Spoilt for choice - what should you choose?
It's time again. There is some space in the garage and the desire for a new (old) car is great. A sporty car from the eighties with travel/touring characteristics is what I want and there are four quite different vehicles to choose from:
The BMW 635 CSI of the E24 series was built from 1978 to 1989; the series had already been presented in Geneva in March 1976. With its airy and classic design under the leadership of Paul Bracq, the E24 became the longest-built model series of all time, and when you see one of these coupés today, its elegance and charisma continue to impress. With the 3.5-litre engine, 218 hp was available at the rear axle, which ensured excellent driving performance in view of the kerb weight of less than 1.5 tons.
Two years later, the Alfa Romeo GTV6 saw the light of day. The four-seater coupé was based on the Alfetta GT, but was able to shine with the V6 from the Alfa Sei saloon. Driving performance had taken a leap forward with the now 160 hp and the GTV6 was considered the last step before a Ferrari at the time. The sound was addictive and the handsome coupé also revealed many advantages in practice.
The Mercedes-Benz 190E 2.3-16 appeared somewhat later than the GTV6, which had been initiated as a basis for racing and was also able to prove for a few years in the DTM that it was conceptually correct. With four doors and a trunk suitable for families, it required hardly any compromises in terms of everyday usability, but like its competitor, the BMW M3 E30, it was also good fun on the racetrack. In contrast to the M3, however, the prices for the 190E with its Cosworth-developed sixteen-valve engine remained manageable, even for the rarer 2.5-liter version, which was available from 1987.
And the last of the four potential garage fillers was the Porsche 944 S2 (or alternatively a 944 Turbo Coupé), which was introduced in 1988. With 211 hp, the pretty coupé almost rivaled the 911 Carrera of the time, but as a turbo with 220 hp, it was no cheaper than the classic six-cylinder boxer. Today, things are different, because while the 911 models seem to be steadily increasing in value, the 944 variants are stagnating at a comparatively low level.
So there are four vehicles to choose from, all of which have their charms. Alfa and BMW captivate with their six-cylinder engines, the Benz with its maneuverability and everyday racing flair, the 944 promises sports car pleasure without remorse. In terms of price, well-maintained models of these four types have little in common, all lying in the 12,000 to 25,000 euro/CHF price range. But the choice is a wonderful one to agonize over and who knows whether another alternative will emerge that beats the four vehicles described here? If something comes up, we'll be sure to report on it again ...
P.S.: And if anyone knows of a saleable and affordable example of the above-mentioned vehicle types with hopefully not too high a mileage, which is also fully documented and in good, maintenance-free condition, then I would of course be grateful for a tip ...
