Chassis stiffness between verts an coupes/sedan

[sheepdog]

Okay, so I finally got to drive my Miata, which is too small and was sold to my brother (boy is it small inside). However driving with the top down, is all I thought it would be. Minus cowl shake and the way it flexes it is a fun car, but it is not as confidence inspiring as my IS. Very twitchy car.

So, anyone have an e30 (or e36) in both vert and sedan/coupe. How was the chassis stiffness? Could you feel a significant difference?

I am thinking of buying a vert and put my interior and other parts into it, then sell off the IS. I don't want a sloppy feeling car though. Obviously I am going to have to drive one eventually to see, but that is a ways off.

[beegeezy]

Had a 91 325i vert. It was a fun cruiser, but it did flex a LOT. you could tell just how bad the flexing was when the car was on the lift. my coupe would have a stiffer shutting door, the vert door would not close if opened. The hard top made a lot of difference in the vert's stiffness, but it still wasnt on par with the coupe.

[e30 4cyl]

The convertible forms of both the e30 and e36 are much weaker than the coupe or sedan forms.  I have heard you can't close the door on a e30 convertible when it is being jacked up.  I believe convertibles are also a lot heavier.

[sheepdog]

I am not really worried about the stiffness too much or the weight, I want it mostly as a cruiser (I need to slow down anyhow).

I am more concerned about cowl shake on rough roads.

[beegeezy]

As a cruiser, the vert was fun. If thats what youre using it for, its perfect. I love e30 verts