lets start a thread..?

[EnthuZiaZT]

Down!, Rover, Down!! [-x :ymsigh: (If there's one thing I can't stand, it's sentimental Rover Drivers!!! ) )

 

[r37]

so Snoops i'd put you as a classic in the making category...long term investment ..fair?

r37...would you still run it or the M if you get one in all weathers or would you be looking to keep it for as long as poss?

same question to HT?

i'd need to sell my current one to afford an M, i planned to get some finance out and buy an m 2 months ago when the weather was s**t and then sell the 2.8 when it perked up and hopefully make some £££, but since my ''permanent'' job became a temp contract until the end of june when i get my contract through i couldnt get anything from anyone amd since dealers will give me a sack of spuds as PX im in a bit of a situation. But yes, an M would be my year round drive unless the winter gets really bad and i'll get the mk4 golf 4motion 2.8 to get me through bieng as theyre just a scratch over a grand for a shed.

 

[HornelZ3M]

I originally had a 1.9 which i treasured and sold because i was not using it, as the weather that particular year was dreadful all through the summer, so i sold it to a friend of mine. I was really gutted after it went and was not going to get another until i saw the M i have now, i would not care if it rained all year and didnt drive it as i love it so much i just love owning it. The best part about it, it has been so well looked after the part of the fun is carrying on doing just that,( but i am taking it out tomorrow). Would never sell it dont fancy anything else. It is taxed from May to October and then sorned.

 

[badman gee]

I originally had a 1.9 which i treasured and sold because i was not using it, as the weather that particular year was dreadful all through the summer, so i sold it to a friend of mine. I was really gutted after it went and was not going to get another until i saw the M i have now, i would not care if it rained all year and didnt drive it as i love it so much i just love owning it. The best part about it, it has been so well looked after the part of the fun is carrying on doing just that,( but i am taking it out tomorrow). Would never sell it dont fancy anything else. It is taxed from May to October and then sorned.

you dont drive that either )

 

[HornelZ3M]

:x \m/

 

[SilverZed]

Apologies in advance to the concours fraternity but I'm an engineer and I believe that cars like all machines were designed and built to be used. I do maintain my cars well regardless of cost but I do not pamper them (the missus would probably disagree). I don't see the point in SORNing cars as it doesn't save a huge amount of money and restricts what you can do with your own property. It's worth a hundred quid a year to me to be able to use my Zed on that one bizarrely dry and sunny day in the midst of winter.

Your car will last as long as you want it to regardless of level of usage if you are willing to continually invest the required time and money in it (Trigger's broom refers).

I agree the Z3 will undoubtedly become a sought after classic in years to come - it has all the right ingredients in spades. The Z4 I'm not so sure about but my priority is enjoyment in use today rather than prospective classic preservation for tomorrow. For me the Z4 is far more useable than the Z3 was and my enjoyment is directly proportional to miles driven!

When I was younger I would always have one eye on the re-sale value of my cars and would begrudge putting money into a car if it was not going to add or at least maintain value. I no longer think like that. The value I get out of my investment in my Zed is the enjoyment factor per mile of use and the re-sale value does not matter.

So in summary I will use it all year round but because it is at least a second car (and at the moment a third) it is unlikely to get past 3 - 4k miles per year. I try and use it at least a few times every month and I recommend you all do this as low mileage or not no mechanical devices react well to being stationary for long periods of time. Regular use will increase the lifespan of your engine and other mechanical components.

I do however enjoy browsing concours vehicles at shows and appreciating the time and effort these detailers put in! There is a place for all of us in this world. :ymhug:

 

[Zedona]

I always wanted a two seat drophead and the Zed with air-con
and modern electrics is so much easier to keep than a classic.
Am now totally hooked on top down motoring ^^ 2.8 L ain't bad either
had Zed for five years now and I use it whenever I can
It's at its best in France where there are the roads for maximum
enjoyment . I'm a wash and polish owner and I know my roof
is watertight :rain( the east european carwash pressure jets have proved
it.

 

[hard top]

thanks HT...so would you agree then that as the car gets older its going to be an up hill battle to keep it in good trim as its going to be exposed to the elements (more than usual for a future classic) ?
would you think about the miles you put on it?

Its in for a total re-spay as I type, it got keyed........... X(
I don't put that many miles on it but that is only because I work locally.

I try and use it at least a few times every month and I recommend you all do this as low mileage or not no mechanical devices react well to being stationary for long periods of time. Regular use will increase the lifespan of your engine and other mechanical components.

I do however enjoy browsing concours vehicles at shows and appreciating the time and effort these detailers put in! There is a place for all of us in this world. :ymhug:

:-bd

Oh, by the way, thanks' to Daz3 it will be Alpine White with black hardtop and wheels.

 

[badman gee]

Forgot to add on my comments, that my car is standard.

keeping it and keeping it standard.

 

[HornelZ3M]

So Mark, do you have the original gear knob, the one that lights up

 

[badman gee]

So Mark, do you have the original gear knob, the one that lights up

yep, its in the draw.

ok ive changed 1 or 2 cosmetic bits,

But nothing else

 

[EnthuZiaZT]

Its in for a total re-spay as I type, it got keyed........... X(
I don't put that many miles on it but that is only because I work locally.

