Z3 sold but enjoying lookalike

[Paulro]

A couple of months ago I advertised my 3.0 Sport on this site. I was returning to the UK from Portugal and member here, AntStark, asked if he could view it on my return on the ferry into Portsmouth.
I landed at 7.45 and by 8.20am we‘d met in Sainsbury’s car park just off the M27 where Ant looked at it, didn’t drive it and didn’t show any buying signals.
On my return home I said I’d met a potential buyer but I said, nice guy but I don’t think he was interested.
Later in the day he contacted me and a deal was done. Great.
It was important to me to find a buyer that I felt would cherish my car and I’m so pleased to know that Ant is that person.
So I sold my Z3, sold my Jaguar XF and now I’m driving this.
Looks similar and with half the capacity this Mazda is different in many ways to the bmw but fun all the same.
Thanks Ant and best wishes in your efforts to make your new car as good as it can be.
Heres a couple of pics.

 

[AntStark]

What happened to the 2CV Paul

 

[Woodsta888]

Metallic Red seems to be a fave colour for you, rare on a Z3 too!

 

[t-tony]

That Mazda red is an awesome colour, especially in really bright sunshine.

Tony.

 

[Paulro]

What happened to the 2CV Paul

Hi Ant. I bought the 2cv in Portugal and I’m leaving it there. 1984, 40k miles, 602cc, rhd and although originally from the uk it’s now matriculated, so Portuguese registered. Had been sat in a garage, unused since 2002 .
It’s a convertible. That’s the only thing in common with the Z3. I’ve got the badge and will post next week.

 

[AntStark]

Lovely that...I do like a 2CV...... If you are ever in Hedge End Sainsburys car park with it let me know

 

[Paulro]

That Mazda red is an awesome colour, especially in really bright sunshine.
Agree but seems very thin paint. Sparkles in the sun. Don’t they look similar? It’s like Mazda said let’s try and update the z3 and make it more modern. Not sure they achieved that. It maybe looks better with the hood up but not with it down.

Tony.

 

[DrWong]

A couple of months ago I advertised my 3.0 Sport on this site. I was returning to the UK from Portugal and member here, AntStark, asked if he could view it on my return on the ferry into Portsmouth.
I landed at 7.45 and by 8.20am we‘d met in Sainsbury’s car park just off the M27 where Ant looked at it, didn’t drive it and didn’t show any buying signals.
On my return home I said I’d met a potential buyer but I said, nice guy but I don’t think he was interested.
Later in the day he contacted me and a deal was done. Great.
It was important to me to find a buyer that I felt would cherish my car and I’m so pleased to know that Ant is that person.
So I sold my Z3, sold my Jaguar XF and now I’m driving this.
Looks similar and with half the capacity this Mazda is different in many ways to the bmw but fun all the same.
Thanks Ant and best wishes in your efforts to make your new car as good as it can be.
Heres a couple of pics.
View attachment 258075View attachment 258077

Would be interested in your thoughts on your Mx5 compared to your Z3 (accepting the big power difference etc).?

 

[Paulro]

Would be interested in your thoughts on your Mx5 compared to your Z3 (accepting the big power difference etc).?

Coming from a manual 3.0 sport Z4 Coupe sport with 268bhp, a 3.0 twin turbo Jaguar XF auto and a 3.0 Z3 sport auto I’d say the immediate difference is low down torque, flexibility but real pulling power when pushed.
I never used the paddles in the Jag and very rarely ever used sport mode in the Z3.
The Mazda is light. The panels seem super thin. There’s no weight in the doors but it’s beautifully balanced and a joy to drive on twisty roads. It has a better sized steering wheel than the Z3 and, being a modern car, lots of technology, comfortable seats and a lovely designed roof that is so light and easy to use. It’s 1.5L and is not a fast car. It is naturally aspirated and performs better when used at the upper end of the rev range.
Overall I like it.
However, my thoughts return to the build quality of the Z3, that beautiful engine, great seats and just a joy to own and drive.
You’re right. They’re completely different.
I’m just pleased to know that Ant is so enthusiastic about these cars and will look after it and improve it.

 

[t-tony]

My first foray into sports car ownership was a Mazda Eunos 1.6. To be brutally honest it was more fun to drive than any Z I've had, like a road going Go-Cart.
So it was just a real shame they were built to dissolve.

Tony.

 

[AntStark]

Same ..loved mine

 

[AntStark]

rarely ever used sport mode in the Z3.

…oh…not even found that yet ! Scared myself enough in normal mode

 

[DrWong]

Coming from a manual 3.0 sport Z4 Coupe sport with 268bhp, a 3.0 twin turbo Jaguar XF auto and a 3.0 Z3 sport auto I’d say the immediate difference is low down torque, flexibility but real pulling power when pushed.
I never used the paddles in the Jag and very rarely ever used sport mode in the Z3.
The Mazda is light. The panels seem super thin. There’s no weight in the doors but it’s beautifully balanced and a joy to drive on twisty roads. It has a better sized steering wheel than the Z3 and, being a modern car, lots of technology, comfortable seats and a lovely designed roof that is so light and easy to use. It’s 1.5L and is not a fast car. It is naturally aspirated and performs better when used at the upper end of the rev range.
Overall I like it.
However, my thoughts return to the build quality of the Z3, that beautiful engine, great seats and just a joy to own and drive.
You’re right. They’re completely different.
I’m just pleased to know that Ant is so enthusiastic about these cars and will look after it and improve it.

Thanks for that
Never driven an Mx5, but pretty much confirms what I understood to be the key differences, i.e. Mazda - lighter, more nimble, better handling/steering (but terminal rust issues that are universal @t-tony ); Z3 - comfort, refinement, build quality, engineering, plus the option of the big six-cylinder. Z3 always gets compared very unfavourably to the Mx5, but they both do different things well so it's not really an apples-to-apples comparison IMO. For me, I prefer the mix of things the Z3 does well over what an Mx5 offers.
Oh, and I often wish I'd considered an auto for my Z3.!

 

[t-tony]

All my Zs have been Auto and I love ‘em! The E89 with paddle shift the best of the lot.

Tony.