Engine size......What size suits all ?????

[windym]

There are 2 1.9 engines. The M44 which has 143ish horses and the later M43 which has around 118ish, so make sure you research which you are looking at! The 1.9 is a really good drive, a little more nimble than the heavy 6 pot hanging over the front wheels. Plenty of options to tinker with the 1.9 engine, and there is a great thread on here about potentially getting 200+ bhp from one. Should make it a 2.8 killer when it's finished.

I've had the 2.0 6pot (150bhp) and found it needed to be driven hard, I then got a 2.2 (170bhp) and it's a lot more drive able. Doubt any 2.8 could get away from me now I've got the suspension sorted.

Whichever you choose, you will have one of the best 2 seaters out their!

I would say the for a bit of fun motoring the M43/M44 1.9 works very well for an everyday driver, that will still take you anywhere you want to go. Make sure you test drive a few different models and find out what work has been done, these cars are getting older and they do need up-keeping.

There are plenty of mods you can make to all these cars and each one has its merits, as you have time to look check out the colour schemes and interiors, it may be the car finds you.

Andy

 

[Redline]

I've come to the opinion from talking to others that there really is no right or wrong. I'm sure you'll find the right 1.9 a great enjoyable car, especially with sorted suspension (they're all getting old now so may need a little refurbishment...). If you are a traffic light drag strip kind of driver then a bigger 6 cylinder - The 6 pots have more grunt and get real fun at high revs but the weight up front makes them a little less agile in the twisty bits but does make them a little easier to drive around town with lots of low end torque. It depends how and where you drive. Acceleration isn't everything (but it helps).
As stated earlier the larger engines are possibly much easier to sell on when and if the time comes.
Doesn't matter which you drive you'll get the Focus STs and 3/4/5 series owners (and many others) always sticking to your exhaust wanting to race you.
Would I have a Z3 1.9? For the right car I probably would.

 

[Mike Trident]

I've come to the opinion from talking to others that there really is no right or wrong. I'm sure you'll find the right 1.9 a great enjoyable car, especially with sorted suspension (they're all getting old now so may need a little refurbishment...). If you are a traffic light drag strip kind of driver then a bigger 6 cylinder - The 6 pots have more grunt and get real fun at high revs but the weight up front makes them a little less agile in the twisty bits but does make them a little easier to drive around town with lots of low end torque. It depends how and where you drive. Acceleration isn't everything (but it helps).
As stated earlier the larger engines are possibly much easier to sell on when and if the time comes.
Doesn't matter which you drive you'll get the Focus STs and 3/4/5 series owners (and many others) always sticking to your exhaust wanting to race you.
Would I have a Z3 1.9? For the right car I probably would.

Focus ST's 3/4/5 series owners yes and the rest, white van man , and young lad driver in ANYTHING! they all want you to put your foot down for a race.


mmmmmm this should have gone with the quote above, done something wrong lol
must be my age (57)

 

[t-tony]

I have had a kid in a Renault Megane something or other do this to me a couple of times on my way home, on the corners he's right with me but on the straights he's not. I have tried slowing to let him past but apparently that's not part of the game. No doubt one day he'll pass me on a blind bend just to show me how big his B***s are. Saddo.

Tony.

 

[Dickymint]

I went for the 2.2i for the same reasons its a bit more grunt than the 1.9s but not so big to scare the insurers ect, it was ok with the power when I first had it though It kinda felt lacking so did the vanos and MAF then the exhaust and i'm happy to say its totally changed the way the car drives and probably the vanos needs doing on any 90k mile 6 pot

 

[sata]

Again thanks to all who wrote.... it certainly seems and I can understand why.... that there are 2 camps .... camp one... are the 2.2/2.8 boys who love that burble and want plenty of poke up front when some fool in a 1.1 fiesta looks across and wants to race.... then there is camp 2... the 4 cylinder lads who like the agile and nimbleness that a well balanced roadster gives you.... they like the idea of not easing off in the twisties... and dont mind if some plonk in a 1.1 fiesta just pulls up alongside nodding for a race.... am I about there with my views....

Seriously though I think to be fair I would probably fall into the camp 2 brigade.... as although I do like to have a day out.... I also need no points on my licence, and am sure that I would be pushing that 2.8 everytime I got into it.... I say this as its not going to be my daily driver... so the "fun" would not wear off... so it would be heavy right fun all the time and that does worry me a little.... so at the weekend I am going to have a look at 2 cars.... a 2000 1.9 and a 98 2.8...... these are both at dealers that are less than 10 miles away from me.... at least then I will know for sure .....

