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What if one car could really do it all? What would it look like? It’s always amused me that these civilized off-roaders we see rambling about these days are referred to as Sport Utility Vehicles. With a higher center of gravity, sport isn’t really what comes to mind. A sports car really won’t be a good solution for the school run, given limited seating capacity and luggage space. Sure, a sedan is a good all-around vehicle, but they often lack soul and don’t have as versatile a cargo bay as a vehicle with a lift gate. So what about a wagon then? And one with four-wheel drive. And a 5-speed manual gearbox. And a smooth, torquey inline-6 under the hood? Too good to be true? BMW got the formula right with the E30 Touring, like this 325ix Touring we see here for sale in Essen, Germany.
Every day I log onto Facebook, I see a few people I know out on the West Coast of the US complaining about the weather this winter. However, it’s been unseasonably warm on the East Coast of the US. To all those on the left coast complaining, I say it’s about time I had a break from the usual. I’ve had a lifetime of bad winter weather. And with warm temperatures comes the desire for drop top motoring. This 1992 318i Convertible for sale is an original California vehicle closing in on 200,000 miles. The great pictures in this ad really do a great job of showcasing just how well-preserved of an E30 this is.
Living in a fairly wealthy, urban area, the BMW 3 series seems as ubiquitous as a Toyota Camry. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. These compact BMWs are certainly capable of cars, but as a former E30 owner, the new ones fail to relight my fire, lest I steal a line from one of my favorite Dan Hartman songs from the late 1970s. This 2011 328i Coupe for sale from our friends at Euro Automotion has me doing a double take, however. Sure, it’s saddled with the 6-speed automatic, but considering the mileage and condition, this is a quite affordable option to a well-optioned, brand new subcompact.
It might not be the exact time of year one thinks of buying a convertible, but those of us living on the east coast of the United States experienced a bit of a warm snap in November. A welcome relief for those of us used to dealing with piles of snow. Time to buy a drop top, then? Maybe. If it’s a bit of the 1980s you’re looking to revisit, it doesn’t get much better than the iconic BMW E30 Convertible. This 1988 325i Convertible for sale in California is mostly original, looking sharp in the popular Zinnoberot over black leather, mated to what many consider to be one of the smoothest manual gearboxes in the business.
In an age of technology which has distanced the driver from involvement in the driving experience, it’s nice to know you can still turn to a few manufacturers to get your kicks. The 3 series sedan is one of the few BMWs left which you can spec with a manual gearbox, and this 335i with a 6-speed manual represents the top of the lineup with the 3.0 liter twin-turbocharged inline-6 producing just over 300 horsepower. This example comes equipped with the Sports Package, which included tighter suspension, sport seats, staggered size wheels and an oil cooler. While the 340i is now the top dog in the 3 series lineup, this 335i represents about just as much car at a sizable discount.
