Fit and finish, handling, acceleration

rigidity, ventilation

I drove a new 3.0 Z3 from Boston to North Carolina this past weekend and wanted to share some of my impressions. My first impression was of the agressive appearance of the car. This one has the sports package with its larger and more performance-oriented wheels (relative to the 2.5) and tires (relative to the non-sports models). It also had the luxury package, which amounts to heated seats, mirrors and washer jets and some fancier interior trim. The tires and flared fenders definitely suggest performance and the car lived up to the promise. Especially nice is the low end torque. This makes it very easy to pass or move through traffic without a lot of commotion. In at least one situation, I was potentially saved from a violation during a passing maneuver (woops, there's a state police car on the side of the road!) by the fact that I hadn't downshifted, wasn't creating a lot of commotion and my rate of speed didn't seem that out of line with the rest of the traffic. Had I been going the same speed with another 1500 RPM on the tach, I suspect the officer and I would have gotten better acquainted.
I've driven performance cars virtually my whole adult life, ranging from a '72 Datsun 240-Z to a third generation RX-7. The latter still wins as the most fun car I've owned, but the BMW is a strong second and may end up in first place over time. ALthough I avoided high-RPM gymnastics in deference to the newness of the car, I clearly recognized its potential as a fine performer and handler. The turning radius is surprisingly tight. Clutch and brakes are progressive and predictable. Driven at some safe distance from the limits of traction, it handled predictably and controllably. I senses that it could have been pushed much harder and would not have misbehaved. Over rough pavement, cowl shake was noticeable but not excessive and the car felt fairly rigid overall, but not like a fixed-top vehicle.

Another surprise was the snugness of the top. Temperatures were in the low teens at times and at highway speeds, there was not a draft to be found in the cabin. The electric seats worked very well, which is a good thing, because the heater took some fiddling around with to get it producing consistent airflow at the desired temperature. In fairness, though, the temperature variations between the bright sunlight and shady areas was considerable, so the heater had a lot to put up with.

A couple of gripes I've seen in other reviews bear mentioning. One is the plastic window. ALthough I would prefer glass, I understand why it isn't there. First, the window must fold to be stowed. Second, the excellent visibility is achieved by having the rear window wrap around to the sides a bit. A rigid pane of that shape would not stow very conveniently. Thus far, at least, I consider the greater viewing area an acceptable reason for the plastic. I might change my mind if the thing statrs becoming impossible to see through down the road. The other gripe worth addressing is the sound system. I'd heard bad things. Now, this was all top-up driving but I found the Harmon Kardon sound system (with in-dash CD) to work admirably. I listened to a variety of music (excluding rap by choioce and heavy rock by availability) including jazz, classical, oldies, contemporary rock, and folk and all came through clean and clear. If anything, I felt the "flat" setting for the tone controls de-emphasized midrange and boosted treble and bass, but the settings are adjustable.

I've also read that the seats get a bit uncomfortable after a couple of hours and I concur. I haven't ridden in too many sports cars where this isn't the case. Lateral support was excellent. The cold weather and new leather made sliding forward in the seat a bit easier than I'd prefer but not to the extent of it being a problem.

I got the car virtually at dealer invoice because there was a factory sales incentive to move them off those cold New England lots. At that price, I regard the car as an excellent value. It was comparable in cost to Honda S2000s, which are still commanding prices above MSRP. The latter are also fine cars but need to be worked at very high revs for maximum performance and suffer badly in the torque department. I personally prefer a bigger, less extremely tuned engine that relies on torque rather than revs, but that's strictly a personal preference and the Hondas, by all reports, are wonderful cars. They are a bit thin on creature comforts, though, and those are more important to me than they once were.

For someone looking for an open vehicle that is clearly oriented to performance but that also provides a reasonable level of creature comfort, I'd strongly encourage a careful look at the BMW. Frankly, I would have preferred a coupe to a roadster if it were not for the fact that the Z3 coupe is, in my estimation, one of the least attractive designs ever conceived. It looks like a case of "Honey, I shrunk the station wagon." But the top on the roadster (even without the removable hardtop which I think will prove superfluous for most drivers) is very tight, indeed, and it's easy to forget that there's only cloth above your head.

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Datsun/Nissan Z; 3 Mazda RX-7s

Very torquey, you can actually feel the front end lift under acceleration. The tiptronic is nice although I probably won't use it much. Really fun to drive. The heated seats make any weather bearable. I don't think I'll ever put the top up while driving. The seats are supportive without being overly stiff.

The front end does hop around driven over bumpy roads aggressively. The stereo is underwhelming.

$40,950. If you want a car that you can't wait to drive this is it.

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Better than the Audi TT, way faster

Nice acceleration for the 170 horsepower you're working with. More fun to drive in the sun/curvy roads than most four wheeled vehicles under $40,000. "Sweet Car" factor; This car gets many compliments and many admiring looks. Incredible Traction Control, I've done things in this car in the rain that would send others sliding sideways.

May not be the most powerful car for the money, but then again, people who buy these cars aren't after the 300+ horsepower musclecars that can be had for less money. Having driven both, I assure you a Bright Red Z3 gets more looks than a SVT Cobra Convertible, not to mention the fact, I know which one is much more fun in the corners. It's true your average kid in a Camaro could beat you, but then again, why would you race a car like this? As a 17 year old driver, it may seem like a strange thing to say, but I appreciate the sophistication of a car like this, and in addition, there's something to be said for having something unique.

