I know these are notoriously bad but I really want one

"HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie" (hpoz54) 04/21/2018 at 00:10 • Filed to: None

6

16

Cute little E36 hatch! Someone at my college has one (in this color) and I never knew they existed before but now I’d love to have one of these (and make it into an autocross monster, because nothing would be more fun or silly). I hear the main complaint about them is that they use a cheaper rear suspension setup, but it’s basically the same setup as the Z3 and people like those, right? Right???

WilliamsSW > HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie 04/21/2018 at 00:25

0

I think the 1.8 four is craptastic also.

TheD0k_2many toys 2little time > HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie 04/21/2018 at 00:38

0

Look up Chelsea Denofa. He has one he drifts

Ash78, voting early and often > HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie 04/21/2018 at 00:44

1

The US 318ti was a laughingstock for a reason and Bimmer never repeated the mistake (see also: Mercedes C coupe, even though the CLA sort of took its place).

I believe the Europeans got this bodystyle with an I6 which would be a beast.

Nauraushaun > HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie 04/21/2018 at 00:53

2

I think Americans hate these things because they never had enough power which is fairly typical of Americans. If I had to guess it’s due to silly American laws to begin with.

The rest of the world got a nice E46 generation of these and some better engines too

Trunk Impaired 318 > HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie 04/21/2018 at 01:02

7

Not as bad as everyone makes them out to be. Most have never driven one let alone a well sorted one. I routinely embarrass much more capable cars with mine.

Also, Cali roof.

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie 04/21/2018 at 01:04

1

I’m probably the only person on here who likes the 318ti.

Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. > Nauraushaun 04/21/2018 at 01:07

3

As I recall it also had a simpler rear suspension that I believe was a carryover from the E30 instead of the more sophisticated multi-link suspension that all other E36 models had. Ugly, low power, lesser suspension, more weight than an E30 - what’s not to love? Lots, actually.

I viewed it as a cynical exercise in marketing, with the low price of entry so that the poors could brag about the new Bimmer they bought (just don’t let anyone see it or tell them exactly which model you bought - just say you got a new 3-series and let them assume you bought something decent). The only thing about it that was better than the E30 was that it was a new car with a warranty.

RPM esq. > HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie 04/21/2018 at 01:24

0

I’ve never heard anybody say anything bad about these except two somewhat important things: the engine (peaky and underpowered) and the California roof (leaky). There have been two much-loved ones in my extended family. I’d love to have one swapped to some sort of 6.

HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 04/21/2018 at 01:39

1

The problem with that theory is that (to my mind) it doesn’t look like a car that people would buy as a status symbol (it certainly doesn’t scream “luxury” in any way). I’d say the more status-symbol-y car from the same era is the Z3, which was also essentially a version of the E36 3-series (it was even considered an E36 according to chassis code!), had the same cheaper suspension, and even came with the same 1.8 in base form; I assume that people who really wanted to flaunt their (cheap) new Bimmer would buy that instead. It definitely was intended as a “BMW for the masses,” but I don’t feel that was in a particularly cynical way. Perhaps the question of who it was supposed to appeal to is exactly why they were such a flop.

FSI > HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie 04/21/2018 at 01:39

3

Seems like only American crybabies had a problem with the Compact. It’s actually a great starting point for an I6 engine swap.

HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie > FSI 04/21/2018 at 01:40

1

I’d love to E36-M3 swap one. I think the Hoonigans had exactly that on their show recently-I’ll have to watch that video.

RallyWrench > HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie 04/21/2018 at 01:51

0

These are not notoriously bad, they’re great little cars, in fact. Hardest part now is finding a good one. The interiors are a little low-rent, even by E36 standards, but they’re fun and reliable.

FSI > HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie 04/21/2018 at 02:14

0

BMW’s M divison even made an M3 Compact themselves

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie 04/21/2018 at 08:45

0

I owned one, it was a fun little car.

Stapleface > HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie 04/21/2018 at 08:54

1

E36 hatch with M3 guts has always been a dream of mine. It’s like a grown-up CRX.

Nauraushaun > Full of the sound of the Gran Fury, signifying nothing. 04/21/2018 at 21:46

0

With a higher spec and better engine available, I can’t help but view it as a small, stubby, lighter 3-series coupe. I think the styling is neato too, particularly the E36 325Ti

Say what you will about the headlights, I like them. But the nice bumper and wheels really lift the appearance and RWD with a straight 6 has gotta be sick