Which project car to keep

[JasonCSU]

I am curious to hear other enthusiasts' opinions on what they may do with this situation. So my current project car is a 1988 BMW 325is that I have owned for about five and a half years now. It is a good running driver's car that is in decent shape for its age and is fun to work on due to its simplicity. It is by no means a concours quality car, but it is not completely beat up like many E30s out there. It has 223k on the odometer and is alpine white with a tan interior. My original plan was for this to be my "classic" car to own and work on over the years as the classics I'd like to own have become prohibitively expensive (Alfa Romeo GTV and Datsun 240Z).

My 2003 Subaru WRX has recently obtained project car status after breaking down this past January with a catastrophic engine failure. Cylinder 1 ended up misfiring and knocking badly which damaged the piston and cylinder wall, so the short block is toast. Options would be to buy a new short block and rebuild the turbo and heads, or buy a used long block for less money. Other options would be to part out the car and scrap it, or sell it as is as a project car which may get around $1500. Maybe I have watched too many Wheeler Dealer episodes because it seems like a waste to scrap the car considering that other than the short block, it is in decent shape. It is platinum silver metallic with 148k on it and I am the original owner.

I keep going back and forth on which may be best and/or more fun to keep. Keeping both would be great but is unrealistic living in a townhome with a small two car garage. Thinking of some pros and cons of both:

Both are fun to drive in very different ways.
E30 values are slowly appreciating, however that could also make parts more expensive.
Being in Colorado, the WRX is great in the snow.
More and more kids are buying older WRXs and many of them are lunatics behind the wheel, so I don't exactly want people to associate me with those types.

[overcoil]

wow that is a tough choice

[Dackelone]

Not a hard choice... stay with the e30. It will be worth its weight in gold in a few years!

Besides... RWD is always more fun the AWD.

[fbsm]

Not even a question....heave ho suburu

[JasonCSU]

300+ views and 3 replies. I figured more people would have weighed in.

[David1]

Sell them both, problem solved.

[Haywood]

I personally would get rid of the WRX and look at an e36 M3. The prices are not as crazy as an e30 and if you look around, you can find some under 100k miles. I've driven a friend's e30 before I bought my e36 and while it was special, the e36 is better in every way. Bigger engine, as good handling and a better car on the street. If you're really stuck on the e30, you're going to end up paying a big premium for a good condition one or you're going to get one with a lot of miles and many repairs.

[R3dliner]

Just drop a ej257 and call it a day. 03 is the bug eye?

[Sidewinderpb]

2JZ swap!

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by David1

Sell them both, problem solved.

Where is the fun in that?

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by R3dliner

Just drop a ej257 and call it a day. 03 is the bug eye?

That's an option if I can find one. Correct, it is a bug eye model.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by Haywood

I personally would get rid of the WRX and look at an e36 M3. The prices are not as crazy as an e30 and if you look around, you can find some under 100k miles. I've driven a friend's e30 before I bought my e36 and while it was special, the e36 is better in every way. Bigger engine, as good handling and a better car on the street. If you're really stuck on the e30, you're going to end up paying a big premium for a good condition one or you're going to get one with a lot of miles and many repairs.

An E36 M3 would certainly be a lot of fun, however I already own the E30 (non M). If you were talking about an E30 M3 as a project car, well that is way out of my price range unfortunately.

[Alfisti]

Nicest car there by a million miles is the GTV Coupe, i assume a 105 series. What's your definition of too expensive? I ask as i have a one, and it is for sale.

[R3dliner]

Originally Posted by JasonCSU

That's an option if I can find one. Correct, it is a bug eye model.

bug eye, hawk eye I still confuse myself. My friend just sold his hawk eye STI after 10 years of ownership and sold for a ridiculous amount. Boggles my mind how well they hold value.

You can probably find a block that had a spun bearing and rebuild it for cheaper than finding a good used motor.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Nicest car there by a million miles is the GTV Coupe, i assume a 105 series. What's your definition of too expensive? I ask as i have a one, and it is for sale.

Yes, the 105. I've been watching prices on those and 240Zs for around 7 years or so and have seen both steadily increase. For the GTV, I recall seeing prices in the 10-12k range for cars needing some work (little rust) and cars going to up to 20k for great condition. Now it seems anything below 20k is a rust bucket, up to 30k are cars needing work, and up to 50k are cars in good to great condition. Those kind of numbers are too expensive for me. Had I realized the bargain a 10k car needing some work was years ago, I would have picked one up. Damn hindsight.

[Alfisti]

[DSB335d]

Nice I also have a PSM bug eye Subaru. Mine is an '02, original owner also. It's been sitting for a few years I plan to do some work on it someday.

[JasonCSU]

That is one sweet looking GTV you have there Alfisti

[Alfisti]

Had. Sold it last night in much worse shape than shown here.

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

Had. Sold it last night in much worse shape than shown here.

Ah, congrats on the sale then. Did you get what you wanted for it?

[JasonCSU]

Originally Posted by DSB335d

Nice I also have a PSM bug eye Subaru. Mine is an '02, original owner also. It's been sitting for a few years I plan to do some work on it someday.

Nice! I wish I had some extra garage space to store it in order to work on it when time allows.