In one word, sweet. Driving this car never seems boring. The styling is understated and stylish, and in Bright Red, this car gets many looks, and many second looks. Before you complain about the radio, ask yourself what you're doing listening to the radio in a car like this. There are no better roadsters for under $40,000 and in the two weeks I've owned this car, about a dozen people have engaged in lengthy discussions regarding this gorgeous car, in addition I love the looks it recieves from the opposite sex.

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Honda S2000- Honda is faster, but then again, the average S2000 driver doesn't have the nerve to strangle their $30,000 car to get the low 0-60 time.
Mazda Miata- HA! Most fun I've had in this car yet was destroying some guy in a Miata who made the mistake of racing the Z. It may be cheaper, but nobody who knows cars will mistake a Miata for a sports car.
Porsche Boxster- Nice Car, but apparently it doesn't feel nearly as smooth or half the fun.
Audi TT Roadster- My Arch Enemy...Styling is different, but I love it. Can't go wrong with Quattro, especially if you live in Michigan and drive all winter. Similar performance...only problems are possible quality issues.

A fantastic sports car at a realistic price.Superb European styling knocks
the blocks off the Boxster and Miata. Superb handling and an absolute pleasure to drive. My HK sound system is excellent - radio or cd.I have a silver metallic with a superb paint job.Do not upgrade the wheels - the standards are superb.

Plastic rear window difficult to keep clean.

If it turns you on , Go buy one. Life is not a dress rehearsal.

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Boxster and cheap Miata - no comparison for style and taste

Sexy car, awsome engine, extreme comfort

The radio sucks my a$% and the plastic mirror is cheap.

The car is great but the stereo is a problem. The roof goes down easily. Its a very powerful car for its size. It doesn't go all that fast, though.
Very cool, dude. Sweet nusty beep.

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Honda S2000, Miata

The engine is terrific; very strong with a huge torque band (excellent pull even as low as 2000rpm and it's near impossible to bog it down). Brakes are spectacular. I can't believe how tight the turning radius is. Stock seats are comfortable (even after several hours) and supportive. Lined softtop does a decent job of keeping things quiet. The hardtop is pretty easy to put on and take off (though you absolutely need two people) and seals tightly. The car has spectacular looks, it's a real attention-getter.

The HK stereo isn't that great (though it is definitely better than the one in my Toyota), and it eats up the only other lockable storage area other than the glove box. Plastic cup holders are only OK, and the change holder simply sucks -- put coins in, and they don't come out. Plastic rear window is mediocre and the felt protector is a pain in the neck to install with the new lined top. Softtop boot cover is a royal pain to put on and take off due to latches that must be accessed from underneath the cover. Steering feels notchy over uneven roads and tends to follow ruts (though this road feel can be an advantage given a more agressive driving style). Shifter throw from 2 to 3 is narrow enough that I've been going 2-5 occasionally. I've never had that happen on any other gearbox. It's irritatingly difficult to lock the doors while in the car, the door release lever is too far back. The armrest is too low to be supportive; you really want to rest your arm on the sill, which isn't possible with the windows up.

I'm all smiles driving this thing around. It's FAST even though I'm short-shifting during the break-in period, but it's fun to drive sedately as well. I'm mixed on the steering; it's precise as hell, but it really tracks along ruts in the road. The clutch is getting smoother as the car breaks in, and once the brakes bedded in they got super powerful.

Ratings:

Value-wise it's a pretty expensive toy with a few elements (plastic rear window, really cheesy change-holder, mediocre upgrade stereo) that are hard to forgive at this price point. I give it a three for value.

But when it comes to an overall rating I think it's a knockout. It's such a pleasure to drive that I can forgive some shortcomings.

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2000 Z3 2.8. Maybe it's because the 3.0 isn't broken in yet, but the 2.8 definitely felt smoother all around (but also noticably less powerful).

Enough Power for the amount it weighs. Good tune and volume for the exhaust noise. Cheap, and worth it.

Stero sucks while listening to the radio, but good to listen to the cds.

Good overall value! Great handling and descent power. Very quick car, but not great for top speed. If you wanted a car of this value go for the Z3 not the Porsche Boxster or Miata.

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Boxster, Miata.

Extremely powerful engine, nice standard rim and tire setup, aggressive look. The acceleration is awesome.

pitiful stereo (even the upgraded H&K), poor paint quality and the plastic rear window. Build quality on mine is just ok. My drivers door is not aligned properly.

The vehicle is beautiful to look at. It handles like a dream and the acceleration is breathtaking. The interior on mine is very nice and was assembled without flaw. Everthing is aligned perfectly. The exterior on mine is assembled with one flaw, the drivers door is out of alignment. Other than this one defect it is perfect.

If it wasn't such a fun car to drive I would have knocked off points for the door but it is truely a loveable car.

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Miata wonderful car but needs more power. Boxter: wonderful car needs more power(for the cost).

Superb engine, amazing handling, and an absolute blast to drive.

Incredibly poor AC, ridiculous stereo, lack of dealer support.

Moved on up from a 1998 2.8L to a 1998 M roadster. I've driven more than 45,000 miles among the two and absolutely love them. The cars are a blast to drive, and have a fantastic engine, however if you looking at one out of warranty avoid it. Little annoyances abound and generally, dealer assistance is poor and overpriced. The AC will keep you sweating and the radio will question your hearing ability, but if you can live with that, and can appreciate one of the best engineered roadsters out there, you will love the Z3 as much as I do.

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None

Classic styling. Gets looks everywhere it goes.

Obviously not a lot of space, but then if you wanted space a roadster is not your choice.

4 months of ownership so far and absolutely no problems. The car is peppy and seems to be getting more powerful everyday. Lots of fun to drive. If you are looking for a fun car that is a blast to joy, get one!

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Miata - more power, better looks