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by **Zmeagol** » Thu 08 Apr, 2004 20:56

Went up to Coopers of Tunbridge Wells to have a run in a 2001 Titanium Silver Z8 with Red interior, 8k miles, £48k.

I enjoyed the drive. I was OK with the LH driving position, but what I found weird was that in front of the wheel is just metal--the dials are in the centre. It's a lovely calm, smooth, powerful ride, but it wasn't for me. In fact I cut the drive short rather than waste the salesman's time.

I have to say I was attracted by the price of the car rather than the exterior/interior colours. I was never that keen on silver and to me it looks dated. The red interior is quite rather garish. Maybe if I could find one in a different colour. Like red exterior, cream interior. There's a Silver with cream interior at Hexagon but like all Hexagon's Z8s it's overpriced--£9k more for an older car with more miles.

Afterwards I went and kicked tyres at Lind of Maidstone looking at Z4 examples. If anyone is looking to jump a queue, they have a brand new Maldives Blue 3.0i with black interior on the sales floor waiting for a buyer. Fully loaded, but no heated seats :shock:

Tim

by **TonyCal** » Fri 09 Apr, 2004 04:07

We did say the red look garish in the photos the other day Tim.
Good luck finding a combination you like.

by **ZZZEMMCO** » Fri 09 Apr, 2004 10:07

In 2002 at the Ring, Mr Andy B had with him from Buchloe, a Blue/blue-Cream Z8 Alpina. Looked tasty, but for that price would expect a great experience.Was offerd a drive, and enjoyed an Eifel tour as a passenger
( I had a beer before he arrived ) superb looking-Going-Sounding, But-I felt I would not get the most use from it, not a day to day car for me.
I know you are a LH driver, on your homecoming visits, but was LH in our RH world on your test drive, anything to affect your impressions?.The Andy B car was his Instructor car for the 3day Ring school with Our American Friends in his Group, it received a big WOW factor-just right for Southern Cal and Ocean Highway eh!!!

by **Giles** » Fri 09 Apr, 2004 11:19

Very interesting Tim, I know Larri will be gutted, but I'll let her reply in her own words.

If you're in a 'tyre kickin' mood and getting into the test drive groove, could you please test drive the CSL for me and give me the benefit of your opinion? (I absolutely dare not do this myself because I know what the result will be :roll:

)

by **Roelster** » Fri 09 Apr, 2004 11:41

Tim,

Having had the opportunity to drive a Z8 for 1,5 day. I had the same colors as the one you drove.
In many ways the Z8 is a different machine. It is bigger than the Z3 which feels good driving on the highway but on smaller roads with plenty corners i prefer the Z3. Yet at least 75% of driving for me is in town or highway. The Z8 feels way more stiff then my Z3 (still have a strut on my list of projects). The sound of the V8 is great and personally i love the design of both outside and inside. Did you notice the tine red/orange spot light on the inside. They illuminate the doors and the console, brilliant. I loved to drive it and would love to take it for a holiday trip to the south of France or Spain or Italy. But for daily use..... Already getting nervous parking my Z3 on busy parkings. For the extra costs of insurance and bodywork repairs (specialist job) you can do so much other nice things. Mind you i do not have the money for one. If i did i probably would buy a Z8 but never to exchange for my Z3. I would would keep my baby, still love it and we go back a long time with many adventures in Rome, Alicante, Paris, Nice, Monaco, Switzerland,Racing circuits,....

by **Larri** » Fri 09 Apr, 2004 19:03

Absolutely Gutted........I was so looking forward to going shotgun in the Z8 at the lakes :bawl:

Tim you've broken my heart

by **garyw** » Fri 09 Apr, 2004 21:56

But would it be shotgun as you would be in the driving seat :shake:

by **Zmeagol** » Sun 11 Apr, 2004 19:30

One of the last Z8s registered--2003 model with 7k miles on the clock in a gorgeous Topaz exterior with Cream interior.

http://www.cramagbmw.co.uk/Z8_topazx.html

Asking price of £60,000.

Tim

by **garyw** » Sun 11 Apr, 2004 21:39

OOHHHH thats good :bounce:

by **spokey** » Mon 12 Apr, 2004 00:15

<drooolllll>

:bounce:

by **Larri** » Mon 12 Apr, 2004 09:28

Still sobbing into cornflakes.......

