bmw vs nissan

what would be a better car out of the '90/91 E30 BMW 318i (or 318iS) 2 door vs the jap spec CA18de nissan silvia ( j or q ) of the same vintage.

-they are both hve NA 1.8 engines
-both weigh just under 1200 kg / 2650 lb
-both are rear wheel drive

-i can get both of them for about the same money

auto transmission is out of the question. i have been considering the silvia for a very long time but i only recently realised that the last of the E30 318i's is a very real alternative, if not a much better buy.

318i
http://bagpuss.swan.ac.uk/200sx/e30_318is_01.jpg

silvia
http://home.iprimus.com.au/ehrenberg/michaelsilvia-001.jpg

BMW on this one obviously

I don't know, you could certianly build a very strong case for the Silvia.
The 318 is pretty far down the food chain in the 3 series range, if its sports performance you want then you really need one of the 6cyl cars, preferably a 325i or 328i. The 318 is more for people who want the badge, but can't really afford it.

The Silvia however, despite being non turbo is not that far down the food chain, and unlike the BMW uses a chassis that has a lot more incommon with the more sporting turbo model.

It will also be a lot cheaper to run, parts will be cheaper and easier to source, and dare I say it, it will probobly be more reliable.
Aftermarket surport will also be more affordable, and while you could drop a 6cyl enine into the 318i, it would be easier to drop an SR20det into the Silvia, or even a 6cly turbo engine from a skyline.


The 318 is a nice car, but Iv seen a comparison with a 1.8L Corrola. The Corrola was faster, handled better, had more options, a higher spec level, and it cost half as much (it was a NZ spec Corrola, with Cris Amon tuned suspension).

Bah! BMW looks tenacious, and with the M-badge, you could pass it for that kick ass ol's school M3 - those handled and cost like nothing on the road, hehe. Eitherway, I'd go with it purely based on looks, I like it better than today's 318/325's.

E30's are fun to drive and you can get the tail out pretty easily even on the 318i. BM for me.

I've always found that the S13 Silvia looks ugly and bland alongside it's timelessly gorgeous 180SX brother, something like a Nissan Laurel diesel taxi in Nike apparel.

The 318i is, as Mops said, relatively far down the bottom of the 3 series line, but it's a comfortable car, looks good after all these years and handles quite nicely.


My verdict- Get a 180SX.

Agreed, 180SX is much better looking. I'd get one of those over the 318i.

Also remember that the E30 was released in 1983, the Silvia was relased in 1989. Even a late model E30 feels dated compared to the Silvia.
Design techniques and construction materails had probobly thier greatest change in that period during the mid 80s since the 60s, and it shows if you put both cars beside each other.

vote people.... VOTE !!!

if i buy the beemer and fall in love, then the next car i get will be an E34 M5 :)

318 would definately be my choice...It looks good, and handles beautifully...My friend has his dad's old one and after 265k the engine, tranny, and clutch are all in amazing condition

To be honest I don't know to much about the silvia but from the look im not a huge fan...could you get a 200sx instead?

silvia! you can do anything with a silvia!

If it was a CA18DET or SR20DET...or anything DET or DETT at the end of the engine code...I'd pick it over the BMW...but...since it's just NA....

sigh

i like the bmw, and i think it handles pretty good, but from a technical stand point, i think the s13 silvia is the better car. the e30 uses semi trailing arm suspension in the rear, vs multilink for the silvia. the semi trailing arm used in the e30 tends to toe out, and have more chamber change than the multilink setup, which means the front of the rear wheels sticks out slightly, and doesnt keep the tires as flat on ground. this usually causes the rear end to slide out too easily when reaching its limit, instead of a smooth, predictable slide, or handling like the multilink setup. sometimes people say the e30 is better than the e36, because of its rear suspension, but thats alright for autocross style turns, cause the rear wheels sorta steers it around tight corners, but thats not preferend for big tracks, or for good overall handling. the multilink suspension is simply a superior, more modern design over the semi trailing arm type.

with all the reasons stated before, and the reasons ive mentioned, id definately get the nissan.

im taking into account the silvia has an unfair advantage, in being an import (fast n furious crew) one ofthe best drift cars (the drifting crew) so even if the silvia wins by a little bit then i will still go 4 the BMW because i dont wanna be drivin what everyone else is drivin.... if it wins by a lot i will do some more research.

I dont know if its a trend in Ausie or not yet, but the current cool car, is a E30 325i, lowered as far as it can get, with the biggest wheels it can take stuffed under it, with the loudest most annoying exhaust you can fit.
Its become the ultimate im a 17-20 yr old loser who knows nothing about cars car.

But thats not the worst thing, the worst thing is the larger number of 316 and 318i being passed off as 325s. Withe chopped springs, large wheels and loud exhaust.


While the Silvia might have its rice fans, its still a respectable car to own.


Also take into consideration the running costs on the BMW will be much much higher, at its worst you could spend the cost of the car again keeping it running, at its best I would say half as much again, to twice the cost of running the Silvia.

(for the record, I would personaly take the BMW, providing I had the extra income to surport it, but someone has to stick up for the Nissan)

no 1 has to stick up for nissan, for the past 5 years ive been jap import fan and i still wanna get a sr20det silvia, but no turbo until im at LEAST 21.... unless i become ridiculously rich before then.