Z3 or Mini Cooper S ????
Discussion
I am wondering how the two cars can be compared. The Z3 (or even the Z4) is a strictly 2-seat sports car with a soft top, very little luggage space, an excellent build quality and nice looks (if you like that sort of thing).
The New MINI is a modern, small BMW hatchback with 4 seats, lots of space, also good build quality, but perhaps not quite so good as Z3 or Z4. A lot cheaper than a new Z4 and about the same as a low-mileage 2nd-hand Z3.
Both very good cars, by the way, but completely different in charecter, capability and image.
You are not really comparing like-with-like. The comparison for New MINI is, possibly, the Ford Ka or Fiesta, the bigger engined Corsa, etc, whilst the Z3/4 should be compared with the MX-5, MG-TF, and other small sports cars.
The New MINI is a modern, small BMW hatchback with 4 seats, lots of space, also good build quality, but perhaps not quite so good as Z3 or Z4. A lot cheaper than a new Z4 and about the same as a low-mileage 2nd-hand Z3.
Both very good cars, by the way, but completely different in charecter, capability and image.
You are not really comparing like-with-like. The comparison for New MINI is, possibly, the Ford Ka or Fiesta, the bigger engined Corsa, etc, whilst the Z3/4 should be compared with the MX-5, MG-TF, and other small sports cars.
Cooperman said:
You are not really comparing like-with-like. The comparison for New MINI is, possibly, the Ford Ka or Fiesta, the bigger engined Corsa, etc, whilst the Z3/4 should be compared with the MX-5, MG-TF, and other small sports cars.
Uh, what kind of Ka/Fiesta/Corsa would be competitive with a Cooper S, then?
900T-R said:
You are not really comparing like-with-like. The comparison for New MINI is, possibly, the Ford Ka or Fiesta, the bigger engined Corsa, etc, whilst the Z3/4 should be compared with the MX-5, MG-TF, and other small sports cars.
Uh, what kind of Ka/Fiesta/Corsa would be competitive with a Cooper S, then?
You have to compare the BMW Mini with a 4-seat, 2-door hatchback to get any kind of meaningful comparison. So, typically, but not by any means exclusively, your comparison would have to be with the Corsa 1.8, Fiesta 1.6, etc, maybe up to a Golf GTi, Audi A3, or other hatches from the Japs..
Presumably one would buy a 2-door hatchback with 4-seats because that is what you need in life and you'll be comparing all the various parameters for those models like performance, comfort, ride & handling, interior space, insurance group, spares & servicing costs and other appropriate factors.
If, however, you need absolutely minimal boot space and only 2 seats, then compare the BMW Z3 or Z4 with other 2-seat cars with little luggage space.
I do not think this is the case. Some of us just want the best driving and ownership experience a certain amount of money will by, and how many doors/seats it has and how big the boot is, are of secondary interest at most. I bet this goes for a lot of PH'ers...
As evidenced in the EVO 'Best Driver's Cars under £30K' feature a year or two ago, the Cooper S can hold its own with the best in terms of driver's appeal irrespective of body shape or mechanical layout. The Z3 however can't by a long way, unless it's an M Roadster - which is in a somewhat different price backet both for purchase and running cost, and a rather crude device in some ways to boot.
Against your average supermini - again no comparison. Over here in the Netherlands, a Mini One costs about the same as two Ka's - but it looks and feels the difference in every tangible way.
As for practicality - well, the MINI rear seats are no more than a token effort anyways.
As evidenced in the EVO 'Best Driver's Cars under £30K' feature a year or two ago, the Cooper S can hold its own with the best in terms of driver's appeal irrespective of body shape or mechanical layout. The Z3 however can't by a long way, unless it's an M Roadster - which is in a somewhat different price backet both for purchase and running cost, and a rather crude device in some ways to boot.
Against your average supermini - again no comparison. Over here in the Netherlands, a Mini One costs about the same as two Ka's - but it looks and feels the difference in every tangible way.
As for practicality - well, the MINI rear seats are no more than a token effort anyways.
Being old, I have had the pleasure (not always a pleasure) of owning and driving lots of cars over the last 40 years, including many works rally cars.
Now I choose cars to do specific jobs. For my everyday road car I have a BMW 7-series and this is a superbly comfortable and effortless car for long journeys. I also have a Fiesta 1.6 Zetec Twin-Cam as a 'van' to run around locally. My wife has a Citroen Picasso to transport the grandchildren, go out for picnics and move bulky items. I also have two Minis, a 1964 Cooper 'S' and a 1990 Cooper, both of which are rally cars. For a real driving experience try my '64 car - ask 'rougeleo'.
For best driving experience under £30k, for me it would have to be the air-cooled Porsche 911. I owned a 1973 2.7 Carrera RST for 16 years and it was fabulous.
However, I would still not try to compare a BMW Mini with a BMW Z3 or Z4, anymore than I would compare my 1964 Cooper with my 7-Series - they are completely different.
Now I choose cars to do specific jobs. For my everyday road car I have a BMW 7-series and this is a superbly comfortable and effortless car for long journeys. I also have a Fiesta 1.6 Zetec Twin-Cam as a 'van' to run around locally. My wife has a Citroen Picasso to transport the grandchildren, go out for picnics and move bulky items. I also have two Minis, a 1964 Cooper 'S' and a 1990 Cooper, both of which are rally cars. For a real driving experience try my '64 car - ask 'rougeleo'.
For best driving experience under £30k, for me it would have to be the air-cooled Porsche 911. I owned a 1973 2.7 Carrera RST for 16 years and it was fabulous.
However, I would still not try to compare a BMW Mini with a BMW Z3 or Z4, anymore than I would compare my 1964 Cooper with my 7-Series - they are completely different.
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