 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Car Forum / BMW Cars / March 2005Late model Z-3
I was looking at a Miata and liked it a lot except for one thing: I would have to cut 4 inches of my right leg to get it between the steering wheel and the transmission tunnel! So I am thinking I should consider a Z-3 Roadster. Any opinions here pro or con? One thing that bothered me a little is that the BMW dealer seems to have a VERY large inventory of used Z cars. Is it because Columbus is getting a real winter for the first time in 25 years? Thank you. Fritz Wagner Columbus, Ohio >I was looking at a Miata and liked it a lot except for one thing: > I would have to cut 4 inches of my right leg to get it between [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Fritz Wagner > Columbus, Ohio I put about 68,000 miles on a new '97 Z3 2.8 (which was then traded in on a Z4) and was quite happy with the car. If you'd like to email me with specific questions, please remove the "nospam". Tom K. >>I was looking at a Miata and liked it a lot except for one thing: >> I would have to cut 4 inches of my right leg to get it between [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > in on a Z4) and was quite happy with the car. If you'd like to > email me with specific questions, please remove the "nospam". I agree, it's a hell of a car. Makes a Miata feel sick. Handling, power, the whole deal... By all means drive one and make up your own mind. So, if you do find you want a Z3, check out the one I have for sale at: http://users.adelphia.net/~fredwills/ I really don't want to sell it. I'd much rather keep it forever... But family priorities, and all that. Anyway, even if you don't buy mine, it's a hell of a roadster. Head and shoulders above a Miata... Even the Mazda RX7 I had before the Z3 makes the Miata feel silly, and the Z makes kicks the RX's butt. -Fred W >Anyway, even if you don't buy mine, it's a hell of a roadster. Head >and shoulders above a Miata... Even the Mazda RX7 I had before the Z3 >makes the Miata feel silly, and the Z makes kicks the RX's butt. That may be because you don't know how to drive a car like a Miata properly. It's not all about straight line grunt, you know. I still have a Caterham Seven with a mere 135BHP crossflow, in which I will *seriously* kick your Z3's arse on any track - other than one with mile long straights. Another modestly priced car in this class that is *well worth* looking at is the Toyota MR2. Mid engine, light weight, it's a hoot. I just replaced SWMBO's '94 Miata 'R' with one. This is the last year for the MR2, in the US at least, and I - oops, I mean she - just *had* to have one while there's still the chance. It's like a baby NSX, I love it. BMW "roadsters" don't impress me, at least not unless you're talking about an Alpina. Apart from that, they're too heavy and expensive, there's better to be had for a lot less money.  SignatureDean Dark > That may be because you don't know how to drive a car like a Miata > properly. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > *seriously* kick your Z3's arse on any track - other than one with > mile long straights. Which might be pertinent if the OP was looking for the car that best performs on the track. I've driven those cars (though not yours because I don't remember a 135 bhp model, must be older than the ones I have driven), and I don't think many would choose it as an everyday driver on most countries' roads. While I like the 7 Range, I don't like any of them as a car to live with everyday. I suspect he is looking for some nice performance along with an enjoyable road ride and some nice appointments to the car. In any case, there is another British car I like much more in terms of fun on the track. We get it soon, but they want way too much money for a car that will weigh a few hundred pounds more in US trim. Still, I think the BMW Z cars and the Porsche Boxster are the best small roadsters for everyday living. >Which might be pertinent if the OP was looking ... >I suspect he is looking for some nice performance >along with an enjoyable road ride and some nice appointments to the car. My comments were not really directed at the OP. If *he* wants "some nice performance along with an enjoyable road ride and some nice appointments to the car" like you say, then a used Z3 should be up high on his shopping list. So should a Nissan Z350, etc. etc. <Caterham Seven snippage> >I don't remember a 135 bhp model, must be older than the ones I have driven The standard Caterham 1700 Supersprint engine was (somewhat optimistically) rated at 135 BHP. I thought everyone knew that. Maybe you've only driven some of the later Seven knockoffs with Rover /Buick V8s? I happen to think that nothing other than a four-pot screamer belongs under the hood/bonnet of that car. YMMV, obviously. SignatureDean Dark > The standard Caterham 1700 Supersprint engine was (somewhat > optimistically) rated at 135 BHP. I thought everyone knew that. I didn't....guess I'm the only one. > Maybe you've only driven some of the later Seven knockoffs with Rover > /Buick V8s? Well, some people think anything post-Lotus isn't a real 7, but lets hope you don't think me dim enough to drive a kit-car and believe it real. > happen to think that nothing other than a four-pot > screamer belongs under the hood/bonnet of that car. YMMV, obviously. I haven't driven any 7 without a 4 banger so I wouldn't know what a 6 or 8 cylinder unit would feel like in the cars. I can't imagine why anyone would go that route given the weight penalties. I do have a hope to drive the Cosworth CSR the next