Car appreciation... the aesthetics, the engineering, etc

Takes me back to when I was making the big first car decision and excitedly browsing E30-Zone. In the end Honda-Tech stole my attention and went that route but likewise always wanted an E30 318iS.

Just googled the 320iS, Did that engine go in to later cars or E30 only?

That engine made similar power to the first M3..

Remember just a few years ago E30 weren't worth that much.

E30 only.

It was essentially the same engine that was in the first (e30) M3 but was produced for the Italian market to meet a lower tax threshold on cars that were under 2-litres. It's basically just a shorter stroke S14 motor.

The next generation M3 went to the S50 6 cylinder lump whilst the same S42 engine from the E30 carried over into the 4 cylinder E36's.

Wonder what the cars values are like. M3 power without the M3 price tag?

Have you seen how much EK9's or EG6 Si's cost these days? Would love a B18 block in a lightweight civic chassis.

EG6's yes if you can find one, EK9's I thought were still in reach, but pos not ha! Stopped looking for EG6's a few years ago and instead been keeping half an eye open for Accord Aerodecks, weird choice I know but just love them.

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Oof, stop it now. Even the non Aerodecks were fucking cool. That reminds me of the Volvo 480 SE and it's insane dashboard.
I don't think I ever got over the idea of ruler designed cars with a slight modern twist. It's like putting a modern groupset on an old frame.

Good to know I'm not the only one. It often comes back to Volvo here so apologies in advance but the 780 Bertone interior always does it for me... Pure function over form but bristling with an understated quality.

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Like these 480es turbo soo much, they didn't wear well tho. The early 340 1.7 could be turbo'd by drilling and tapping the holes in the block. Then fitting the turbo and bits from the renault 1.7 turbo engine.

Pop up lights are fucking cool-factomundo.

Seen the prices of CRX's?

Car and Classic has 4 listings ranging from 24k to 32k!
https://www.carandclassic.co.uk/car/C990435

Clean EG and EK Civics are indeed starting to go up, even for run of the mill D-series engined ones with clean bodyshells. Everyone is buying them to do K-swaps on them now.

On the subject of odd Hondas like the Aerodeck, I always wanted a Civic Shuttle. Can't remember the last time I saw one in the flesh!

See, I always thought the 340's were toaster like enough to shove some sticky rubber on, boost them, and then shame modern stuff. I know the diesels are few and far in between, but I take it they could be boosted as well or will they chew themselves out?

@jambon

Agreed. Found this looking for the dash pics.

340's are quite popular with drifters for some cheap sideways fun. Never warmed to them myself, the shape is just not proportioned elegantly - whereas the 240 I always think is almost perfect when it comes to the proportioning.

240's are going up in price as well. They started gaining mega kudos after a bunch of young Swedes went turbo happy.

Apparently, this is what Volvo commissioned after the 340 for a design road map. Bertone style.

Aye, the 240 is a beaut. As is the 480. We had a 340 that was ok, but it just looks like an old escort or Vauxhall to me.

Looks awfully like a Citroën BX. Gandini?

Bless Gandini. Could only draw a Citreon BX at the time.

Sir yes sir! Pretty much bang on after the Tundra.

Strangely skipped from a lot of his works, even though the design had a lot of cues that Volvo nabbed and in turn hit headlines with.

Decent 240's are much£ these days.

Seems a shame to do what I'd probably want and drop the 240 body over an AMG E55 drivetrain.

Which would likely not be cheap, either.

A lot of the drift guys have been fitting the F7 engine out of Clio 16v & Williams. Makes for a pretty capable car for track and drift.

360 glt was turbo by a few dealers. Same engine basically as the 2.0 turbo'd 7 series.

340 makes an odd drift car in my opinion, 50/50 weight distribution and de dion rear suspension made it quite stable.

Let us not forget the Daf variomatic gearbox. You could go as fast forwards as backwards.

Amazing.

It's the same engine (plus EFI) in the 480 later on, which in stock form, was apparently tuned by Porsche!