MINI isn't doing it for me anymore
 

don't get me wrong, i really like my mini, but after modding the heck out of it dropping just shy of 10g into- i just need more.

so i've bought another car, one with no airbags or goofy computers giving out bizzare codes.

i bought a 88 bmw m3 and a new e36 engine and trans to go into it. the interior will be completely bare metal. there will be a wicked roll cage. there will be only two seats (racing). there will be the steering wheel i choose to put into it. there will be no radio. there will be no sunroof. there will be no electronic windows. there will be no anti-slip, anti stupid, just beautiful brutality. oh-and it will have rally lamps that blind aliens.

even after all the mods-enough to humble a mustang gt or evo-i just want something that makes no compromises. and my mini can't go with me. i'm sorry girl, but you have to stay home.

just give us the gas, and we'll let you out alive!

had to get that off my chest, thanks.

my boyfriend would love this.
he has an 89 325i and his dream car (which i say i'm going to buy him when i get my phd) is an e30 m3. i don't really see the fascination, but it's kind of the same for him what you said. raw power, no frills.

he started off with an e46 328i, went to an 89 2 door (can't remember the number, sold it because it had extensive repair done that he couldn't see when he bought it and had major alignment issues), then went to a 95 m3, sold that and now has the e30. this is all in the less than 2 years we've been dating lol. but yeah, he autocrossed the e30 this weekend and it was awesome. i got to drive it 3 times :) it basically just got him all excited for his future e30 m3. he's talked to some guy in another state that fixes them up. i'll ask him about it.

Buy a STi.

sti just too civilized.

i think what i'm looking for is a full on rally car

I know the feeling... in the sense that I appreciate simplicity... and that's why I have my '93 Mustang.

It's a 4-cylinder Notchback... the lightest bodystyle Mustang built in the last 30 years, no ABS, no Traction Control, no power windows, no power locks, no nothing... It doesn't even have rear window defrost.

It's got coilovers, 13" late-model Cobra brakes, etc... and it will be getting a simple 2.3L Turbo I4 (basically the turbo version of it's current engine), Independent Rear Suspension from an '03-'04 Cobra with mechanical LSD in the rear, and from there, it'll be hitting Sebring.

I drive the car as it is DAILY, and it's a ton of fun.


That being said, for a new car... which inherently means some electronic doodads and such... I felt like the MINI followed the Low Weight/Good handling/Good Braking philosophy better than anything else short of a Lotus Elise or something.

The MINI may not be as extreme as your future E30 or my Mustang, but I think that for a new car, it's got the right philosophy.

That M3 you're building sounds awesome. Have great fun with it.

that is going to be a brutal car please hang around and keep us posted on it :)! i sold my E36 M3 when i got my mini recently and have always wanted to do an E30 M3 with a blown E36 M3 engine dropped in!

-Hutch-