Which looked "better" the E12 or E28?

[Wiseguy]

Hehe.......... what a fun thread.

Bill (Wiseguy) almost got me in the E28 camp by getting my name picked for the 528e at 5erFest 2007! I got so many comments from a bunch of you like "We finally got you in the E28 camp!!". Too bad I found an owner in more need of an E28 very quickly when I talked to Shawn D.

Man that was close... I remember you begrudgingly buying the ticket!

Glad Shawn ended up with it tho (Assuming he doesn't hate me for it) and I'm sure Mrs Wilson is as well!

[Mike W.]

The Mini - 1959-2000
The Range Rover - 1970-1994
The Leyland Sherpa - 1974-2006
The Leyland Convoy - 1984-2006
The Austin Metro - 1980 -1998

The Volvo 140/240 I should have known, the Mini of course, the Metro, ?? on this side of the pond and the middle three along with the legendary Land Rover, the real one, not boulevard posers like we now see, are all trucks IMHO.

Still a long lasting design, just not quite as exclusive of company as I suggested.

[Tusker]

The Mini - 1959-2000
The Range Rover - 1970-1994
The Leyland Sherpa - 1974-2006
The Leyland Convoy - 1984-2006
The Austin Metro - 1980 -1998

The Volvo 140/240 I should have known, the Mini of course, the Metro, ?? on this side of the pond and the middle three along with the legendary Land Rover, the real one, not boulevard posers like we now see, are all trucks IMHO.

Still a long lasting design, just not quite as exclusive of company as I suggested.

OT again... we musn't forget my old employer - the original MG Car Co.



The MGB from 1962 - 1980. I used to assemble the back axles on C Line. Many was the day I ate my sandwiches in the front seat of a brand new on on the line



and the lowly Midget 1961 - 80 built on the line next to my workstation.

[Zaffer]

Don't forget the Spitfire, if we're going that far, or the Karmann Ghia, Microbus, etc.

[WVe28]

Hell, even on the domestic side, Ford's Crown Victoria has gone essentially unchanged from 1992 to present. With the only major changes being a new front clip and taillights in 1998.

Back to the subject at hand, I generally prefer the e28, although the sight of a euro spec'd, lowered e12 does make the pants tighten a bit.

[DMNaskale]

OT again... we musn't forget my old employer - the original MG Car Co.

The MGB from 1962 - 1980. I used to assemble the back axles on C Line.

Very cool. I may have undone some of your fine work, I cut my teeth tearing up MGBs. I have had more of them than I can remember, and some Spridgets, too. What years did you work for them?

[LA]

Don't forget the Spitfire, if we're going that far, or the Karmann Ghia, Microbus, etc.

When I find myself drifting in the blue funk & nothing else works, I jump on ebay & look at the Karmann Ghias. Suddenly I'm feeling warm & happy!

When I publish the LA dictionary, Karmann Gia will be the illustrated example of automotive perfection! Related topics will point to the 914 & the VW 411.

Thanks Zaffer, for making my day by mentioning the Karmann Gia!

[Zaffer]

No problem! I had a '71 Ghia with dual two-barrell 38mm Dellortos (sp.?) on it. Fun and loud as hell! I sold it to get my '75 914, which I am never getting rid of again! I do miss the Ghia sometimes, especially when it comes to buying parts for my 914!

[Tusker]

OT again... we musn't forget my old employer - the original MG Car Co.

The MGB from 1962 - 1980. I used to assemble the back axles on C Line.

Very cool. I may have undone some of your fine work, I cut my teeth tearing up MGBs. I have had more of them than I can remember, and some Spridgets, too. What years did you work for them?

Long time ago of course. I was made redundant in the Autumn of 1980 and worked there for a couple of years before that. IIRC I doubled my wages from £50 per week to £100 per week and had to lie about my qualifications to get the job - I was overqualified having had further education

[wkohler]

Funny how the Karmann Ghia was mentioned, yet the Beetle (1938 - 1991) wasn't.

[KingCast]

See now you're talkin'.... drove my first stick in a brand new '78 spitfire (big bumpers though) I was in 9th grade stole it one night my parents and cousin/wife went out to the disco!!

The streets of Shaker Heights were never the same.

