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Thread: So, you're a Z3 driver, but what non-BMW brand to you favor?

  1. #1
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    So, you're a Z3 driver, but what non-BMW brand to you favor?

    The "do you like new BMWs" thread is pretty interesting. I thought I would start a thread along similar lines, for the many who have indicated the only BMW that calls to them is the Z3.

    I'm one of those guys. I wanted a modern-ish 2-seat roadster to take the place of a '70s Mercedes SL. I didn't want a Miata and actually have never owned a Japanese car. It was basically a Z3, TT or SLK for me and I thought the Z3 would be the most visceral experience.

    Aside from the one Z3 and the lone Benz, I've only ever bought VW/Audi products. I'll probably stick with them; I've had luck with quality/longevity, they feel good to me, and the styling hasn't jumped the shark, IMO. Frankly, I want to own a modern Scirocco, but VW stubbornly refuses to bring them to the USA. (Dang it.) One major appealing thing about the Z3 is that it is RWD with an I-6...something I don't think VW or AUDI has ever made.

    What's your go-to brand? (if you have one)
    How does the Z3 fit in with that preference (if at all)?
    Last edited by Watch Carefully; 10-22-2017 at 09:23 AM.

  2. #2
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    I’ve owned 2 Fords, 2 Lotuses (Loti?), 2 Audis, 2 Porsches, and one each from Lincoln, Alfa, Dodge, Jeep, Acura, Nissan, BMW.

    no brand loyalty, I buy the vehicle that best suits my needs at the time. Or at least my whim...

  3. #3
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    P-2 Volvo V70 wagons are my other car passion--I own 5 of them myself, and am responsible for 4 more in other people's names. Great cars

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Watch Carefully View Post
    ...Frankly, I want to own a modern Scirocco, but VW stubbornly refuses to bring them to the USA...
    They discontinued it in Europe just recently.

    I like Mazda, always thought they make good cars. The new ones get good reviews everywhere, and everyone knows the MX-5 Miata is more than decent.

  5. #5
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    Like you, I've had more VWs than anything else (87 Scirocco 16V, 96 Passat VR6, 2010 Passat 2.0T DSG). I'd still say that I'm into German cars more than any specific brand though.

  6. #6
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    Never owned a Mazda, but I've often liked their designs.

  7. #7
    Join Date
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    1998 Z3 M Roadster.
    Mostly owned VWs. Besides my M roadster I have a VR6 CC and a Jetta.
    CC for long trips, Jetta for work. Roadster for fun.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  8. #8
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    Keeping in mind that I live in a low income,rural, mountainous, coastal area, my standard advise to people has always been to buy the best Toyota you can afford. They have always served me well. Just for giggles, I'd like to list all the cars I've had, bet it's quite a few.
    1949 De Soto, 46 Ford Coupe, 1955 Chrysler Crown Imperial, 56 Chevy 283 w/ 2-4bbls, 1966 Griffith 200, 1967 Triumph Tr-4A IRS, 1962 Porsche 356 Super, 62 Dodge, 62 Chevy, 65 Volvo 544, 66 Triumph TR-4A, 69 Fiat 124 Coupe, 62 Dodge Lancer, 62 dodge w/383, 65 Chevy, 69 Volvo 142, 71 Volvo 145, 69 Toyota Corona, 1972 SAAB 95, 64Volvo 544, 1952 Buick Special, 1974 Peugot 504 diesel, 1981 SAAB Turbo Coupe, 1950 Ford PU, 1966 MB 250S, 1969 MB 280 SE 4 sp, Custom built 1952 Dodge PU, 1986 740 Volvo Turbo wagon, 2001 Toyata Tundra, 2003 Toyota Highlander, 1994 Miata, 99 Z3, 07 X3 They say "variety is the spice of life" or at least the garage, I still have the same wife although she came in around the SAAB Turbo/ 52 Buick Low Rider era.
    Last edited by Tom Liberatore; 10-22-2017 at 10:01 AM.

  9. #9
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    02 Mroady,2007 Z4 coupe
    I enjoy the heck out of a Honda S2000 and I like the new MX5 Miata. I have driven it several times now.
    For shear power the Z06 C5 vette is just plain awesome.
    My wife is on her 3rd Lexus RX350 now and they have entirely trouble free. Been driving them since 2001.
    The Mroady is my go to car for just having fun though.

