Z3 - Suitable for all?

gheaver

Wanted to get a local view on this as i'd considered buying one until I asked a few people. Have been getting some mixed views.

The BMW Z3 - Blokes Car, Chicks car or Unisex?

Captain Slow IRL

If it has the 3.2 M3 evo lump in it, it's a blokes car.

peasant

get a Toyota Avensis

gheaver

peasant wrote: »

get a Toyota Avensis

think I'd rather get the bus :-p

Anan1

gheaver wrote: »

Wanted to get a local view on this as i'd considered buying one until I asked a few people. Have been getting some mixed views.

The BMW Z3 - Blokes Car, Chicks car or Unisex?

If you're that insecure you really need to find out what's acceptable to your friends & aquaintances. If it's any help, I drove a 2.8 and thought it was a pretty poor car.

CharlieCroker

They're ok but if i was looking for driving pleasure from a small, rwd convertible i'd be looking at a 1.8 Mx-5 first.

rocknchef

all depends on the driver not the gender

Captain Slow IRL

Anan1 wrote: »

If it's any help, I drove a 2.8 and thought it was a pretty poor car.

What was poor about it?

El Guapo!

Personally Id go for a Honda S2000 instead. Better car and better looking. Get it in white with the red leather interior.
Or if you must buy the Z3, I hear Halfords do cheap pink fluffy dice!

gheaver

Anan1 wrote: »

If you're that insecure you really need to find out what's acceptable to your friends & aquaintances. If it's any help, I drove a 2.8 and thought it was a pretty poor car.

who said anything about reconsidering? it's just interesting to see different peoples opinions sometimes

So you drove the 2.8? what didn't you like about it? surely at 2.8 it had plenty of poke?

niceirishfella

+1 for the S2000.
Or, if you can afford it, go for a Z4, much more refined and a great drive.

gheaver

Dean09 wrote: »

Personally Id go for a Honda S2000 instead. Better car and better looking. Get it in white with the red leather interior.
Or if you must buy the Z3, I hear Halfords do cheap pink fluffy dice!

lol - what about go faster stripes?

the s2000 is nice alright - hadn't even considered it until now - good suggestion

Anan1

Captain Slow IRL wrote: »

What was poor about it?

It was a good while ago, so i'm a bit vague on the details. I still have a general sense of stodgy handling and poor rigidity, though. With the exception of the engine & perhaps the interior, the MX5 is a far better car, IMO.

gheaver

Anan1 wrote: »

It was a good while ago, so i'm a bit vague on the details. I still have a general sense of stodgy handling and poor rigidity, though. With the exception of the engine & perhaps the interior, the MX5 is a far better car, IMO.

interesting stuff! was the 2.8 too much for the body then?

El Guapo!

gheaver wrote: »

lol - what about go faster stripes?

the s2000 is nice alright - hadn't even considered it until now - good suggestion

Yeah they really are a nice car. Quick too. Some of them are fairly pricey though. But if you shop around you can find a really nice one at the right price too.

Captain Slow IRL

I've only ever in a 1.8 (maybe 1.9, think it was only a single cam though) and thought it was great, engine was the only let down.

gheaver

niceirishfella wrote: »

+1 for the S2000.
Or, if you can afford it, go for a Z4, much more refined and a great drive.

z4 is nice alright - the electric hard roof is very desirable given our own climate for 4/5ths of the year

gheaver

Dean09 wrote: »

Yeah they really are a nice car. Quick too. Some of them are fairly pricey though. But if you shop around you can find a really nice one at the right price too.

aye, i just took a look at the vrt on them - about a grand more than the z3 for similar purchase price over the water

Anan1

gheaver wrote: »

interesting stuff! was the 2.8 too much for the body then?

