- convertible 130,743
- 588 below average
- 6,999 good
- Milford, DE
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- autoshopper.com
- 588 below average convertible 130,743 gasoline blue manual
1997 bmw z3 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Classic style with muscle to match. introductionwhen bmw's gorgeous z3 roadster rolled onto the world sports car stage last year, one small but persistent complaint tarnished its otherwise rave reviews. Dynamite styling, yes. Excellent ride and handling, check. Top quality--from a brand new factory in south carolina--check. Well... frankly, we were surprised at this grumbling. As expected, bmw has added a six-cylinder version to the lineup for 1997--the z3 2. 8--and, also as expected, it adds serious go-power to this car's long list of enticements. from a competitive point of view, this development comes none too soon. Unlike last year, the z3 faces some very direct and formidable new competitors in the mercedes slk--the 1997 north american car of the year--and the porsche boxster. but with the addition of 51 horsepower, plus a longer list of standard features and a price that's lower than its germanic rivals, we think the 2. 8 version easily measures up to the challenge. walkaroundalthough the z3 is basically unchanged for 1997, the fatter tires and widened rear track that go with the 2. 8 version lend an even more purposeful look to this car's classic good looks. An inline six is still the best configuration for quelling primary vibrations--which is why bmw sticks with this design in an age of v6 engines--and the 2. 8 is an outstanding representative of this time-honored tradition. It's ultra-smooth at all operating speeds, and it also generates gobs of torque--203 lb.-ft. At 3950 rpm, 70 lb.-ft. More than the 1. 9-liter engine. that's really more important than horsepower, because torque is the low-down grunt that most of us drive most of the time, whether we're making a stoplight launch or a fifth-gear pass on a two-lane highway. The z3 2. 8 is very good at the former--0-to-60 mph takes just over six seconds--and outstanding at the latter. The automatic operates in three modes--normal, sport, which raises shift points for better acceleration, and winter, which starts the car off in second gear to enhance the traction control system (standard) in slippery going. bmw did a good job of stuffing the 2. 8's extra pair of cylinders under the hood without making a significant change in weight distribution, which is about 52/48 front/rear, a key element in the z3's exceptional handling response. However, the six-cylinder version is a little wider, to accommodate its extra 2. 5 inches of rear track. There's also a fuel economy price. The 1. 9 is rated 23/31 mpg city/hwy with the standard transmission, while the 2. 8 is 19/27. more mass and more go requires better stopping power, which the 2. 8 supplies with disc brakes all around. They're the same generous diameter as the 1. 9, but the 2. 8's front rotors are vented for better fade resistance. interiorthere's not much inside the z3's simple but stylish cockpit to distinguish the 1. 9 from the 2. 8. We regard that as a good thing, because bmw got it right to begin with. It's only fair to note, though, that the rear window zips out for easy replacement, and the smallish trunk is a price we'd gladly pay for one of the best-looking sports cars going. speaking of price, the 2. 8 starts a hefty $6475 north of the basic 1. 9. Even with an above-average list of standard features, that might seem like a lot for two more cylinders, but the price includes leather-clad seats (an $1150 option in the 1. 9), as well as heavier-duty rear suspension components and enhanced braking. the soft top for both cars is manual, and is ultra-simple and ultra-easy. We were able to flip it open from the driver's seat with one hand, and buttoning up is just as simple. driving impressionfor all its handling precision and quick response, the dynamic trait that impressed us most about the original z3 was its ride quality. It sticks better in hard turns, with a shade less body roll in quick transitions, and its brakes seem virtually immune to fade, no matter how hard or how often they're applied. Maybe twice. assembled inspartanburg, sc. options as tested17-inch aluminum wheels, heated seats, trip computer. model testedz3 2. 8. Heated Seats✔ Aluminum Wheels
6,999 Milford, DEMilford, DE at autoshopper.com