Life after your Ti

[dahamler]

I just wanted to create an open discussion to talk about the vehicles you all would consider (or have purchased) as a replacement for your Ti. Currently I own two 95 318tis and each with S52s.

I also own a E46 325xit (manual) and Z4 and a E36 with an LS1. While I'm a fairly competent mech, age and good old American laziness have made me consider consolidating my fleet. Preventive and corrective maintenance cost also play a factor along with general comfort and useful on board technology.

Cars like the Fiesta ST, the M1 (and upcoming M2) and the BRZ all seem to be suitable replacements for our beloved Ti but I just can't bring myself to part with these unique cars. They handle better than a E30 M3 and just a quick as a E46 M3. Any input would be greatly appreciated.

[Shellback]

Nowadays comfort is priority for me. I'm really considering an older Lexus LS for DD duties. I tested a LS430 and although comfortable, it was actually too comfortable....not as connected to the road as I expected. I'm going to try out the older generation Lexus LS400.
I'm also thinking of thinning the current fleet. I do have a 5 speed E46 Touring ZSP and its currently going through a transformation to become a quasi ZHP...This might replace the TI.

[clex2]

Not sure anything can really replace a ti. Cheap, fun, tons of parts and mods, utilitarian, unique...... I still have both of mine. I added an e30 M3, 991 GT3, and just started a ground up restoration on my '75 911. I suppose any of the Ford ST hatchbacks might be a good replacement, but they are FWD, but good ones I hear.

[dahamler]

Originally Posted by clex2

Not sure anything can really replace a ti. Cheap, fun, tons of parts and mods, utilitarian, unique...... I still have both of mine. I added an e30 M3, 991 GT3, and just started a ground up restoration on my '75 911. I suppose any of the Ford ST hatchbacks might be a good replacement, but they are FWD, but good ones I hear.

So how would you compare the BMW's to the Porsche, I'd also like to have an air cooled 911 as a project but the prices these days are outrageous.

[clex2]

Originally Posted by dahamler

So how would you compare the BMW's to the Porsche, I'd also like to have an air cooled 911 as a project but the prices these days are outrageous.

Overall, Porsches are better for the pure driving experience, be it the latest GT3 or old school 911. However, they have very little practicality and attract more attention. If you can get your hands on an old 911, it might be very worthwhile, but as you say, they are going thru the roof right now. There is no comparison on the track. Porsche GT3 wins, but on the street, there is a satisfaction in the way both my stock and swapped ti's drive.

[dahamler]

Originally Posted by Shellback

Nowadays comfort is priority for me. I'm really considering an older Lexus LS for DD duties. I tested a LS430 and although comfortable, it was actually too comfortable....not as connected to the road as I expected. I'm going to try out the older generation Lexus LS400.
I'm also thinking of thinning the current fleet. I do have a 5 speed E46 Touring ZSP and its currently going through a transformation to become a quasi ZHP...This might replace the TI.

I was thinking that a e46 330i with a six speed would also be a good replacement.

[wolferj-RIP]

While my fleet now comprises 3 ti's, (2 swapped, 1 still 4cyl), 2 Miatas (an NA & an NB), and a big ole Ram truck, I am in no mood to thin the herd just yet..

There are few cars on the market these days that appeal to me enough to entertain another purchase. The ToyoBaru is interesting, but has no versatility. I've had a Lexus IS300 (boring to drive), Bug Eye WRX Wagon (fun and versatile, but I didn't fit all that great), numerous 4runners and more.

I think the only thing now that would tempt me is a 3rd gen Barracuda (67-69 fastback), a 914 (like the one Strawman is building with a WRX engine swap and box flares), or building a kit car from one of the Miatas (Exocet or similar).

[E36 TI-M]

I had the 86/brz for 2 years. Fully track prepped. Turbocharged and all. Was not impressed with the new boxer engine. But handling was great no doubt about that.

Sold it and bought a TI. First was all stock and now with s50. A year later picked up another one.

Currently 4 BMW on my fleet. Forseeing a 5th one pretty soon. And yes another TI for the wife.

[Coyoteh]

I have no plans to completely ditch having a ti. However, when I can eventually add a second car in addition to the ti, it will be an E36 M3 sedan in Dakar yellow.

[Joey]

I'm either going with a corvette or a gtr. Been also toying with the idea of jumping into the supra realm but I'm not set on anything yet. Just need something with some power cause this little bimmer doesn't cut it

[frink84]

i went with an 06 mustang gt after selling my ti. wife's ride is a 01 325i wagon with a 5-speed manual. love the wagon. LOVE IT.

[jca]

The BMW's I have, in the order they were purchased: '97 Z-3, '98 ti, '83 320i. I love all three for somewhat different reasons, and I can't see letting them go. I find myself jumping into the ti when I don't want to "drive" , just get from point A to point B, because it has an automatic transmission. For long distances driven in comfort we take my wife's 2000 Dodge Grand Minivan ES, the sportiest van (if a van can be said to be sporty) on the market at the time, and a vehicle that has given us 290,000 miles of great service so far.

[30yrMbr]

Currently have a '01 Z3 Coupe in Atlanta Blue (rare color), an '08 135i convertible and a matched set of ti's both '96 both Alaska Blue slick top and one with M44 and the other has a '96 M3 (S52) swap.