Sorry to hear that HT

Are you having the cat done aswell!!!? )

 

[Jamezee]

I have owned my 2.2 sport for four years now. It was a total impulse buy, I wasn't even looking for another car!
For three years it was a daily drive and not garaged but for the last year it has been garaged and only used for fun as I have another daily drive. I love the handling and performance of the car and it never fails to make me smile. I also like to tend to it and find cleaning it a joy and not a chore (although my knee's say otherwise). I am thinking of 'sorning' it this winter because last winter I really did not get it out much :ymblushing: and am thinking of sorting the few bits that need sorting over winter. Saying that I know that come winter on those crisp clear nights I will be wanting to get out there and do what the thing is made for..driving So I suppose I am somewhere in the middle Swamper

Oh I forgot...no mods for me

 

[SeaSurfer]

Hi Everyone

After looking often at a friends mx5 and being badgered by him for having a tintop (the TT) i was surprised how little they cost and so decided to have a look and see what i could get as my first softtop and second car. I searched the internet for ragtops, mx5, mercs, mr’s mg’s and then came across the Zed.

I found .net, joined and started reading and asking lots of questions (thanks alot peeps) and then i knew i wanted a Z3. The seed was sewn, just had to start a proper search.

It had to be Black, it had to be Black inside, It had to have Black Leather Sports Seats.

My idea was to buy it for the summer then sell. It took me seven months to find him. In January 2010 i found Old Zeddy, a high miler of motorway miles but a decent spec and what i thought, was also good exterior condition ( I didnt know any better at that stage). The engine size didnt matter and still doesnt, im not interested in excitable driving but now love the growl of the straight six, and at my preferable speeds i get to hear it quite a lot

So home he came, and i started trawling for detailing products - looking back, his paintwork was only ok, but after hours and hours of cleaning and polishing, waxing ect ect he looks alot different and loved, which i enjoy doing and find it a very satisfying hobbie. Then a few mods (subtle ones i hope) started, just de-chroming/colouring, original wheels re-furbed and i am happy now with how he looks. I got some stick for dechroming from the magpies amongst us but am i bovered – No :ymhug:

I have made some great friends through .net and .org and love the forum :ymhug:

I alternate driving between the two,couldnt see the point of sorning the zed, you dont know what is around the corner so to speak, and i enjoy him all year round. Putting milage on him is of no concern, he is well maintained inside and out.

So, for a car that joined us for just a few months, two and half years later he's not doing bad. I cannot possibly see a day where i could accept money and see him driven away.

 

[hard top]

Its in for a total re-spay as I type, it got keyed........... X(
I don't put that many miles on it but that is only because I work locally.

Sorry to hear that HT

Are you having the cat done aswell!!!? )

Nice one..... :ymblushing:

)

 

[swamper]

so it seems we (on this thread) are mainly in it for the long term...everything from keeping it as original as poss...to modding it off its box.

now i find it funny that there has been little talk of money...OEM or modified i see a couple of folks that have gone to great lengths to mod these cars...but as parts get evermore rarer are we going to be pushed into modding......there is going to come a time when keeping them standard is going to be more costly than just replacing with a mod ...and as been shown from time to time that the mod can be better than the original....take the M43 air intake for instance (crazy design).

would there come a time where you would go for the mod over OEM just for the monetary reason or is it standard all the way?

question for the modding chaps.....at what point would you call it a day....i know we never get back what we have paid...but do you have a limit?

 

[billz]

Ours has been faily modenised. Chrome hoops with perspex blocker, DTM Alloys, Strutt Brace, Lowered, Remapped and Head Unit. I will now only alter things if i see something that i think will improve either the look or the Handling and since it handles perfect now that wont happen but there are one or two things i would still like to do cosmetically. I have already spent a 3 or 4 grand on it yet you can not at first glance see where it has gone.
bill

 

[Gigsy]

Well, we've just picked ours up and in all honesty, we bought it for my wife to park in the station car park and take a few dings rather than have her X3 damaged - the spaces are really tight there for the X3. Also, Charlotte and I love soft-tops plus we wanted a bit of a project to fix up and modify a little here and there if we (I) fancied it.

Charlotte has wanted one for a while and when this one came up on eBay described as needing a little TLC but basically being straight, we jumped at it - bought blind and picked up the next day!

We were pleasantly surprised when we picked it up - TLC involves fixing the seat bushes, mending a small tear in the leather and filling with petrol... oh, and fixing a slightly sticky accelerator (done). I'm also going to poly bush the front arms too but that's main as an improvement / preventative medicine and Charlotte wants to upgrade the stereo so I'll sort that out for her too - mind you, the 2.8 makes quite a nice noise at full chat.

Gave it a full clean, clay and polish at the weekend and I'm amazed at how well it's come up - definitely wouldn't think it's a 15 year old car!!!! Far to good just to park at the station but fortunately, we've discovered that there's a staff car park Charlotte can use :-bd

We were always planning on keeping it for a while as both Charlotte and I think the Z3 is a sure-fire modern classic but now that I've driven it a fair bit, we'll definitely be keeping it (all things being equal). I'm even thinking of swapping my Impreza WRX for a Z3M.... though the practicality of the wagon for our dogs and a recent spending spree on new clutch, cambelt and one or two other little goodies might mean I need to postpone that impulse for a bit.

Definitely looking forward to much more Zeding in the near future

 

[swamper]

so it looks like Gigsy has started getting the bug for a long term affair with his wifes car )

Bill...you say the mods cant been seen at first glance....well maybe by them that dont know what there looking at
and i didn't know it was Remapped.....that explains a lot )

 

[Gigsy]

so it looks like Gigsy has started getting the bug for a long term affair with his wifes car )

I paid for it ...and no doubt will be doing all the work on it too (though I don't mind that bit so much )

But yes, the 2.8 is quite good fun, especially with the ASC switched off (even through it's an auto box - Charlotte chose the gearbox, I chose the engine )