lets start a thread..?

[swamper]

so.....is your a keeper or a user?

which camp do you fall into?
there are some of us that only use the car when its sunny....there are others that sorn them for 6 month of the year...there are some that use the car all year round...and some that its there daily drive.
given that the more you use you car the less time its going to last or incur more maintenance.

so on this thread can people explain why they use/dont use there cars...as we have everything from garage queens to run abouts?

i'll go first....as you know i own 2 ..the M and the 1.9 facelift.
before i got the M the 1.9 got used at every possible moment....any chance to take it out.
over the last couple of years getting the 1.9 up to scratch...it has cost me a fortune in upgrading it.....paint work has been done interior done ...and so on.
now after this period of only 2 years iv put nearly 20 thousand miles on it and a lot of pound notes as well...im now looking at the M in a different light...this thing is here to stay!
so iv found my self being a lot more reluctant to use it (as i would have the 1.9) and reckon that the M is only going to see 3/5 thousand a year (far less than the 1.9 got/gets).
now i know these cars are for driving............but! also they are ageing fast and the test of time will be the ones left in 30 years time that we will all be stood drooling over at the shows (you see them now with classics at shows...they thought ahead).
there are also people that just want to mod these cars and dont care if there not kept OEM...and would just get rid when they brake or would just stick something new in there.

so....i dont want this thread to be turn into "you should just drive it mate!" or "you want to try giving it a wash" ....its your car you can do with it as you please!
what i want to know what mind set do you have when it comes the the use of the car....future classic?.. or... live fast.. drive faster?

keep it on track please

 

[billz]

We got ours as we wanted to upgrade Kims daily driver from an Alfa Spider didnt exactly work out as the spider was a 2001 and we went out and bought the Z which is also a 2001. We will keep this for the foreseable future as Kims daily for 2 reasons and they are 1, we love the car (probably me more than Kim) and 2, we personally do not think there is another car we would upgrade too. We did look at the Z4 last November but hearing the way it rattles shutting the door put us off well (we wouldnt of been able to say) "that sounds like a BMW" So untill in our opinion a car comes along that can give us the same as our Z3 gives us then we will keep it. If we was to upgrade then the only other cars out there that would interest us would be the 330 or the M3 convertable and as they are too big for Kim that wouldnt be an option.
bill

 

[swamper]

thanks Bill...so would it be fair to say you would fall in the middle?
its staying for the foreseable /not to bothered about the mileage as its a daily driver so needs must... not being mothballed but well maintained?

 

[Snoops]

Zippy is a keeper. I’ve had him 11 years and plan 20 more (at least). I wanted a Z3 from the 1st day I saw one but thought they would always be out of my reach. When my other half said "right start looking for a zed" I couldn't take it in and when I found one - initially I said we're not spending that kind of money on a car to which he replied "what's the point of having a dream if, given the chance to realise it, you say no"... the drive back down the M62 after picking him up was incredible I had to keep pinching myself.

I have a run-around which I use for work – mainly because I park on a multi storey and Zippy looks lonely and a bit vulnerable when I park him on the top floor on his own.

I’ve now done 67k and would never not drive him if I wanted to; but it has crossed my mind whether I want to keep putting the miles on though. However, garage queen he is not and is available 365 and is driven throughout winter with the roof down if at all possible. Mechanically, Zippy is looked after by an independant mechanic I have known for 15 years and he knows how much I value Zippy so he's in good hands.

The only change I have made so far is a new hood and whilst not OEM it is high quality and a great colour match. I haven’t made any changes to the set-up so he is just as he came out of the factory, straight six fun machine that just makes me smile. He's had some cosmetic work to keep him looking tip top - stone chips on the bonnet and front bumper. He's about to get a refurb on the alloys to sort out a little bit of bubbling and the seats are going to be recovered/refurbed when I find the time.

 

[r37]

had my 2.8 about 8 months, was looking for something small fast and cheap(ish) to insure and the z3 ticked all the boxes. Spent a while finding a good on in black then last september found one. Its been driven allmost every day apart from a 4 month spell of unemployment and has done allmost 5k miles, lives outside on the road so is well maintained, spent a mint on having the wheels refurbed and any mecanical knocks/noises are thoroughly investigated but nothing has gone wrong yet that wasnt down to fair wear and tear. Its a cracking little car and will be a reluctant sale (5k gentle miles if anyones interested ) but something with an m badge is on the cards.

