Is the Z3 a "classic car" ?

[lightning]

I took my 2002 Z3 to a classic car show last week.
Some friendly banter took place as to whether or not it should be on display in the car show, or parked in the car park.

However it ended up in the show, and attracted a lot of interest. I think people look on it as a car they could own themselves, and use day to day.

But is it a "classic car" l would describe it as a "modern classic".

 

[badman gee]

I don't think it's a real classic yet. Add another 10 or 15 years and it will be.

 

[GazHyde]

I've had this very discussion many times before, and still can't make my mind up. I tend to think that it's not quite there yet. I also think that the ///M may make classic status before the non-///M versions (if they do at all).

It certainly is classic styling compared to later models, and probably the last BMW to be styled that way.

All I do know is nothing else puts as big a smile on my face when driving

 

[Rudyrov]

According to Wikepedia.... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_car

A classic car is an older automobile; the exact definition varies around the world. The Classic Car Club of America maintains that a car must be between 30 and 49 years old to be a classic, while cars between 50 and 99 fall into a pre-antique class, and cars 100 years and older fall into the Antique Class. In the UK, 'classic cars' range from veteran (pre–First World War), to vintage(1919–1930), to post-vintage (1930s). Post–Second World War classic cars are not so precisely defined.

I must point out that it doesn't say M or non M and I think that has nothing to do with it........ Can you tell I have a non M?

 

[Don N]

Over here, one can have an "historic" license plate on a 20 year old car. There are driving limitations imposed by insurers due to the reduced cost of insurance (no commuting). Whether a Z3 is a classic is a semantic question. Isn't it really a copy of a classic, such as E Jag or AH 3000, that is reliable and safer? Or, is it a downgraded (by 2 cylinders) evolution of the 507 roadster after a long hiatus?

Whatever. it's old, it's in great shape, and it draws a crowd. That's classic enough.

 

[badman gee]

To be fair it doesn't matter if it's this or that.

It's what you personally like and love.

Nobody's opinion matters to me only my own.

 

[GazHyde]

I must point out that it doesn't say M or non M and I think that has nothing to do with it........ Can you tell I have a non M?

For the record I don't have an ///M either. Although fundamentally it's just a Z3 with a bigger engine and greater capacity to rips its own rear end off, I think it's distinct enough to be classed separately.

Also as there were fewer of them produced, it has slightly more exclusivity to it. A bit like the difference between the Alpina Z4 and the Z4M. Don't ever see any version of the Z4 or Z4M, other than the Alpina making classic status.

 

[hard top]

To be fair it doesn't matter if it's this or that.

It's what you personally like and love.

Nobody's opinion matters to me only my own.

Bad Boy drives a classic (for all the wrong reasons) Rover.

 

[phil.a]

when my mgf became 10 years old it was classed by the insurance as a classic car and qualified for classic car insurance by any company that did classic insurance, when i brought my 2000 z3 14 years old i could not get classic insurance with any one, Porsche boxster yes mx5 yes mgf/tf yes z3 no why

 

[Rev]

This debate goes on on every car club forum in existence and never gets answered.

Does an MG TC owner think that an MG TF is a classic... No way!

Does a DB6 owner think that a DB7 is a classic... What???

Cars slowly slide into Classicness. They become accepted. It's not a defined or comprehensible thing. All cars become classics slowly. Is an Austin Allegro a classic? It probably is now, but not a great car I have to say. I do though admire anyone who can keep the tin worm away from one.

I would say that a Z3 is best defined as a junior classic or a classic in waiting. The Z4 is still a tad to modern, but it will slowly once again slide into classicness. They all do. Especially as they become rarer and a more modern look evolves.

It's a bit like trying to define what old age is. Some people are old at thirty others live there lives with a youthful outlook and a spring in there step and and never appear to succumb to age. Timeless.

All modern concept style cars appear to the eye as far to progressive at the time, but looking back in fifty years they will be very sort after. Note that convertible cars are always the more sort after over there roofed brethren. The thought process is that you'll only take the Classic out on sunny days so you'd like a soft top to enjoy them.

Can you actually imagine that when this car was new they thought about it being a classic? It was so cutting edge that you'd cut yourself. I can imagine people saying "Don't buy that as it'll date and be soo yesterday!" It was thought of as modern and stylish. Designed to the max. Not as a thing that will slowly drift into being an icon of a classic.

Relax enjoy your car and Classicness will one day be upon you. It will sneak up and get you in a slowly sort of way. Old age will also arrive if you're lucky so prepare and enjoy your car whilst you are able. Thats the way life is!

