I posted this on your other practical car post Todd. Maybe you missed it or maybe you dislike E36's.
"You can buy E36 BMW 3 series (92-98) for 5k all day long. With performance shocks/springs, they are fun cars. I have 268,000 miles on my '92 325i and it still runs/drives perfect. They have timing chains instead of belts like the "god awful to work on" Audis. I am highly impressed with the build quality of the E36 BMW's. The car burns little oil and still feels solid. I get nearly 30 mpg with mine and I intend to "daily drive" it for many more miles.
Seems like someone just came out with a book on these cars too!"
Parts for E36 cars are not super expensive anymore. There are many places on-line that you can purchase parts at fair prices (obviously Pelican offers them too). 268,000 miles on my 325i with no MAJOR problems, is proof that these are good cars.
I bought it with 140,000 miles at which time I repaired the AC and installed Bilstien shocks and sport springs. Since then, over the last 8 yrs and an additional 100+K, I replaced a wore out voltage regulator (brushes were worn out), a radiator, brake pads and rotors, a muffler, belts, spark plugs, tires, multiple oil changes and I had to clean the idle control valve once.
That is as good as any Honda could have done with similar miles and usage.
Here is a pic of it getting a DIY alignment check.
