E21 vs E30 road handling and steering

[niske]

I would like to hear some of you with own experience about this. Front arms are main difference and slitghly better weight distribution on E30 side... I'm more interested in 6cyl models comparison so 323i vs 325i for example... Which is faster, less forgiving, more fun...
I think there is no much difference but want to hear your opinions too

[Jeroen]

Hate to be the bearer of bad news but the difference is huge. My first track km's I made in an E21 323i and it was great fun, but also hard work. First time in an E30 (first 318iS later 325i) everything fell into place, car much easier rolled towards the ideal lines and felt less like a handful and behaved more predictable. Track you think, well for me that is a wonderful way of exploring the limits of a car and these were just road cars without special preparations so nothing that makes it hard to compare with the average car on the road.

Some differences:
- more stable when braking an cornering
- more controllable oversteer
- better balanced (mind you any 4 cyl E21 or E30 will always handles better than the average 6 cyl because of the excess weight on the front)
- better brakes

Does this make the E21 a horrible driver? No way, I still love how much fun you can have in an E21 323i and it's also fine with some spirited driving (given suspension and brakes are in good condition). Basically I love how the 323i combines well above average handling with classic looks! The E30 is less of a classic to see but handles better, no matter from what angle you look at it.

[gerrit323]

The e30 is the better version of the e21 thats for sure .. its easier to handle and to drive fast .. if you have a well sorted e21 its a nice car but you have to give the best of yourself and train your skils when driving it hard .. if you do that .. you will be rewarded with pure driving pleasure

[Mihajlo]

E21 is evil.
E30 is less evil.
when pushing hard, you better know what car reaction will be, otherwise you'll end up offroading.

E21 has 4 turns lock to lock and every "saving" is too late unless you start saving before car starts to slide.

[niske]

Thanks to all! That's what you said is more or less what I expected to hear..
I'm going to put 323i brakes on my 320 and complete Bilstein and H&R suspension, LSD, and RHD E46 M3 steering rack... Also battery goes in trunk...
So I think their will be huge benefits for car handling... I remember when I get E36 after E30 and what difference there was in oversteering control, hope it's not that much between E30 and E21 cause rear axles are about the same...

@Mihajlo: Znam o cemu pricas namlatarao sam se rukama na kocki bez serva, za kontru i rekontru, skoro isto ima 4 kruga