CERBERA vs BMW Z3M in Classic and sports car Mag
Discussion
Debate over then!
Gazzab said:
I think the Z3M coupe is a good comparison to a cerb ?"
about the only comparison is the insurance group isn't it?Soft top v Hard top
2 seats v 4 seats
3.2 V6 325 bhp v 4.2/4.5 V8 350-420bhp
1450-1500Kg v 1200-1250kg
5.1 secs 0-60 v around 4 secs
Limited 155mph top speed v 190 mph top speed
The cerbera wins hands down on boot size, exclusivity (everyones got a Z3/4) etc etc
and anyone with a Z4 always goes on about how fast the roof goes up and down and the pop up sat nav. That doesn't interest me - it's how it drives.
I found the Z3M alright, but uninspiring. I was expecting a lot more.
Byker28i said:
Gazzab said:
I think the Z3M coupe is a good comparison to a cerb ?"
about the only comparison is the insurance group isn't it?Soft top v Hard top
2 seats v 4 seats
3.2 V6 325 bhp v 4.2/4.5 V8 350-420bhp
1450-1500Kg v 1200-1250kg
5.1 secs 0-60 v around 4 secs
Limited 155mph top speed v 190 mph top speed
The cerbera wins hands down on boot size, exclusivity (everyones got a Z3/4) etc etc
and anyone with a Z4 always goes on about how fast the roof goes up and down and the pop up sat nav. That doesn't interest me - it's how it drives.
I found the Z3M alright, but uninspiring. I was expecting a lot more.
Byker28i said:
and anyone with a Z4 always goes on about how fast the roof goes up and down and the pop up sat nav. That doesn't interest me - it's how it drives.
Which bit of "coupe" aren't you getting? 
I ordered mine without the satnav, only really interested in the bits that make it go and stop, and go round corners.
Byker28i said:
Gazzab said:
I think the Z3M coupe is a good comparison to a cerb ?"
about the only comparison is the insurance group isn't it?Soft top v Hard top
2 seats v 4 seats
3.2 V6 325 bhp v 4.2/4.5 V8 350-420bhp
1450-1500Kg v 1200-1250kg
5.1 secs 0-60 v around 4 secs
Limited 155mph top speed v 190 mph top speed
The cerbera wins hands down on boot size, exclusivity (everyones got a Z3/4) etc etc
and anyone with a Z4 always goes on about how fast the roof goes up and down and the pop up sat nav. That doesn't interest me - it's how it drives.
I found the Z3M alright, but uninspiring. I was expecting a lot more.
I'm ever so slightly biased, as the Cerbera was mine.
On the day, I got to drive both cars on a series of fast A-roads, plus a bit of a wheel-sliding fun session on a disused airfield. While the Z3M had a sweet and smooth engine, and felt well put together, it lacked the soul and rawness of my Cerb, which is precisely why I bought in in the first place. It was virtually impossible to get the Z3M to slide around, while my Cerb was much more fun to play around with in fast bends.
It was a fun day all round, and in my opinion the article hits all of the right notes.
In fact, while I no longer own the car (changed it for an E30 M3, and subsequently for a Maserati 3200GT), I do miss its presence and soul quite a lot.
On the day, I got to drive both cars on a series of fast A-roads, plus a bit of a wheel-sliding fun session on a disused airfield. While the Z3M had a sweet and smooth engine, and felt well put together, it lacked the soul and rawness of my Cerb, which is precisely why I bought in in the first place. It was virtually impossible to get the Z3M to slide around, while my Cerb was much more fun to play around with in fast bends.
It was a fun day all round, and in my opinion the article hits all of the right notes.
In fact, while I no longer own the car (changed it for an E30 M3, and subsequently for a Maserati 3200GT), I do miss its presence and soul quite a lot.
I'll go and get a copy in a minute...
But in advance of reading the article, I wonder whether my position is unique, having owned the BMW for about four years, and swapping it for a Cerbera two-and-a-bit years ago? Of course, the BMW in question is the "M Coupe". Nowhere in any BMW literature, on the car itself, in the manual etc etc is that hideous designation "Z3M" to be found. Naturally BMW wished to distance the car from the hairdresser's shopping trolley on bits of whose undercarriage it sat. So did I - and was easily wound up by Z3 remarks of any kind...
It was a great car, even though mine was a modified but still slightly underpowered one that I bought new in Florida, where I was living at the time, then brought with me back to England. I got it on impulse having taken my S Type Jag into a BMW dealership to chop in for anything manual - I was thinking a 540, sort of thing - as I was thorougly bored with the old Ford's sloppy self-shifter... A clever Colombian salesman said, "Have you ever driven one of these, Senor...?" And that was that. I later had a great time drag racing at Moroso, where the good ol'boy commentator announced me as "the foreign car" - one did beat quite a number of crappy 'Merican caws though...
Just for the record, the magazines at the time said it had a comfortably sub-5 second 0-60 time. And who said it had a V6??!!
I love the TVR and don't repine at all for the M Coupe (my 10 year-old son does sometimes..), but still did I loved that car as well. When I fantasise over big lottery wins, I see myself tracking it down - the very one, I mean - and buying it back to cherish alongside the Cerbera. I have to say, I still don't think I'm quite as brave in corners in TVR as I was in M Coupe. Of course, the BMW is shorter, wheels more at each corner and wider rear tyres - more go-cart like.. I know, I know, before someone points it out that it's a lot heavier than the Cerbera.
Anyway, that's my ten penn'orth. If anyone sees a black, LHD M Coupe X859 NLB - do give her a wave!
But in advance of reading the article, I wonder whether my position is unique, having owned the BMW for about four years, and swapping it for a Cerbera two-and-a-bit years ago? Of course, the BMW in question is the "M Coupe". Nowhere in any BMW literature, on the car itself, in the manual etc etc is that hideous designation "Z3M" to be found. Naturally BMW wished to distance the car from the hairdresser's shopping trolley on bits of whose undercarriage it sat. So did I - and was easily wound up by Z3 remarks of any kind...
It was a great car, even though mine was a modified but still slightly underpowered one that I bought new in Florida, where I was living at the time, then brought with me back to England. I got it on impulse having taken my S Type Jag into a BMW dealership to chop in for anything manual - I was thinking a 540, sort of thing - as I was thorougly bored with the old Ford's sloppy self-shifter... A clever Colombian salesman said, "Have you ever driven one of these, Senor...?" And that was that. I later had a great time drag racing at Moroso, where the good ol'boy commentator announced me as "the foreign car" - one did beat quite a number of crappy 'Merican caws though...
Just for the record, the magazines at the time said it had a comfortably sub-5 second 0-60 time. And who said it had a V6??!!
I love the TVR and don't repine at all for the M Coupe (my 10 year-old son does sometimes..), but still did I loved that car as well. When I fantasise over big lottery wins, I see myself tracking it down - the very one, I mean - and buying it back to cherish alongside the Cerbera. I have to say, I still don't think I'm quite as brave in corners in TVR as I was in M Coupe. Of course, the BMW is shorter, wheels more at each corner and wider rear tyres - more go-cart like.. I know, I know, before someone points it out that it's a lot heavier than the Cerbera.
Anyway, that's my ten penn'orth. If anyone sees a black, LHD M Coupe X859 NLB - do give her a wave!
Gassing Station | Cerbera | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff