Discussion
Are they any good? How would one compare to say, an E36 M3 in terms of handling and performance?
I was looking at various sporstcars, including - dare I say it - an MX5 and the issue of these came up. If I was to continue using my kit car as fun transport until next winter I could have about £7k to spend and their are some 2.8's getting down to that sort of price on auto trader right now.
Something willing and chuckable like an MX5 appeals, but I'd really want a bit more poke for when the innevitable OAP decides to do 38mph in front of you. I'd always thought of the non-M Z3's as cruisers rather than sportscars, but is this a little unfair?
I was looking at various sporstcars, including - dare I say it - an MX5 and the issue of these came up. If I was to continue using my kit car as fun transport until next winter I could have about £7k to spend and their are some 2.8's getting down to that sort of price on auto trader right now.
Something willing and chuckable like an MX5 appeals, but I'd really want a bit more poke for when the innevitable OAP decides to do 38mph in front of you. I'd always thought of the non-M Z3's as cruisers rather than sportscars, but is this a little unfair?
2.8's are sound and reliable. They don't handle too well out of the box, but with few choice mods and decent tyres, they do o.k. The rear end is E30 (old 3 series) stock, so the back end can get away pretty quick once it goes.
Plenty of torque and very smooth power delivery. Stock top speed is about 140.
Image is big a problem for the 'hairy chested' brigade, but I would recommend a drive (especially if the car has a strut brace fitted).
Get onto www.zroadster.net for more specific information.
I think it's fair to say a well driven E36 M3 will be much better for most people.
Plenty of torque and very smooth power delivery. Stock top speed is about 140.
Image is big a problem for the 'hairy chested' brigade, but I would recommend a drive (especially if the car has a strut brace fitted).
Get onto www.zroadster.net for more specific information.
I think it's fair to say a well driven E36 M3 will be much better for most people.
Edited by StuB on Friday 19th January 18:20
hopefully I can help, ref the z3 , I have a schnitzer version, basically a highly modded 2.8,
and they are good and bad in equal measure.It depends what you are after, eg the drive train is smooth as silk and refined but the hood is &^%&^% noisy compared with other soft tops. It will go round corners very quickly, but you can't change your line or modulate the attitude of the car by small throttle inputs, the car has truck loads of torque low down but not alot at the top end so it feels awesomely quick in the first quarter of the throttle but extending the rev range on a std 2.8 and using full throttle doesn't give a lot more. The gearbox is strong but typical bmw in use, you have a heavy flywheel coupled with restricted rev range and slightly pedantic in use changing gearbox its not a snick change or a quick witted car like an mx5 its faster but not intuitive like an mx5 it takes the sportscar tag off the shiny list. however living with it's fuss free nature huge grip lazy tow a house torquey engine and nice build is easy. not to mention the fantastic economy and longevity of the drive train and very cheap repair bills compared with say a boxster. Just my view hope it helps....driven a lot of cars and its great but it's no seven (got one of those to :-) or elise and thats my point sometimes you do not want it to be. If the hood was quieter in terms of wind roar it would be very hard to beat as commuter point and shoot roadster.Schnitzer is just a2.8 with more of everything more grip more torque but more of a sports car? no its just a bmw (they all drive pretty similar)and thats the point but gone a little more brutish.
and they are good and bad in equal measure.It depends what you are after, eg the drive train is smooth as silk and refined but the hood is &^%&^% noisy compared with other soft tops. It will go round corners very quickly, but you can't change your line or modulate the attitude of the car by small throttle inputs, the car has truck loads of torque low down but not alot at the top end so it feels awesomely quick in the first quarter of the throttle but extending the rev range on a std 2.8 and using full throttle doesn't give a lot more. The gearbox is strong but typical bmw in use, you have a heavy flywheel coupled with restricted rev range and slightly pedantic in use changing gearbox its not a snick change or a quick witted car like an mx5 its faster but not intuitive like an mx5 it takes the sportscar tag off the shiny list. however living with it's fuss free nature huge grip lazy tow a house torquey engine and nice build is easy. not to mention the fantastic economy and longevity of the drive train and very cheap repair bills compared with say a boxster. Just my view hope it helps....driven a lot of cars and its great but it's no seven (got one of those to :-) or elise and thats my point sometimes you do not want it to be. If the hood was quieter in terms of wind roar it would be very hard to beat as commuter point and shoot roadster.Schnitzer is just a2.8 with more of everything more grip more torque but more of a sports car? no its just a bmw (they all drive pretty similar)and thats the point but gone a little more brutish.