  10. #10
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    Discontinued?

    Quote Originally Posted by me77 View Post
    They discontinued [Scirocco] in Europe just recently.
    Argh. No replacement in sight...16 more years before one can be brought into the USA.
    D*mn you VAG for running your company so poorly. (And still I buy the bleeding things.)

  11. #11
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    Aircooled VWs for me. 'Vintage' as the ACVW people describe them, which is pre 1967.
    Call me Mel. Some years ago- never mind how long precisely- having little or no money in my purse, and nothing particular to interest me at home, I thought I would motor about a little and see the other parts of the world. It is a way I have of driving off the spleen and regulating the circulation.

  12. #12
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    Well, I love my 'other' car, a Mini Clubman. It's both extremely fun to drive and practical (both in terms of cargo space and 40+ MPG regularly). But Mini is owned by BMW so I guess that doesn't count. I tend to stick with my cars (had the Z3 since new in 2002, Mini since new in 2008). But I would definitely consider adding a Tesla to the mix if I was looking for a sedan type car.

  13. #13
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    Mazda. I don't even particularly like BMW, except for the Z3 and E89.

  14. #14
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    A friend of mine just moved from BMWs (last car was M2) and VWs to a Mazda and loves it.... Seems well built, he says it's fun to drive. The way he put it was that the stuff that is additional on other cars comes standard with Mazda. Anyway his has a beautiful interior and even has a little flip-up heads up display. I like the cockpit sort of feel that the Z3 interior has, but car interiors sure have come a long way since the Z3...

  15. #15
    Terry F.'s Avatar
    Terry F. is offline ONLY BMW Content is + Moderator
    Join Date
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    I don't know. I'm not really brand loyal. Excluding kid cars, I have owned products from Mazda (5), Datsun/Nissan (4), Infiniti, Lexus, Mini (2), Ford (3), VW, BMW, smart, Honda (6), Isuzu...well, mostly Japanese brands I guess.

    I will -not- buy a GM, Fiat, Chrysler or most Toyotas, no interest. < shoulder shrug >

    Terry
    Note 8/Tapatalk.
    Last edited by Terry F.; 10-28-2017 at 04:41 PM.

    Stuff. I got stuff.

  16. #16
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    I would love to drive an Alfa 4C or Giulia, but I am not in complete favor of any specific brand.

    The Porsche Panamera really grew on me recently too. Would love a Turbo version to crank the power up to 11.
    -Abel

    - E36 328is ~210-220whp: Lots of Mods.
    - 2000 Z3: Many Mods.
    - 2003 VW Jetta TDI Manual 47-50mpg
    - 1999 S52 Estoril M Coupe
    - 2014 328d Wagon, self-tuned, 270hp/430ft-lbs
    - 2019 M2 Competition, self-tuned, 504whp
    - 2016 Mini Cooper S

  17. #17
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    I used to be a Honda fan, having had models from 1973 to 2002, but don't like the direction the new ones have gone. They've gone cost-savings on the suspensions by ditching the double A-arms for struts, and the body designs have gone from clean to pseudo-racer sharky. Too bad, as they still make good drivetrains, but the cars are fugly.

    Marty

  18. #18
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    This is sacrilege on this site, but my other favorite car is my 50+ MPG Honda Civic Hybrid.

    I an on on my second one...liked my first one so much, I bought a new on in '14.

    Great DD for my 115 mile RT commute, but the Z3 M way more fun to drive !

    Greg
    Tally Ho


    http://wcwebs.net/johnson
    1988 O'Day 322 sailboat - (unlimited mpg)

    2000 BMW Z3 M Roadster (25 mpg - but who cares)

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    (30+ MPG)

  19. #19
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    I have had a few different makes and models through out the years. My current corral has a 01 Z3, 95 e36, 95 pathfinder.

    Z3 is the car that puts a smile on my face every time I drive it.

    E36 is my DD. Boring to drive. Steering is horribly heavy.

    Pathfinder is a very reliable vehicle. The 3.0 won't win any races, but it's built to last. 250k and counting.

  20. #20
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    I have had a Passat and a Touareg and loved them both. I have a Touareg V10 TDI now. If I were to get rid of the Touareg I would likely go with the Porsche Cayenne or an X5 Diesel. I have owned a Mazda but I put a Chevy V8 in that car. I would likely stick with a German car for a daily driver.

