Z3m coupe, is it a better car then my chimmy?
Discussion
I seem to have strayed on to a different forum!
I have always hankered after a Z3m coupe and after 4 years of tiv ownership, now might be the time for a change.
I use my car as an occasional Sunday car and a once a month or thereabouts track day car and it is competitive.
The chim performs, handles and is a great blast with the hood down but I wouldn't drive it to the South of France!
I fancy the bit of comfort with the bee emm but does it still perform?
I like a bit of tinkering and have done a load to my car so I don't mind and actually look forward to upgrading.
Add to the equation, my pal is a bee emm indy.
Will it float my boat?
I have always hankered after a Z3m coupe and after 4 years of tiv ownership, now might be the time for a change.
I use my car as an occasional Sunday car and a once a month or thereabouts track day car and it is competitive.
The chim performs, handles and is a great blast with the hood down but I wouldn't drive it to the South of France!
I fancy the bit of comfort with the bee emm but does it still perform?
I like a bit of tinkering and have done a load to my car so I don't mind and actually look forward to upgrading.
Add to the equation, my pal is a bee emm indy.
Will it float my boat?
I actually own the Z3M roadster, not the coupe, but if you're interested:
It's a very civilised car. A bit too civilised (no noise etc.) for a "driving being an event" kind of car.
You will definitely miss the soundtrack of the TVR, also you really have to rev BM's engine to get it going. There's not much happening at low revs.
The steering is very good, afair shortest rack of all the BMs. Also while roadster is a bit wobbly, coupe was meant to be the stiffest possible.
Very competent and entertaining on a trackday. I have mine lowered slightly on H&R springs and Bilsteins B8s and it drives great, while still being usable on horrible London roads.
As for continental trips - seats are good, not fabulous but good. Fuel tank is really small so be ready for often refills. Also, costwise - the engine is meant to run on Super Unleaded. It runs on normal but you can feel the performance being worse.
Feel free to ask if you have any other questions.
It's a very civilised car. A bit too civilised (no noise etc.) for a "driving being an event" kind of car.
You will definitely miss the soundtrack of the TVR, also you really have to rev BM's engine to get it going. There's not much happening at low revs.
The steering is very good, afair shortest rack of all the BMs. Also while roadster is a bit wobbly, coupe was meant to be the stiffest possible.
Very competent and entertaining on a trackday. I have mine lowered slightly on H&R springs and Bilsteins B8s and it drives great, while still being usable on horrible London roads.
As for continental trips - seats are good, not fabulous but good. Fuel tank is really small so be ready for often refills. Also, costwise - the engine is meant to run on Super Unleaded. It runs on normal but you can feel the performance being worse.
Feel free to ask if you have any other questions.
I have had my M coupe for a little over 3 years and love it, it's only a weekend car too but performs very well in every day situations when needs be.
You mentioned you like tinkering and improving which the M Coupe responds very well to, particularly the handling which is transformed with the right mods. ARB's , Coilovers , Poly bushes etc, you can then play around with the settings to your hearts content. They handle very well and entertaining when set up right.
Power increases will not be significant without spending big money, but high flow cats + exhaust, Induction (gruppe m or simota) along with a remap are meant to give decent results and improved sound, these are next on my list for mine.
The interior, depending on your size can feel a small bit cramped.Boot takes loads though. Seats are comfy but could do with a bit more adjustment, however i've suffered no discomfort on long runs like to the ring (from Ireland). On hot days it can get a bit hot with all the glass but the air con is decent.
Build quality is good enough, you get the odd squeak but these are easy enough to track down and sort out.
Brakes are decent enough with the right pads,they have floating discs on the front.
For what I use it for, weekend blasts , a couple of long trips and the odd track day I'd highly recommend one.
You mentioned you like tinkering and improving which the M Coupe responds very well to, particularly the handling which is transformed with the right mods. ARB's , Coilovers , Poly bushes etc, you can then play around with the settings to your hearts content. They handle very well and entertaining when set up right.
Power increases will not be significant without spending big money, but high flow cats + exhaust, Induction (gruppe m or simota) along with a remap are meant to give decent results and improved sound, these are next on my list for mine.
The interior, depending on your size can feel a small bit cramped.Boot takes loads though. Seats are comfy but could do with a bit more adjustment, however i've suffered no discomfort on long runs like to the ring (from Ireland). On hot days it can get a bit hot with all the glass but the air con is decent.
Build quality is good enough, you get the odd squeak but these are easy enough to track down and sort out.
Brakes are decent enough with the right pads,they have floating discs on the front.
For what I use it for, weekend blasts , a couple of long trips and the odd track day I'd highly recommend one.