 

[lightning]

I think that younger people are looking at more modern cars as classics.
Modern cars are seen as history ten years after production ends.
So cars such as the Peugeot 205 gti, Renault 5 Turbo, Renault Clio Williams, Opel Manta, and other "moderns" are getting an enthusiastic following. Prices for some of these cars have
rocketed, and now you can pay £10,000 for the
best 205 gti, for instance.

At the moment the Z3 has not got on the bandwagon, so it is still cheap to buy.
It might be that it's held down by the Mazda MX5, prices for these are low as there are so many.

I am a member of an "all makes" classic car club, and we accept pretty much anything. In practise the newest cars we get are a decade or more out of production, and generally "interesting" models.

A case in point was my Lotus Elise S2, which was from 2005.

 

[zedonist]

It comes down to scarcity, the Z3 is about in great numbers still, so it would appear that to be a classic you need to be of poor build quality, and need total refurbishment, such as any MG, ford or Pug of the same era.

 

[lightning]

Yes you have a good point there.

Cars that are unloved while current, so there are not many good ones left.
Or cars that fall apart after ten years anyway, such as Fiats.
So the VW Polo won't be a classic any time soon, but a mint MK1 Fiat Punto? When did you last see one?

 

[PeterJ]

Well, I may be totally addicted to my personalized 'Classic Z3', but is it really a 'Classic'??? ...depends on your definition of 'Classic Car' & there is no universally accepted definition of that term. There can be no doubt that the Z3 was retro styled to look like a 'Classic Car' from the day it was produced reminiscent of a European 50's/60's roadster within budgetary & mass production styling constraints of BMW. I thought long and hard about what 'recreational/hobby' car to acquire but I knew it had to be a small 2 seater sports roadster of some classic type. I chose the Z3 because of it's 'Classic Roadster' design and did not go for a real old classic like an MGA, Austin Healey, BMW 507 etc because you cannot/should drive them hard and generally they do not have the handling/performance of something approaching a modern sports car & will not easily power slide around a bend/roundabout (when safe to do so)! The Z3 meets all these requirements of classic roadster styling + modern driveability, reliability, spare parts availability etc etc. I do not believe in trying to keep it as stock as possible as BMW did not do a perfect job for what I personally want, ...rather I enjoy enhancing the engine performance (M52B28) in just about every way possible short of forced induction, improving the handling and further adding to the original classic lines by having concourse dark (BMW Violet Red) paint work, contrasting chrome lights, chrome door handles etc, leather two tone re-trim with a much improved classic roadster 'cockpit' look & feel, wire wheels (which I think are perfect for my Z3, but some think are inappropriate) etc etc... I stubbornly refuse to lower my Z3 (recently fitted new OEM sports springs all round with Bilstein B6 shocks) & avoid 'boy racer' styling or ///M mimic (I do have quad pipes, but they are not the same as ///M pipes & in my opinion look & sound much better than the ///M pipes)... what people (especially BMW purists) think is up to them... all I know is that I love the enhanced classic roadster style of my Z3 & it is a real head turner around here... in fact most people in Hong Kong seem to think it really is from the 1950's or 60's which I take as a complement... . in terms of driving everyday, or even just at weekends, it is so much more fun that a real classic car that you need to treat with 'kid gloves' on... in that sense, it is good the Z3 is not yet a real old Classic as that would remove some of the fun & excitement of driving it... currently have the Randy Forbes kit, Rogue twin eared diff cover (Quaife diff inside) & RaceLogic Traction Control being fitted ...so will soon be better than ever... I regard my Z3 as Classic as a Classic ...but much more fun to drive... finally, I did my research & chose a pre-facelift 2.8 as I preferred the styling to an ///M which looks too racy (as i guess it should) for my 'Z3 Classic' vision which was the main purchase driver for me...

 

[Rudyrov]

Nice Car PeterJ !!

 

[oldcarman]

To be fair it doesn't matter if it's this or that.

It's what you personally like and love.

Nobody's opinion matters to me only my own.

We know! And we're all entitled to it!! JIM

 

[t-tony]

I know this is not a Z3 but in my opinion it is a classic car. I have MOT'd this car for the past 12 years It's not a minter but for 30 years old she's not far short. 1984, 85,000 miles. 2.8 straight six twin cam. Similar technology.
The owner kindly gave me permission to show you these pictures.

Cheers, Tony.

 

[badman gee]

I think the definition of a classic is down to personal perception.

I think the car needs to be 20 years old and in very few numbers.

Like the lotus Carlton for example

 

[zedonist]

Or the Rover 75

 

[phil.a]

ENCYCLOPEDIA - CLASSIC.
a classic is an outstanding example of a particular style, some think of lasting worth or timeless quality.
who can disagree with the encyclopedia,