"Great little car"

[Zeti]

In our forum I found this expression very often: " the 1.9 is a great little car". (Last time by @Jack Ratt in @dave griffiths newbie post.)
Nothing against but just want to make some funny comments: in most of the EU countries and especially former communist countries, engines over 1.6 and over 90 HP were considered sporty cars and owners with a special status. Usually, even nowadays, 90% of the market is around 1.4 and 70HP. Excepted are UK and US, where is another motor culture.
In the Eastern Europe we had engines over 2.5 and 130 HP on trucks and buses only!
Which is similar in France or Italy too. Most part of the Italian club Z3mendi are 1.8 and 1.9.
And in some countries , like mine too, the taxes and insurances for over 2 liters is huge and not affordable for common people.
And we have to admit that 1/3 of the Zed3 production was the mighty M44.
So maybe it's a little but strong car! And very respected on many world wide roads...

 

[oldcarman]

Absolutely @Zeti, here in Canada we take HP for granted. We are able to buy vehicles with crazy,by your standards, engines in sizes that would have great difficulty traveling on anything but major hiways in so many other countries of the world. For example my wife has a 13 ford Fusion which very comfortably seats five. It has a 2l-385hp six speed auto. Grossly overpowered yet a thrill to plant the gas pedal in.
As you know I have a 1.9l and far too often the tach needle hits redline or above and gives me more pleasure than the Fusion. The grin on the face of the passenger my granddaughter Trinity does it for me everytime. Roll on the Massive M44!! JIM

 

[zedonist]

Yes the M44 is truly Massive, I would never change mine for anything else, ok it's slightly different to when leaving the factory, but it is great little car, and as the designers imagined...

 

[GazHyde]

I've noticed similar comments before, particularly with new people introducing themselves and saying "I only have the 1.9".

 

[zedonist]

It's like saying, I only have a million pounds...

 

[oldcarman]

I agree @GazHyde they put that in as if embarrassed by that fact! I personally won't be looking for anything but another 1.9 as I think the sixes would disrupt the balance of the car and handling would be affected. The 1.9 does everything I've asked of it including great economy in gas, insurance, service costs, etc. so I hope that our newbies learn to love their M44 for what it is, a great little powerhouse of a motor. JIM

 

[Grumps]

Although I have a 2.8 I was looking at all engined Zed's when I bought mine. I know people compare the 1.9 to the Golf GTI and so they should. I ran several MK1 and MK2 GTI's including some rare campaign editions. They were fantastic cars with probably the best engines I have ever ran, so if you own an M44 1.9 then I don't think you'll go far wrong.

 

[t-tony]

so of you own an M44 1.9 then I don't think you'll go far wrong

And if you think you have, talk to Paul Rice, he knows a bit about the M44.

Tony.

 

[Bozzy]

I remember the 1st time i followed a 1.9,was on the Brecons cruise this year and we were behind @ZTec,I was really impressed and suprised to be truthful how well it "got down the road" as Mike Brewer says.
I asked @ZTec if he was sure he had the 1.9 and not some thing more powerful,it went like stink !
Also remember @Connor saying his 1.9 was easier to drive than the 2.8 he replaced it with.

 

[zedonist]

Well it's not surprising as 0-30 all models are the same speed, and in reality, the 1.9 can only be beaten in a straight line drag race by the other models, on the twisties it's any ones game...

@t-tony is Paul Rice like Ronnie Pickerin?

 

[t-tony]

Dunno mate, who's he?

Tony.

 

[zedonist]

Ronnie Pickerin!

 

[miller1098]

Who?

 

[Zeti]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0dcv6GKNNw

 

[Grumps]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0dcv6GKNNw

Pms!!!! Just had me and Jue in stitches!

 

[Connor]

I remember the 1st time i followed a 1.9,was on the Brecons cruise this year and we were behind @ZTec,I was really impressed and suprised to be truthful how well it "got down the road" as Mike Brewer says.
I asked @ZTec if he was sure he had the 1.9 and not some thing more powerful,it went like stink !
Also remember @Connor saying his 1.9 was easier to drive than the 2.8 he replaced it with.

True.
The 2.8 was more of an occasion to drive. The 1.9 just seemed simpler, get in and away you go. Plus the 1.9 is much cheaper to run. The only negative I would say is that the older ones obviously don't have the wide body and I prefer the wider body ones.

 

[Zeti]

That's my only regret too!

 

[zedonist]

The only negative I would say is that the older ones obviously don't have the wide body and I prefer the wider body ones.

Yes they do

 

[Vince]

I've just got rid of my Citroen pisscaso last year and replaced it with a 1.9 Z3 M44 and I think it's a great engine I was so impressed that my winter car has been replaced with a BMW 318ti just because I thought the engine was so good.

It's a far better engine than the 3.2 fitted to the Z3M and because it's a lighter engine it has a better power to weight ratio so can beat any Z3M off the lights if the car is fitted with blue Led lights underneath the sills and a cone filter and a set of badly fitted 6x9 speakers in the door cards.

If you disagree or own a 6 pot are you up for a bare knuckle fight.

Love Ronnie Pickerin

 

[Zeti]

Who?