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E30 325i Rag-Top

Is This Where The E30 Market Is Now..?

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52 minutes ago, Eagle said:

The E36 Ti is the closest BMW ive driven that felt like the E30. 

There’s a good reason for that...

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Boys and Girls, I present to you, the Datsun (that's Nissan for you young-uns) 240Z (HS30).  Amazing styling, torquey low-tech unburstable L24 2.4 litre single-cam straight six with a couple of carbs (yeah before Fuel Injection was an everyday thing) producing 150hp, and in most cases a manual gearbox.   Great looks, desirable, fun to drive with a short wheelbase and four wheel independent suspension, two doors.

They hailed from the early 70's, and by the time the mid-late 80's arrived, you could find them in the classifieds (before we had the interweb) for about $5000-6000.  An awful lot of car for the money.  Everyone was busy living the dream - even after the '87 (stockmarket) crash, and those wanting a shark were buying JDM 280ZX off of dealer's yards for the standard $12,995 as they were 'better', and had 5 speed gearboxes.  About 5 guys in the team I worked with back then had 280ZX's, one even had two!  Never mind that they were self-lightening and set about disolving by about 1995.  

Back to the 240Z.  Thirty years later there's only ONE 240Z on Trade Me.  Dealer's price, $89,990.  And it's a left-hooker!

A $40-60k pristine M325i looks like pretty good value to me, I know which one I'd rather be driving (much as I love the 240Z and enjoyed driving them back in the day).

1982409249_ScreenShot2021-04-16at05_12_16.thumb.png.cdfcb3b83dc5356a44ab00eeac0fa9d1.png

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/other/listing/2869915414

"I can't understand why 240Z's are so pricey.  They used to be cheap".

Same applies to Ford Escorts, Toyota AE86, Holden Monaro, XA/XB/XC Coupes, Toyota Celica, you name it.  80's Ladas are still cheap if you can find one 😊

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2 hours ago, Olaf said:

Boys and Girls, I present to you, the Datsun (that's Nissan for you young-uns) 240Z (HS30).  Amazing styling, torquey low-tech unburstable L24 2.4 litre single-cam straight six with a couple of carbs (yeah before Fuel Injection was an everyday thing) producing 150hp, and in most cases a manual gearbox.   Great looks, desirable, fun to drive with a short wheelbase and four wheel independent suspension, two doors.

They hailed from the early 70's, and by the time the mid-late 80's arrived, you could find them in the classifieds (before we had the interweb) for about $5000-6000.  An awful lot of car for the money.  Everyone was busy living the dream - even after the '87 (stockmarket) crash, and those wanting a shark were buying JDM 280ZX off of dealer's yards for the standard $12,995 as they were 'better', and had 5 speed gearboxes.  About 5 guys in the team I worked with back then had 280ZX's, one even had two!  Never mind that they were self-lightening and set about disolving by about 1995.  

Back to the 240Z.  Thirty years later there's only ONE 240Z on Trade Me.  Dealer's price, $89,990.  And it's a left-hooker!

A $40-60k pristine M325i looks like pretty good value to me, I know which one I'd rather be driving (much as I love the 240Z and enjoyed driving them back in the day).

1982409249_ScreenShot2021-04-16at05_12_16.thumb.png.cdfcb3b83dc5356a44ab00eeac0fa9d1.png

https://www.trademe.co.nz/a/motors/cars/other/listing/2869915414

"I can't understand why 240Z's are so pricey.  They used to be cheap".

Same applies to Ford Escorts, Toyota AE86, Holden Monaro, XA/XB/XC Coupes, Toyota Celica, you name it.  80's Ladas are still cheap if you can find one 😊

List of lackluster cars purchased by those wearing nostalgia goggles.

They were good....because they were cheap.  Excluding the Monaro.  Not cheap or good imo.

