There is no doubt, any modern car is a better car than a 30+ year old car. I don't care, I will stick to my 1980s cars and fix what goes wrong and save a ton of money over the cost of a new car.

To define a "fun" car is the challenge. What is fun to some is torture to others. I loved my 1974 914. With just 95 HP I could flog the engine hard, and not be going crazy fast. It was a basic sports car and had poor ventilation in summer and OK heat in the winter, and no creature comforts. It was my only car for only 20 years.

My wife's 2017 Macan is a space ship compared to my old cars. It is quiet, as fast as my 911, and gets better gas mileage. With heated and air conditioned seats, automatic windshield wipers, video cameras in 360 degrees to help in parking, lane assist, blind spot detection and a great sound system it is a great car. I still prefer my 32 year old 362,000 mile El Camino for my daily driver.

Correct you are!! The M42 had hydraulic lifters, I keep thinking it was like by buddies S14 and the M20 in the 325is that both need valve adjustments. Never had a M42 so I just assumed it was like the others.

I will check the title when I get home I swear its a true IS, it was presented as one by 4ngie when he sold it to Rammy and by Rammy to me.

I have no plans of ever getting rid of it. Been doing a lot of TLC stuff to it since I got it almost 4 years ago to make it as perfect as possible. I hate the E36 window switches and the wiring converting it is causing problems now, that is on my winter project list.

I think 4ngies plan was to Supercharge it, hence the 2.8 instead of a 3.0 or 3.2 and the weird power curve the cam in it delivers.

I did a bunch of research and have decided to bail on the SC deal. Plan is to find a S54 and swap that to match the E46 6 speed that is in there already. Toss in a cam, chip headers and call it a day.

*edit* I just checked it is not a 318is just a garden variety 318i. Which is fine by me because it did bother me that someone swapped out what I thought to be a very rare care.

When I got it, it had a 318is decal on the back, I just assumed that was what it was. It looks the part, well except for the 2 extra doors. Nonetheless, it is a fun car that has been a blast.

Until Last year I was often DD'n my '75 Wagoneer. Great vision out of the cab, handled LA's hideous roads well, thumbs up everywhere I drove it. The down side - Good God that thing just sucked down gas at something like 9mpg. I swore I had a gas leak. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1538084577.jpg

So, I also enjoy this in my other daily driver. I alternate between the e30 and the FJ40. Opposites, but equally fun. Paid just over $6K apiece for these two a couple years apart. They were both needy so I spent an extra few $K on each.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1538090332.jpg

Any of the smaller electric / plugin hybrids. i3, tesla3, volt, etc etc.

Reason 1: Instant torque. Like a muscle car.
Reason 2: Can floor it everywhere you go, no one bats an eye, cause it's silent.
Reason 3: You can skip going to the gas station. One of the less appreciated benefits.
Reason 4: Very quiet ride, reduces stress on the commute.

I had a 91 318is with the M42 engine for years. All stock. All I did was replace every hose, fuel line, filter, shocks, etc. due to old age. It got great MPG and was fun to drive.

Bought it for $4250 and sold it for $5,500.

Great thread. My son makes Captain next week and is looking for a fun DD and will be selling his 97 VR6 GTI. He looked at Focus RS, too small. He has a young kid and dog. Then STI, then drove a Golf R and new GTI yesterday. Sounds like is narrowing it down to a VW. He liked them best. Reminded him a lot of his current GTI in a good way.