Thanks - some very 'balanced' comments.
I've got an E30 320 (for another 24hrs or so, I hope!) and that was very well manered and generally civilised to drive, if a little soft. Fortunately mine didn't seem to have the trade mark "oh my god we're going to die" E30 breakaway on the rear end, but that's possibly due to the softer springs on the 4 doors....
I do think a good engine adds a lot to a car and I do like that straight six. Not sure the character of it quite suits the chuckability I'm looking for though. I want something I can abuse mercilessly
May end up with a kit (Fisher Fury perhaps) or a supercharged MX5, but would definitely be interested if I was going to use one as an only car.
I've got an E30 320 (for another 24hrs or so, I hope!) and that was very well manered and generally civilised to drive, if a little soft. Fortunately mine didn't seem to have the trade mark "oh my god we're going to die" E30 breakaway on the rear end, but that's possibly due to the softer springs on the 4 doors....
I do think a good engine adds a lot to a car and I do like that straight six. Not sure the character of it quite suits the chuckability I'm looking for though. I want something I can abuse mercilessly
May end up with a kit (Fisher Fury perhaps) or a supercharged MX5, but would definitely be interested if I was going to use one as an only car.
tvralfagtv6 said:
hopefully I can help, ref the z3 , I have a schnitzer version, basically a highly modded 2.8,
and they are good and bad in equal measure.It depends what you are after, eg the drive train is smooth as silk and refined but the hood is &^%&^% noisy compared with other soft tops. It will go round corners very quickly, but you can't change your line or modulate the attitude of the car by small throttle inputs, the car has truck loads of torque low down but not alot at the top end so it feels awesomely quick in the first quarter of the throttle but extending the rev range on a std 2.8 and using full throttle doesn't give a lot more. The gearbox is strong but typical bmw in use, you have a heavy flywheel coupled with restricted rev range and slightly pedantic in use changing gearbox its not a snick change or a quick witted car like an mx5 its faster but not intuitive like an mx5 it takes the sportscar tag off the shiny list. however living with it's fuss free nature huge grip lazy tow a house torquey engine and nice build is easy. not to mention the fantastic economy and longevity of the drive train and very cheap repair bills compared with say a boxster. Just my view hope it helps....driven a lot of cars and its great but it's no seven (got one of those to :-) or elise and thats my point sometimes you do not want it to be. If the hood was quieter in terms of wind roar it would be very hard to beat as commuter point and shoot roadster.Schnitzer is just a2.8 with more of everything more grip more torque but more of a sports car? no its just a bmw (they all drive pretty similar)and thats the point but gone a little more brutish.
and they are good and bad in equal measure.It depends what you are after, eg the drive train is smooth as silk and refined but the hood is &^%&^% noisy compared with other soft tops. It will go round corners very quickly, but you can't change your line or modulate the attitude of the car by small throttle inputs, the car has truck loads of torque low down but not alot at the top end so it feels awesomely quick in the first quarter of the throttle but extending the rev range on a std 2.8 and using full throttle doesn't give a lot more. The gearbox is strong but typical bmw in use, you have a heavy flywheel coupled with restricted rev range and slightly pedantic in use changing gearbox its not a snick change or a quick witted car like an mx5 its faster but not intuitive like an mx5 it takes the sportscar tag off the shiny list. however living with it's fuss free nature huge grip lazy tow a house torquey engine and nice build is easy. not to mention the fantastic economy and longevity of the drive train and very cheap repair bills compared with say a boxster. Just my view hope it helps....driven a lot of cars and its great but it's no seven (got one of those to :-) or elise and thats my point sometimes you do not want it to be. If the hood was quieter in terms of wind roar it would be very hard to beat as commuter point and shoot roadster.Schnitzer is just a2.8 with more of everything more grip more torque but more of a sports car? no its just a bmw (they all drive pretty similar)and thats the point but gone a little more brutish.
Is it a silver 98/ R reg by chance?
Bennno
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