Good morning! Today’s search takes us to two places not generally known for interesting used cars in good condition: Detroit and Minneapolis. But lo and behold, I found a car worth writing about in each city, and even better, they both appear to be rust-free.
I didn’t think I was going to get you all to vote for a Plymouth Sundance with a bad head gasket yesterday, and I was right: it got beat by that scruffy old green Nova by more than two-to-one. And I suppose the fact that the price of the Sundance has been dropped $200 since yesterday can’t sway you? Well, it was worth a try.
I’d much rather have the Nova for a keeper, that’s for sure, but it would need a lot of work before I was happy with it. As things stand right now, I think I’d have more fun with the Sundance. Head gaskets aren’t that hard to replace, and it would be fun to take it to a Radwood event or something, and then sell it for a profit before this ’80s-90s car nostalgia wave dies off.
I grew up just outside Chicago, and I lived for many years in northern Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. I got used to cars having rust, even newer models. Three or four good winters, sometimes less, and you’d start to see bubbles at the bottom of the doors. Two years later, there’s a soft spot in a rocker panel, and a hole behind each rear wheel. I sent two cars to the junkyard for terminal rust, a 1979 VW Scirocco and a 1984 Honda Accord, and both were only eleven years old and so badly rusted out you couldn’t even jack them up.
It’s the reason I stick to the southern and western parts of the country a lot of the time when choosing cars to feature: I hate rust. Moving to California in 2005 was an eye-opener in a lot of ways, but not least of which was seeing all the rust-free thirty or forty year old cars just driving around like it was no big deal. No one would bat an eye at our two choices today out west, but where they are, they’re rare and special, just because of their condition. Let’s check them out.
1985 BMW 318i – $3,750
Engine/drivetrain: 1.8 liter overhead cam inline 4, three-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Westland, MI
Odometer reading: 130,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
The BMW E30-chassis 3 Series needs no introduction, of course. It’s a tough, simple, fun-to-drive car that went from yuppie transport to cheap thrills, and now is a bona-fide classic. Values for desirable versions of the E30 have gone through the roof, and they’ve brought the lesser models like this along for the ride. Years ago, you could have bought a four-door automatic 318i for next to nothing. Not any more.
This car dates back to a time when BMW sedans were not only simple and well-built, but also logically named. The 318i is a 3 Series, with a 1.8 liter fuel-injected engine. That engine, BMW’s M10 four-cylinder, dates all the way back to 1962, and was the heart and soul of the legendary 2002 series. It makes for a lively and fun car – if it’s connected to the proper transmission. This one is not. Someone back in 1985 either couldn’t or didn’t want to drive a manual, so they ordered this car with a three-speed automatic. The seller says it runs and drives well, but I bet it’s pretty dull. Swapping in a manual is probably not too difficult, if you can get your hands on all the necessary parts.
Looking at this interior compared to modern BMWs shows just how much the company’s focus has changed over the years. This car is simple, driver-focused, and comfortable inside, not tacky and covered in technological bullshit that has nothing to do with driving a car. I mean, it has power windows and niceties like that, but it also has nice clear analog gauges, a good high seating position, and sturdy materials. It’s in very good condition inside as well.
It looks like it used to be silver outside, but someone has repainted it in this bright M&M orange. It’s an unusual choice, but I like it. I do wish they had done it right, and painted the door sills as well, though. I’m less enthusiastic about the tacked-on rear spoiler and the black wheels. I like these old BMW “bottle cap” wheels, but I’d rather see them in their original silver.
1992 Infiniti M30 Convertible – $2,800
Engine/drivetrain: 3.0 liter overhead cam V6, four-speed automatic, RWD
Location: Fridley, MN
Odometer reading: 117,000 miles
Operational status: Runs and drives well
When Nissan launched its upscale Infiniti brand in 1989, it used the same tactic that its rival Toyota was using with its Lexus brand: Develop a big flagship V8 sedan, and import a Japanese model Americans had never seen as a lower-priced alternate. In Nissan’s case, that was the Leopard, a two-door coupe with rear-wheel-drive. The Leopard didn’t change its spots too much when it became the Infiniti M30; the interior was Americanized a bit, but the basic car is pretty much the same. Starting in 1991, some M30s were sent to ASC to become convertibles, an option Japan never got. Personally I’d rather have the coupe version, but it seems like all I ever see for sale are the convertibles.
The M30 is powered by the same VG30E V6 that served so well in countless Maximas, Pathfinders, and 300ZXs. It was available only with a four-speed automatic, though a manual M30 would have been really cool, and I seem to recall Infiniti catching some flak for not offering one. The seller says it runs and drives really well, and it has only 117,000 miles on it, so it has a lot of life left.
Inside, it looks OK, but not great. The steering wheel rim, center armrest, and passenger’s seat are all pretty rough, suspiciously so for the mileage, actually. I don’t know if it has just led a hard life, or if there’s something hinky with the odometer, but it’s worth asking some questions. The seat and the armrest I could live with, but that steering wheel looks awful.
The outside looks good, and the paint is nice and shiny, but it does have a ding in the left front fender. I don’t see any signs of rust, though, which may mean it wasn’t driven in the winter. The convertible top is in good shape, always a nice thing to see, but the ad doesn’t show any photos with the top down. Is that just because it’s winter? Or because it doesn’t work? The usual rules apply: Don’t buy until you push all the buttons.
