Discussion
Umar, I too looked at a Z3 - when I was replacing my VR6 though.
I was looking at the M Coupe and the M Roadster.
The handling was superb and you could even fit some luggage in the Coupe version.
I was going round corners so fast I though I was going to be thrown out with force. Much more grip than the Corrado.
The 2.8 was just a bit wimpy for what was supposedly 190bhp or so.
The price and lack of rear seats put me off in the end.
The Coupe and Roadster were both about £25k for an early example whereas I got my M5 for £15k!
I was looking at the M Coupe and the M Roadster.
The handling was superb and you could even fit some luggage in the Coupe version.
I was going round corners so fast I though I was going to be thrown out with force. Much more grip than the Corrado.
The 2.8 was just a bit wimpy for what was supposedly 190bhp or so.
The price and lack of rear seats put me off in the end.
The Coupe and Roadster were both about £25k for an early example whereas I got my M5 for £15k!
I have to agree with other comments, most Z3 owners I always expect them to start conversations with "Going anywhere nice on your Holidays?" or "Would you like conditioner?"
And do you want to buy the brand that no one will let you out of side turnings or give way to you?
What ever floats your boat and all that, but how about looking at what else you can get for the same money, and maybe give you a bigger grin
But if it's a Z3 that lifts your frock - go for it.
And do you want to buy the brand that no one will let you out of side turnings or give way to you?
What ever floats your boat and all that, but how about looking at what else you can get for the same money, and maybe give you a bigger grin
But if it's a Z3 that lifts your frock - go for it.
Up until recently I would never have considered a Z3 for anything. The low-power engines are "girlie" (no offence ladies - you know what I mean - no disrespect intended) and lets face it - its not exactly beautiful either. Those side grilles remind me of a woodlouse!
However - the M Roadster is one serious vehicle. >300bhp. 0..60 under 5. ABS and proper Electronic stability and all for about 36K new. The updated version even looks a bit better. And I'll bet it will handle quite well enough to be a blast. I'll ket you know after my extended test drive.
Comparing this to its competitor TVRs (Chimaera 450) it is 1) As powerful. 2) Nearly as quick. 3) Has all the modern electronics (I know , I know what do you need 'em for) 4) Is made by BMW.
The last point being both a plus point and a negative.
So its damn good value for what it is?
I'm about to rent one to go on holiday in NZ for two weeks. I'll let you know what I think of the 2.2 version after that.
Mind you. I still think its U-G-L-Y.
However - the M Roadster is one serious vehicle. >300bhp. 0..60 under 5. ABS and proper Electronic stability and all for about 36K new. The updated version even looks a bit better. And I'll bet it will handle quite well enough to be a blast. I'll ket you know after my extended test drive.
Comparing this to its competitor TVRs (Chimaera 450) it is 1) As powerful. 2) Nearly as quick. 3) Has all the modern electronics (I know , I know what do you need 'em for) 4) Is made by BMW.
The last point being both a plus point and a negative.
So its damn good value for what it is?
I'm about to rent one to go on holiday in NZ for two weeks. I'll let you know what I think of the 2.2 version after that.
Mind you. I still think its U-G-L-Y.
Umar
I wouldn't be put off by the stereotypical old b@llocks about hairdressers.
A 2.8 litre 6 cylinder engined rear wheel drive open top car for not that much money is worth a look and a drive.
The 1.9 car is underpowered but still good fun for pootling around town with the roof down.
I haven't driven a 2.8, so can't comment - but I would guess its more fun than most front wheel drive cars. 3.0 is fast, but you need the one with the sports suspension otherwise it feels a bit floaty.
The M Roadster is one of the few totally reliable 320bhp sports cars you can buy. Very quick and a superb engine. Handles well and the best looking of all the Z3's thanks to the wider rear wheel arches, huge rear wheels and revised front end.
All the cars are well built (although the Americans don't build BMW's as well as the Germans), reliable and backed by a large company that cares about its customers and has a decent warranty.