Friend of mine's mother had a '76 MG and they almost died in it, she drove like a bat outta' hell and someone made a u-turn in front of her one day. Luckily they lived by she got a tracheotomy (sp?) out of The Deal.

Then came the Mazda RX-7 and the Datsun 280Z -- my folks friends eneded up getting married and bride and groom had one of each, he had the Mazda.

Remember the upshift chimes?

I do.

[Wiseguy]

OT again... we musn't forget my old employer - the original MG Car Co.

The MGB from 1962 - 1980. I used to assemble the back axles on C Line.

Very cool. I may have undone some of your fine work, I cut my teeth tearing up MGBs. I have had more of them than I can remember, and some Spridgets, too. What years did you work for them?

Long time ago of course. I was made redundant in the Autumn of 1980 and worked there for a couple of years before that. IIRC I doubled my wages from £50 per week to £100 per week and had to lie about my qualifications to get the job - I was overqualified having had further education

WOW! You worked on the line at Abingdon? NICE!

Shame what happened to MG tho

[wkohler]

Oh, please stop posting pictures of E12s. I don't have room for another car.

[LA]

Funny how the Karmann Ghia was mentioned, yet the Beetle (1938 - 1991) wasn't.

Actually the Beetles are my true heart throb & in my opinion the pinnacle of the many spins put on Herr Doktors works. It is just that they so grossly outnumber the Karmann Gias that the Gia's quality of 'very rare' earns a unique place on my list.

[KingCast]

The 99 was born in '69 I think, and ran unmolested until '79, and continued on as the 90, long story, but the 900 was to the 99 what the 240 was to the 140 and the 900 continued on in the U.S. to 1994 for the Convertible, '93 for the sedan.

Ask me why I know this; I've owned 7 of the beasts, some better than others

So that's a 10 year then 13/14 year run, about the same as the Venerable Volvos

[Wiseguy]

The 99 lived on in Europe as the 90 until at least 1985.. a guy on a UK Classic Car board that I am on has a nice 1985 Saab 90.

I think he bought it for something sick like 35 pounds!

[griffith]

Holy Christ this thread went to hell in no time!

After a veritable cacophony of mental deliberation, and as someone who had an e12 (and 99) during the formative years of my life, I can confidently say the following:

Early 2500/2800 E3 > Euro E28 > Euro E12.

However, Euro E12 > US E28.

And SAAB 99 EMS > Volvo Brick.

Alfa Spider Veloce > Fiat Spider > MGB [dukes up]

Ratsun 510 > Rat Bastard 2002.

Jason

[KingCast]

But I will congrats you on successfully walkng that ladder of abstraction

[WH]

After reading that post by Griffith....

I have no experience with Saabs, except a friend that had a 99 that stranded him upteen times (last time had it towed 300 miles) and he got so good at replacing water pumps that he did it 6 times in 3 years. Then sold the car and bought a Honda.

As for the older 5 series cars.

Best looking
Euro E12 > euro E28 > USA E28 > USA E12
(but maybe I'm biased being I own 6 euro E12's)

Bavarias and 2500/2800's are slightly better looking than a USA E12 but not by much. I owned a 2800 for 2 years..... glad it's gone.

BMW 2002's look ok (I had one for 14 years), but I think a S1 Lotus cortina blows it away in the way cool factor. I also like the Alfa GTV much better than BMW's copy of the same car, aka the 2002.

As for convertibles.....

My favorites are the Healey 100-4's, followed by the E-type Jag (S1 cars only) and AC Cobra's. Then 50's Alfa spyders, a good lotus elan or seven etc. Low on my list are the Fiat's (owned 2) and the MGB (owned 4), MGB's are just too boring but still fun to drive. Tigers are cool although some what plain in styling, only reason people really want them now is due to the V8 that shelby helped put into the car.

WH

(my current cars)
7 E12's (all euro's but 1, include Alpina's and M535i)
1 wrecked 2002 (my old supercharged car I recently bought back)
(2) E24 coupes (Alpina and M6)
E30 baur cabriolet
(2) 100-4's
(2) Mg midget/bugeye sprites
Lotus seven project
AC cobra Mk IV (alloy bodied Autokraft )
1985 Ferrari Testarossa
1970 cuda'
1 slightly damaged Cortina shell

[stranter]

...Shame what happened to MG tho...