 

[hard top]

Well, a friend of mine, who owns a garage/showroom had this M44 massive (that's the one with 16 valves swamper) on sale for a couple of months.
Always go in for a :coffee now and again and could not stop looking at the Z, so to cut a long story short, just swapped keys, he took my Merc and I took the Z.

Keeper....

 

[swamper]

so Snoops i'd put you as a classic in the making category...long term investment ..fair?

r37...would you still run it or the M if you get one in all weathers or would you be looking to keep it for as long as poss?

same question to HT?

 

[Snoops]

Yep fair comment

Snoops ont'apatalk

 

[hard top]

for as long as poss...in all weathers ....

 

[swamper]

thanks HT...so would you agree then that as the car gets older its going to be an up hill battle to keep it in good trim as its going to be exposed to the elements (more than usual for a future classic) ?
would you think about the miles you put on it?

ok may i just add a little bit to this...if any one wants to add any more to the posts...

to what lengths would/do you go to keep it going for the long term?

myself...im just in the middle of having the full back garden done so i can have a garage just for the M....so that its going to be protected from the elements.....i can keep the costs down by being able to do work on it my self and be able to store all the tools we need to keep on top of our ever ageing cars

 

[board]

Having had the M for 12 years it's not going anywhere. It's always been a second car that would be used on the weekends or when the sun was out but has been used through a few winters. I have changed a few little things on it since getting it and I have added about 63,000 miles since buying it with 5k on the clock. For the first time last year it went to an indie for an oil service, if i should ever sell it then I hope the person buying it will know what they are after and see its been cared for.

I wouldn't not drive it to keep the miles down and although those that will sit in a garage with just a few thousand miles on the clock will be worth more in 10 years I would hope that a well maintained version that looks almost new would still catch the eye and not depreciate much more than their current value. When they become less and less then I hope they start increasing in value again

 

[deano1712]

I have had my M for seven years now. It just gets driven in the dry and gets SORNed for 5-6 months per year. Its certainly not a garage queen though. I like the car to look nice but Im no perfectionist. The car for me has always been with me for two reasons; the driving experience and as hobby to tinker with and to upgrade. Its never been to a garage since I owned it - woulnt trust anyone with it. I'm not bothered at all how much the car is worth since I dont see myself ever selling it. I did years ago but that feeling has gone as I have adapted the car into what I want. I have been lucky to have worked in Northumbria this week and have used M all week. Its reminded me how much fun its is - it is an amazing driving machine, for me. The cost has been high, over 30k, and I will no doubt spend a lot more on it yet. You can see thats its my pride and joy, and my hobby too.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

 

[badman gee]

Right Swamps

Here we go.

I have only had my zed for 18 month's.

I have no children so its my child, looked after and pampered.

I did have a red z3m 10 years ago, but due to the cost at the time i didnt want to drive it or leave it anywhere.

I then went sensible for a few years, including having a 3 series coupe and a peugoet 207 diesel (both great cars)

I was sitting in my lounge 19 months ago surfing the web looking at cars.

I dont know why, but i decided to see what the M roadsters were fetching.

Once i started looking i couldnt stop looking.

The issue was, why swap a 4 year old (from new) diesel that costs peanuts to run for a sports 2 seater, that costs 3 times the amount in fuel, insurance and servicing costs?

I was sold as life if too short.

Spent a month or so looking (hadnt found .net at the time) and was lucky to find the car i have now.

It only had 40000 miles on it, full service history (bmw) hardtop (new).

Due to the fact im very fussy (see pics from duxford trip, only one detailing car on site with rubber gloves on!) i have spent a few quid on the car as well (cosmetic and mechanical).

I see the car as a hobby, interest and love.

I wont sell it as i love it too much.

And through this forum and .net have made some great friends over the last year or so.

Now i have another love ,(Rover 75 with 15000 miles on the clock) the M only comes out once a month or so. It is never Sorned.

It wont have much mileage put on it now but it will be driven.

They are cars that dont date imho. It will be a classic in the near future.