  21. #21
    Join Date
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    2000 M Coupe, '05 Legacy GT, Rotax kart!
    First car was a '77 Rabbit. I was in high school (early 80's) and by the time it made it to me it already had 150K on it, and had a salvage title, the front end having been removed in a highway accident.
    That eventually wouldn't pass inspection anymore (I worked in an auto-parts store and knew all the mechanics - - none would pass it!) so I moved from there onto a ton of crap cars. Citation, Buick version of a Citation, Chevette, and went for broke on a beat-up Shelby Charger - - the Citation was the only one of the bunch that held together. Graduated college and got a used '85 CRX and flogged that pea-shooter through every auto-X course I could get to in the Northeast. Picked up and Eagle Talon TSi AWD, and then to a '91 Civic Si. Both those Civics were superb vehicle. I am not kidding when I say that I would probably still have that Civic Si were it not for my run-in with an uninsured, judgment-proof, drunk driver.

    A Miata replaced the Si and it was a damn good car. Reliable as a hammer, easy to work on, tons of after-market support, cheap, etc. etc. Picked up the M Coupe in '04, and a used but high mileage '98 Accord in '05. The Accord was a let down from the Civics requiring a valve job shortly after I purchased it, and then a steady-stream of minor repairs. Nothing major, jut a lot of minor things. Traded the Accord for a Subaru Legacy GT and went out of the frying-pan and into the fire for repairs. The car was trouble-free until about 90K then things started to go real wrong. by the time it was up to 125K I was, no exaggeration, dumping in an average of $300/month in repairs.

    I wanted to go back to a GTI last year, but the local dealerships were a-holes to work with (stunning, considering dieselgate was still fresh). Test drive the new Civics and didn't like them at all. Test drove a few others as well (Abarth; Focus ST; heck, even a Camry) but they were either just transportation, or they were not budging on the price. I wound up over at Mini and now I have a Countryman S in the driveway. So far no issues at all. Glad I didn't wait for the Civic SiR as they are price-gouging for them, and they are ugly as hell.

    I will probably always give a Honda a shot when I go shopping, but I don't think they'll ever repeat what they pulled off in those 80's/90's Civics. If I thought they could, I would call them my go-to brand.

  22. #22
    Join Date
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    I've had a variety of cars. I always come back to BMW.

    the one particular car i've had more than others is the 1st gen Mazda MX-6 GT. I guess i've had consistent good quality and high reliability from Mazda and usually end up in one every so often. Currently about to put a clutch in a 1988 Mazda 323 SE to be my daily driver. The Z3 could handle our winters just fine with a pair of snow tires but i'd rather not subject it to that kind of wear and tear.

    My wife has a 2013 Grand Cherokee with the Hemi and it makes for a fun SUV. I've had a few other Grand Cherokees (older ZJ models) and like those for winter beaters. When it comes down to it, my choice garage would have nothing but BMW inside. All other manufacturers just come up short.
    13 Grand Cherokee Limited V8 - Daily Driver - Wife
    97 Z3 2.8 Roadster
    95 325i Sedan - Project #ebayE36
    90 BMW 535i/5 - i should probably work on this again...

  23. #23
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    I pretty much only buy Toyota, my toyotas have 3X the mileage as my Z3 but 1/10th of the problems.

  24. #24
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    not really brand loyal.....but overall I like how bimmers drive ...pre 2000 ish......


    porsche works for me...

    I buy what I like.

  25. #25
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    I've had Chevys and Pontiacs in my younger days, but since I got a 323is as my first BMW back in '02 I never looked back. We have a pair of VW Jettas as DDs, and they are great cars, however the feel of a BMW is just something that I don't think can be replicated. In addition to our Jettas we have the Z3, a '99 528iA, '03 M5 and an '04 X5 4.8is. As for new BMWs I do like them but I feel they are too expensive to maintain at the moment, at least give them 5-8 years for the tech to get old enough to maintain/become common.
    2001 Z3 3.0i -Oxford Green/Sandbeige
    2016 428xi -Estoril Blue II/Black
    2018 430iC- Estoril Blue II/Black
    2018 330it - Melbourne Red/Venetian Beige/Black

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