The History of BMW Sports Cars - Video

[Rev]

The History of BMW Sports Cars.

Interesting, and discussion provoking I'm sure!!

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/video-history-of-bmw-roadsters-ar160558.html#main

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/apqDx0o6ZgA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[FRANKIE]

The History of BMW Sports Cars.

Interesting, and discussion provoking I'm sure!!

http://www.topspeed.com/cars/car-news/video-history-of-bmw-roadsters-ar160558.html#main

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/apqDx0o6ZgA" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Very interesting. I enjoyed it.

 

[hard top]

Good stuff Rev.........

 

[t-tony]

Nice find Rev. It's almost as though the cars we all love and enjoy are treated with disdain by the presenters though and as they must have made the company far more money than rarer models I find them being almost an embarrassment slightly odd. Also, maybe as they were designed by a Japanese and built by Americans, that is why they don't "feel" like a German car as quoted in the script accompanying the video. Either way an eye opening video and enjoyable. Thank you.

 

[Rev]

I have to say that presenters of any TV type programme are always a bit disdainful of most production cars. They drive the most fascinating and wonderful cars and so I suppose the others are always also rans.

Don't be put off by snobbery it's always easy to look down! I see it in all car Marques not just BMW's. If you look at owners of early Aston Martin DB's they look down on owners of say DB 7's. In thirty years time DB 7 owners will do the same on later models. Age cures many evils, especially snobbery. You'll also never find a fifty year old car being judged by it's mileage. At present we're all looking for low mileage examples, but if you see say a 60's Cobra offered for sale it'll never state the mileage. Who cares???? It's condition and provenance.

I enjoyed the history bit and thats important to all cars as it's the progression that counts. If they'd churned out earlier models for to long they'd be dead in the water.

Rarity and condition seem to be the key to long term value, so just enjoy your cars whatever. But also enjoy the Marque as in it's history will have brought you to the car in the first place, and will bring others in the future to want to own and enjoy your cars.

 

[oldcarman]

Never saw a car I couldn't find something good about, never bought a car to please anyone else, never met a person I didn't like until I got to know them. Remember, 500,000 Zed buyers weren't all getting it wrong. And now we dance and throw flowers in the air!

 

[Stormy_be]

Nice to see the heritage of BMW sports-cars (even when the presenters are also saying the early models almost brought the brand down).

Still a shame that a lot of people think not so high about the Z3.
The older Z1 seems to be better, same as the newer Z4 (so it isn't an age thing).
Maybe because they were "too cheap" or "not rare enough".

It doesn't matter what others think (although our resale prices would increase faster).
We all love and enjoy driving our cars.

Never saw a car I couldn't find something good about,...

It all depends on what you are looking for in a car.
My wife always laughs with that comment.
When anyone in the family buy's a car, first family meeting is 50% about that car (for the mans side of the table).
My wife tells me that whatever the car, we always think that car is the best car possible to buy.
And 6 months later, somebody else buy's a car, and then that one is also the best car ever (and we don't re-discuss the previous one of course).

The thing is, we always buy cars that are perfect.
Perfect for the drivers, at the moment, with the given circumstances, need of use, budget available/price and of course with our hart out to the car.
It all depends on what you are looking for in a car. (cheap, practical, nice to drive, good looking, .... and in any combination)

Although I wouldn't be telling her the same thing now......I think :
When I met my wife, I was building my AC Cobra Replica. I told her, literally (!!): "Never make me choose between you or my car. Your bags could be ready".
She directly knew where she stood.
Although, as said, I wouldn't have her pack her bags (anymore - I was serious about it back then).
Result: She would never ever ask me that.
So I can always buy the perfect car (for me, at that time, for my purpose)

Koen

 

[Rev]

As far as the Z3 was concerned it was actually pretty cutting edge at the time. I suspect those presenters are young enough to have seen them, but not old enough to view in context of the period.

When the Z3 came on the scene there was nothing at all comparable. If you wanted a soft top you bought an old MGB or something. There was no "Peoples" roadster. An affordable 2 seater sports car. There were large luxury convertibles like Mercedes SL's and there were small cars like the Fiat X19 or the Escort Cabriolet, but no roadsters.

I bought one new in 1996ish. There was a waiting list. It was that sort after. People loved them, and still do. Later Mazda brought of the MX5, Audi did the TT, Honda did the S2000 so the market changed again.

It's very easy to look back on things with a critical view. I drove an early golf GTi not so long ago, and what a bag of nails it was too! At the time it was such a cool car, but compared to a modern version it's pants!

I think the Z3 is a classic in the making. It was a car that inspired other manufacturers to go back into Roadsters. It's reliable, and fun to drive. Time will prove the presenters wrong. It'll still be in peoples garages in 40 years time, and then they'll be viewed with a little more love by such "Dick's"! But meanwhile you'll all have fun with them and be comforted by the fact they didn't cost you a fortune. Because if they suddenly were worth a lot more money you'd not take them out!

 

[Stormy_be]

The first "Peoples Roadster" was the MX5 (thought that was before the Z3 - 1989 dixit wikipedia).

But the Z3 will become a real classic over time.

 

[oldcarman]

Koen, exactly what I said in a few more words. I think we're married to the same women or they're sisters. Otherwise, I wouldn't have the cars I have, in fact she's the founder of several such as my 63 M-B 220sb second owner, my 57 chev 2dr flip front ended, v8, and several others over the years. I now own a Z3 because my 9 year old granddaughter came to me and said" grampa, we should get a Z3 or a ford F 150"" there's some lucky guy out there waiting for her to get older I'm sure!!!

