ZT385 in Autocar this week
Discussion
They've a couple of pictures of it caught testing in Michigan. I'm afraid they talk about the delay in launch until "2 months after the ZT260" which is going to be "late this year". Indicated prices £30,000 and £40,000. For my money it has to be at least as cheap as an M3 to be worth while.
At least as cheap? Needs to be much cheaper IMO. It`s going to be a bit of a frankstein - an American V8 dumped in the thing, and a lazy V8 at that with no top end from what I hear. With 40bhp (or less - some gtalk of 360bhp not 385) more than the M3 I actually doubt in real world on the road driving if it`ll be faster. Only thing faster it will do is depreciate much more. So what makes more sense? A 38grand M3 will probably work out cheaper in the long run - and IMO faster. The old ZT will probably fall apart under the power.
Not sure what state of tune the engine will end up in - a supercharged engined suggests lots of torque versus high rpm power as you say. What would be faster - difficult to say. I agree about the depreciation but the consideration for me of a ZT over an M3 is the extra doors at the back and a bigger boot - it's more practical and comfortable than a M3.
My biggest concern is that they will never make the ZT385 and I should go for a M3 / used M5 now rather than wait.
My biggest concern is that they will never make the ZT385 and I should go for a M3 / used M5 now rather than wait.
E30M3BMW said:
At least as cheap? Needs to be much cheaper IMO. It`s going to be a bit of a frankstein - an American V8 dumped in the thing, and a lazy V8 at that with no top end from what I hear. With 40bhp (or less - some gtalk of 360bhp not 385) more than the M3 I actually doubt in real world on the road driving if it`ll be faster. Only thing faster it will do is depreciate much more. So what makes more sense? A 38grand M3 will probably work out cheaper in the long run - and IMO faster. The old ZT will probably fall apart under the power.
Old ZT....???
Where did you get that information to base that assumption on?
The "Old ZT" uses a current generation BMW chassis...
As for it being a frankenstein, come off it, Peter Stevens is in charge and no one can deny that he know's a thing or two about cars. The Zed range may not be to your liking, but people do like them myself included and I'd take a MG-Rover over a Beemer any day.
/rant over
>> Edited by jcbzt160+ on Monday 21st July 14:37
E30M3BMW said:
At least as cheap? Needs to be much cheaper IMO. It`s going to be a bit of a frankstein - an American V8 dumped in the thing, and a lazy V8 at that with no top end from what I hear. With 40bhp (or less - some gtalk of 360bhp not 385) more than the M3 I actually doubt in real world on the road driving if it`ll be faster. Only thing faster it will do is depreciate much more. So what makes more sense? A 38grand M3 will probably work out cheaper in the long run - and IMO faster. The old ZT will probably fall apart under the power.
The old ZT will probably fall apart under the power?
Tut tut, not very well informed, are you?
The 75 chassis is very rigid indeed, and according to Autocar of 11th July 2001, an article on the ZT X-Power 500 at page 50-53 stated:
"Fortunately for MG, though, no serious chassis strengthening was requied since the 75 is already extremely torisonally regid."
And that was a ZT with 500 break horsepower.
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