Summary: Incredible sports car look and feel. Great performance in the 3.0 version. Acceptable handling, but betrays it's roots as an older design. This is my second Z3. I test-drove the competition - SLK (boring/heavy/slow), Boxster (too pricy), TT (basically a Golf Cabrio for guys), Z4 (better handling, but ugly as sin), S2K (close, but smaller inside).
Weaknesses: Not up to German BMW build standards. Some unexpected quality issues (generally addressed by dealer after some prompting).
Similar Products Used: Mercedes SLK, Porsche Boxster, Honda S2000, Audi TT.
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Rating Reviewed by: slacker23(Unregistered User)
Review Date May 29, 2002
Overall Rating 3 of 5
Value Rating 2 of 5
Used product for 3 Months to 1 year
Visitors rate this review 1.50 of 5,
2.00 votes
Review 2 of 55
Price Paid:
$31000.00
from Cervier BMW
Year / Model Reviewed: 2002 Z3
Summary: Eucch. Very feminine looks, as compared with a Corvette or a MB SLK. But on the road not too shabby. Handles well in the mountains better fuel economy than other BMWs. Not too expensive.
Summary: This car has some of the best looks from a sports car I have ever seen and it looks even nicer with the top down. I have driven a lot of cars in my day and this was the most fun one to drive. The one thing i really like is that girls love this car and can't wait to take a ride in it. For me i like the sound system and the speed of the car.
The Z3 has looks greater then all of the BMW Z4s and a lot of other sports cars the are of equal or higher value (TT, 350Z, S2000, Sky). I would recommend the BMW Z3 to every one.
Strengths: The looks of the car, the sound of the car, and its a James Bond car.
Weaknesses: The rear plastic window.
Similar Products Used: BMW Z4, 350Z, SKY, S2000, RX-8, Boxter, SLK, TT,.
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Rating Reviewed by: larry redden(Unregistered User)
Review Date June 21, 2006
Overall Rating 4 of 5
Value Rating 5 of 5
Used product for 1 to 3 months
Visitors rate this review 2.00 of 5,
3.00 votes
Review 4 of 55
Price Paid:
$22000.00
Year / Model Reviewed: 2001 z3 3.0
Summary: 1st bmw so far not disappointed
Strengths: great acceleration great handling seems to be almost as fast as 5.0 mustang
Weaknesses: rear plastic window
Similar Products Used: 5.0 mustang
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Summary: Thoroughly enjoyable drive! The car has power to spare and handles like a scared rabbit.
A quick trip through some back-country roads made me actually laugh while driving a car for the first time since I owned a 1985 Nissan 300ZX Turbo. The Z3 holds the corners with confidence and just begs you to push a little harder. You know you're having fun when you're wife says, "did you have to come so close to the guardrail?"
The 2.5l engine claims 184hp and feels like it. I'm mildly jealous of the 3.0l's extra 36hp, but it's still a fun ride.
I got one with the automatic transmission with the sport shifting. It's a compromise, but not much of one. The automatic is a 5 speed for one thing, and the gearing favors acceleration over top speed.
The Z3 also draws stares. Whens it's parked it draws gawkers. If you bought the car, I trust you don't mind the attention.
The interior of the car has a few flaws. The center console does not come with an armrest (quickly solved with an after-market one). The door armrests are not padded and irritate your elbow if you are in the habit of resting your elbow on the door armrest while driving.
The seats are comfortable and grab you hard while cornering.
I love the instrumentation! Rather than a high-tech digital dash, the Z3's instruments are analog and simple. And you know what? The needles rise and fall very quickly!
Lastly, the brakes take you from fast to stopped in record time.
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