BMW (1993) 318is automayic VS manuel

[GnnSk8]

I really want to get a BMW but i only have enough money to get a 1993 318is ... and i want to tget the best deaL for my money. But i dont know much about automatics. vs. manuel's anyone care to help on this subject? I drive my mom's 02 330i sometimes and i really like it, and its an automatic, but ithas the techtronic shifting too.

I might do a little racing but mostly just driving fast on the roads.... :-) as we all do.

[brien4787]

the 318is is a nice car. i recommend getting manual. driving automatic gets really boring quick, plus you can go faster when its not auto. this is not the fastest car in the world, and no fast off the line at all. its pretty quick once you get the car moving though. i have a 95 318i. i love it, but it couldnt hurt to have 325 or somthing better.

[bitcore]

manuals don't have a torque converter, which means:
faster acceleration, no torque is lost, much more fun to drive, slightly faster, more fun, much much more control, no latency between when you tell the transmission to shift and when it actually shifts (up to a full 1 second delay on automatics)

See if you can get a 6 cyl. I have a 323 (I think smallest 6) with sport package (so, a 325 engine? it's 2.5L) and it can haul (even though it's automatic...)

You can always go E30 (may not look as snazzy) or an older E36 model and tune the $*&#$ out of it, which is also quite fun to do

[El Presidente]

a manual is required for the 1.8L engine. My car just feels wimpy, but my bro's auto ti was just scary. No acceleration anywhere in the powerband. I can floor it and still get pushed into my. He floored it everytime and I barely swayed.

[thekid]

I also have a 1995 318i 5spd. With the 5spd you still have accleration issues especially going up hill, but I could not drive the car if it was an auto. For what I want out of the car it's fine. I've always driven FWD so it's nice to have a slightly underpowered RWD car to get used to first. It's got enough power to be "quick" but you can't really break the back end loose when it's dry. It's got enough power that when it's wet you can kick the back end out nicely with the car floored and not have it spin on you or break away with out warning. I strongly recoment the 5spd.

[skawful]

i strongly dont recommend 318's

the difference between the 318 and the 325 is HUGE and the price is not

[El Presidente]

50 HP isn't exactly huge, and the manual 1.8 and auto 2.5 are barely more than a second apart. It is quite noticeable though.

Also, there are many appealing aspects of the 318, most noteably lower insurance premiums and better gas milage. Prices are expected to hit $3 in some areas of the country over the summer, so the fuel saving 4 doesn't look so bad. I drive like a bat out of hell and average 400 mi a tank.

[thekid]

hell yeah i can go from Jackson MS to Little Rock AR on exactly half a tank. It's like 300 miles (I think a little more) It takes about 4 1/2 hours going 10ish over as long as you don't go through memphis which is way outta the way making it closer to 7 hours but then it's all interstate.

[El Presidente]

I've made that trip a few times.

The best was when I went from LR to ATL in about 6-7 hours.

[skawful]

Originally posted by El Presidente@May 15 2004, 02:46 AM
50 HP isn't exactly huge, and the manual 1.8 and auto 2.5 are barely more than a second apart. It is quite noticeable though.

Also, there are many appealing aspects of the 318, most noteably lower insurance premiums and better gas milage. Prices are expected to hit $3 in some areas of the country over the summer, so the fuel saving 4 doesn't look so bad. I drive like a bat out of hell and average 400 mi a tank.

318 sucks sry

[thekid]

Originally posted by skawful@May 15 2004, 03:17 AM
318 sucks sry

I disagree. They are good cars. They could use 30 hp and some more torque, but they are fun and very balanced cars. If you need something economical and fun to drive your much better of with a 318 than a 323 or 325. Granted I would like to have a 325, but 318s don't suck by any means, unless your talking about stirctly for drag racing then yeah they do. But so do all BMWs.

[skawful]

if i need to down shift and scream past someone (for whatever reason)
the 325 is PERFECT
my family owns 2 4 cyl cars... (vw bug - 2001 - and the infiniti g20)
THEY ARE SO SLOW
maybe not from 0-60
but from 40-60
and thats what is the funnest thing to do in a bimmer

trust me... you will REGRET GETTING A 4 cyl

and btw 50 horses is quite a bit in my book...
look at the 325 compared to the m3/4...

[skawful]

Originally posted by thekid+May 15 2004, 03:22 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (thekid @ May 15 2004, 03:22 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> <!--QuoteBegin-skawful@May 15 2004, 03:17 AM
318 sucks sry

I disagree. They are good cars. They could use 30 hp and some more torque, but they are fun and very balanced cars. If you need something economical and fun to drive your much better of with a 318 than a 323 or 325. Granted I would like to have a 325, but 318s don't suck by any means, unless your talking about stirctly for drag racing then yeah they do. But so do all BMWs. [/b][/quote]
do you have a 318?
maybe thats why you like them so much.......
i am not supporting the 325 (which i have)
i am just saying ive driven the 318 and i have the 325... and 6 cyl is just way more fun/faster/better


does the 318 have the same braking/handling as a 325+ ?? just wondering

[thekid]

Yeah I believe it does. The rear suspension is identiacal the front is a little stiffer to compensate for the 6cyl. I've never had a problem passing anybody, and I drive on 2 lane roads all the time.

[CiscoKid]

i test drove a 318 coupe w/ auto. IT WAS ASS. the regular 318 is not that bad.... i was on the parkway last nigth, and a 318 (E30) almost kept up with me at speeds around 120