's just call it comfortably over-powered, shall we? ('Course, you can always super-charge it. While you're on parole.) So, when bull-riding and cage-fighting get too tame for ya . . .

Typically expensive, usually conservatively-colored, surprisingly small outside, very close inside. Feels like a fighter-plane. Try to find one without the sunroof (saves headroom and weight), in green or white. Or that awful Phoenix Yellow.

[tfiv]

Early 930s

I drove a minerva blue/cork '77 turbo daily long before I ever owned a real S. They are really cool cars, and I'd love to have another. That said, I find early S' of any year more exciting to drive.

[Mr9146]

Early 930s

I drove a minerva blue/cork '77 turbo daily long before I ever owned a real S. They are really cool cars, and I'd love to have another. That said, I find early S' of any year more exciting to drive.

Ever canyon-thrash a 3.0L-Turbo ... ON BOOST?

I have.

It was, hands down, the most terrifying and exhilirating ride I ever gave myself in a 911. It took every ounce of nerve and skill that I had, and I openly admit that I will probably never do it again.

Early S cars are fun ... the Turbos will give you religion.

[tfiv]

I ran the wheels off mine for two years. They just feel clunky, and the 4 speed insures you are not on boost all of the time. Now Barretts 2200lb 5spd 3.0L turbo, that's another story.

[Mr9146]

Now Barretts 2200lb 5spd 3.0L turbo, that's another story.

Oh hell yes. A Turbo with a 915 behind it is motorcycle-fast.

I grew up in the passenger seat of my dad's black '71 long-hood converted to '74 short hood with a non-intercooled 3.3 under the hood and a 915 trans. My dad would drag race guys all the time and just crush those poor, unsuspecting fools. But, the secret is you have to launch in second gear so the car can stretch its legs; if you launch in first you lose too much ground during the 1-2 shift.

And I agree with you that the Turbos feel "clunky", but they have to be pigish so they can go 150+ mph in relative safety ... at that speed weight and aero are definitely your friends.

But you say that the 4 speed insures (ensures?) that you're not on boost all the time - just drive around in second gear.

On paper a 4-speed Turbo will do 105mph in second ... in reality it's more like 95-100 ... so there's plenty of gear to play with. In my opinion the 3.0L cars with their lighter clutch/flywheel assembly are more rev-happy which makes them nicer to drive than the 3.3L cars - although none of the damned things have any compression so off boost they're all pretty much dogs.

I am a big fan of the 3.0L Turbos (if it's not obvious by now) and I think they're positioned to be wise purchases if they've never been wrecked and are fairly unmolested. That's the biggest problem with the early Turbos ... substantial rear end damage and poor modifications make finding good ones difficult.

Just my $.10

[sithot]

Go where they are not. Chase not what others are chasing. Seek what they cannot see. And always be willing to hold.

Tom

[tfiv]

Marco, I'm with you on the 3.0s. One of the best things about them is that a 915 5 spd bolts right in (unlike the 3.3s). If a guy finds a nice unmolested 3.0, it needs: brakes ($2500), manifold back exhaust ($3000), and a fresh 915 with lsd ($4000). Now you have a weapon.

My car had stock US exhaust when I got it, I put a B&B system on. I've never bolted something on a car that made such a dramatic difference in its performance.

[j911brick]

Attached is an image of a 1965-model BMW 2000CS, a coupe developed from BMW's Neue Klasse sedans of the early '60s, which lead to the 2800CS/3.0CS/CSL coupes.

I owned two of these at one time. Still don't see the prices going anywhere... I liked the car, but it was underpowered. Parts were non-existant even 20 years ago. The 3.0CS was a much better car and has better investment potential.

[j911brick]

Some of my picks for best potential are the 911 SC/Carrera, 930, E30 BMW, Audi Quattro Coupe, TR6.

[911E&26R]

Maserati Bora , Renault R5 Turbo I ( not the more common 2's) DKW Monza , Lancia Flaminia, , Citroen SM , Alfa Duetto , Triumph TR 250, Bristol 405 ( esp coupe) a lot of these can be bought "right" at the moment. I also like late 60's to mid 70"s formula 2/b/Atlantic , ridiculous performance for the price at the moment.

G