This is it, the very car I dreamed of during my 1990s early adulthood: 1992-98 BMW E36 coupe, and it had to be black. This aging E36 belongs to someone who works for my company. I see it every day in the parking lot. If he or she ever puts a For Sale sign in the window, I’m probably a goner, because old dreams die hard.
Until recently, if you asked me what car I’d own if money weren’t at issue, I would have said BMW 3 series. (And I was thinking sedan, because I’m a family man now.) But the truth is, I was saying so less enthusiastically with each passing 3-series generation. Of them, I like the E36’s immediate successor, the E46, best for its clean design and airy greenhouse. But with the current generation, the F30, I’ve lost my lust entirely. This car doesn’t do it for me. I’m sure it’s still a blast to drive, but more and more the BMW 3 series seems to me like a Camry for the guy who wants to flaunt his upper-middle-class lifestyle. So now I’m a man without a modern dream car. I feel unmoored.
But this leads me to ask: what is your ultimate Ultimate Driving Machine? That is: if you were buying BMW, which one would you want, old or new? Let us know, preferably with photos, in the comments.
I’m late to the party but my BMW of choice would be the Z1, if I’m remembering the name correctly. The sweet little roadster with the retractable doors anyways.
I’d have to save for me, it would be the E38 740iL with the sport package. I just love a big highway cruiser, hunkered down and gobbling up the miles.
My 2005 Park Avenue.
How many window regulators have you replaced so far?
My 2001 Lesabre is now up to 3 (and both of the back regulators failed and those windows are rarely ever used).
For me, it was my 1988 Electra T-Type. Owned it for 16 years and it had over 221K miles on it when I sold it on the original drivetrain, axles, and exhaust. And it was quiet, handled reasonably well, got good fuel economy, and was a great road car.
Sadly, the 2001 Lesabre has proven to be FAR less reliable than my 1988, with almost a dozen electrical component failures that never happened on the 1988.
1975 – 1979 Lincoln Town Car. Nothing ever rode better.
Make mine a ’63 Avanti R3 with a four speed. Make it black and throw on a set of Torque Thrust wheels.
For luxury, how about a ’55 Chrysler Imperial , sedan, hardtop, or limo with factory air and wire wheels and wide whites.
And just for kicks how about a Jim Rockford Firebird, in gold, of course.
Never before has a comment summed up my thoughts more appropriately: “So now I’m a man without a modern dream car. I feel unmoored.” I still drive my ’94 525ia mostly because I haven’t found a car that I like better (and I’m tight).
My brother and I test drove a 1994 325is five speed in pristine condition circa 2001 and I’ve wanted when ever since. I still feel like my dream cars have mostly matched up with what I ended up buying:
First car: 1988 Prelude Si 5sp
1990 Honda Accord Ex 5sp
1994 LS400 Silver
1994 BMW 525ia (wish it were 5sp)
1988 560 SEL (gifted car, nothing more expensive than a cheap Merc!)
I don’t know what my next move should be. I keep thinking E39 with manual transmission. I also like the base Subaru Impreza but CANNOT find a used one with a manual transmission. What to do!?!
https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.hagerty.com/vehicle/web/1964%20Jaguar%20E-Type.jpg
3 letters:
X. K. E