From memory, the 2.8 was the best thing about it! Drive one and then drive an MX5 and you'll see what I mean - the best way I could describe it is that the Mazda enjoys being driven, whereas the BMW finds it a chore. I remember being surprised at the time, most BMWs i've ever driven have been competent at worst.

gheaver

Anan1 wrote: »

From memory, the 2.8 was the best thing about it! Drive one and then drive an MX5 and you'll see what I mean - the best way I could describe it is that the Mazda enjoys being driven, whereas the BMW finds it a chore. I remember being surprised at the time, most BMWs i've ever driven have been competent at worst.

fair enough - my old man had an old mx5 for a while which was great fun to drive (and partly to blame for my new found interest in soft tops coming into the summer)

gheaver

niceirishfella wrote: »

+1 for the S2000.
Or, if you can afford it, go for a Z4, much more refined and a great drive.

have you driven both a z3 and a z4 - z4 is nicer looking car alright, does it really handle that much better?

Anan1

gheaver wrote: »

fair enough - my old man had an old mx5 for a while which was great fun to drive (and partly to blame for my new found interest in soft tops coming into the summer)

Buy this:http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1360002; ;-)

Seriously though, in it's segment the MX5 is a hard act to follow.

gheaver

Anan1 wrote: »

Buy this:http://www.driving.ie/usedcars/index.cfm?fuseaction=car&carID=1360002; ;-)

Seriously though, in it's segment the MX5 is a hard act to follow.

lol, tax man would see me coming a mile away. must take a spin in one of the newer mx5's then so.

ronnie3585

It's not even a hairdresser's car, it's the hairdresser's receptionists car.

niceirishfella

gheaver wrote: »

have you driven both a z3 and a z4 - z4 is nicer looking car alright, does it really handle that much better?

Yes, and the Z4 is a wayyyyyyyyy better drive handling wise and more comfy on a long journey. Also, as the Z4 has the hard top, insurance co's will go easier on you.:)

LoveDucati2

Had a 2.8 in UK around 2001. Was a fun car, sounded great with roof down. It wasn't particularly quick though. A friend had a skyline (nissan sunny) that was mental compared to it.

gheaver

niceirishfella wrote: »

Yes, and the Z4 is a wayyyyyyyyy better drive handling wise and more comfy on a long journey. Also, as the Z4 has the hard top, insurance co's will go easier on you.:)

fair enough, will give them both a spin sometime this week and try persuade the missus into letting me spend the extra few bob on the z4.

whats the bets it pishes down all summer?

Gatster

I had one and had nothing but a good time in it, it was a mint 2.0 with stunning (optional) 18" BBS alloys but was admittedly a little slow - I'd have bought a 2.8 at the time but couldn't find any unabused examples. I'd driven a lot of miles in an MX-5 and felt the long distance comfort of the Z3 was a fair trade off for not handling quite as well (you can have a laugh in either IMO).

I've driven the Z4 quite a bit too (a mate has a 2.5i), and it is a good bit more grown up but doesn't feel as 'lively' (skittish, LOL) although a definite solid improvement.

Not that it bothered me, but I had nothing but positive compliments about the Z3, if I was able to cope with two seats again I'd seriosuly consider a run-out 3.0 or M-Roadster given the money they're going for. Not sure what all this Z4 hard top talk is about - it was an (expensive) option on the Z3 and Z4 (apart from the Z4 Coupe, obviously). The brand-new Z4 has a very cool looking folding metal roof though...

PM me if you want to know anymore.

jimboddb

What kinda money you thinking? The Boxster is a nice motor, get a 99/00 in the uk for smallish money. Bit girly but much better than the z3.

Wossack

Option 4: masochists car

niceirishfella

Carefull of buying a Boxster - serious engine trouble to be encountered. My advice is to read up on Boxsters, talk to some owners,read the forums and buy the best you can afford.
Super roadster tho - I love em'

gheaver

niceirishfella wrote: »

Carefull of buying a Boxster - serious engine trouble to be encountered. My advice is to read up on Boxsters, talk to some owners,read the forums and buy the best you can afford.
Super roadster tho - I love em'

yeah, i know the is sacrilege to a whole whack of people - but i've never been the biggest porsche fan with the exception perhaps of the old 911's

gheaver

jimboddb wrote: »

What kinda money you thinking? The Boxster is a nice motor, get a 99/00 in the uk for smallish money. Bit girly but much better than the z3.

just found this which is interesting for this thread

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6166099264858426015