Looking at going to get an M2 via Euro-Delivery with friends from SoCal next spring. Spend a week or so touring and a day at Spa-Francochamps track. Hope to get back into the M2 in time (August 2016) for the big blowout at Laguna Seca in Monterey CA; 100 year BMW anniversary, Oktoberfest and Legends of the Autobahn and on and on.

Going to dump the 135i (trade-in or sell outright) and then....
The Z3 is probably a keeper
The Ti's are a problem. The Swapped one is my occasional track car, the other (M44) has been in the family over a decade and is my DD, but not doing much of that any more. The M2 would be suitable for track use and DD, so the swapped Ti would be unnecessary, the M2 and Z3 would probably serve for our current / future needs... So ???

I should probably sell both of the Ti's but can't bear to do that. So keep one or both or ??? and if keep one, which?

[LanOsb133]

Originally Posted by 30yrMbr

I should probably sell both of the Ti's but can't bear to do that. So keep one or both or ??? and if keep one, which?

Just saw your Z3 at the shop last night, it is by far my favorite Z3 I've ever seen. If you ever plan on selling it hit me or my dad (bryce) up haha. If I were to keep one or the other of your TI's I would keep the original TI, given that it will be cheap on gas and you have higher powered BMWs. But if I were you I would keep them both until you get the M2 and make sure that the M2 is what you want in a track car.

As for the OPs question, all the cars Ive ever bought have been TI's. I plan on owning a Z4m, E34 M5 Touring, R32 GTR, 1970s 240z, 914, 911, etc. But of all those cars, I will always have at least 1 318ti in my stable. In my opinion (and my limited driving experience) nothing quite drives and is as practical as a TI except for a TI!

[mobius]

For me the two Ti's I have (and a possible third very soon, 1999 Black on black 5 speed) will be with me for a very long time. I've been fascinated with them ever since seeing one years ago at an import / euro auto meet that was local.

The 1997 avus blau one that I'm doing a motor swap maybe the only one I let go at some point. I saved it from the PO with 100k miles on the clock. He had apparently bought it from an auction place in Rhode Island. Neither him nor the previous owner to him did it any favors. It is relatively rust free for spending all its life in New England and the last 5 years in Maine throughout the winters but everything else, damn. There's just some things that make you shake your head violently. When I got the car originally he told me that he saw wires hanging down so he cut them and removed them. Recently I found out those were all 4 of the abs wheel sensor wires. Like what in the ..... He or the PO before him had a fascination with cheap (walmart ish) stick on fast and furious inspired "body kit" crap. Between that, the horrible white pin stripping, and a bunch of spots where the clear coat is peeling it really needs a total respray. It got into a minor front end accident and he thought the proper way of fixing the dented hood was to sit on it and pull with a pair of pliers so there's an even bigger second dent above the accident caused one. Basically the car was very cheap and a total heap so I decided it was much closer to being a swap / track car than it was to being a restore.

I also saved a 1995 hellrot clubsport with sunroof, again total heap. This has been safely stored away and will probably sit stored for quite a while because I only have so much time right now for projects (my background is in computer engineering but I'm a traveling IT Security consultant). It will honestly be a father son project at some point when I get there (I'm only 27 right now) but I will never be getting rid of the car, hoping to pass it on to my kids and keep it in the family.

I don't think there's any direct replacement (but maybe the 1 series m) and I believe some day these cars are going to be either a classic or cult classic car. I also own currently 2005 black on black 325xi manual and a 2003 black on black X5 manual, and I'm always looking at more cars. Yea a future wife is going to have to understand the obsession or it won't work . My friends make fun of me for the yard full of bmws I have and how often I change cars but oh well I have fun.

I think for me it's more life with the TIs. They'll will always be there but the other cars will be changed out. Minus the clubsport the only thing that could get me to sell the other two is if someone would take them in partial trade for a well maintained clown shoe. That is the only thing though because I have wanted one of those just as much as the TI and they even harder to find.

This below would be a list of BMW's I want to own either for a long period at some point or for until I get bored:

Z3 - any year any color - fun convertible
Z4M Coupe - the landshark, it looks like an lot more expensive car until you see the roundel
M Coupe - clown shoe, needs no explanation as to why
740il - one of the early 2000 models, doesn't matter color, would do the requisite m5 / 6 speed swap. Done two of these for friends already
8 Series - preferably an 850csi but any model would be nice. Classic car in my mind and people never know what the car is even people that say they know BMW's.
1 Series M Coupe - because why not, good enough for JC good enough for me
e30 M3 - specifically if I could ever find it my late grandfather's originally owned one that got me started into vehicles and my obsession with BMW's
E60 M5 - with the v10 and 7 speed sequential
Z1 - yep the car with the weird doors and importing could happen in the next few years a lot easier
e46 compact - Yea this one will take a lot longer to get a hold of unless I spend some time over seas for a future job.
540it - Rode in one of these. What a beast of a wagon.

And there's about 10-15 more I could list of varying ages, some from before the series designated cars. I'd much rather have a barn full of BMW's that I could drive any day of the week, than a super car or two that sit there unused personally. All of the cars I've listed above each have a different personality and look which is a lot of the reason why I enjoy BMWs as much as I do. It's not like with Audi, where you get basically the same looking car, but larger or smaller in dimensions and something different under the hood.