I've driven a lot of Miatas, of all 4 generations, and a few Z3s. I always found the Z to be a better 'cruiser' than a sports car. Aside from an M Roadster, they all felt less nimble & peppy than the Miata.

quote:

Originally posted by jimmy123x:

At that price range and age a BMW is going to cost a fortune at the mechanics to keep it going.

If you do the work yourself, an E36 or 46 chassis car is no more expensive to maintain than any other car.
Bentley manual is your friend.
Marzy has it right in that control arm bushings are the key to the suspension. Dusty is also spot-on with valve cover gaskets. You can set your calendar by them.
Oil crankcase vent valve is another item you will want to stay on top of.

What has been surprising is that automatics go for about 15% less than manuals.

quote:

Originally posted by Valpo Fz:
What has been surprising is that automatics go for about 15% less than manuals.

Even though my next car will likely be an auto, I can't imagine not getting the manual in a 2 seat roadster like the Z3/4 or Miata.

quote:

Originally posted by P250UA5:

quote:

Originally posted by Valpo Fz:
What has been surprising is that automatics go for about 15% less than manuals.

Even though my next car will likely be an auto, I can't imagine not getting the manual in a 2 seat roadster like the Z3/4 or Miata.

My last two roadsters (2003 BMW Z4 and 2012 BMW Z4) were automatics and here’s why. Roadsters are by definition small cars. I tried manuals in both and my knees would hit the steering wheel when trying to shift. Also the newer BMW 8-speed autos are way better than I can do with a stick.