MIDLIFE NEWBIE

[telc]

Good morning everyone
Let me start by saying thank you for allowing me into your brilliant forum!! been ''looking'' for a while now!!
I havent got one yet!! I have got it down to look for a good turn of the century one, 2000 Zed3 (unless you can convince me otherwise!!
First question: is there a really good after market seat ''with detachable headrests''? Straight swap maybe?
I am a small fella, south of 5ft!! having the back of the seat right up, and because of rake of the headrest I cant drive properly, its very uncomfortable.
I have driven a few sports cars in my time (lotus Elan, two mgb gt's, mg roadster, Triumph TR6), so I know I can fit most cars with decent seats!! and maybe a block of wood!!
I live in North Norfolk, more east side near Sheringham. Would like to see a good line up of Zed3's, if there are any meet ups my way!!
Terry

 

[John_B]

Welcome Terry.

If you're going to look to change the seats, I'd suggest looking for a car with roll hoops (OEM black structural ones, not the chrome semi-circular ones which are just aesthetic), since the OEM seats are supposedly part of the roll-over protection. I say supposedly as I am not sure how much I would trust them on their own!

(Aesthetic type left, structural type right)

Keep us up to date when you find your Zed

 

[telc]

Welcome Terry.

If you're going to look to change the seats, I'd suggest looking for a car with roll hoops (OEM black structural ones, not the chrome semi-circular ones which are just aesthetic), since the OEM seats are supposedly part of the roll-over protection. I say supposedly as I am not sure how much I would trust them on their own!

View attachment 341591
(Aesthetic type left, structural type right)

Keep us up to date when you find your Zed

Learnt something already, didnt know about the integrated seat/rollovers!! thanks JB

 

[Duncodin]

Good morning everyone
Let me start by saying thank you for allowing me into your brilliant forum!! been ''looking'' for a while now!!
I havent got one yet!! I have got it down to look for a good turn of the century one, 2000 Zed3 (unless you can convince me otherwise!!
First question: is there a really good after market seat ''with detachable headrests''? Straight swap maybe?
I am a small fella, south of 5ft!! having the back of the seat right up, and because of rake of the headrest I cant drive properly, its very uncomfortable.
I have driven a few sports cars in my time (lotus Elan, two mgb gt's, mg roadster, Triumph TR6), so I know I can fit most cars with decent seats!! and maybe a block of wood!!
I live in North Norfolk, more east side near Sheringham. Would like to see a good line up of Zed3's, if there are any meet ups my way!!
Terry

There's a ReBody area where some people use the z3 chassis as the base of their rebody. They often change seats without headreasrs to make the interior look different. MG seats etc. Take a look there see what seats they've used.

 

[Duncodin]

Learnt something already, didnt know about the integrated seat/rollovers!! thanks JB

I don't know if this seat backrest thing is true or just an urban myth. I wouldn't trust them anyway. But then i don't have hoops either. Hoops might help if you're upside down on a hard road. But no use at all if you're upside down in a field. They'd just sink into the soil.

 

[John_B]

I don't know if this seat backrest thing is true or just an urban myth. I wouldn't trust them anyway. But then i don't have hoops either. Hoops might help if you're upside down on a hard road. But no use at all if you're upside down in a field. They'd just sink into the soil.

So would the seats to be fair!

That's why I emphasised "supposedly" in my comment though, as I know it is quite a contentious subject.

Hopefully none of us will ever need to test the roll-over protections of any of the various configurations

 

[elevensies]

howdee from lincolnshire

on the note about year and model, dont be thinbking newer ones are better, they are all equal, well almost, if you want exclusive and you have the funds get a M coupe or clownshoe, these just keep increasing in value, then the M roadster, a soft top version and prices hold very well, then the 2.8 pre facelift widebody, a true widebody is always pre 2000, and these again command good prices and hold well.
If you want a great all rounder then the 2.2 straight 6 is a good choice, but then again so is the 1.9, just the 1.9 dont hold value quite as well and theres more of them.

buy whats in your budget and your heart....but look at all variants and colours, as there are some special colours out there too.

keep the original seats in, they will be designed not to fail in an accident, and the moment you tell your insurance company you've changed seats is the moment you wish you hadnt .

good luck with your searches,, theres a few for sale on here that are worth a look...

11s

 

[elevensies]

I don't know if this seat backrest thing is true or just an urban myth. I wouldn't trust them anyway. But then i don't have hoops either. Hoops might help if you're upside down on a hard road. But no use at all if you're upside down in a field. They'd just sink into the soil.

i have hoops that i fitted, and the hoop itself would more likely be a issue as they are bent angled towards the seat, but the posts from chassis they slot into are substantial, like scaffold tube, fingers crossed its never tested....

 

[John_B]

All this talk of roll-over hoops, I should have mentioned they can be retrofitted and it's an easy half-day job if you know your way around a spanner. So don't let the lack of roll-hoops put you off the perfect car - the only exception is the very very earliest models (97, I think, but we can find you the specifics if it becomes relevant) aren't compatible - they're missing the holes for the brackets.