I can live with re- bushing a car that is well.... lets say in excess of 15 yrs old and with all the potholes around I suspect that it will need doing again in the future.... so I will add that into the mix when it comes to adding up what is required....

so wish me luck on my viewing eh

Thanks again to all that contributed... appreciate it....

rgds

Lyndon

 

[oldcarman]

Good luck Lyndon in your search for the perfect car for you! I find my 1.9 to be a terrific little car that was chosen by my granddaughter, eight years old at the time. Purchased outside of London and imported to Canada in 2014. Engine size didn't play into it but I must confess that it is redlined more often than not! Enjoy whatever you get! JIM

 

[5harp3y]

If you don't have to worry about fuel consumption etc then it's a no brainer.

2.8 or 3.0

 

[Mike Trident]

I will have to add my last thoughts on this!

Over the last 10 years or so all the cars I have owned have been fitted with trip / mileage computer things, and in all that time I have never had my long term average MPH above about 16 MPH, yes that is correct, 16 MPH. So it matters not what engine size you get, they can all average 16 MPH lol.

Just get a good, well looked after Z and enjoy!

 

[t-tony]

I will have to add my last thoughts on this!

Over the last 10 years or so all the cars I have owned have been fitted with trip / mileage computer things, and in all that time I have never had my long term average MPH above about 16 MPH, yes that is correct, 16 MPH. So it matters not what engine size you get, they can all average 16 MPH lol.

Just get a good, well looked after Z and enjoy!

I have to add my thoughts to this too Mike. When my Z4 needs fuel, I put some in. End of. If/When I can't afford to put fuel in it, it will have to go.

Tony.

 

[Mike Trident]

Same here, but I doubt it will ever be fuel that stops me driving it, far more likely it will be my inability to actually get in and out of it lol

 

[t-tony]

Fair comment mate.

Tony.

 

[ljauto]

2.8 all day long , lovely burble and pulls from low revs , just transforms the car, its not just about the speed its far more long legged (had a 2.2 before) its also prettier than a 3.0 (sorry as personally, just prefer the original wide bodied shape that the 2.8 has , there are a few 2.8 with the revised back end that all engines sizes used later on) its more economical than a 2.2 and the bigger engines models seem to be holding there value better , drives both and you will see the difference

 

[roadvoyager1]

Enjoy your test drives at the weekend. It will be interesting to hear your impressions of the 2 cars.
As for knowing for sure........ we will see!

 

[Lynden]

I've had the pleasure of owning and driving both a late pre facelift M52TU 2.8 litre and a post facelift 2.2 which is my current Z.
The 2.2 is very nice and seems better put together than the pre facelift car. The engine note is lovely even as an auto (as was the 2.8). Fuel consumption the 2.2 is better but only 4-5mpg.
My verdict? The 2.8 engine in the face lift body. I think the better build quality on the later Z plus the mid range grunt of the 2.8 is a winner. In sport mode on the 2.8 auto the car was fabulous.
Just to clarify, the earlier 2.8 had a lower mileage than the current and later 2.2. The later car is definitely built better and feels tighter.

 

[TaffZee]

3.0 is the best choice for me. had a 1.9 wished I had a 2.8 so got one then wished I had gone for the 3.0. Now I have the 3.0 Z4 Which I like a lot but still miss my Z3.

But I did have Billz to contend with..

 

[madleemark]

first of a new model is never the best, and early z3 had a few issues with build quality, tho my 97 2.8 is easily as well made as my facelift z3 was, like most things theres good and bad about. keep looking until you find what takes your fancy and ticks all of your boxes, they are old now, they will have had some use and abuse, but they are a pleasure to own and drive

 

[Dickymint]

I looked at a lot of Z3's without knowing what I was looking for and the first thing I noticed was the view out of the side mirror looked nicer in the facelift (the bumps over the arches) but at the end of the day as soon as I saw my black sport Z3 I had to have it even though it was over priced and needed a lot of things doing but as its my weekend toy I was happy to let my heart rule my head.

 

[Jack Ratt]

@Dickymint I know what you mean about the view from the side mirror. On my test drive it was one of the things that did it for me too. It looked very much like the view I got when I drove an old Porsche a few years before.
It's still a view I love to take in every time I take her out

 

[andyglym]

@Dickymint I know what you mean about the view from the side mirror. On my test drive it was one of the things that did it for me too. It looked very much like the view I got when I drove an old Porsche a few years before.
It's still a view I love to take in every time I take her out

When I test drove my Zed (pre face lift) I looked in the drivers mirror and nearly had a heart attack! It certainly fore shortens the traffic from behind a tad. Took some getting used to.