Spotted the pattern yet?
Discussion
OK, I know. I've been all over the place in the cars I've been looking at so I won't be surprised if thoes who don't know me think I'm even more confused than those who do. One of the main reasons is that having decided to let Almac progress the Cerb/LS6 build I am now working with a significantly reduced budget for something to fill the gap for entertainment and do occasional commuting and shopping trips. So I'm doing to myself exactly what my clients are always doing to me - changing the scope 
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So, disclaimer having been stated - what about this bit of Strudel (where's an umlaut when you need one):
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/BMW/...
Never driven one but seem to recall them having something of a widowmaker repuation in the wet handling department. No hairdresser humour please.... not with 320hp under the pedal.
)So, disclaimer having been stated - what about this bit of Strudel (where's an umlaut when you need one):
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Cars/BMW/...
Never driven one but seem to recall them having something of a widowmaker repuation in the wet handling department. No hairdresser humour please.... not with 320hp under the pedal.
From what I've read the M coupe had much more resolved handling due to a stiffer chassis, the Z3 chassis was thought not really up to the task of 320 bhp. I remember one mag report on the M Roadster sauggesting it was something of a modern-day AC Cobra - plenty of power, very good for straight-line speed, burnouts and going sideways, but you needed a bit of skill to make it quick and tidy.
Was often compared with the Boxster S, which is a bit slower in a straight line but apparently much better sorted in the corners.
Was often compared with the Boxster S, which is a bit slower in a straight line but apparently much better sorted in the corners.
I would personally go for a Boxster S but I think they are a bit more coin. I'm not being biased caus I've owned P-Cars as I've never driven a Boxster but everything I've heard about there handling and performance has been great. I have driven an M3 and M5 and think that BMW executes a great car. The Z3 was called "the flimsy friend" due to its twisty chassis.
I agree a Boxster S woud be preferred, but they hold their value here even more than in the UK it seems. $60k+?
Incidentally, the RS2 from my earlier thread turned out to have a patchy service history (2 years and 40k km between services at one point) and no clear evidence of a cambelt change which at 180k Kms was just a bit too much risk for me.
Incidentally, the RS2 from my earlier thread turned out to have a patchy service history (2 years and 40k km between services at one point) and no clear evidence of a cambelt change which at 180k Kms was just a bit too much risk for me.
Z3 Coupe is quirky lookin' but I quite like it - sort of a germanic modern-day scimitar! All the mag reviews I remember of these two back in the day were positive. Being a TVR fan I like the hairy nature of cars like this even if I'm not a major fan of the styling. Mind you having said that they're much better looking than a poxster - they are complete mingers! I don't care how well they handle I wouldn't own one.
Given a choice between a Z3M and an M3, I'd go for the tip-top every time.
As for the RS2 - as long as it passed an inspection at a specialist I wouldn't worry about a 2 year gap in service history. I'd never buy a car and not change the cambelt either - it's all about piece of mind. You could be missing out on a lot of fun and you're unlikely to lose any money on it over the years. I guess it comes down to the fact of whether or not you're after a classic or an everyday car (not that you couldn't use an RS2 as an everyday car).
God I can witter on........
Given a choice between a Z3M and an M3, I'd go for the tip-top every time.
As for the RS2 - as long as it passed an inspection at a specialist I wouldn't worry about a 2 year gap in service history. I'd never buy a car and not change the cambelt either - it's all about piece of mind. You could be missing out on a lot of fun and you're unlikely to lose any money on it over the years. I guess it comes down to the fact of whether or not you're after a classic or an everyday car (not that you couldn't use an RS2 as an everyday car).
God I can witter on........
Classic & Sports Car Aug 07: TVR Cerbera vs BMW Z3M. Of course they liked the Cerbera better, but they had a fair bit of respect for the M3 too... crunch line, though: "It's a magnificent engine strapped to a chassis that, though capable, feels uninspiring in this company" (C&SC Aug 07, P133)
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