Absolutely beautiful car, I'd sell up and live in a caravan for that one :roll:

by **RachelM** » Mon 12 Apr, 2004 20:05

...surely you must be tempted by that one! Maybe you could knock the price down at little and then have another test drive (where you won't be put off by the garish interior) :lol:

by **DavidM** » Thu 17 Jun, 2004 12:55

Verrrry nice Richard - love the colour scheme - where was that shot taken?

by **Tigerboy** » Thu 17 Jun, 2004 12:58

Well, what can I say. I drive mine in town every day and its a blast from traffic light to traffic light and racing through the S at the top of Park Lane it gives unbelievable traction. The there's racing motorbikes up and down the ahirpins in the Dolomites, better than a Porsche (maybe not GT3) anyday. :twisted:

by **Tigerboy** » Sat 03 Jul, 2004 11:44

The shot was taken mid summer last year whilst transferring between 2 mountaineering sites. Its pretty much the top of the Brenta pass in the Dolomites, Northern Italy. Some awe-inspiring roads up there and they were being enjoyed by a German Z3 group of about 40 cars and also, even more impressive a convoy of about 25 Gullwing Mercedes, some with doors held aloft whilst taking the corners. Next stop - South of France at the end of July. R

by **Phil** » Sat 03 Jul, 2004 15:27

by **Surj** » Wed 07 Jul, 2004 19:29

Tigerboy wrote: better than a Porsche (maybe not GT3) anyday.

Oh dear oh dear oh dear :head:

by **garyw** » Wed 07 Jul, 2004 21:59

Calm down Surj, he wasn't including bends :wink:

by **dwz8** » Mon 06 Sep, 2004 09:05

Zmeagol wrote:One of the last Z8s registered--2003 model with 7k miles on the clock in a gorgeous Topaz exterior with Cream interior.

http://www.cramagbmw.co.uk/Z8_topazx.html

Asking price of £60,000.

Tim

Hi Tim,

if you don't kick me out of here being a German driver, I can probably help with pictures of one of the more unusual colours: stratusgrey/crema.

by **dwz8** » Mon 06 Sep, 2004 09:06

here is another one...

by **dwz8** » Mon 06 Sep, 2004 09:08

...and the last one.

Enjoy,
Dieter

by **dwz8** » Mon 06 Sep, 2004 09:16

Tigerboy wrote:Well, what can I say. I drive mine in town every day and its a blast from traffic light to traffic light and racing through the S at the top of Park Lane it gives unbelievable traction. The there's racing motorbikes up and down the ahirpins in the Dolomites, better than a Porsche (maybe not GT3) anyday.

I can second that for the most of it. I drive mine daily, and it's a great way to get me out of the office...
The Z8 is rather soft and has a tendency to push over the front wheels. I am about to change to a Schnitzer spring and absorber set plus different tires. That should help a lot.
I live not far away from the Nuerburgring, and I like very much to take the Z8 there... 8-)

This picture shows me at exit of Bruennchen.

)

Regards,
Dieter

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by **kelart** » Mon 18 Jul, 2005 10:30

oh, how nice to dream :lol:

this one's as my wallpaper...
http://www.highresautoimages.com/bmw/5074.jpg

i'm staring at it every day, preparing myself for the future. when i win the lottery.

by **dwz8** » Mon 18 Jul, 2005 20:32

kelart wrote:oh, how nice to dream

this one's as my wallpaper...
http://www.highresautoimages.com/bmw/5074.jpg

i'm staring at it every day, preparing myself for the future. when i win the lottery.

Kris,

red is quite unusual for a Z8, but great pic anyway.

Perhaps you will like some of these here:

http://www.dwz8.de/Abendsonne/index.htm

Cheers,
Dieter

by **kelart** » Mon 18 Jul, 2005 21:04

thank you for sharing the photos, Dieter. nice motor. I love it, because like Z3 presents quite classic lines. you've got all modern mod-cons inside such a beautifuly crafted tribute to the old time roadsters. Z3 was almost there, but it lacks class a bit i.e. interior is a compromise.
gruß

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