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7 Cars Similar to the BMW E30

BMW E30

The BMW E30 was one of the most rocking cars in the late 1980s, and BMW stopped producing it in 1994. It is a rear-wheel drive that was common among the young working class. With a 5-speed manual transmission, it was one of the best cars to drive in those days. The car's engine has a 2693cc/2.7 L displacement and six cylinders with two valves each. At 3200rpm, a new BMW E30 would give you a torque of 170 lb.-ft; at 4250rpm, it releases a horsepower of 122. The new ones would do a maximum speed of 193-195 km/h, and between 9.3-9.5 seconds, the car would accelerate between 0-60 mph.

BMW E30

According to Car.info, the car has an average of 10.95 Liter per every 100-kilometer fuel consumption. The engine is petrol powered and can hold up to a maximum of 55 Liters. Please take note that its width is 1645 mm and has a length of 4325 mm besides a height of 1380 mm. You can have some load on the top of the car, but it should not exceed 70 kgs, and the cargo capacity of E30 is 460 kg. It can also serve as a family car, holding up to 5 passengers. According to BMW Blog, you can now get a second-hand E30 from as low as $3000 to $6000. This article examines seven other similar cars to the BMW E30.

Peugeot 205 GTi

7. Peugeot 205 GTi

When new, the 4-cylinder 2-valve-per-cylinder car displaces 1905 cc/1.9L. The horsepower of its engine is 126 has a power of 94 kW. It has a 5-speed manual transmission with a front-wheel drivetrain. Its engine is placed in the front and enjoys a piston combustion type. If you want to fill it to the capacity, you shall need 50 liters. Among its competitors, it has a high speed of 208 kilometers per hour with a 0-1000 km/h acceleration within 7.8 seconds. The NEDC tested its combined fuel consumption and averaged 7.8 liters every 100 kilometers. The front doors are conventional, and in total, it has three doors. It can support 50 kg of cargo on the roof, and its cargo capacity is 440 kg. This vehicle's curb and gross weights are 860 kg and 1300 kg, respectively.

If you do not detect a legacy of 3705 mm, a height of 1376 mm, and a width of 1376 mm, you may not be dealing with a Peugeot 205 GTi. The mirrors of the car are conventional and manually operated. When in good condition, both the rear wiper and its rear washer system are excellent.

Ford Sierra

6. Ford Sierra

Like the BMW E30, their production almost came to an end at the same time, with the Ford Sierra lastly being produced in December 1992. Over its years in the market, it had two engine types, a SOHC. Ford Pinto's liter displacements were 1.3, 1.6, 1.8, and 2.0, respectively. The second option was the OHC V6, which had 2.9, 2.8, 2.3, and 2.0 -liter displacements. The first versions had the least displacements, and they kept increasing. The hatchback had three doors, while the station wagon version had five. According to Autoevolution, the 1.6 L Ford Sierra was the most famous with the following features. An L4 cylinder ENGINE WITH A 1597 cm3 displacement. At 56,000 rpm, its horsepower was 80; at 3500 rpm, it did an 88 lb-ft torque.

The gasoline-powered car has a fuel capacity of 60.2 liters and a monoprint injection fuel system. When new, the can could accelerate from 0-62 mph in 14.1 seconds, and its average recorded speed was 167 kilometers per hour. Like other cars in this classification, it had a 5-speed manual gearbox and only drove power from the rear wheels. To cover 100 kilometers when it is in the best condition, you need 8.2 liters. Please take note that at the same time, it shall be emitting 195 grams of C02 in every kilometer you cover. There are no new ones for now, and you can only get a used one at an average price of $17,321.

Volkswagen MK2 GTI

5. Volkswagen MK2 GTI

In the 1980s, Volkswagen was highly determined to compete with the BMW E30 series. It produced the Mk2 GTI, famous for its easy, comfortable driving and incomparable agility. According to Hotcars.com, the car's engine is very strong if not exposed to agents of wear and tear or when neglected. The performance of the Mk2 GTI is solid, with high levels of reliability, quality, and longevity. The car was designed with a 2020 mm length, a height of 1405 mm, and a width of 1710 mm. The 2.0 L 8V engine can achieve a maximum speed of 123 miles per hour, accelerating from 0-62 mph in 10.1 seconds and generating a horsepower of 113. The Mk2 GTI had an alternative engine option of 2.0 L 16V that could produce 128 bhp, do a top speed of 134 miles per hour and accelerate from 0-62 miles per hour in 8.3 seconds.

The V8 and V16 engines have 27.4 and 25.9 mpg fuel consumption rates, respectively. Over the years, the VW Mk2 GTI has evolved up to the 6th generation, but the ones in the 1980s were the ones that had a physical look like the one of the BMW E30. You can get it at an average cost of $12,998.

Volkswagen Scirocco

4. 1984 Volkswagen Scirocco

Though it may differ from the BMW E30 at the back, you may be unable to pick the right choice when the two cars are facing you at the front. The 1984 VW Scirocco came with three doors and four -a passenger capacity. It has a rear trunk whose volume is 346 I; when you collapse the back seat, you will get a 920 I-volume. In measurements, it has a height of 1310 mm, 1625 mm in width, 4050 mm in length, and a wheelbase of 2400 mm.

