Today in the AutoWeek Classics comparison; two real icons from the 80's.
Two true enthusiasts cars with a lot of similarities. Straight lines, rear-wheel drive and a six-cylinder engine.
This is the BMW E30, the successor to the E21.
It was launched in 1982, and the E21 was available with a six-cylinder in the 320...
and the 323. Back then, if it was a 320,
it was powered by a 2.0-litre, and if it was a 323, it would have a 2.3-litre.
This engine is called M20 internally at BMW. It began life in 1977 as carbureted 2.0-litre for the 320.
In 1992, the production seized, but it had become a 2.7-litre for the very efficient E-version.
This is a 325i, and that means it's got a 2.5-litre straight-six,
producing 170 horsepower.
BMW might know how to build nice six-cylinders, but Alfa Romeo knows their business as well.
If I pop the hood, we've got a Busso V6 here.
It was named after its creator, Giuseppe Busso.
This engine was first seen in the Alfa Sei, when it had 12 valves.
It ultimately ended life in the Alfa GT, with a 3.2-litre and 24 valves as final form.
That means this is Genesis, the 2.5-litre with 12 valves.
It produces 156 horsepower, so when it comes to performance, they're very similar.
Let's take it for a drive! This is the BMW 325i, owned by Peter Leus.
It's almost entirely original, a really beautiful car. And that's pretty hard to find these days,
finding a nice E30 or 75. A lot of them have been knackered, crashed,
converted to track day car, a instruction car, or even a race car.
This one however, this is like it was new in 1986.
The only not original part are the BBS-wheels, but they fit the car perfectly.
Just like the Ronal-wheels fit perfectly under the 75.
So, the E30. It's the successor to the E21,
which was the first 3-series. That was only available as a two-door,
and this is a four-door. It's also the first 3-series which was available with a diesel engine;
the 324d or td. The 75 was also available with a diesel engine,
supplied by VM, but we're getting off track.
Right now, we're driving the 170 horsepower 325i, and it's connected to a 5-speed manual gearbox,
which feels a little rubbery, just like you'd expect from a BMW.
It's got nice and short strokes, and...
Just listen to that noise. If you start it up and just drive along quietly,
it immediately sounds powerful. You'll know you're driving a very serious car.
A compact car with a big six-cylinder engine, and the noise remains hot and dark.
When you rev higher, it starts to sound a little metallic.
This is the BMW-engine you want, a nice, big straight-six.
Peter has changed some things about the car, because it's now lower.
It has been lowered a tad, which looks good but it doesn't impact the driving characteristics.
If anything, it improves them, because it's incredibly solid.
If you tug at the steering wheel, it immediately goes the way you want it to go.
It's not incredibly direct, but it's very smooth.
Sure, the comfort suffers a little, because it's a little bouncier than I think it should be.
Other than that, the drive is great.
It feels incredibly solid, just like a BMW should feel.
And if you're able to keep your car in this beautiful, original state,
like Peter has done, you notice how BMW wanted this car to be.
No nonsense, a big six-cylinder in a compact saloon,
and you can enjoy yourself.
Then, let's talk about the surroundings. That's typically BMW as well.
The middle console is aimed towards me, and besides that, there isn't anything vibrant in here.
It's still a German car of course. Clear dials, clear gauges,
buttons, switches, a real check panel-like board computer.
That way you can see if everything's alright. But other than that, it's pretty basic.
Even though it's the 325i, which is the top of the range model, just beneath the M3,
it has wind-up windows, with a cute diamond-shaped upholstery.
It's very German, it's very decent, it's very 80's,
but it's incredibly cool.
Right, the 75. It's the 2.5-litre V6 owned by Martijn Toorenbeek to be exact.
It even has the creaking clutch pedal, but all 75's have that supposedly.
It's supposed to be a infamous problem.
The 75 then. It's seen as the last proper Alfa before Fiat took over.
It was also the last rear-wheel drive Alfa. Sure, the Giulia has rear-wheel drive now,
but for a long time, Alfa Romeo didn't offer rear-wheel drive,
but this 75 has it. Even better, it's got a transaxle.
That means the gearbox and clutch are at the back as well, just like the brakes are fitted to the diffs.
That's a rather special construction, which the Alfetta also used.
The Giulietta would later have a transaxle as well, because the drivetrain is mostly the same.
The lines are pretty similar as well. The Giulietta and 75 both have straight lines.
The square angles and the higher rear... This particular one is from 1986,
that means this is from the first series, so the body is a tad narrower.
Without enlarged wheel arches, without widened sills, which the later models got.
It also doesn't have the spoiler at the rear, and that makes it a little more elegant, more pure.
Then, the engine. The 2.5-litre was available in the Netherlands,
but there weren't a lot of people who bought them. Everybody is familiar with the 3.0-litre V6,
but the 2.5-litre was the engine which all started it. If I should believe the experts,
who know the whole range of V6's, this 2.5-litre supposedly is feistier.
It should have a better throttle response than the 3.0-litre.
I don't know if that's true, but I do know that it sounds absolutely amazing.
Let's change down, because the party starts in the higher revs.
You can hear it rattling in the front, but weirdly,
it's not as spectacular as the BMW is. That sounds even more brutal,
even darker. This Alfa is tad shallower,
and thus the exhaust note is as well.
However, you know you're driving an incredibly powerful 75, which is very smooth as well.
It picks up nicely from low revs, you can just cruise with this car...
If you want however, you can try to reach the red line as well...
Then, your surroundings. It's just as square as its exterior.
It's almost like they've stacked all kinds of boxes on top of each other.
Square shapes everywhere, which is very characteristic.
Something unique to the 2.5-litre V6 and 1.8 Turbo, Martijn has told me,
is the board computer over here. It's a small one which tells you stuff like the average fuel consumption,
temperature and other stuff. Those were the only two to be fitted with that.
Besides that of course, something which is very Alfa 75,
or Alfa 90, the window controls in the roof.
So, which one is my favourite?
Actually, I'm a little bit biased, because I've owned two 75's myself.
Two Twin Sparks. They had the same gearbox as this car actually.
That's a different gearbox than the 3.0-litre V6. But it's the same horrible gearbox, as I said.
It's got very long strokes, so you've got to change gear with love in an Alfa.
Especially the second gear is crucial. So yeah, I already know the 75,
and I've always loved it, but I already owned two of them.
So if I was allowed to choose, I'd take the E30 325i home.
Not because I haven't owned that before, but because it's a car which I like very much.
Maybe even more than I thought. That engine is fantastic,
it's a true party to steer, it looks great, and it sounds amazing.
If I'm honest, and I hate to say it, the 325i sounds better than this Alfa.
So yeah, the 325i takes the crown today,
but a second place couldn't have been closer for this 75 2.5 V6.