Bmw Z3.......Has anyone got one?

[gullshark]

They are very capable 2 seater roadsters, certainly the best of the ones where you don't want power.

Have a go in my mates turbocharged one that's pushing nearly 270hp and tell me that's a girls car...

 

[upthealbion1970]

as the z3 is based on e36/e46 chassis the drive is ok, but you really should never ever buy any bmw with a 4 cylinder engine, way too underpowered for the size/weight of the car!

 

[Bozza]

mx-5 is for hairdressers or girls!

A massive misconception.

The MX-5 is widely acknowledged as being a supreme driving machine. Outright speed and performance - of course not, but for a fun drive it is very, very hard to beat.

Mazda MX-5 review - Telegraph

I've just got back from driving MkIs and MkIIIs in the Scottish Highlands as part of the MX-5's 20th birthday celebrations and – more fool me – I had completely forgotten what an amazing car the MX-5 is.

A group of journalists took a route over Britain's highest pass, in blazing sunshine, down to the west coast, to a little place called Applecross.

It was the best drive of my life. Mountain tops sparkling in the sun, not a sound when we stopped at a viewing point and turned off the engine, a long road curling down the valley to the sea, where that we zipped along in convoy, with a simple, rear-wheel-drive, two-seat, open-top sports car for transport.

The driving experience was fresh, sharp, clear, exhilarating and refreshing, like water from a mountain stream. Why can't all convertible sports cars be this much fun, this easy to drive and this cheap?

It's a winning formula: the MX-5 is the most popular sports car ever, with global sales so far at about 860,000 and UK sales at 94,000. Its success is partly due to the absence of any serious competition.

Its handling is more raw and kart-like than that of a Porsche Boxster, Nissan 350Z, Audi TT or BMW Z4, it's cheaper than the lot of them and endowed with less power, which makes it a lot more fun to throw around.

(Note: I've never owned one)

 

[Uncle C]

mx-5 is for hairdressers or girls!

Nice to get a well reasoned, balanced viewpoint from an expert.

 

[Icy Gull]

I think Im best road testing all the small sports style cars as the mazda Mx 5....the honda s2000 and the beemer to see which one suits what im after.

QUOTE]

I would think the Honda will be at least twice as much as a Z3 or older MX5. Anyhow you have missed out the Alfa GTV/Spider from your test list, I'd add it if I were you, a car with soul.

 

[byf]

Just got back from little test drive of the Z3 up the country lane......seems a real fun car to drive to be honest....very nippy in lower gears and im sure it would be great from driving about town........not very roomy inside as expected and a little dated interior also..but im not fussed about that.

The next 2x im going to test drive will be the Porche Boxster which im warming to by the second....little scared about running cost and maintenance on that also not to forget insurance....and also the z4

 

[csider]

there lots of hairdressers, queers and estate agants who are selling them at the moment.

1.9, dont bother.

 

[bhaexpress]

Just got back from little test drive of the Z3 up the country lane......seems a real fun car to drive to be honest....very nippy in lower gears and im sure it would be great from driving about town........not very roomy inside as expected and a little dated interior also..but im not fussed about that.

The next 2x im going to test drive will be the Porche Boxster which im warming to by the second....little scared about running cost and maintenance on that also not to forget insurance....and also the z4

I doubt that the Boxter would be any more expensive than a Beemer and most real experts would tell you it's a much better car.

 

[byf]

I doubt that the Boxter would be any more expensive than a Beemer and most real experts would tell you it's a much better car.

Well they are about half the price on autotrader......Z3's going from £3200 anything up to 5k plus...

Whereas Boxster start at near 7k....

The running costs is the bit that I have to think about.....a boxster only does 25 mpg

 

[Icy Gull]

Well they are about half the price on autotrader......Z3's going from £3200 anything up to 5k plus...

Whereas Boxster start at near 7k....

The running costs is the bit that I have to think about.....a boxster only does 25 mpg

A 7k Boxster sounds like a moneypit waiting to happen to me. I think the basic servicing is pretty reasonable via a specialist but when things go wrong..OUCH. I wouldn't touch a cheap Boxster without the proviso that a Porsche specialist can have a look before you buy.

If you want cheap running costs and reliabilty on a budget I'd go for the MX5, even with the hairdresser image. I gather they are a lot of fun for not too much dosh.

 

[bhaexpress]

A 7k Boxster sounds like a moneypit waiting to happen to me. I think the basic servicing is pretty reasonable via a specialist but when things go wrong..OUCH. I wouldn't touch a cheap Boxster without the proviso that a Porsche specialist can have a look before you buy.

If you want cheap running costs and reliabilty on a budget I'd go for the MX5, even with the hairdresser image. I gather they are a lot of fun for not too much dosh.

A Boxster with a full service history is nothing to worry about.

 

[byf]

So a Boxster v Bmw Z4?

That would be a tough call.......both can be picked up for around £8,500.

Both would be tough of petrol.....with about 25-30 mpg....determined by how you driving and where urban or motorway.

All comes down to...do I want to spend that much on a car and also.....if something goes wrong mechanically...am I going to be out of my depth money wise to be able to repair!

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

I think the Z3 is a better looking model than the Z4. The Z4 is all nose and is a bltanta copy of the Jaguar E Type but not as classy. I had a MG 1.8i convertible and it was great fun. You can pick up a decent MG for 3k now but its a nightmare getting parts and the head gasket has a tendency to go every 20000 miles or so. I agree the new MX5 is very sexy and more a blokes car than the old girly MX5.

The BMW Kompressor looks decent but the best convertibles are the SLK range ( mid price ).

I also like the Chrsyler Crossfire convertible.

I reckon the Z3 is a decent choice and you should be able to get a decent one at 6-7k.

 

[Icy Gull]

A Boxster with a full service history is nothing to worry about.

Are there any 7k Boxsters with a full service history though

 

[Uncle Spielberg]

Try this for size.

http://cache.boston.com/cars/galleries/flash/detroit/2.jpg

 

[Normal Rob]

Seems to remember Clarkson saying that buying a boxster was the ultimate admission of failure. Everybody knows that you really wanted a 911 but couldn't afford it.

it's not often that i agree with Clarkson but this time i have to.

 

[theonesmith]

I agree with the pro Mx-5 group. Although I disagree with the poster who said the older ones were crap and the new ones are great! The new ones are much more roadstery whereas the older ones are a bit more sporty and imo have a bit more character. My dad has a Mazda Mx-5 Gleneagles edition of which only 400 were made and loves it to bits.

Mazda MX-5 Gleneagles

And to the bloke who thinks they are for hairdressers and girls

MX-5 Owners Club :: Photo Album


This is backed up by all the top gear episodes where they compare the standard roadsters and always love the Mx-5.

As another option, let me throw in the Fiat Barchetta!

2003 FIAT BARCHETTA 1.8 16V

Actually a quite fun car to drive, and should hold its value well as it is discontinued. Definately rarer and less seen than any of the aforementioned

 

[theonesmith]

Seems to remember Clarkson saying that buying a boxster was the ultimate admission of failure. Everybody knows that you really wanted a 911 but couldn't afford it.

it's not often that i agree with Clarkson but this time i have to.

So true

 

[scooter1]

ok, its not a Boxter but a mate of mine had a 928s4 a few years back, a little red light flicked on the dash and 5 seconds later one of the pistons decided to exit the engine via the side of the block. That cost him the thick end of 9 grand. As somebody above pointed out, a 7 grand Porsche is going to bleed you dry. Better to spend 7 grand on a good, solid - less marque - car with a decent history

 

[theonesmith]

Or another classic, the Lotus Elan

1992 LOTUS ELAN