You need to go to kit car forums to find carb tuning experts. Loads of Seven style cars have Ford Crossflow, Pinto, and other carburetted engines, including some Italian ones. Mine has two twin choke Dellortos on a Pinto engine.
What's so special about a Z3?
- Thread starter Chris Hunter
- Start date
For me, the thing that makes me love the car is a combination of a few things.
The looks are a big part of it. I think it looks elegant and like a ‘proper’ 2 seater roadster. Having seen some of the heavily modified ones that seem to be popular in the states, it can also look good when more modern styling cues are applied (big wheels, lowered, splitters/spoilers and fancy paint jobs) but I prefer the stock look myself.
It’s easy to drive and mine being a 1.9 I find it plenty on the road power and speed wise. I nearly chopped it in for a Boxster S but the main reason I didn’t (apart from the Boxster not fitting my garage!) is that I’d rather feel like I’m driving a slow car fast than a fast car slow, if that makes sense?
It’s also nice to have a car that I can happily work on mechanically without worrying about plugging in code readers, computers and sensors everywhere or really expensive spares. (I’ve got a Discovery 3 for that particular fun!).
The looks are a big part of it. I think it looks elegant and like a ‘proper’ 2 seater roadster. Having seen some of the heavily modified ones that seem to be popular in the states, it can also look good when more modern styling cues are applied (big wheels, lowered, splitters/spoilers and fancy paint jobs) but I prefer the stock look myself.
It’s easy to drive and mine being a 1.9 I find it plenty on the road power and speed wise. I nearly chopped it in for a Boxster S but the main reason I didn’t (apart from the Boxster not fitting my garage!) is that I’d rather feel like I’m driving a slow car fast than a fast car slow, if that makes sense?
It’s also nice to have a car that I can happily work on mechanically without worrying about plugging in code readers, computers and sensors everywhere or really expensive spares. (I’ve got a Discovery 3 for that particular fun!).
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2014
- Points
- 174
- Model of Z
- 2.2i Sport
Think you'll find that a code reader is pretty much essential on these Z3s, certainly needed one on mine a few times. And it's worth paying extra for a BMW specific reader, the generic ones aren't specific enough. Not complaining, just sayin'.
- Joined
- Jul 26, 2020
- Points
- 74
Don't get upset Tony, it is all said in fun. The Z4 reminds me of my laundry when it comes out of the tumble dryer The Z3is the same washing after it has been ironed. whoops.
When the Z3 first came out I thought it was ugly and never liked it. I never liked the Z4 E85 always thought the front end looked "weird"
20 years on and I own a Z3 and a Z4 why? No idea just something about them. They have aged well, still look good and have character unlike 90% of the everyday cars you see on the road. The Z3 even though I have hardly driven it since buying it (restoring it) whenever I open the garage door it just looks like it is moving with the curves and the squat rear end and looks inviting. The Z4 knows what it is and wants to play but I think it is the rear ends on them, that big long bonnet and the straight 6, the Z3 all curves and the Z4 with sharper lines but the curves are subtly hidden until you look for them
20 years on and I own a Z3 and a Z4 why? No idea just something about them. They have aged well, still look good and have character unlike 90% of the everyday cars you see on the road. The Z3 even though I have hardly driven it since buying it (restoring it) whenever I open the garage door it just looks like it is moving with the curves and the squat rear end and looks inviting. The Z4 knows what it is and wants to play but I think it is the rear ends on them, that big long bonnet and the straight 6, the Z3 all curves and the Z4 with sharper lines but the curves are subtly hidden until you look for them
Couldn't agree more. Thought Z3's looked a bit daft when they first came out but now think they're achingly beautiful.
I think the wider public also looks on them fondly, based on the the smiles/thumbs/comments I get when pottering about in mine.
What’s so special? After driving a 2000 car into Lincoln for its MOT this afternoon I have to say “ not much” to be honest. It’s 6 years since I last drove one and the memories haven’t aged well. Definitely enjoyed it at the time but I would not go back to one now.
Tony.
Tony.
Mark Gutteridge
Zorg Guru (II)
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2019
- Points
- 119
Well I love mine Tony and you haven't enough money to buy mine
Good for you Mark its a beautiful car. How many other types of Zed have you driven, out of curiosity?
Tony.
Tony.
Mark Gutteridge
Zorg Guru (II)
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2019
- Points
- 119
None, so I apologise
@Tony. Well on a bad day in stop start traffic with the roof up I would rather drive one of the other cars not my Z. It rattles, the diff makes clunking and other noises and for me it's not a great place to be.
But... on a sunny day, roof down, music on, open road with no traffic I have difficulty imagining how much more pleasure I would personally get from anything unless 10 times the money is involved.
Having said that I dearly want an m roadster. We did not get the z3 version here so maybe an e85 is on the cards. But something else than the z3 will have to go as that is staying.
But... on a sunny day, roof down, music on, open road with no traffic I have difficulty imagining how much more pleasure I would personally get from anything unless 10 times the money is involved.
Having said that I dearly want an m roadster. We did not get the z3 version here so maybe an e85 is on the cards. But something else than the z3 will have to go as that is staying.
For long motorway journeys I prefer my aging X-Type Jaguar. For sunny cruising around on A and B roads the top-down Z is perfect - not for hot sunny motorway runs of any length though. It has to be top up and a/c on for those times. The other traffic is too noisy as well. Horses, as they say, for courses. My Westfield, which has been driven from the M40 corridor to Sussex on more than one occasion, now remains in the garage for track day use only. It's too vulnerable and is nearly invisible to others it seems. My Z has only just clicked over to 50,000 miles and will continue to be used sparingly.
Mark Gutteridge
Zorg Guru (II)
- Joined
- Jun 28, 2019
- Points
- 119
The Z3's are as comparable to the Z4's. They both have their styles and both are just heart pumping.
Robert Hill
Zorg Guru (III)
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2018
- Points
- 125
Still turns head's
Robert Hill
Zorg Guru (III)
- Joined
- Sep 17, 2018
- Points
- 125
Still turning head's
