Tell me I’m wrong.
It’s been a long time coming, Euro snobs. You’ve had a good run. At this point, you should just relax. Coast on it for a minute here. You’ve had, what is this, three decades of easy pride of ownership. All you E30 owners went through a yuppie phase, then you sort of got forgotten for a while there and stayed under the radar, and then you got to enjoy a real renaissance where you were were an affordable, desirable, easy-to-own, easy-to enjoy, fun-to-drive classic. Well, not quite a classic. The Europeans call cars liked the E30 a youngtimer. But you knew that already. You’re cultured.
Well, those simple times have come to an end.
You’re just driving the German Mustang now.
For those of you who are reading this from Europe, you’re going to be confused. That’s fine. This isn’t for you. You’ve had your own Mustangs for years. Opel Mantas. Ford Capris. Sciroccos. Anything that had just a little bit of willful style and strong aftermarket support.
No, this message is for the Americans reading this who have gone out and bought E30s because it was the simple and easy choice to make, one that gives them all of the wonderful ability to carve a Sunday drive out of any free hour in their day, or shred some tires if they so choose. You’ve crashed enough in that second part for it all to become clear. You’re just driving a Mustang now, but with a better ride, better handling, a fancier engine, and an interior that doesn’t make you feel like listening to country music every time you climb inside.
You dream high-horsepower dreams, imagining a day when you get that nice set of coilovers, and choice tires, and maybe an engine swap. An engine swap! You could lay rubber from your driveway to the nearest track.
Look at yourself. You’re no different from the Mustang bros. You just have a better badge.