- convertible 127,130
- Chico, CA
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- autoshopper.com
- convertible 127,130 gasoline silver manual
2002 bmw z3 review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. The original z3 won't get any better than this. introductionthe 2002 bmw z3 brings the rewards of six years of consistent and conscientious development and improvement. The exciting, odd-looking z3 was bmw's contribution to the rebirth of the sports car that began with the mazda miata and has included the mercedes-benz slk, toyota mr-2 spyder and other two seaters. However, the 1996 z3 didn't reach the company's high standards of refinement, in particular with its suspension, but all of that began being corrected almost immediately. and now we have the 2002 z3. Its sawed-off looks haven't changed much (though now they're fully accepted). Plus, there's an m roadster and an m coupe. The 2. 5i roadster is least expensive by a bunch, at $31,300. The 3. 0i stickers at $37,900; and the distinctive coupe goes for $37,700. the three models use two engines, which were new in 2001. The coupe and 3. 0i roadster use a 225-horsepower 3. 0-liter double overhead-cam inline-6, while the 2. 5i roadster uses a 184-horsepower 2. 5-liter version of that smooth mill with variable-valve timing. Although these cars are in the m line with the five-seat m3 coupe and convertible, they're actually more like z3s, using the same basic bodywork. The roadster sells for $45,990, including freight; the coupe retails for $44,990. walkaroundthe z3 roadster is visually enigmatic. It looks funny, sporty, powerful, cute and homely, all at the same time. Which means people look at it for a long time, and it often makes them smile. People stop and stare at the odd-shaped coupe, and often ask if it's fast. Anything that funny looking must be fast, they say. the z3 has a lot of curves and bulges, for such a short little body. It has a long low hood, yet looks truncated because it is, having a reasonable wheelbase but not much overhang, especially in the rear. The inline-6 engine takes up a lot of length forward of the windshield, so it's evidence of good engineering that the roadster's weight distribution is a balanced 51-percent front, 49 rear. The hood also bulges in the center and has elevated edges that start at the width of the windshield and taper forward to surround the trademark twin-kidney grille. there are still more dramatic shapes in the front end. Under the grille is a huge spoiler that would be at home on a racing car, including its gaping air intake between the foglights. It's totally chopped off, almost no sheetmetal behind the tires. The z3's standard leatherette seats are neither as smooth feeling nor firm gripping as the honda's. At $600, this package also includes great-looking cross-spoke composite wheels, making it a great bargain as well as a necessary option. As one might expect from a performance-minded company like bmw, they're no-nonsense, intended to provide information to drivers. The switches were blessedly simple. The power top would be a luxury indeed, as operation of the manual top is effortless. driving impressionbmw's 3. 0-liter engine is powerful, yet efficient. It gets good gas mileage and emits low emissions. Cruising on the highway, 60 mph comes at 2400 rpm in fifth gear, which is an enormously relaxed (other possible adjectives: under stressed, boring) pace for the engine. this is a sports car that gobbles up the real estate and hungers for more. We didn't fully appreciate the z3 until we drove it fast, and the faster we drove it the more we appreciated it. That's a mere 500 rpm below beginning redline, but the engine likes it there, which may only prove how conservative that redline is. Especially for that common third-to-second shift, made even better by the pedal position that allowed smooth heel-and-toe movement during simultaneous braking and downshifting. Pulling away from a stop in first gear wasn't always effortless, however, as the ratio felt a bit tall. the vented front discs on the 3. 0 have been increased in diameter to a whopping 11. 8 inches to accommodate the higher speeds delivered by the 225 horsepower. Earlier in the summer we did that same run with an acura tl type s, whose brakes couldn't take it. the honda s2000 handles like a go-kart; not since the subaru wrx have we felt anything that hugged the road so surely and turned in so quickly. The z3 feels bigger (it's not, really), heavier (it is, by only 100 pounds) and slower to respond. But the z3 turns-in very quickly. Almost too quickly, on sweeping curves that require more precision than aggression. the dynamic stability control (dsc) is magnificent. Unlike certain cars with more horsepower (t. Heated Seats✔ CD Player✔ Sport Package
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