Help Momma Hughes get a new car.

[Jake]

250 may be a good option. Also since we're talking about cars. What are you opinions on Z3's? LIke an early 2000's. I've been contemplating just grabbing one for a few months to toy around with.

It's an E36 with some random E30 interior bits. Suspension is E36 up front and E30 in the back. Same E36 "issues" apply (cooling systems, shitty interiors) and they apparently are good at ripping rear subframes out of the floor like E46's.

I think they are gorgeous, and pretty fun to drive, but I think you also have an E30 project at home that could use some money and love... don't take on two projects at once. Either sell the E30 or keep truckin' on it.

[ispoonwithmugen]

Well the thought would be sell Fozzy for 9k. Take 6k get a inline 4 Z3 then take the other 3k and get the E30 running. Well at least that's how I see it in my mind.

[SlimKlim]

With these old heaps of shit it comes down to how you buy the car. I'm starting to understand why old guys at C&Cs only ever talk about finding this one gem of a car they've been after for five years.

You can buy an E36/7 and let it totally ruin your life like I did, or you can buy a truly clean, lowish mileage, enthusiast owned, low # of owners example and all you'll ever have to do is take care of it and fix anything that happens to break for the next several years. A car that was truly loved will already have the subframe reinforcements, upgraded cooling parts, upgraded shock mounts, etc. If you went through the trouble to find a car like that I think it'd treat you well, $6k seems like plenty of money for a non-M z3, decent Mroadys are $9-12k.

[Jake]

get a inline 4 Z3

They are horrifically slow. I've driven two of them with the five-speed and it feels like a Miata with 500 lbs extra attached to it, because that's what it is. They're miserable. The six-cylinder cars are much, much better to drive.

[ispoonwithmugen]

Well I want something that still has good(ish) gas mileage since I'll be travelling here to home working on the E30. I don't need a fast car anyway. I'm sure it'll feel better than the Forester, haha.

[Jake]

Well I want something that still has good(ish) gas mileage since I'll be travelling here to home working on the E30. I don't need a fast car anyway. I'm sure it'll feel better than the Forester, haha.

No, it won't. The 1.8/1.9 Z3's are truly terrible to drive. If you want a good-on-gas roadster, get whichever Miata strikes your fancy this week and call it a day.

[SlimKlim]

^ Preach. The 4-cylinders are awful, definitely get an I6 Z3 or NB Miata.

[Senor_Taylor]

Well the thought would be sell Fozzy for 9k. Take 6k get a inline 4 Z3 then take the other 3k and get the E30 running. Well at least that's how I see it in my mind.

Just... no.