What a fantastic little car the 1.8 BMW Z3 is !
Discussion
I'd never have bothered with a 1.8 litre Z3, because I'm old, and it is peanuts for me to insure the 2.8/3.0 litre variants.
My 20 year old daughter took delivery of her first sports car on Saturday, an old and very cheap 1.8 litre Z3.
I've driven the larger engined ones, my neighbour has a 3.0 litre I've been known to use in the summer, but I am very surprised at what a lovely car the 1.8 is.
It is a very usable and nippy little motor, super handling, quite a nice exhaust note for a mere four pot, and unlike most sports cars, comfortable.
Just thought I'd share that with you (and yes, she did try a couple of MX5's, she wasn't keen on them, and I don't blame her, although I like the MK1 as a sort of lotus copy, the later ones look like hyundais in my opinion, and they just don't drive as well as a Z3 ..... again in my opinion).
My 20 year old daughter took delivery of her first sports car on Saturday, an old and very cheap 1.8 litre Z3.
I've driven the larger engined ones, my neighbour has a 3.0 litre I've been known to use in the summer, but I am very surprised at what a lovely car the 1.8 is.
It is a very usable and nippy little motor, super handling, quite a nice exhaust note for a mere four pot, and unlike most sports cars, comfortable.
Just thought I'd share that with you (and yes, she did try a couple of MX5's, she wasn't keen on them, and I don't blame her, although I like the MK1 as a sort of lotus copy, the later ones look like hyundais in my opinion, and they just don't drive as well as a Z3 ..... again in my opinion).
I'll take some pictures, she is very proud of it !
They are cheap now (as are the older MX5's), you can get them sub £2,000 for the Z3, th MX5's can be older and sub £1,000.
This one is a 97, on a private plate for whatever reason, 99,000 miles, it seems to be a very honest car, has a few issues I'll enjoy sorting (I like to play), a few marks here and there.
It came from a dealer in Worcester, it is an odd spec, manual hood no obc, yet leather electric seats.
She has paid £2,800 (well she paid £800, they gave her £2,000 on her smart for two trade in), they've put a new exhaust, new battery,new window in the hood, and had all four wheels refurbed (it's got M sport alloys on it, it looks cracking)as part of the deal, and it has a three month parts and labour warranty.
I'm putting together a list of issues to see what they say, nothing serious.
They are cheap now (as are the older MX5's), you can get them sub £2,000 for the Z3, th MX5's can be older and sub £1,000.
This one is a 97, on a private plate for whatever reason, 99,000 miles, it seems to be a very honest car, has a few issues I'll enjoy sorting (I like to play), a few marks here and there.
It came from a dealer in Worcester, it is an odd spec, manual hood no obc, yet leather electric seats.
She has paid £2,800 (well she paid £800, they gave her £2,000 on her smart for two trade in), they've put a new exhaust, new battery,new window in the hood, and had all four wheels refurbed (it's got M sport alloys on it, it looks cracking)as part of the deal, and it has a three month parts and labour warranty.
I'm putting together a list of issues to see what they say, nothing serious.
Tyrion said:
Post pics of the car and the daughter, thanks in advance.
Yes, I was expecting the daughter pic one, it is ph afterall, I have a 18 year old as well.They are both up for grabs, the sooner the better ...... I never used to believe in arranged marrages until my little angels reached their teen years !
Nigel Worc's said:
Yes, I was expecting the daughter pic one, it is ph afterall, I have a 18 year old as well.
They are both up for grabs, the sooner the better ...... I never used to believe in arranged marrages until my little angels reached their teen years !
I have some Goats on a small holding, maybe we could do a deal.They are both up for grabs, the sooner the better ...... I never used to believe in arranged marrages until my little angels reached their teen years !
Nigel Worc's said:
Yes, I was expecting the daughter pic one, it is ph afterall, I have a 18 year old as well.
They are both up for grabs, the sooner the better ...... I never used to believe in arranged marrages until my little angels reached their teen years !
Do they come two for one?They are both up for grabs, the sooner the better ...... I never used to believe in arranged marrages until my little angels reached their teen years !
If so, I'm interested.
If the Z3 had only been made as a 1.8, everyone would think it a nice car, but because they made more powerful versions, it gets dismissed.
People often dismiss smaller engined versions of cars as being rubbish when in most cases they're perfectly fine and in some cases better (the 1.6 205GTi was a far nicer car to drive than the 1.9.)
And the smaller engined cars, being less desirable, are often far cheaper to buy, and usually far cheaper to insure, tax and run.
People often dismiss smaller engined versions of cars as being rubbish when in most cases they're perfectly fine and in some cases better (the 1.6 205GTi was a far nicer car to drive than the 1.9.)
And the smaller engined cars, being less desirable, are often far cheaper to buy, and usually far cheaper to insure, tax and run.
Daughters boyfriend (the lanky streak of piss) is six foot four, he fits in the pasenger seat ok !
He can't drive it because of insurance ....... pissed off ..... yes he is lol
(he's a great lad, but he started this sports car thing ...... and now he's left with the fact his girlfriend has one .... and he can't, the poor sod)
He can't drive it because of insurance ....... pissed off ..... yes he is lol
(he's a great lad, but he started this sports car thing ...... and now he's left with the fact his girlfriend has one .... and he can't, the poor sod)
Nigel Worc's said:
Daughters boyfriend (the lanky streak of piss) is six foot four, he fits in the pasenger seat ok !
He can't drive it because of insurance ....... pissed off ..... yes he is lol
(he's a great lad, but he started this sports car thing ...... and now he's left with the fact his girlfriend has one .... and he can't, the poor sod)
Thanks for the info. I'd be driving it though so would it be too much bother to ask him to sit in the driving seat and see how it fits? Thanks. He can't drive it because of insurance ....... pissed off ..... yes he is lol
(he's a great lad, but he started this sports car thing ...... and now he's left with the fact his girlfriend has one .... and he can't, the poor sod)
funkyrobot said:
Thanks for the info. I'd be driving it though so would it be too much bother to ask him to sit in the driving seat and see how it fits? Thanks.
He fits in the driving seat fine, just not legally.The seat moves back a long way, and adjusts up and down, try one, I'm only a shortarse, but with the seat movement I doubt whether you're tall by long legs or long body will matter.
CampDavid said:
Is a 1997 Z3 not a 1.9?
Yes it is 1895 cc, but it is a BMW, so the 1.8 bit just means it is a four pot .... as you probably know, they do many oddball things regarding those badges ;520i = 2.0 litre or 2.2 litre
523i = 2.5 litre
118d = 2.0 litre
120d = 2.0 litre
123d = 2.0 litre
535d = 3.0 litre
316i = 1.8 litre
318i = 1.8, 1.9, or 2.0 litre
I'm sure there are many more !
Nigel Worc's said:
Yes it is 1895 cc, but it is a BMW, so the 1.8 bit just means it is a four pot .... as you probably know, they do many oddball things regarding those badges ;
520i = 2.0 litre or 2.2 litre
523i = 2.5 litre
118d = 2.0 litre
120d = 2.0 litre
123d = 2.0 litre
535d = 3.0 litre
316i = 1.8 litre
318i = 1.8, 1.9, or 2.0 litre
I'm sure there are many more !
The current Z4 28i is a 2 litre 4 pot!520i = 2.0 litre or 2.2 litre
523i = 2.5 litre
118d = 2.0 litre
120d = 2.0 litre
123d = 2.0 litre
535d = 3.0 litre
316i = 1.8 litre
318i = 1.8, 1.9, or 2.0 litre
I'm sure there are many more !
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