Edited by UJM3 on Thursday 17th March 00:13
When you open the door of the Z3M coupe and see the quality of the materials used, and see how even a 10 year old car can appear fresh, and compare it to the Chimaera's build quality with poor fittings that forever have to be super-glued together again, the decision will be easier to make than you might think. The TVR total production nudged 2000 cars a year at it's peak in the mid 90's, (with the Chimaera being the core model), whereas Z3M coupes were relatively rare by comparison, and sold in low numbers. I believe just 150 or so of the rare late S54-engined model were sold in the UK, so the rarity factor is definitely a plus.
You mention that you wouldn't risk the drive to the South of France in your Chimaera, whereas you would probably just check lights and levels in the Z3M coupe, and head for the Tunnel. Buy the best one possible and have a fantastic motoring experience.
You mention that you wouldn't risk the drive to the South of France in your Chimaera, whereas you would probably just check lights and levels in the Z3M coupe, and head for the Tunnel. Buy the best one possible and have a fantastic motoring experience.
Thanks for your input so far.
TVR's are about raw power, there is no denying that and addictive it is but I do love the look of the "Breadvan", a car you could jump in to any day, (or so I hope), and actually use a lot of the time.
The only drawback that I can see, (apart from it's not a convertible) is that it may not be fast enough.
My chim is quick and excellent on the track.
What would it take to squeeze 350 bhp and at least 300 torques out of one, serious question?
TVR's are about raw power, there is no denying that and addictive it is but I do love the look of the "Breadvan", a car you could jump in to any day, (or so I hope), and actually use a lot of the time.
The only drawback that I can see, (apart from it's not a convertible) is that it may not be fast enough.
My chim is quick and excellent on the track.
What would it take to squeeze 350 bhp and at least 300 torques out of one, serious question?
haircutmike said:
What would it take to squeeze 350 bhp and at least 300 torques out of one, serious question?
For record - I'm talking about the S50 engine.First you would want it to actually develop promised 321bhp, most of them are below that from factory.
M-Engines being highly tuned and N/A are not easy to tinker with.
You may try :
-Remap (this removes 155mph speed limiter too, if your car has one)
-CAI (only with remap, I've fitted it to mine on stock ECU and it just made it worse under load)
-CSL style intake manifold
-camshafts - like http://store.vacmotorsports.com/schrick---s50b32-e...
This SHOULD see you close to 350bhp, but it will be very expensive and in my opinion not worth it.
Of course there some other ways...;) :
If I would be you I'd just invest in brakes and suspension. It's still a very competitive car on any trackday.
I had one a few years ago after a Cerbera. Loved the Cerb and had a few trips to France in it (Le Mans, Bordeaux) but I was always nervous about doing any sort of major distance in it. Had the Z3MC for a while and didn't think twice about jumping in and heading for Le Mans, Alps, etc. Brilliant little car and I only sold it as I needed 4 seats.
I used to have a Chimera. I did love it and may in the future get another TVR. However they always felt heavy, lumpy V8, more like a muscle car. Which is fine. Its nice to go to a freely revving, light straight 6 with good build quality.
Just very different cars each with their pros and cons. After 4 years sometimes you need a change =]
Just very different cars each with their pros and cons. After 4 years sometimes you need a change =]
I've had my z3m coupe for a couple of years and I would highly recommend it. It's a real experience every time you drive it and with a few choice mods it transforms a standard car.
I'd go for h&r arbs and a suspension kit of some sort. I have ACS race coilovers and its unreal. The turn in is great and transformed the car overnight.
Check out my profile for costs. You need deep pockets to look after one properly as there are a few nasty things to go (which I've had most of). Vanos seals, air con, boot floor/rear subframe failures, exhaust flexi joint etc.
Good luck finding one. I love mine
I'd go for h&r arbs and a suspension kit of some sort. I have ACS race coilovers and its unreal. The turn in is great and transformed the car overnight.
Check out my profile for costs. You need deep pockets to look after one properly as there are a few nasty things to go (which I've had most of). Vanos seals, air con, boot floor/rear subframe failures, exhaust flexi joint etc.
Good luck finding one. I love mine
andrewturner said:
You need deep pockets to look after one properly as there are a few nasty things to go (which I've had most of). Vanos seals, air con, boot floor/rear subframe failures, exhaust flexi joint etc.
I think you've been a bit unlucky then. I had mine for about 2 1/2 years and apart from service/consumables it cost me some coil packs, a pipe for the A/C and some odds and ends. Cheapest motoring I've had in a long time.Gassing Station | M Power | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff