Buying a BMW Z3

SmashingPilot

I'm thinking of taking a spin out tomorrow evening to look at this car.
Does anyone have any advice on the car, what to look for?
Should I be worried about it? Ever deal with the garage selling it?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/7190356

Neilw

SmashingPilot wrote: »

I'm thinking of taking a spin out tomorrow evening to look at this car.
Does anyone have any advice on the car, what to look for?
Should I be worried about it? Ever deal with the garage selling it?

http://cars.donedeal.ie/view/7190356

Heavy car for that 1.9 to drag around, I wouldn't say its much fun.
A mk2.5 mx5 would be more fun and far more reliable.

bazz26

I'd be wary of any dealership with only a mobile number as a contact. I'd treat it as a private sale as your not going to get much in the way of warranty on a car of that age.

SmashingPilot

Neilw wrote: »

Heavy car for that 1.9 to drag around, I wouldn't say its much fun.
A mk2.5 mx5 would be more fun and far more reliable.

Thanks for that. Is the mk2.5 mx5 the post 97 model without the flip up lights? Not sure which model is which. Having a look it seems they're a little bit more expensive. May be worth it as you've mentioned.

Blazer

reading this definitely the MX5 all the way
http://www.whatcar.com/car-reviews/used/bmw/z3-roadster/full-review/23488-1

Neilw

SmashingPilot wrote: »

Thanks for that. Is the mk2.5 mx5 the post 97 model without the flip up lights? Not sure which model is which. Having a look it seems they're a little bit more expensive. May be worth it as you've mentioned.

From 2000 onwards I think, I had a 2000 mk2.5 rs for a while. Really fun car and they go forever.

PLUG71

Agree with above.

Very slow imo and I would defo buy an MX5 over the z3 you linked too.

The MX5 is better in the 1.8 so I have been told

bazz26

MkII MX-5 appeared from 1998 onwards and they tend to sell for good money.

MG TF is worth looking at too, a lot cheaper than the MX-5. A poster here called Unkel bought one recently so he should be able to give some pointers:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/MG/TF/car/201426224961356/


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/MG/TF/Sport-Coupe/201423224534028/

PLUG71

bazz26 wrote: »

MkII MX-5 appeared from 1998 onwards and they tend to sell for good money.

MG TF is worth looking at too, a lot cheaper than the MX-5. A poster here called Unkel bought one recently so he should be able to give some pointers:


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/MG/TF/car/201426224961356/


http://www.driving.ie/used-cars/MG/TF/Sport-Coupe/201423224534028/

Factor in getting an up rated head gasket and try and find the VVC variation!

Idbatterim

the 1.9's wouldnt pull you out of bed, also I hated the very heavy drive in them, Id go for a 6 pot if I were you... the 2.2 or ideally 2.5 that came out in 2001...

the below looks nice enough...

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/bmw-z4-cabrio-swap-trade/6812707

SmashingPilot

I haven't seen that MG before, looks quite nice.
How reliable are they?
I want the car to be fun to drive and sounds like I can get better than a Z3.

Neilw

SmashingPilot wrote: »

I haven't seen that MG before, looks quite nice.
How reliable are they?
I want the car to be fun to drive and sounds like I can get better than a Z3.

From what I've seen and read online, the k series rover engine is just a ticking time bomb in every application.

The mx5 is near bombproof, they are such a simple design with Japanese reliability.
Another option would be the Toyota mr2 roadster, but again these are not without engine problems, something about the cat breaking down and causing engine failure.

http://cars.donedeal.ie/cars-for-sale/toyota-mr2/7055508