Newish Northern Z3er!

[Pep]

I've been around for a couple of months but only just got round to taking some pics

This is my first proper car. Started out with a metallic orange Nissan Micra Vibe 1.0, drove it into the ground then got a Rover 214i and when the head gasket inevitably went I got a Vauxhall Astra 1.6 Si. I sold that a couple of years ago when I moved to Manchester city centre and didn't need a car for work any more.

I've always been a car lover, probably got it from my Mum who, in the last 10 years, has had an R34, Supra, 944, Eunos, RX7 and her current car is an S2000.

I've always been envious of her car history but when I finally got the promotion I've been looking for (left Uni without a Maths degree :head: ) the first thing I did was get a car.

I hadn't thought too much of the Z3 until I was having a smoke outside work about 6 months ago and saw a dark blue 2.8i parked across the road (West Mosely Street, in case it was you!) and I turned to my friend and said "bloody hell, they put a 2.8 in that?". Well I went home and read up on the Z3s and when found they did a 3.0 as well I bought one that weekend! I'd dearly love an M but it wasn't that good a promotion

I'm no photographer but here's a couple of pics I took last weekend when visiting a friend in London:

It's a 3.0 with a load of ACS kit including roll hoops, strut brace, gear knob, handbrake, exhaust, type iii (?) non-split wheels and some nice touches like the M steering wheel and some ACS plates on the door sills. I've also got a matching hardtop but that's in my Mum's garage - not even the British winter can keep me from driving with the top down!

I got it for around £4.5k and the last owner had more or less kept it garaged for the last few years. It had been MOT'd but not serviced in a while.

I've since had an Inspection 2 done, had the OS window motor replaced, had the cam sensor replaced and a new set of front springs.

I'm torn between modding this or saving for an M at the moment so I'm holding fire on anything else right now. Being 26 and living in central Manchester means I can't get insured on an M for less than £4k pa even though I've got 7 years no claims and never had a point or conviction so I'll have to put off that decision for a couple of years at least!

Look forward to seeing you guys out and about around the North West or at any cruises around there or Yorkshire!

Pep

 

[Macca]

Welcome Pep.... :ymhug:

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

Welcome to Zorg, Pep
Great pics, looks a very busy street!!! Weren't you worried about losing a wing mirror??? :-ss
Mike & sandy

 

[Titan]

Hi Pep and welcome to the forum from the right side of the Pennines
There are quite a few members in your area and with the (hopefully) better weather coming along there's sure to be some local cruises and impromptu meets.

Regards
Terry

Sent from m'iPhone using TappetTorque

 

[Jamezee]

Greetings Pep,

Enjoy the forum and don't forget to vote for jamezee in the photo competition

Nice looking Zed and a great colour :-bd

 

[GazHyde]

Glad you have come out from the shadows and said Hi!

That's quite a step up from a Micra...

Gary

 

[Pep]

Thanks for the warm welcomes

Great pics, looks a very busy street!!! Weren't you worried about losing a wing mirror???

Not on that road but driving round the North Circular for the first time gave me a few nervous moments! There is such a difference between the way people drive in London and the driving I'm used to up here )

and sorry Jamezee, I've already voted for Liam's pic outside Meg's - that pic is the closest I've come to regretting getting a silver Z!

 

[Jamezee]

Nevermind, i am already working on next months :-bd

 

[hard top]

Sorry Jamezee, I've already voted for Liam's pic outside Meg's

Welcome Pep, oh and by the way, you have two more votes left........

 

[Jamezee]

:-bd :-bd

 

[Aceman]

Warm welcome from me too Pep. That is a very nice looking Z3 you have there and looks familiar somehow I am sure I have seen it before. /

There is another way to own an ///M without the horendous insurance costs and that would be to also get yourself a cheap daily runabout and also get an ///M and insure it on classic car insurance. Now this is all on the proviso you can store the Z3 somewhere preferably in a garage but when you can insure it for around £250 then probabley insure a runabout for another £250 you get the best of both worlds with the added advantage of owning the car of your dreams. Works out quite well for several people on here including me if it is feasable practically of course.

 

[Mint]

Welcome from me too Pep :-BD Great looking Zed you have there (for Silver )

 

[Pep]

Aceman - thanks for the insurance tip, I work in insurance (or for an insurance co) and I think that unless I drove the runabout as my main car (ie more than the Z) then the insurer of my Z would have the right to refuse indemnity if I was involved in any collision in my Z. Trouble is I wouldn't be that keen on driving a runabout!

Where do you recognise my car from? I bought it from the black-country area about 6 months ago if that prompts any memories!

 

[Aceman]

Hi Pep,

I have a little Clio that I run around in through the week and winter months so that is legitimately my main vehicle so I wasn't suggesting it as a means of defrauding the insurance company but my policy does allow "occadional" use for work which I have done through the summer months on the odd occasion. It was just a thought if you really wanted to own a ///M it is possible to do so without high insurance costs and besides I wouldnt like to run an ///M as a main vehicle due to fuel costs and they aren't really practical for everyday use.

You have got me thinking about your car now, I have probably seen a pic at sometime from a previous owner maybe, it is just the combination of Scnitzers and all chrome front grill that looks familiar.