I bought an M Roadster because I did 15,000-20,000 miles a year, could not afford 2 cars and when I needed to get from A to B, I had to know for sure that I would get to B! Although I would have loved a TVR, for me at the time it wasn't practical - 3 services a year at £400 a time, questionable reliability - couldn't do it.
Now my mileage is down significantly and I have an old hatchback to do the boring stuff in I can indulge in a TVR Griffith and am selling the M.
However, the M is a seriously quick car and doesn't suffer from the niggles that affect a lot of TVR's (not an insult to TVR, its just they can't spend the same sort of money on development due to the significantly lower volumes, so things will go wrong from time to time). You don't need to pamper a BMW in the same way you do a TVR. (No I don't own one yet, but I have read Steve Heath's book).
Have a drive and make your own mind up.
I wouldn't be put off by the stereotypical old b@llocks about hairdressers.
A 2.8 litre 6 cylinder engined rear wheel drive open top car for not that much money is worth a look and a drive.
The 1.9 car is underpowered but still good fun for pootling around town with the roof down.
I haven't driven a 2.8, so can't comment - but I would guess its more fun than most front wheel drive cars. 3.0 is fast, but you need the one with the sports suspension otherwise it feels a bit floaty.
The M Roadster is one of the few totally reliable 320bhp sports cars you can buy. Very quick and a superb engine. Handles well and the best looking of all the Z3's thanks to the wider rear wheel arches, huge rear wheels and revised front end.
All the cars are well built (although the Americans don't build BMW's as well as the Germans), reliable and backed by a large company that cares about its customers and has a decent warranty.
I bought an M Roadster because I did 15,000-20,000 miles a year, could not afford 2 cars and when I needed to get from A to B, I had to know for sure that I would get to B! Although I would have loved a TVR, for me at the time it wasn't practical - 3 services a year at £400 a time, questionable reliability - couldn't do it.
Now my mileage is down significantly and I have an old hatchback to do the boring stuff in I can indulge in a TVR Griffith and am selling the M.
However, the M is a seriously quick car and doesn't suffer from the niggles that affect a lot of TVR's (not an insult to TVR, its just they can't spend the same sort of money on development due to the significantly lower volumes, so things will go wrong from time to time). You don't need to pamper a BMW in the same way you do a TVR. (No I don't own one yet, but I have read Steve Heath's book).
Have a drive and make your own mind up.
The M Roadster isn't a *very* good handling M car - far too uncommunicative steering and slightly 'soft and distant' chassis. However, it will still outhandle most bits of tin on the road, and it goes quite nicely.
I have done a fair few hot miles in them, and would never recommend them as out and out driver's cars. A Porsche 944 cabriolet has a much better chassis, for example, and an M3 Coupe from the same year is better set-up for the twisties.
No disrespect intended to M Roadster owners, but it is much closer to an SLK than a soft top 911 or Griffith IMHO.
Rgds
Domster
PS I am talking about handling, not grip. If you don't believe how far short the handling falls, drive an M Roadster in the wet. Then get out and drive something with a sorted chassis, like a 968 Club Sport.
>> Edited by domster on Wednesday 13th February 18:08
I have done a fair few hot miles in them, and would never recommend them as out and out driver's cars. A Porsche 944 cabriolet has a much better chassis, for example, and an M3 Coupe from the same year is better set-up for the twisties.
No disrespect intended to M Roadster owners, but it is much closer to an SLK than a soft top 911 or Griffith IMHO.
Rgds
Domster
PS I am talking about handling, not grip. If you don't believe how far short the handling falls, drive an M Roadster in the wet. Then get out and drive something with a sorted chassis, like a 968 Club Sport.