Drive either one of these cars in Los Angeles or Portland, and no one would bat an eye. But in Minneapolis and Detroit, they’re something special, and decent bargains. On the one hand, you have a car with a deep aftermarket and huge ecosystem around it to make it a lot more fun than it is now, and on the other hand you have a comfortable and reliable cruiser that just needs a little sprucing up inside. Which way are you going to go?
The slushbox kills the E30. If it was a stick, and even in its “rough” form it might be worth it for fun. But without the stick it is just a rough looking slow car.
The M30 is not something you see everyday, from back when Nissan made a solid car, and a cheap convertible doesn’t need to be the most exciting “drivers car” to be fun to own.
Owned a 91 318i with 5 speed. Absolute hoot to sling around. Until…about 70mph…where it ran out of umph. I think this was the last year for this version of the 3 series…so it was quite reasonably priced. Interior was perfect for the mission.
No turbo, premium fuel, but fuel injected and had sodium filled valves (still not sure why). 132hp was all they could squeeze out of her in US form. Truly fun to chase around CA backroads. It did have issues wheezing up to Tahoe as you could only conjure so many horses to pass at 5,000ft going 55mph.
The Nissan feels boring. I have enough boring. The 318i…with slush box blah.
I’m sitting this one out.
This was easy too…I’ve always loved those classic Bimmers for their body style, fun factor, etc. Infiniti’s are so boring I almost fell asleep reading about it even though this one is ok and more fun than most. I love the orange on the BMW and would manual swap it. Plus I would actually use the turn signals…after making sure they still work!
I know someone in Minneapolis, Minnesota and have made nicknames:
Minne”apple”is
Minne”soda”
The M30 platform has some commonality with the same generation Nissan Skyline so plenty of options to spice up the boulevard cruiser into a low key bruiser.
BMW guy here, but I’m going with the M30. That orange paint job is bad on a couple of levels: there’s the “what’s it hiding” angle and then there’s the “it’s a really crappy paint job” angle. And I would have a mini-stroke every time I got into the thing, knowing that it’s an E30 with an automatic. The M30 is pretty clean, it’s faster, and some other steering wheel can be found to replace the one the dog chewed up. And for the bonus, it’s a convertible!
BMW begrudgingly. I don’t trust the M30 info as presented, it seems to be hiding more than I would be OK with. though I do like the idea of a tarted up 300ZX over the slow and slower auto 318.
Oh man, I used to live in Wisconsin, so I know that BMW’s paintjob. That’s a ‘the rust needs to be fixed and painting it properly costs more than the car is worth’ paint job. There’s maybe 5/8ths of a car left under that paint. So like a 198 & 3/4i.
The Infiniti is probably the better choice, but I went with the BMW because I have never loved the M30. Unfortunately, as a former Minnesotan, I don’t trust that the BMW is rust-free. I looked at plenty of cheap cars there, and there was never as sure of a sign of hidden major body rust as a crap paint job.
Voted for the fancy Nissan because with the top down I can see from Infiniti to beyond.
Infiniti for me. If I’m gonna have a slushbox, I’d rather have one with a bigger/more power engine and one with an overdrive gear.
That Infiniti makes me think of the story Jason did on the old site about wanting to chew on various automotive materials. I never felt so seen. I always want to take a random bite out of my steering wheel when I get in.
M30 for me. Its exterior has grown on me over the years and I’m not worried about the scruffy steering wheel. Actually I’ve reconditioned a couple ones before and this one still looks salvageable as long as it’s not missing a big chunk of leather.
Also, the non-painted door sills and piano black wheels of the BMW are a much bigger deal to me than the small dent up front on the Infiniti. So I guess that’s a wrap
I dailyed an M30 for a while before my niece borrowed it and wrecked it for me. I got it for pennies because the steering rack leaked decently, but I put some stop leak in it and it fixed the problem for the entire time I owned it. I loved that car and was well on my way to fixing the two major issues it had. I was preparing a manual swap and I was hunting new seats to install. The seats were major uncomfortable.
I’ve found the same thing as Mark. Though only a few became convertibles, those are all I ever see for sale. I would totally buy another one.
My ROTDAR is going off, just based on where they live. Especially the BMW with the respray. Bring your bondo magnets and ramps! My 94 Accord, which was always garaged in the Northeast, looks fine on the outside but is pretty crusty underneath. I guess the convertible is the safer bet assuming it didn’t get much winter use.
The Infiniti might be the better deal, but I’m not sure. I’d actually drive the orange BMW.
Infiniti for me. E30s don’t really do anything for me and the Infiniti looks to be in better shape. Kind of surprised it’s RWD though, I always assumed they were FWD.
That’s because you’re thinking of the i30… which looks similar but is based on the FWD Maxima chassis.
I have to take issue with the “logical” part. The E30 316 (not ‘s’ or ‘i’) also had a 1.8 liter engine, just with a carburettor instead of injection, and the 325e had a 2.7 liter engine. Voted for the Infiniti because I don’t want to be reminded of the President.
I had a 318is for a very brief window right after high school (charcoal gray 2 door with a manual) and I still think about how wonderful that car was. Best $400 I ever spent considering the only other $400 car I had was a 1997 Isuzu Rodeo with 218,000 miles.
I’d get the spoiler off and try to do something about the rims. It is giving tacky halloween parade vibes right now that I’m not about. Is it slow? Probably. Boring? Probably. Still an air of delight because it is an E30? Absolutely.