Expect to be able to find a full set of hoops, brackets and associated trims/fasteners for £250-400 if you want to factor that into your budgeting

 

[Duncodin]

Good morning everyone
Let me start by saying thank you for allowing me into your brilliant forum!! been ''looking'' for a while now!!
I havent got one yet!! I have got it down to look for a good turn of the century one, 2000 Zed3 (unless you can convince me otherwise!!

If I was looking now I'd be looking for a nice 2.8 pre-facelift or a 3.0

I just love the look of the rear arches on the pre-face wide body.

Having said that mine in the 1.9 (m44 16 valve). I actually like it. It's fast enough to break any speed limit in the country so a bigger engine wouldn't get me anywhere much quicker. But bigger engine does make your trousers look bigger.

 

[John_B]

If I was looking now I'd be looking for a nice 2.8 pre-facelift or a 3.0

I just love the look of the rear arches on the pre-face wide body.

I second this!

I started with a 1.9 M44 a couple of years ago thinking that I'd gain experience and work up to engine-swapping it to a 2.8 or 3.0. In the end I decided not to risk ruining two cars and traded up for a 2.8 pre-facelift. You can feel it's weightier, but the extra power and smooth torquiness of the engine makes up for that, and the wide arches are just *chef's kiss*

 

[Delk]

My Misses is a whopping 5 ft 1 and her car came with the sports seats. They suit her well and are very comfortable. My car came with the standard seats and after a drive from Norfolk to Liverpool I couldnt get rid of them fast enough. Maybe it was just mine but they were flat and hard as stone. I swapped over to seats from a Honda S2000 as they have a much better fit and come with a better upper seat belt harness.

As for the roll over side of things this is just my 2p. Roll hoops are a great option and can be swapped into any car. I dont feel the seats themselves have any strenght in them. If you remove the bases and motors they dont weigh anything and feel about as structural as a coat hanger.

Usually there are a number of cars around especialy Norwich way that are for sale and test drives are well worth it to see what you like.

I live down the coast in Hemsby and dont know of any specific Zed meet ups. You are always welcome to drop in my place and see our two.

 

[telc]

My Misses is a whopping 5 ft 1 and her car came with the sports seats. They suit her well and are very comfortable. My car came with the standard seats and after a drive from Norfolk to Liverpool I couldnt get rid of them fast enough. Maybe it was just mine but they were flat and hard as stone. I swapped over to seats from a Honda S2000 as they have a much better fit and come with a better upper seat belt harness.

As for the roll over side of things this is just my 2p. Roll hoops are a great option and can be swapped into any car. I dont feel the seats themselves have any strenght in them. If you remove the bases and motors they dont weigh anything and feel about as structural as a coat hanger.

Usually there are a number of cars around especialy Norwich way that are for sale and test drives are well worth it to see what you like.

I live down the coast in Hemsby and dont know of any specific Zed meet ups. You are always welcome to drop in my place and see our two.

Cheers Delk, Hemsby.....not too faraway. Thanks for the offer. Terry.

 

[Smudgemanuk]

You have done yourself a huge favour turning up here before buying your z. So bravo. There are some incredibly helpful threads on "buyers guides" to let you know what to look out for.

I would first take some time to decide whether you prefer the pre-facelift (95-98) or facelift (99-03), the main differences are the facelift has upwards flaring arches and different rear lights. I would pick your preferred style but don't hesitate to go for the other one if you find a well looked after one. Well looked after being the important bit over miles when buying an older car.

As people have said before, there are some brilliant zed's for sale on this forum and they have all been very well cared for and documented (for the most part)

Good luck!

 

[telc]

You have done yourself a huge favour turning up here before buying your z. So bravo. There are some incredibly helpful threads on "buyers guides" to let you know what to look out for.

I would first take some time to decide whether you prefer the pre-facelift (95-98) or facelift (99-03), the main differences are the facelift has upwards flaring arches and different rear lights. I would pick your preferred style but don't hesitate to go for the other one if you find a well looked after one. Well looked after being the important bit over miles when buying an older car.

As people have said before, there are some brilliant zed's for sale on this forum and they have all been very well cared for and documented (for the most part)

Good luck!

Cheers Smudge!! Nothing better than 'new ideas'. Forums for 'specific types' are a brilliant way for information. The other sports cars I have had were all ''pre computers'' and that takes some getting used to!! As said, picked 2000 for a start, dont mind earlier/later cars, it will be the one ''I like''. Terry.

 

[ExMX5owner]

Gidday Terry, Midlife ?... You know you are allowed several, which are you on ?. Early, middle or late ?...

 

[Shelly]

 

[Devon Z]

 

[telc]

Gidday Terry, Midlife ?... You know you are allowed several, which are you on ?. Early, middle or late ?...

Unfortunately, its the later one!! still smiling tho!!

 

[Mint]

Hi Terry and to the forum from me too in Stafford.

My advice is to drive as many different models and buy on condition rather than mileage. Even late a low mileage Z3 will be over 20 years old with the associated age related problems regardless of mileage.