Nearly let my heart rule my head

[Anonymous]

I received a call last Friday from a salesman at a local bmw dealership who knows we are looking for a Z4.
He tells me they have a very nice,very low milage,one owner (who is a director of the dealership) Z3,if we would be interested.
Out of curiosity more than anything we decide to go and have a look on Saturday.
Now this was a very clean car, that to be honest looked as though it had just been driven out of the showroom,it still had the original rubber gloves with the toolkit.
After two hours of test drives and discussing the pros's and con's of spending 6k rather than 12k on a car that will be used totally for pleasure,we had about convinced ourselves it was the car for us.
As usual Joanne had her sensible head on and suggested we go home discuss it over a over a bottle or two and have a good nights sleep.
Thankfully halfway down the first bottle we had realised that although it was an exceptional car it was not for us and the search for a Z4 continues.
Should always give yourself a few hours to cool off.

Steve

 

[Dav the wheel nut]

Personally having owned both you won't regret it. The z4 in my opinion is far superior and worth the extra dosh.

 

[chris]

Yeah Z4 is much more desirable than a Z3 in my eyes. My mechanics wife has a Z3, and to be honest i really dont like them. Inside looks like it was designed in the eighties :lol: Well it probably was in all seriousness.

 

[Wondermike]

Think the Z3M still looks good but yep the overall design is looking jaded now.

 

[ronk]

I think it says it all when BMW dropped the Z3 name in favour of Z4 !

 

[chrismann85]

Z4 is twice the money but look a hell of a lot nicer than the Z3.

Z3 also had occupant safety issues in collisions. Back when they came out, I remember seeing one wrapped around a lamppost. Literally!

Sadly, can't seem to find a crash test video



Z4 http://www.euroncap.com/tests/bmw_z4_2004/186.aspx

 

[pvr]

Some cars age beautifully into a classic, unfortunately the Z3 is not one of those IMO.

 

[Dev]

there are some lovely Z3s out there, when well-specced the 2.8, 3.0 and the Z3M are lovely. Thing is, you'd have to spend for a good one, and you wont be that far off the price of a 'tired' Z4 (except for the M and good examples of a really late 3.0 which will overlap price-wise). Add a bit more money for a decent Z4, and you'll benefit hugely from a car that looks better (ok, personal preference, and it might seem bigger - but while it is wider, it isn't longer by as much as you might think), has a better chassis, better choices for equipment levels, bigger boot, and as the post rightly illustrates above, a safer car for the occupants should the worst happen.

Perhaps it's compromise time? £6k for the Z3, you're reckoning £12k for a Z4. £9k will get you into an early 3.0 with a decent mileage/spec with full bmw service history. I was in pretty much the same place as you a few months back - bought an '03 3.0 six weeks ago, so far I have no regrets apart from I wish I knocked the seller down a bit more as the two front alloys are corroded behind the spokes, more so than I originally thought - meaning a proper refurb is needed.

 

[cj10jeeper]

Agree to always sleep on the decision despite the best efforts of any salesman to close it there and then...
I seriously looked ath the Z3 but opted to spend more on what is a much more practical and generally better car.


Chris

My mechanics wife has a Z3, and to be honest i really dont like them.

Then get another mechanic and leave his wife alone