Yeah it's a shame. But what killed them was making utterly rubbish cars, MG aka Rover aka Austin aka Austin Rover aka Leyland aka Wolsely aka Triumph aka BMC made some beautiful cars with some great designs and advanced technology, they were just put togehter with nothing other than hope.

Sure the MGF/MGTF was nice to drive and looked nice, but towards the end they ended up eating headgaskets every 20-40k miles.

The Austin Metro/Rover 100 was a heap of shit. Based on a 1930s chassis, with 1930s safety. Possibly the quickest rusting car you could buy in 1998.

The Rover 25 was a reworked 200 which wasn't great in the first place.

The Rover 45 was a reworked 400 and was more old man than tweed slippers and a pipe. Nothing said "I'm one year off from being cremated" more than driving a Rover 400.

The Rover 600 was a good car, but that was a Honda.

The Rover 800 was a good and beautiful car, better than a Honda it was based on, but still very poorly built. Dogged by electrical and trim problems.

The Rover 75 was a great car. Sadly also dogged by engines with headgasket problems.

BMW left Rover with a fantastic legacy IMO, lots in the bank and a great new design in the Rover 75 and they blew it. I have owned a newish Rover and I had to sell it within 3 months I hated it that much. I have had them as hire cars, one with less than 6000 miles on the clock where the heaters were stuck on and the dash lights didn't work and some trim had fallen off the dash.

MG, Morris Garages (IIRC) is now called.........Modern Gentleman

[griffith]

Gotta convert to electric on the SAAB waterpump. Also have to reorient thet coolant catch can to avoid air bubbles running through the water jacket in the head. Other than that, not a bad car...

And my opinions were certainly just that, my personal preference...most e12's don't look like yours ...

Alpina B7 E12 is certainly > All of the above.

[Adam W in MN]

But what killed them was making utterly rubbish cars, MG aka Rover aka Austin aka Austin Rover aka Leyland aka Wolsely aka Triumph aka BMC made some beautiful cars with some great designs and advanced technology, they were just put together with nothing other than hope.

I love it, gotta use that sometime.

[KingCast]

they were just put together with nothing other than hope.

...good eye Adam. I seem to remember you from the late 90's on another board... did you sell an '02 back then I might have asked about?

...Speaking of put together with hope and stuff, remember the Triumph Stag? Ouch. What a pooch.

....And didja' know the SAAB 99 engine was sourced from Triumph and turned backwards? Yep.

Nice to continue on the wandering "topic."

[racer X]

they are both the best looking 5s ever! i actually came pretty close to buying a e12 last year from a local who could't move it on ebay but the work it needed & it being a auto made me pass. i love 'em both. i like the slope of the trunk on the e12. i could have both & a 2002!

[Zaffer]

I have owned two SAABs so far, both 900S's, manual, one with power everything (except manual sunroof) and one with power nothing (and no sunroof ). Great cars! Wish I hadn't sold the '86, damn good car in great shape.

I have owned/currently own:
'74 Fiat 850 Spyder (sold to get the Ghia)
'71 Karmann Ghia (sold to get the 914)
'91 Chevy Corsica (sold to a friend who needed a car)
'74 Triumph Spitfire (bought from dad, he bought it back)
'75 Porsche 914 2.0L (burned up, now being fixed and soon will be in my possession again)
'86 SAAB 900S (sold to a friend due to frame starting to rust out, or so I thought )
'96 Chevy Corsica (sold to my brother's room mate after six months for more than I bought it for)
'89 Isuzu Rodeo 4x4 (gave to my brother)
'83 Rabbit GTI (sold to my friend and then traded SAAB below for it back)
'90 SAAB 900 (sold to a friend to get my GTI back)

That's it, but I'm only 27, so I have plenty of time.

I would like my next car to be an e28, but it all depends on what happens business wise and if the wife lets me get one, which she probably will.

Yes, , sorry.

[BDK]

uuuH, we need to give Jake Hall props on his Henna M535i...
it is the sexiest out there...
which btw I have first dibbs on if he ever sells it....
buwaahahahhahahahhahaha