Aladdin's lamp... unlimited rubs

I bought my mom a Z3 3.0 late last year as a birthday present. She loves it very much and lets me drive it when she goes out of town.

PROS:
1. Powerful engine: In true BMW tradition, the engine in the Z3 3.0 is quite powerful, step on the gas and it will throw you into your seat so be careful. My mom tells me she often has to keep an eye on the speedometer and I've had to do the same.

Aside from the power, the engine also makes the most beautiful sound. The Z3 3.0 has dual exhaust pipes so I think that plays a role in the sound that gets produced, but imagine a V8 Mustang engine with less bass and a subdued hum and you get an idea of what the Z3 3.0 engine sounds like. In my experience the Z3 3.0 engine sounds deeper (more throaty) than the engine on the 3-series cars.

2. Solid handling: Again, in true BMW tradition, the handling is rock solid. You'd expect most cars to lean in turns, but the Z3 doesn't. The Z3's steering is also tight and quick, although I can't say there's any significant difference versus other cars. Or maybe I just haven't noticed. Interesting side note: The Z3 is balanced so well handling wise that the battery is actually in the BACK of the car, under the trunk floor.

3. Luxurious: I'm a little mixed on whether this is a PRO. I went all out and got a Z3 for Mom that was fully loaded (leather, heated seats, Harmon Kardon CD, sport package, etc). I've seen other Z3s out there that don't have these options and they aren't as luxurious. So, as with most cars, the Z3 is luxurious if you EQUIP it right (and of course, if you're willing to pay for it)

4. Body style: I personally think the Z3's body still has curves in all the right places. The body has stayed almost the same since the Z3 was introduced though so a redesign wouldn't hurt.

4. Fun: I think all convertibles are inherently fun. 2 seater convertibles are slightly more fun, makes for a perfect "escape for the weekend with your significant other" car. I hate to point it out as a perk, but people do seem to notice a shiny Z3 when it pulls up next to them in traffic. People of the opposite sex tend to notice too...

CONS:
1. Price: BMWs have historically been expensive, but people continue to buy them so they must have some good qualities (see above). The Z3 I got for mom came out to about $43,000, but remember that was brand new, fully loaded. Look around and I'm sure you can easily find a slightly used model to buy or lease.

2. Cramped: I'm 6 feet even and I manage to fit in the seat and reach the pedals fine, but there are small things
that make me feel too big for it. For example, I can't get an unobstructed view out of the windshield unless I move my head to see around the rearview mirror. When I rest my left arm on the door armrest, my hand falls just just ahead of the handle. When I rest my right arm on the center console, my right hand falls just ahead of the parking brake too. I get the feeling that the Z3 is aimed at women who, by and large, are shorter than 6 feet. My mom is 5'3" and she fits in the Z3 perfectly fine.

Aside from that, the trunk on the Z3 is tiny. That I expected, but travel light, because I think you'd get maybe two bags of groceries in there and nothing more.

3. Maintenance: BMW does give you 3 years of free maintenance with every new car purchase, but be forewarned that BMWs generally do cost more to maintain than most cars. I've heard that they are also very unforgiving (read as break downs that are expensive to fix) if you don't do routine maintenance (oil changes, filter changes, etc) as you should. On the upside, I have some friends who maintain their BMWs regularly and they've lasted almost 35 years now.

4. Fuel efficiency: While the Z3 engine is powerful, it's not as fuel efficienct as I'd like. Its not so much the extra cost of the premium gas ($0.20 more than regular where Mom lives), but the size of the Z3 limits the tank to about 12 gallons and the range of the Z3 to about 250 miles. Not far enough for serious roadtrips.

5. Plastic window: My biggest pet peeve about the Z3 is the plastic rear window. (In contrast, the Miata, Eclipse Spyder, MR2, etc all offer glass windows). I thought about it for a while and realized that the Z3 is layed out in such a way that the rear window has to be plastic because thats where a fold in the roof lands. Seems to me a cars with so much technology in them could also be designed so that that fold lands somewhere else.

6. Size: Maybe its because of my height, but I think the Z3 is too small a car, inside and out. Personally, I think they should extend the dimensions by 15% in each direction. THat would solve the plastic window problem, the trunk space problem, the small gas tank problem, the cramped interior problem. I've driven the 3-series convertible before and thats a good size, but the 3 series convertibles aren't 2 seaters. I think BMW needs something to compete with the Mercedes Benz SL 600.

Bottom Line: The Z3 is quite a car. Be prepared for the cramped quarters and the extra ownership costs, but get it with a stick shift, find yourself some mountain roads, and have fun.