 

[Rev]

The first "Peoples Roadster" was the MX5 (thought that was before the Z3 - 1989 dixit wikipedia).

But the Z3 will become a real classic over time.

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story!

Ooops your right I wrote from memory, and nowadays thats a pretty unreliable thing!

 

[Stormy_be]

Koen, exactly what I said in a few more words. I think we're married to the same women or they're sisters. Otherwise, I wouldn't have the cars I have, in fact she's the founder of several such as my 63 M-B 220sb second owner, my 57 chev 2dr flip front ended, v8, and several others over the years. I now own a Z3 because my 9 year old granddaughter came to me and said" grampa, we should get a Z3 or a ford F 150"" there's some lucky guy out there waiting for her to get older I'm sure!!!

Oh no, my wife doesn't like cars, not at all.
She thinks I'm crazy (she might be right, but don't tell her that)
She thinks driving from A to B without having something to do in B is stupid.
Driving from A to A and not even knowing about B is out of the question.

I have a Ac Cobra replica, last year drove 700 km with it, the year before 750 km....not possible to drive much more....wife doesn't like cars, daughter of (now) 2 year old....and one of -4 months won't aid in that aspect in the short future.

 

[Stormy_be]

Never let the truth get in the way of a good story!

Ooops your right I wrote from memory, and nowadays thats a pretty unreliable thing!

I think that is why the Z3 was launched with a 1.8 & 1.9 engine...to have the battle with the MX5.
Only later they saw the possibility for the same car with a bigger engine (also because of the critics of the car being "slow")

 

[Boysie]

I was a bit peeved listening to the presenter. They didn't even have the Z3 on the lap. I think their term black sheep was being kind. I think a leper would have been more appropriate the way the zed3 was portrayed.
I think you did good job Rev defending the zed3

 

[Rev]

Presenters of these shows are like Bully's at school. It's easy to pick on the little guy in the corner, but forget (or don't care) that he has a heart and soul as well.

It'll drive an awful lot better (Streets ahead) than all of the older cars, (Including the 507 which they drool over) but because it's not worth a fortune will not get recognition. Those old cars will be a constant fight to keep on the road. They'll be noisy, slow gutless and unrefined, but because they are passed a certain age they are seen to be cool.

I remember as a child going to a cinema just along the road. It was completely Art Deco. It was sooooo old fashioned. They knocked it down in the early 80's. I like everyone else hated the place. Today it would be the coolest cinema for probably 100 miles. The fittings in it would be worth a fortune. What ever did they do. They just never realised what they had.

So don't worry about the Z3. You know what you've got. You're own judgement is all the reassurance you need. You're just a wee bit ahead of the game.

 

[oldcarman]

Oh man, I'm sorry they feel that the Zed3 is not worth a fortune. Let me start that my car, even though I don't have it yet, can't drive it or even comment on the handling, is worth more than any other vehicle which I own, have owned or will own. If it wasn't for buying that car, in a foreign land, sight unseen would I have found this forum. Too me that is worth more than the almighty dollar (£) this side of heaven and hell. This is a down to earth group, proud and standing tall in the face of those that only place greatness on dollars(£'s) and cents (pence). Roll on ZEDERS united. And , thanks all for this small spot of insane sanity we can all retreat to 24-7. JIM

 

[Zeti]

I have a Ac Cobra replica, last year drove 700 km with it, the year before 750 km....not possible to drive much more....wife doesn't like cars, daughter of (now) 2 year old....and one of -4 months won't aid in that aspect in the short future.[/QUOTE]

@Stormy_be
I have a friend who built an AC Cobra replica and each year on our birthday, (we have the same day of birth), we have an " AC therapy trip" from about 2-3 hours! It worth all the money in the world and it's the best gift ever.....

Regarding the Z opinions, I agree with you all........
Despite of our addiction to cars (especially Zed), it is not a negative feature in the couple: our wifes admit that it's better to know the addiction you have instead to have a hidden passion.......which can really affect the couple!

 

[oldcarman]

My lady tells me my cars are my whores only they cost more!!

And then the fighting starts!!
She says" start drinking more beer, I'm not living in the style I'm accustomed too on the deposit refund anymore"

And then the fighting starts

But, gotta love 'em they let us have our toys.

 

[Zeti]

It'll drive an awful lot better (Streets ahead) than all of the older cars, (Including the 507 which they drool over) but because it's not worth a fortune will not get recognition. Those old cars will be a constant fight to keep on the road. They'll be noisy, slow gutless and unrefined, but because they are passed a certain age they are seen to be cool.

I remember as a child going to a cinema just along the road. It was completely Art Deco. It was sooooo old fashioned. They knocked it down in the early 80's. I like everyone else hated the place. Today it would be the coolest cinema for probably 100 miles. The fittings in it would be worth a fortune. What ever did they do. They just never realised what they had.

So don't worry about the Z3. You know what you've got. You're own judgement is all the reassurance you need. You're just a wee bit ahead of the game.

[/QUOTE]

It's not their (presenters) fault; it's the way that young generation of journalists is educated for the "popular spectacular": everytime when it's about a car (especially an oldtimer) the interest goes to "what's the value?" and "who's the owner?" The other technicals features goes in the shadow......
We have to admit that Z3 it's the first and the last "popular" BMW roadster! (Thanks God it's so!)
Now, after 19 years from production, most of the vehicles are in good loving hands and this is important.
The fun is huge and the reliability fine , so let's enjoy it!