Z3 or Miata?

[Mr. Tasty]

Miata no doubt. Z3's are expensive and kinda ugly. Mazda's are cheap and look awesome. I was at advanced auto and there was this race miata in the lot and I talked to this guy working there and just asked who's miata it is and it was his and he said for under 10k he bought it, boosted it, caged it, custom seated it, lowered it.

z3's..... ugly?.....
miata's.... attractive?...


I don't see it. The only good looking miata is the new ND. I am about to get into the s54 Mroadie life

[UlrichFennec]

Miata no doubt. Z3's are expensive and kinda ugly. Mazda's are cheap and look awesome. I was at advanced auto and there was this race miata in the lot and I talked to this guy working there and just asked who's miata it is and it was his and he said for under 10k he bought it, boosted it, caged it, custom seated it, lowered it.

I dunno, I really like me a clownshoe. Just look at that butt.

[e30onBBSs]

Miata no doubt. Z3's are expensive and kinda ugly. Mazda's are cheap and look awesome. I was at advanced auto and there was this race miata in the lot and I talked to this guy working there and just asked who's miata it is and it was his and he said for under 10k he bought it, boosted it, caged it, custom seated it, lowered it.

[Jb325is]

I would buy an nb, the interiors are much nicer and they are a ltitle quicker. A '01+ VVT has a much flatter torque curve and will be more fun to drive around town, plus the updated headlights and front bumper look a lot better than a 1st gen NB.

As far as wrenching, miatas are super easy. With a helper that knows what they are doing its possible to swap a Trans in under 30 minutes, everything is super accessible

[Mr. Tasty]

z3 for sure. Better looking and has more mass for a comfier and solid ride. Miata for track/autocross toy.

[Eric]

Miata.


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[King Mufasa]

Z3

http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/5006868924.html

[Das Delfin]

I would rule out the 4 cylinder Z3 right off the bat, and leave the rest to this one notion: get whichever car has been taken care of the most. Whichever has the most history. Get the car you'll feel proud of, not for what it is, but for how it's been driven.

I bought a Toyota pickup from an old gentleman who had A/C installed at the delearship in 1992 because it's what he wanted. And he has all the records to prove it. And I'm more proud of that car than I am of my bmw I bought from some kid who said he bought it from an old guy in florida and really I only have a vague puzzle of the car's life I've put together from finding clues along my time with the car. Not that I resent my car for its scandalous past, I'm just saying I appreciate what the Toyota had to offer now that I've seen the other side.

Any car can be a good car as long as it's been cared for. Both the Z3 and Miata have points going for them. I would prefer the simplistic interior of the Miata, but also the extra 2 cylinders of the Z3. But what I'm saying is sit down and talk with owners of each car, and pick whichever you like most based not on the car, but on who drives and maintains the car. Keep your horizons open. Don't turn down what could be a perfectly good enthusiast-maintained car based on its badge.

[fiveightandten]

Get the Miata.

-It's cheaper
-It's cheaper and easier to maintain
-You'll be less emotionally involved with it, so you won't get annoyed if she's not treating it how you would.
-You'll grow to like it, and it'll be good to have something a little different in the garage.

[varg]

Which is easier to maintain: Z3 or Miata?

This really isn't even a question that needs to be asked. If you're asking which one people here would rather have that's one thing, but one would have to be delusional to suggest that the Z3 is cheaper or easier to maintain.

[nando]

E36 front suspension is basically the same as e30 (mac struts). In fact most of it bolts in.

[stonea]

The Z3 is closer to the E30 than the E36. It's basically a 5 lug E30 with a rag top. The Z4 has the E46 suspension (except for the Z4M which has E36 fronts for some reason)

The z3 is actually closer to the e36. The z3 only shares the rear suspension with the e30

[pandaboo911]

Z3 or Miata?

After owning 3 miatas. Miata.

Despite having 2 engines blow up, neither caused by engine failure, caused by damage to radiator/ cooling system and engine overheat. The engines are bulletproof, run em at 7000 rpm all day no issues. (The first thing to break was actually the throttle body valve due to the engine intake harmonics at 7000+ rpm)

That said this is not a good place to ask what car you should buy your wife. The z3 is no doubt the better daily driver, less noise, more torque, more comfort, better sound system, etc. For a car enthusiast who doesn't care about that shit and cares more about the driving experience and reliability, the miata is hard to beat.


I am also 6'3 and have no problems fitting in a miata, even with helmet and rollcage.

I also find that girls dig the miata. It shows you don't have anything to compensate for, unlike drivers of lifted pickups and blacked out mustangs, so I think it communicates manliness rather well.

[acolella76]

The Z3 is closer to the E30 than the E36. It's basically a 5 lug E30 with a rag top. The Z4 has the E46 suspension (except for the Z4M which has E36 fronts for some reason)

[rlich8]

I thought the Zed was based off of the E30 chassis? Or am I thinking of the Z1?

Z1 is E30, Z3 is E36/7 and Z4, something totally different haha.