Just curious, a friend of mine is driving a BMW model that pre-dates my BMW awareness. The car is a 318ti Hatchback. It's in great shape, no drips, no runs, no errors. Starts & runs as quiet at the day it left the factory, with over 170,000 miles on the clock. Were Hatchbacks rare in the past, or is this one of many 318ti's with this build?
BMW's latter-day (relatively speaking) hatch-history goes back to the 2002 Touring models... (some info here: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/230140/1972-bmw-2002 ) BMW's next hatch was the vehicle you're talking about, in the U.S., the 318ti, or "compact", introduced in 1995. More info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_E36 Apparently was never a big seller in the U.S. market for BMW, but I believe developed it's own group of 'compact' loyalists & devotee's. I don't see many running around any more in my area. BMW has had a number of 5-dr. wagons also labeled tourings, which obviously have a rear hatch , but the profile is more station-wagonesque, vs. the fastback-style hatch of the 2002 touring and E36 'compact'.
Thanks for the info, my BMW days started around 2005, about the same time my kids College loans were paid off...