If you want to carry anything with it, ensure it does not exceed 405 kgs. On the roof, you can modify the car to carry luggage that does not exceed 75 kilograms. Its curb weight ranges from 855 to 950 kilograms, and it has a gross weight of 1260 to 1320 kilograms. The manufacturer, Volkswagen (Germany), declared that the car's maximum speed is 167 km/hr. It is an FWD with a 5-speed manual transmission gearbox.

For every 100 kilometers you cover, you shall need 7 liters if you have the VW Scirocco, and you shall have the chance to accelerate from 0 to 60 miles per hour in 11.5 seconds. The car runs on a petrol powered engine with 74 hp/75 Ps and a torque of 125 Nm/92 lb-ft. For those who have been looking for an E30 alternative with L4 cylinders and 1272 cm3 displacement.

Audi 4000 Quattro

3. Audi 4000 Quattro

The 1980s saw the production of cars whose structure was almost similar to that of the BMW E30, and the Audi 4000 Quattro was no exception. The last version was produced in 1987. The car did not report any major accidents or milage inconsistencies that could have resulted from its technical composition. Some of the significant factory settings of the car include a sunroof, leather upholstery, 14-inch wheels, heated front seats, a cassette player, and air conditioning. The sedan version had a unique body exterior designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro. The manufacturer, Audi, produced both the FWD and 4WD.

Regarding engine specifications, the car has a 126 lb-ft of torque, 115 horsepower with a 2.2 L 5-cylinder. In addition, the Audi 4000 Quattro has a manual transmission that spins its four-wheel drivetrain. The car's other features are power-operated locks and windows, a rear spoiler, and locking rear and front differentials. The four or 5-passenger sedan has a base price of $15,875, an average retail price of $3,250 and at the highest, you will get it at $4,475.

AMC Eagle

2. AMC Eagle

Chrysler purchased AMC in 1987, marking the end of the AMC Eagle. For those who want to replace their BMW E30 with a car with larger body space, then we highly advise that they go for the AMC Eagle. Classic.com says they can get you one at an average price of $13,037.

Also known as the Eagle wagon, the car has a 5-speed manual transmission and an Incline 6 cylinders engine, which is longitudinally aligned at the front. It uses petrol, and its fuel system is a Carburetor 2-Barrel. It has 12 valves with a compression ratio of 9:2. At maximum, it boasts a 210 lb-ft @1,800 rpm torque and a horsepower of 112 hp @32,000 rpm. When you are in the city, it has a fuel consumption of 14 mpg, and it rates at 11 mpg on the highway (if you are in the United States).

On average and when in good condition, you shall require 18 liters to cover 100 kilometers with the car; it has a larger capacity of 5 compared to other cars competing with it. Its uniqueness is the body measurements: 27,760 mm (wheelbase), 18,360 mm (width), 45,950 mm (length), and a height of 13,820 mm. It has a power-assisted recirculating ball-type steering and a boot capacity of 57 cu-ft. Due to its length; it has a greater turning radius of 37.1 feet. Its curb weight is 1552 kilograms and has a weight-power output ratio of 13.6 kg/hp.

Maserati Biturbo

1. Maserati Biturbo

If you want to acquire an image replica of the BMW E30, we advise you to go for the Maserati Biturbo. Produced at almost the same time the E30 was on fire, they offered a lot of competition to the Bora and Merak models. The car's initial design was done by Pierangelo Andreani, a stylist for DeTomaso. When it first landed in the showrooms, it was just amazing, with a four-seat capacity and a larger volume capacity than its competition. It landed with classy velour leather-buckled seats, which were very attractive. The car's engine is based on a 2.0 L V6, which drives force from twin turbochargers-note that this was the first to use a twin-turbocharged engine. Each cylinder has three valves, and the initial cars did not have an intercooler though later versions did.

The Maserati Biturbo was highly dominant in the Italian market, though other parts of Europe highly appreciated the car. The 2.0L Biturbos could manage 180bhp@6,000rpm, and it comfortably achieved a 182 lb-ft (torque) at 4,400rpm. The export versions of the car had a 2.5L producing 220lb-ft@3,000rpm and 192bhp@5,500rpm. Imagine how luxurious a car would be when doing 60 miles per hour within 6.5 seconds in the 1980s.

A Summary of the Characteristics of the Cars Similar to BMW E30

Some elements have come out when comparing these cars:

  • They have manual speed transmissions.
  • They have a seating capacity of 4, with the larger ones going for 5. Their manufacturers are no longer producing them and are available as second-hand cars.
  • Many stopped being produced in the early 1990s when they could no longer compete with new car models.

In Conclusion

There has been a common trend among car owners- they find it more fashionable to have old cars than new ones. Their owners feel that they are the proud owners of a car that no one has in the locality. Nowadays, these cars are gracing very expensive events transporting some top celebrities. In addition, they occasionally appear in music videos, with hip hop being the leading genre to use them.

Different sources predict that these cars may increase in prices in the coming days. Some experts have even argued that we may introduce modified forms of the same cars. For lovers of cars, you are now conversant with the cars you can buy if your dealer cannot get you a BMW E30. However, you should conduct a thorough background search on its ownership, for they are rare in some areas and have exchanged hands among many people.

Benjamin Smith

Written by Benjamin Smith

Benjamin Smith is one of the managing editors of Moneyinc. Ben's been focusing on the auto and motorcycle sector since 2005. He's written over 1000 articles in the space and continues to learn about it each day. His favorite car is "any Bugatti" and he's a die hard Harley Davidson fan.

Read more posts by Benjamin Smith

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