Poke poke ;)

Edited by Driftit
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3 hours ago, Olaf said:

They hailed from the early 70's, and by the time the mid-late 80's arrived, you could find them in the classifieds (before we had the interweb) for about $5000-6000.  An awful lot of car for the money.  Everyone was busy living the dream - even after the '87 (stockmarket) crash, and those wanting a shark were buying JDM 280ZX off of dealer's yards for the standard $12,995 as they were 'better', and had 5 speed gearboxes.  About 5 guys in the team I worked with back then had 280ZX's, one even had two!  Never mind that they were self-lightening and set about disolving by about 1995. 

Dealership bait, unfortunately. No doubt about it being a nice car though.

I'm sure I saw a yellow example for sale online only yesterday. D'you think I can find it now? 🙄 (May have been a 260.)

There is a slightly later white, good, 280ZX up for sale - not as pretty - at $28k.

Back in the early 90s, I had a 280ZX twin-turbo. Previous owner had it converted from the 280ZX turbo using a kit sourced in the US, and built by Duncan Pearcey who later found 'The Z Farm' in Yorkshire and who still rallies a 240Z. I bought it from a guy on my postal delivery round - cost me £2900.

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325i 4-door manual. Nice car. $26k?

Anyone keen on a mint 325i Baur? I have to wonder if it is economically viable to hang on to it.

 

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43 minutes ago, gjm said:

325i 4-door manual. Nice car. $26k?

Anyone keen on a mint 325i Baur? I have to wonder if it is economically viable to hang on to it.

 

Not sure on pricing for those so may be too expensive for me 😂. PMed you anyway.

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3 hours ago, Ghost Chip said:

Wonder if the pricing for the red auto affected this one.

https://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-cars/bmw/auction-3056952754.htm

Don’t think it’s a factor, this car has been listed at this price (or more) for a while before the red auto.

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received_1375427112839777.jpeg

Heheh

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Me and a mate bought THIS about a year ago off TM.    Paid $25k for it and have spent an extra $4-5k upgrading suspension and removing the one (only!) spot 

of rust in the car.    It's underpowered, but reliable and awesome to drive......  Safe to say the JDM market (among others) is kinda crazy.

AE86.jpg

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So the red Tech 2 went from $45K to $64K in the last hour?

Four bidders bidding over $62K.

1800.jpeg

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On 4/2/2021 at 5:17 PM, Gaz said:

60k would be my guess

Called it

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Very nice car for sure.   Is that somewhere near a new high water mark??

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Wow! Can someone take a screenshot of the auction? I didn’t add it to the watch list. 

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 Yikes. $62.4k! Huge money.

On 4/11/2021 at 1:34 PM, E30 325i Rag-Top said:

I can foresee the lunatic greenies only being happy once all such cars are totally banned from use. The ban on sales of such new vehicles is only the first step.

 

They are also coming for you meat and anything else fun in life. 

Edited by Michael.

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image.thumb.png.3fbe6bcbc3b58d94e32adc8e16e9d64d.png

There yuh go.  I predicted $55k.  Keen bidding at the end - more than a few thought this was worth more than $25k.  Enough to suggest the prevailing opinions on this thread are proven 'well short of the mark'.  Well done @Gaz you were on the money. 

Now, if this and it's ilk are enjoyed sparingly, brought out for outings on fine days, and kept in fine fettle (dry stored, regularly serviced); in twenty years what will they go for?  There will be fewer e30s remaining to buy.  Hmmm.  Assuming willing buyers and that they're still sought-after, $100k (allowing for inflation) may be conservative, assuming a slowly increasing market overall with some peaks and dips over time.  The 318iS hitches a ride and is ~$60k?  And by the standard classic car math that a decent replica is worth half of a good 'un, it would suggest that taking care of your tribute coupe is a wise plan.  Touring, Cabby, Baur all boost too - scarcity.  And you can be guaranteed clean well-sped'd 4 doors ratchet up as well.  

Back to the 80's.  The future's so bright, I gotta wear shades.  
 

 

Can't have one song without the other.  Have some Webb Wilder!
 

 

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@Olaf is making that stunning Red 318is that someone (Bimmersporter?) picked up for $20-22k last year a bargain...

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excactamente, @Sammo 🙂

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