Need Help deciding!

CampbellSoup

Newbie
Joined
Mar 11, 2025
Points
1
Hello, brand new to the forum so hopefully this made it to the right section. I have been thinking of adding a Z3 to the collection as I have always love both the coupe and roadster since I was in high school. I currently have a 2005 Lotus Elise and an 08 Tundra but am looking for something the wife doesnt hate to be in. She will ride in the lotus but get uncomfortable for anything over an hour or so. She thinks the roadsters are very cute but I have always thought the coupe look so good. I cant decide between the 2 and there is a 3.0 coupe locally with 214,000 miles. The interior/exterior look very clean and it is one owner since new and the owner says they have service receipts and the car needs nothing. I never have had a problem with high mileage cars (although this many miles would be the most yet) and If something blew up I would love to learn how to change out an engine. (i do all my own maintenance already so it should be possible). The coupe is $10,000 but I could get a roadster for a similar price that has under 100,000 miles. I dont want it to be a money pit but dont mind wrenching on it. Do i follow my heart to get a high mileage coupe? or do i just make the practical choice and buy the cheaper, far less mile example roadster. Is this a good price for a coupe with that high of mileage if it is clean? I am in California if that helps. Thank you for your input!
 

colb

Zorg Guru (V)
British Zeds
Joined
Nov 25, 2012
Points
178
Location
Newport, South Wales,UK
Model of Z
Z3 M43 1.8 (1999) and Z4 E85 2.5 (2003)
Either will scratch your itch, really depends on what you want to do with it, soft top nice in the Summer depending how hot it gets where you are. They are easy to work on and achieve high mileages if looked after. Just check all the undersides and sills for rust, many look good on top but not so good underneath.
 

Althulas

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Jun 14, 2014
Points
198
Location
Banburyshire
Model of Z
M Roadster
Hi and welcome from me. That’s a lot of miles on the coupe. I hope it comes with a lot of recent receipts for suspension and steering work as I’m sure it will all need replacing if it’s not been done over the last 60000 plus miles. There’s got to be other choices out there to view? Good luck with your search.
 
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