time I am in Britain, but it isn't clear to me that the factory is yet putting those cars on the road. I think maybe they are only available in track versions. In any case, I don't see 7's as a viable alternative to Boxsters and BMW Z's. They are a different animal for different purposes altogether....and they are ugly :^) [...] > Still, I think the BMW Z cars and the Porsche Boxster are the best small > roadsters for everyday living. Fully agree with you. I've had a Triumph 1500 FH I enjoyed albeit underpowered. Nice to drive it in the traffic because very light weighted and quick responding. The RWD allows easy cornering. With the Z3 Coup? 3.0i, I found exactly the same nice behaviour plus the silence, plus the comfort, plus the softness and the power of the straight six engine. I can't say that I pushed it at its limits ! Seats are very well designed. I've problems with my back. With the Z, miles can be swallowed without any pain. Only a con but I think this is more or less the same with every car equipped with large tires. Today I wouldn't put 17'' rims with 245 on the rear and 225 on the front weels. Too much tramlining, except on the highway. I've been using it for 3.5 years for daily commuting, 60 km at all. I wouldn't change it for another brand ! > Only a con but I think this is more or less the same with every car > equipped > with large tires. Today I wouldn't put 17'' rims with 245 on the rear and > 225 on the front weels. Too much tramlining, except on the highway. I'd agree, although I had tramlining with the OEM tires (1997 model) - 225/50-16 Michelin MXM. It was largely cured when I mounted Conti Sports in the same size. Tom > > Only a con but I think this is more or less the same with every car > > equipped [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > Tom Interresting ! OEM was Dunlop SP Sport 8080E, I replaced them at 52000 km by Bridgstone Potenza S03. Harder but same behaviour. Have other people any experience about tramlining with various brands of the same size ? > "Tom Korth" <tkorth1nospam@comcast.net> a ?crit dans le message > news: [quoted text clipped - 25 lines] > brands of the > same size ? Yes, absolutely. Certain tires are far more prone to tramline than others. I'm sure it has to do with tread patterns and such. Obviously wider tires have a higher propensity than narrower ones. -Fred W >>>I was looking at a Miata and liked it a lot except for one thing: >>> I would have to cut 4 inches of my right leg to get it between [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > > -Fred W That's a sweet Helrot Red roadster, Fred. Unbelievable mileage. I saw one like yours whiz past my house last weekend, the driver enjoying a rare sunny, warm March day with the top down, the boot neatly in place. Do you mind me asking what serious offers you've had, if any? My wife might be in the market. She wants to make us a two Z family ;-) Email if you don't want to post a price. R > I was looking at a Miata and liked it a lot except for one thing: > I would have to cut 4 inches of my right leg to get it between [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > a real winter for the first time in 25 years? > Thank you. I can relate to the Miata space issues. As I once futilely tried to drive one, but simply could not detach my knees from the steering wheel. However, there are now a lot of options to choose from in this space, so you can definitely find something that meets your likes, needs and wants. I personally drive an Audi TT 3.2 (6 cyl., DSG tranny). And I absolutely love it. While not quite as athletic as, say, a Boxter, I prefer its combination of comfort and fun to those of most competitors for the purpose of everyday driving. And, most notably, it has all-wheel drive, which essentially makes it a 4-season "summer car" for those of us who live outside of the sunbelt. (Minnesota in my case) Rob 2005 Audi TT 3.2 DSG >> I was looking at a Miata and liked it a lot except for one thing: >> I would have to cut 4 inches of my right leg to get it between [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Rob > 2005 Audi TT 3.2 DSG I'm envious. The Audi TT has always been on my short list of sweet cars to own. I looked at 'em last summer; but the cheapest used one I found was $8000 more than I paid for my 2000 Z3 roadster! Those Audis really hold their value. I'd love to have a grey one with the baseball-stitched leather seats. R >I was looking at a Miata and liked it a lot except for one thing: > I would have to cut 4 inches of my right leg to get it between [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > Fritz Wagner > Columbus, Ohio Hey Fritz, I did the same thing: Test drove a Miata, loved it, but realized it was just too cramped for my large-sized frame. Then I test drove a Z3, and forgot all about the Miata! I found a beautiful 2000 Z3 Roadster (2.3) with 77k miles on Ebay for $13,600 (plus truck freight and tax) from a wholesale dealer in TX, and I could not be happier (that's below wholesale, and no dings). The Z3 is a magical car. I've never had a car that drew so much attention from the opposite sex. The 2000's seem to be a good model year with very few problems, nicer looking rear fenders, better speakers, chrome trim upgrades, etc. Get heated seats - women love 'em and you will too. If the dealer is sitting on some surplus inventory, you should be able to cut a sweet deal. You might also try Ebay. I bought from Lone Star Cars in Plano, TX, and they were square dealers, no surprises. Let us know what you end up buying. R |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.