Write Up My own comparison

[Dave z3]

Now I have had the Z3 a few months now I would like to share my comparisons with previous sports cars I have owned over the past decades.
(Now I have retired I have more time to think about trivial things like this!)
I have had the pleasure of owning the following with my personal ratings out of 10:-
Dunton Phaeton 1600 = 6
Fiesta xr2 = 6
Audi Quattro sport 1982 = 9
Mexico MK 1 = 8
Triumph TR6 = 8
Mazda MX5 = 7
Nissan 350z = 9
Audi tt Mk 2 = 8
Bmw Z3 = 9.5 going on 10 if it remains reliable!

Driving the Z3 reminds me of the TR6 in many ways , just more comfortable with a similar feel on the road
I have the 2.0 (This engine is just so smooth and quiet) so much the same performance which tells me bmw had got it right for a 2 seater classic sports car.
The reason I went for a bmw as a brand is I had for a while a 1 series and was impressed by the build quality of bmw and after a recent knee operation and giving up motorbikes I wanted something to focus on and enjoy.

All my previous cars have been enjoyable but so far the Z3 is my favourite , ticking all the boxes at the moment (reliability good I hope)
I've always had comments like " HAIR DRESSERS CAR" etc with most the 2 seater cars I've owned ,mostly from people who don't get the point of a small sports car .
I am looking forward to using the Z3 in the coming years and a bit of touring , maybe some meet ups etc.
Great site!

Dave

 

[t-tony]

Yep, your definitely "one of us" now Dave. I think every one could repeat what you said. People who don't "get" 2 seat sport cars just don't. Enjoy and don't forget, the shortest day is only 11 days away now then the days start getting longer!

Tony.

 

[Dave z3]

Thanks for that Tony, 10 days now and counting!

 

[Paul Rice]

Quite a collection of cars there Dave, Some of my all time favourites

 

[Dave z3]

Hi Paul , thankyou , I guess many of us would like to go back and choose our all time favourite and mine would be the Audi Quattro sport , quite cheap at the time , like many of the old cars

Far too expensive now though!

 

[Paul Rice]

Had a Mk1 XR2 would be the Mk1 Mexico i would choose if i could

 

[Sean d]

Never really been into sports cars in the past, just sport saloons or hatches, I did have a passion red Mitsubishi fto gpx imported from Japan, not essentially a 2 seater but I loved that car and owned it for 7 years, it was 2.0l V6, cant really compare it to the z but I think I loved it equally as much if not a bit more, it was very special in its day, put a private plate on it as well A18GPX

 

[Dave z3]

Mitsubishi fto, looked at one once but my dear wife talked me out of it, what a car though,work colleague had one and sounded great!

 

[andyglym]

Of all my cars in the last 34 years the only one that I would mention in the same breath as my Z3 would be my Fiesta RS Turbo, a great fun car. No Z3 mind, cornered better, just, TBF but not as fast and it had a roof

 

[Dave z3]

The only thing with these old cars, as good as they were is, they didn't have air con.
It's not snobbery, but at my age I don't think I would be very comfortable without it!

 

[Sean d]

The only thing with these old cars, as good as they were is, they didn't have air con.
It's not snobbery, but at my age I don't think I would be very comfortable without it!

I have a 2.8 with aircon

 

[Sean d]

The only thing with these old cars, as good as they were is, they didn't have air con.
It's not snobbery, but at my age I don't think I would be very comfortable without it!

Ah just realised you are talking about the older stuff

 

[mwpe]

The only thing with these old cars, as good as they were is, they didn't have air con.
It's not snobbery, but at my age I don't think I would be very comfortable without it!

I have had my Z3 for nearly 12 years and used the aircon twice, both times for someone else. nothing like fresh air.

 

[Oddly Godly]

I am 53 and ever since I passed my driving test I have lusted after two seater convertible or coupe cars. I always longed after MGs Triumphs Healeys etc. Some people just don't get it. I have had two mx5s from 1996 until last May when I bought my 2.8 z3 and it is a fantastic car. I work for a local council and several times I have bumped in to councillors who see my car and joke they must be paying me to much, strange when for the price of a half decent ford focus you could by five decent Z3s. A nicely polished zed looks and feels like an expensive car

 

[Dave z3]

Agree! But surely z prices will start to rise, not that I'm that interested in value as I intend to keep and maybe one day hand down to one of my grand children!

 

[Oddly Godly]

Zeds are very good value but I listened to a program on the radio over Christmas claiming that 50 percent of new cars could be electric in five to ten years. Petrol engines may soon be seen as antisocial and as a result I can't help feeling the more popular electric and hybrid cars become the less second hand petrol cars will be worth. It is allready a ridiculous cost to drive through the London congestion and ultra low emission zone and that allready affects the resale price of some cars and vans. I may be completely wrong but I think we are in the last hurrah of the combination engine. However if an economic conversations to electric comes along I might get one and play a recording of my 2.8 engine at full blast.