Vehicle Description
Few things are better than a sporty European hatchback with a
smooth six-cylinder powerplant up front. The '80s gave birth to the
'hot hatch', but cars like this 2001 BMW Z3 3.0i Coupe are the
modern embodiment of the "less is more" philosophy that makes these
sporty compact cars so darn special. With low ownership, a rare
color combination, and more luxury than any GTI could ever muster,
this low-mileage 'clown shoe' isn't just some joker, it's a serious
car with killer good looks and the hardware to back up all that
curb appeal.
The color is Sienna Red Metallic, a shade usually reserved for the
luxurious X5 SUVs or 5-Series M-sports, but it was specially
ordered on this Z3 and looks particularly striking on the swoopy
2-seater bodywork. With just over 78,000 original miles, the
quality BMW workmanship and careful ownership over the past 19
years really shows. The shark-like Z3 still looks great with its
shooting brake design, the kind of car that makes people stop and
watch as it drives past, and with BMW's legendary build quality, it
hasn't lost a step. Gaps are tight, the aggressive front fascia is
in great shape with only a few very minor imperfections, and the
gills on the front fenders add an old-school touch. In back, the
third brake light is neatly integrated into the roof spoiler and
you'll find that there's a minimum of factory add-ons, just a pure,
clean shape. The redesign from a few years prior gave the Z-series
cars a bit of a facelift, including new headlights and taillights,
a revised front bumper, dual tailpipes, and those aggressive wheel
arches and fender flares that gives this modern classic its
stylish, muscle-toned lines. If you want a good-looking sports car
that isn't the same-old, same-old, this BMW delivers.
Those of you who have driven BMWs already know that the interior is
singularly focused on the driver, an environment that works with
you to seamlessly blend man and machine. The red leather seats are
in great condition for their age and still gently but firmly hold
you in place. Black carpets are plush enough to whisper luxury, but
lightweight so they don't slow the car down. Woodgrained accents on
the center console warm things up a bit and the big, round gauges
with chrome rings were obviously influenced by great sports cars of
the past. Everything was standard in the Z3, including a sunroof,
A/C, power windows, locks, and seats, a tilt steering wheel, cruise
control, and dual airbags, all of which are joined by a modern
Pioneer AM/FM/CD/AUX stereo that's been more recently installed.
Everything works, which shouldn't be a surprise and it looks fresh,
not dated the way a lot of "retro" styled cars seem to get. The
windows are darkly tinted for a really cool look, including the
sunroof up top, and the cargo area has plenty of room out back to
accommodate almost any travel plans.
BMW's legendary big 3.0L liter inline-six lives under the long
hood, and yes, it's as smooth and torquey as you've heard as it
delivers 228 horses up and down the throttle. In the lightweight
Z3, it's positively robust, flinging the front-engined/rear-wheel
driven, lightweight car down the road with ease. It never grumbles
or stumbles, it's always impeccably smooth, and you'll relish
running it through the gears every chance you get, just for the joy
of the machine doing its work. The 5-speed automatic slips through
the gears with just a gentle tap on the accelerator and the
all-independent suspension manages to be both competent and supple
at the same time. The factory dual exhaust system gives the six a
wonderful tenor voice and big 17-inch BMW alloy wheels and
225/45/17 front and 245/40/17 rear performance radials give it just
the right profile and an upscale image.
Where else can you get this much class and performance for so
little cash? Call today!
