Discussion
I apply once again to the font of all things car related, and ask the following.
I have an MR2 roadster at the mo. Lovely car, sharp and superb handling, and quite a bit of fun.But mine is burning oil, and having been there before, I don't know if I want to sort this out again.
I was thinking of swapping it for a Z3 - (I've recently sold my E39, so I'd quite like a BM in my life again). I guess it handles OK - most BMW seem to be OK.
Would a decent example be reasonable fun, with a bit of practicality? Or is it just toooooo old, with too many issues.
I guess everyone would recommend the 2.8, but is the 1.9 any good,or is it too far under-powered. 2.2 as a compromise?
Clearly I'd prefer a 6 cylinder, but so does everyone else, and this gives them a bit of a premium. (About doubles the value or more), What's the thoughts?
Thanks all
Oh, and manual or electric roof?.
I have an MR2 roadster at the mo. Lovely car, sharp and superb handling, and quite a bit of fun.But mine is burning oil, and having been there before, I don't know if I want to sort this out again.
I was thinking of swapping it for a Z3 - (I've recently sold my E39, so I'd quite like a BM in my life again). I guess it handles OK - most BMW seem to be OK.
Would a decent example be reasonable fun, with a bit of practicality? Or is it just toooooo old, with too many issues.
I guess everyone would recommend the 2.8, but is the 1.9 any good,or is it too far under-powered. 2.2 as a compromise?
Clearly I'd prefer a 6 cylinder, but so does everyone else, and this gives them a bit of a premium. (About doubles the value or more), What's the thoughts?
Thanks all
Oh, and manual or electric roof?.
I got the below car for my wife about 4 years ago for £1400 when prices were on their arse. its a 2.8 it then had about 90k now done 100k. Today it is getting new shock absorbers on the front. That is all its needed in my ownership. I love it and cant see us ever replacing it. They have to be up there as the best value wee roadster out.
I've got 2 Z3s, both of them prefacelift model 2.8s. One is standard, one quite heavily modded.
The 2.8 is plenty powerful enough, the gear ratios are quite short/close. The 1.9 16v is a good engine, it won't win any sprint awards but the 4-cyl does confer a certain lightness of handling that the 6-pots miss. Avoid the 8v 1.8 though. If you get a later facelift model the suspension setup is a little bit better, the earlier cars have a slight friskiness engineered into them that makes it feel like you are approaching the limits sooner than you are. This can be rectified by using M-spec or aftermarket poly bushes. AFAIK they all have electric hoods.
The 2.8 is plenty powerful enough, the gear ratios are quite short/close. The 1.9 16v is a good engine, it won't win any sprint awards but the 4-cyl does confer a certain lightness of handling that the 6-pots miss. Avoid the 8v 1.8 though. If you get a later facelift model the suspension setup is a little bit better, the earlier cars have a slight friskiness engineered into them that makes it feel like you are approaching the limits sooner than you are. This can be rectified by using M-spec or aftermarket poly bushes. AFAIK they all have electric hoods.
I had a 2.0 six cylinder Z3 as a daily driver a few years ago and it was totally reliable covering 23,000 miles a year needing nothing other than consumables and servicing.
It was certainly a fun little car and much less common than MX5s. With the hard top it was lovely and snug in winter too!
It was certainly a fun little car and much less common than MX5s. With the hard top it was lovely and snug in winter too!
There is still a gap, but it does look small. I only ever really run sheds plus. So about 2k max. And the cheapest 2.8 I can currently find is £2800 (ironically). (There is one at £1,950, with 264k miles,but that may be a bit leggy even for me).
Maybe I should just sort out the Toyota, but I do fancy something a bit different, and perhaps just a little bit more practical.
Maybe I should just sort out the Toyota, but I do fancy something a bit different, and perhaps just a little bit more practical.
I don't think the gap is tiny between Z3 and....it took me ages selling a 60,000 mile 2001 3.0 recently, FWIW I got £4,500 for it. I had it 5 years, but it wasn't used enough since I have a company car and my OH has her own car. Very soft in terms of ride and handling, but I enjoyed the torquey engine and the sound with the roof down. It was pretty quick (though I've never owned anything more powerful, so perhaps I've lead a sheltered life).
The bodywork is galvanised, but you can still get rust, most seem to look pretty tidy though, so if there is visible rust on it then perhaps it's been hammered/not looked after.
The bodywork is galvanised, but you can still get rust, most seem to look pretty tidy though, so if there is visible rust on it then perhaps it's been hammered/not looked after.
I went the kind of the other way from a Z4 Coupe to an MR2.
The engine was nice in the BMW. It was fast and gripped well. The engine was very nice. It looked the nuts. But it just wasn't as fun to hoon around in, not by a long shot. The MR2 is fun in the way a lightweight, mid engined car can be.
The Z3 is likely dynamically worse than a Z4 Coupe in any event. It really depends what you want out of the car though. If you're after a more laid-back, relaxing experience you might prefer it.
My MR2 is also burning oil. I'm just going to keep it topped up until it goes bang or I decide to 2ZZ it.
The engine was nice in the BMW. It was fast and gripped well. The engine was very nice. It looked the nuts. But it just wasn't as fun to hoon around in, not by a long shot. The MR2 is fun in the way a lightweight, mid engined car can be.
The Z3 is likely dynamically worse than a Z4 Coupe in any event. It really depends what you want out of the car though. If you're after a more laid-back, relaxing experience you might prefer it.
My MR2 is also burning oil. I'm just going to keep it topped up until it goes bang or I decide to 2ZZ it.
From what I understand these share alot of the E30 BMW beneath them, very much like the E36 Compact. That means you get E30 semi-independent rear suspension and the older dash inside. But to be fair age has helped them along nicely and they are probably quite a safe bet to buy now ; the prices have been low for quite some time.
I'd consider one TBH
. That said I'd avoid the 8v 1.8 as well as the 2.0 and 2.2 6 pots. You get an engine which comparatively speaking is not very torquey but also one that is as thirsty as it bigger brethren, even when driven carefully.
I'd consider one TBH
. That said I'd avoid the 8v 1.8 as well as the 2.0 and 2.2 6 pots. You get an engine which comparatively speaking is not very torquey but also one that is as thirsty as it bigger brethren, even when driven carefully.Thanks for all the comments. The MR2 is actually a little bit worse than I thought. The engine refused to turn over the other day, because one of the cylinders was hydro locked. After removing the plugs, and spinning it over it started OK, but clearly the HG is failed. I blame myself for this, as I failed to notice the temperature gauge hard in the red after the rad went bang. (disadvantage of any older car). Give the MR2 will be worth very little in this state, I've splashed out on a 42k mile engine from a 2008 Corrolla. So as soon as the engine comes, it will be swapped. That should sort out my summer of fun.
I might then look for a BMW in the autumn and see which one I prefer.
I might then look for a BMW in the autumn and see which one I prefer.
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