Comment: Bob Harper

BOB HARPER

Bob suggests that now is the time to invest in a Zed car...

aybe it’s my age, or perhaps it’s simply that I’ve been out

Min the sun for too long this summer but I have a severe hankering for a convertible. Normally I’d go for the most practical option which would see me behind the wheel of a 3 Series cabrio and having had a quick look at the classifieds it looks like there are some real bargains out there if you’re not to fussy about which generation you go for and which engine you’ve got under the bonnet.

However, having recently seen a chap zipping along a Cornish back road in the sun in an immaculate Z3 my thoughts are turning to BMW roadsters instead. The driver just looked like he was having so much fun that it was hard to ignore the charms of the diminutive soft top. It’s hard to believe that the Z3 has been with us for over 25-years now – I was just leaving the dealer network when deliveries were about to start – and while I wasn’t a huge fan when they were new, today as an affordable classic they have a great appeal.

Launched with a great fanfare as the latest Bond car in GoldenEye it perhaps wasn’t the ideal machine for a secret agent, packing a humble four-cylinder engine and a rear suspension set-up that was distinctly old hat. At the time I wasn’t enamoured with the styling and the poor old Z3 couldn’t compete dynamically with cheaper or more expensive machinery – both the Mazda MX-5 and Porsche Boxster beat the BMW hands down on the handling front.

Maybe it’s because I’m older now and don’t tend to drive everywhere like my hair’s on fire but I could easily see myself behind the wheel of a

Z3 these days. Having the ultimate in pin-sharp handling isn’t at the top of my list of priorities these days but swanning around with the hood down soaking up the sounds and the smells of the countryside would be a lovely thing to do. The styling that was once a bit of a retro pastiche has matured nicely and the typical BMW roadster proportions now really appeal. The good news is that a decent Z3 shouldn’t cost an arm and a leg to run and while they do have a couple of weak spots they’re no worse than any other BMW of an equivalent age. But which one to buy? Part of me would love an original early car with the M44 1.9-litre 16-valve engine – I think it really suits the character of the Z3 with its fizzy nature – but it’s the facelifted cars with their fuller rear arches that look better. Sadly I don’t think you can get an M44-engined facelift machine so I’d probably opt for one of the six-cylinder cars. I’m not too fussed which engine it is though, the 3.0-litre might be the most powerful but from what I can remember of driving one hard when it was new the chassis does struggle a little if you try to use all the power. So I’d probably be more than happy with a 2.2 – same sonorous soundtrack and wind in the hair motoring. For similar money you could also buy a later Z4 too, but despite preferring the Z4 when they were new I think I prefer the retro looks of the Z3 these days – it’s funny how one’s taste changes with time. Either way, I think the time is right to buy one of these great little roadsters – it’s fast becoming a modern classic. They’re affordable, fun and most importantly will put a smile on your face… and that’s something that seems increasingly hard to find in this somewhat mad world we’re living in. c5789ddb-a5df-4b46-9e84-c56e1e8ad27f c5789ddb-a5df-4b46-9e84-c56e1e8ad27f