>> Edited by domster on Wednesday 13th February 18:08
GRIFF2BE,
Thanks for the encouraging response, i an going for a test drive soon with a local dealer, and i will let everybody (who is interested
) know how i get on.
about the M models, i would love to get one, but insurence for a 21 year old? this is how a recent conversation went.
umar: i would like a quote for an M roadster please
insurence comp: certainly sir, can i ask how much no claims you have.
umar: 3 years
insurence comp: and how old are you?
umar: 21
insurence comp: [very long pause] HHHHAAAAAA!!!!!! HHHHHHAAAAA!!!!!!! HHHHHAHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
HHHHAAAAAA!!!!!! HHHHHHAAAAA!!!!!!! HHHHHAHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
HHHHAAAAAA!!!!!! HHHHHHAAAAA!!!!!!! HHHHHAHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
umr: eeerrrmmm, sorry i didn't quite catch that, how much is it?
insurence comp: [this price is the cheapest i found], well, eerrr, the quote is for £4516. HHHHAAAAAA!!!!!! HHHHHHAAAAA!!!!!!! HHHHHAHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
i think you get the picture, but suprisingly the quote from the same company for a 2.8 is £1224 fully comp
insurence companies...don't you just love 'em!!
Thanks for the encouraging response, i an going for a test drive soon with a local dealer, and i will let everybody (who is interested
) know how i get on. about the M models, i would love to get one, but insurence for a 21 year old? this is how a recent conversation went.
umar: i would like a quote for an M roadster please
insurence comp: certainly sir, can i ask how much no claims you have.
umar: 3 years
insurence comp: and how old are you?
umar: 21
insurence comp: [very long pause] HHHHAAAAAA!!!!!! HHHHHHAAAAA!!!!!!! HHHHHAHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
HHHHAAAAAA!!!!!! HHHHHHAAAAA!!!!!!! HHHHHAHAAAAAAAAA!!!!! HHHHAAAAAA!!!!!! HHHHHHAAAAA!!!!!!! HHHHHAHAAAAAAAAA!!!!! umr: eeerrrmmm, sorry i didn't quite catch that, how much is it?
insurence comp: [this price is the cheapest i found], well, eerrr, the quote is for £4516. HHHHAAAAAA!!!!!! HHHHHHAAAAA!!!!!!! HHHHHAHAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
i think you get the picture, but suprisingly the quote from the same company for a 2.8 is £1224 fully comp
insurence companies...don't you just love 'em!!
This happened to me while I was getting my Elise cleaned at a hand car wash. Guy with a Z3 pulls his car up along side me. He's looking at my Lotus and I catch his eye.
"Isn't very luxurious is it?" he mutters to me. I give his Z3 a glance and say "Do you know what the problem is with your car?" He shrugs his shoulders and looks at me anxiously. "It's that" I reply while pointing at the other two Z3's sitting in queue "Not very exclusive is it!!"
Needless to say he ignored me after that. I wouldn't recommend the Z3 to anyone, it looks crap, it drives like crap and BMW won't tell just how much lift they generate at speed!! I'm surprised the wheels stay in contact with the road to be honest....
The car is for posers who think they can show off in a cheap car that resembles a pump Reebok.
Go buy a car to entertain yourself not anyone else - it helps if it does both though!
"Isn't very luxurious is it?" he mutters to me. I give his Z3 a glance and say "Do you know what the problem is with your car?" He shrugs his shoulders and looks at me anxiously. "It's that" I reply while pointing at the other two Z3's sitting in queue "Not very exclusive is it!!"
Needless to say he ignored me after that. I wouldn't recommend the Z3 to anyone, it looks crap, it drives like crap and BMW won't tell just how much lift they generate at speed!! I'm surprised the wheels stay in contact with the road to be honest....
The car is for posers who think they can show off in a cheap car that resembles a pump Reebok.
Go buy a car to entertain yourself not anyone else - it helps if it does both though!
quote:
I know it's a BMW but what do you really think of them.
I was looking at a 2.8 model and i did not realise how cheap they were going
just when i made my mind up the get a corrado vr6
Dont - the only Z3 worth having the the Z3M or MCoupe.
Buy a TVR, an Elise or an S2000 instead...
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