Mark

 

[Monkey]

i've only had the Z for a couple of months. it was bought to give us 2 cars. my missus got a new job where she needed to drive to work. and at the time being a 1 car family, an i need ot drive to work (we live and work where it would be near impossible to get to work via public transport, exepct taxi)

So i set a budget of £2k and started looking, she was reluctant to allow me to have a "sports" car (we own a Focus 1.6 02 plate), untill i said i'll give up smokeing if i can get the car i want. she agreed and i set about looking for a MX5 (i had one a few years ago, loved it) but i realised that i can get a similar age, engine etc Z3 for the same money. and the BMW badge and looks of the car apealed to me more than the MX5.

a weeks worth of searching found one in Taunton for the right price. i saw it and bought it. once the holiday romance was over, i started to notice a few problems, oil leak, miss fire, a dent or 2 in the body work, wing mirro tatty and not workign properly, electric seats didnt work correctly etc. i was never going to spend much money on the car, only to keep it on the road. but i have already spend about £1k, with another £1k being spent very soon. the car is very much my daily drive, what ever the weather i'm in the Z3. i'm now torn between making it as good if not better than the day in came out of the factory. or modify it. as i think the 1.9 M44 engine has alot to give in the way of performance, and the engine bay looks a bit sparse. the Handling could do with a tweek or 2 as well.

the car was designed to be driven, and driven hard, and that how i drive it.

but as long as i dont smoke, the missus will allow me to do what ever i want as long as i can afford to.

and if there is any reason i can not use it legally on the road anymore, i may look at entering it in to Hill Climbs.

so as it stands now, and as far as i'm concerned, its here to stay. i have no plans to sell it.

 

[akirk]

I bought mine as I knew the car (sister used to own it), love 2 seaters and haven't had one for c. 10 years, and because we are about to have a fab summer!
having also a 40 year old landrover which is going through a gradual rebuild - and having owned lots of older cars - maintaining an old car is not an issue - anything can be replaced - local engineering companies will make any bit and overall it is usually cheaper than lots of new cars and depreciation...
so - perhaps a long term keeper - but def. a use as much as possible car - I am waiting for an evoque, so will no doubt drive that quite a bit but for now the temporary mondeo estate is not quite as exciting - so the z3 gets the use!

Alasdair

 

[TaffZee]

Love my Z3 too bits, but cant see myself keeping it for years, Great fun but thats about it. Are there any cars I would prefer? "OH YES" but my little Z will do for now.. Probably looking too keep it for another couple of years. May look at a Z4 but plenty to choose from. Perhaps go sensible A4 Cabriolet? After all got a Grandchild now hopefully 2 in October.

Use mine as a daily drive and have covered 20,000 miles in her in the last 19 months.. 51,000 when bought 71,322 now.

 

[swamper]

great replies....its very interesting to see how different people view there cars.
these cars are meant to be enjoyed....driven to the max....just toodling about ...seeing what mods they can do...but sometimes its just having them is enough for some people..

anymore?

 

[GazHyde]

I've never bonded with cars until I started being able to buy the cars I wanted. When I started driving I could only drive what I could afford. I was then a company car driver for 12 years, so could only buy what the tax man liked.

I got divorced about 6 years ago, and finally ended up with both the choice and the money to buy the cars I wanted. Went through a Freelander, a Bora, a Zafira and then started buying beemers. Only from that time have I actually started bonding with cars.

Bought myself an E39 525d (written off now), and then the Z3 as a second car. Haven't looked back since, other than to buy the Z4 as well.

The Zeds are not just great cars because they are great cars. Owning one introduced me to other owners, and quite a few new friends. It's not so much a car, as a way of life for me right now.

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

Mora was garaged over the winter in order to restore parts of her bodywork, not that she was in particularly bad condition, this looks like a trend that will continue each year. $-)

I have decided to only drive her during the Spring, Summer and early Autumn, so that I don't clock up too many miles and so that she is not put in peril on treacherous roads covered in Salt. :-ss

Mora has opened up a new world for us, with amazing people that we are honoured to call our friends, Long may she reign!!!! ^^

 

[badman gee]

Mora was garaged over the winter in order to restore parts of her bodywork, not that she was in particularly bad condition, this looks like a trend that will continue each year. $-)

I have decided to only drive her during the Spring, Summer and early Autumn, so that I don't clock up too many miles and so that she is not put in peril on treacherous roads covered in Salt. :-ss

Mora has opened up a new world for us, with amazing people that we are honoured to call our friends, Long may she reign!!!! ^^

stop, stop, im in tears :-*