Classic Imports Archives - Tom's Foreign Auto Parts

BMW 3 Series Used Buyer’s Guide

March 28, 2018May 7, 2018 Tom's Foreign

2012 BMW 328i
The compact entry-level 3 Series reigns as BMW’s #1 volume-leading bestseller and is the most popular model in the marque’s lineup. It was introduced in 1975 as the successor to the New Class 02 Series and has remained in regular production ever since. With a base price that competes with many other contemporary midsize family sedans such as the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord, and Ford Fusion, the 3 Series is arguably the most mainstream of all of BMW’s present-day crop. It’s far more than just a basic commuter car, though. The 3 Series, like its larger sibling, the elite 7 Series high-end luxury saloon, epitomizes the BMW trademark amalgamation of style, luxury, and performance but unlike that premier flagship vehicle, the 3 Series is attainable and has attracted a broad array of new customers ranging from suburban families to urban millennials. What was once previously exclusive to only the more affluent of citizens is now one of the most commonly-seen vehicles on American roads today.

However, the widespread popularity of the BMW 3 Series also saddles it with one of the worst depreciation percentages on the market today: a painful 46.9%. That might not mean anything to someone who leases from a dealership every 3 years, but it really sucks for those who bought brand new from the showroom. But as the old saying goes: “One’s loss is another’s gain.” High depreciation for the 1st owner can be a bargain buy for the 2nd or 3rd in line.

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The Ultimate Driving Machines: Top 5 BMW Cars From Past & Present

January 22, 2018May 7, 2018 Tom's Foreign

This magic badge lets the world know that you drive like a horse's ass.
One of the world’s top premier automotive marques is Germany’s Bayerische Motoren Werke or, for those ausländer die kein Deutsch sprechen, BMW. Whether it’s in terms of innovation, style, luxury, or performance, many automotive journalists and enthusiasts alike consider the BMW brand among the finest automobiles in production today. Even for people who aren’t necessarily into cars or don’t know the slightest thing about them, they tend to associate BMW with poise, refinement, and elegance. It’s a corporate brand identity with over a full century of history and legacy behind it, as well as one of the most imitated.

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Review: 2018 Honda Civic Type R

January 18, 2018May 7, 2018 Tom's Foreign

After 2 decades, the 2018 Honda Civic Type R is FINALLY on American shores.
Well, boys and girls, it’s finally here. The new Honda Civic Type R, which was first revealed at the 2016 Paris Motor Show, has finally hit dealer showrooms and is on sale now in the U.S. of A. 2017 marks the 5th generation of the Type R variant of the Honda Civic and the 10th generation overall for the Civic, which has been in continuous production since 1972.

A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON…

The original Honda Civic made its debut on July 11th, 1972 (as a 1973 model), replacing the N600 as the subcompact economy entry in Honda’s vehicle lineup. It was an immediate hit right out of the box in its native Japan, overtaking its domestic rivals from Nissan and Toyota. The Civic also achieved international success in both England and the United States as it specifically catered to motorists who were affected by the 1973 Oil Crisis and had grown jaded of the increasing banality of traditional, full-sized land barges. The Civic’s mass appeal as an inexpensive, fuel-friendly, and reliable (albeit, boring and uninspired) commuter car, combined with Honda’s growing reputation for hardiness, legions of Civic aficionados and Honda brand loyalists were formed as a result. In 1997, Honda’s famed Type R performance treatment was finally applied to the Civic, granting the little economy car to oin the legendary NSX supercar, DC2 and DC5 Integra, and CH/CL Accord in the Honda Type R stable of high-performance vehicles. The Honda Civic Type R remained unavailable in the North American market since its initial release but now, just in time for the first Civic Type R’s 20th anniversary, the newest iteration of the Civic Type R has finally made its way to American shores to do battle against other performance-oriented “hot hatches” such as the Volkswagen Golf R and the Ford Focus RS.

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Classic Imports : 1982 Toyota Corolla Coupe E70

October 12, 2011September 24, 2013 Dan Tole

The Toyota Corolla was first imported to the US in 1968 and in 1997 Corolla became the best selling nameplate in the world after selling its 35 millionth car. Today we’re taking a look at the 4th generation Corolla, the last generation to have all RWD models. This post was inspired by Chris Peterson’s restored 1982 2 door coupe shown above. These cars are incredibly rare these days so seeing one still on the road in such good condition is extraordinary. Chris has done a nice job with his Corolla and has created a great example of a classic Japanese car.

The fourth generation Corolla was produced from 1979 – 1984. It came with 9 different engines world wide in 7 different models. From a 2 door coupe pictured above to a 5 door van, the Corolla lineup proved to be versatile. Over the short production run, the E70 received 2 front end changes that involved reworking the headlights from 4 round, to 2 rectangular lights and then finally to wrap around headlights in 1982. The 1982 model also got re styled tail lights and new bumpers.

The thing I personally like about this generation of the Corolla is the split rear quarter windows. It’s a unique thing to see on a car and it’s one thing that really stood out to me when I saw Chris’s car. I had never seen windows like that on a Corolla before and was eager to find more info on the car. Upon doing some homework I realized that not many of these cars still exist with split quarter windows making Chris’s Corolla a truly unique restoration.

Check out the gallery below for some other great examples of 4th generation Corollas. This is the first of many Classic import show cases we plan on doing. If you own or know some one that owns a classic foreign car let us know and we’ll feature it on our site. Thanks!