scalbert

I had to take my wife's car in for scheduled maintenance, E46 328i, and while waiting for my loaner the guy asked if my car was a manual. Yes, I replied and he then asked if I minded a manual for the loaner, no problem... Well he pulls up in a Z3 3.0 Coupe. Those who don't know these it is the small hatchback Z3 non-convertible.
http://www.bmwusa.com/assets_client/..._f_front34.jpg

So I thought this would be fun. I let the lot and started really having fun, it pulls strong at all revs. Plus it is small and fairly light so very nimble and tossable. So obviously the DSC was turned off to really have fun.

When I got to the office my wife finally got there (we work together) in the CL-S so I had to do a little testing. Now the 3.0 Z3 does feel quick so I had to run it against the CL-S with I/H and pulleys.

We went down the street and lined up, me in the z3 her in the CL-S. I let her go first since I was gonna to launch this car hard. She went and I dumped the clutch at about 3k with less wheel spin than I expect. But it hooked quick and got me ahead of her by over a half length and then she start gaining, very slowly albeit except on the 2 - 3 shift in the Z3, there she pulled up nearly even. But when she went into 3rd I started pulling on her slowly but we shut it down by 85 MPH or so, she really didn’t get a chance to wring it out in 3rd..

Had I not gotten the jump, the CL-S would have been in front and probably stayed there but that Z3 can certainly launch. I'd love to take it to the track and see what type of short times I could get, sub 2.0 might be possible. But I could never live with that car, too small inside. But it sure if fun to drive and would be stellar in the mountains.

mffdvr

That does sound like fun, especially driving against the little lady

But if driven against an agressive driver, I'd imagine that the CLS woul dmore than likely, blow the screws off a Z3. I'm sure it's quick, 'cause it's so light and has a 3.0, but you can't argue with 260hp if driven correctly.

Hey, it would most certainly be an awesome car to take up on the curved highways of Snoqualmie Falls (I-90 in the Cascade Range)!!! That'd be a blast!!!

scalbert

My wife does push it a bit, not exactly a sedate driver. That Z3 Coupe weighs in under 3000 lbs, 2950 lbs. I think and with 225 HP has a slight better Hp/Weight ratio than a stock CL-S. I think most tests have put it in the high 5's to 6.0 range in 0 - 60 runs, but you had better have a good launch (which seems to be easy).

But anyway, it was fun and I'm kinda hoping that my wife's car won't be ready today!!!

mffdvr

HaHa.....enjoy it while you can. Hey.....maybe when you reach the mid-life crisis plateau, you can go out and get one?!?!?!

1StGenCL

Your wife raced you Now thats the kinda wife every guy should have

Mike

If you have the opportunity switch cars and see what happens!

MikeS 18

And what was the bet that I am sure that you made?

pgatour1

Yeah those are peppy little cars if driven right. I think they are too small. I'm a little bit more than 6'3" and couldn't fit in one comfortably. But they are nice.
Man that's pretty cool that your wife is like that. My mom is like that she has taken the XK8 too 100 and also my friends say they have seen her doing about 60 in a 30 in the Jeep. My girlfriend would tell me to take her home if I revved it above 3500 or went like 10 MPH over the speed limit. She has a 330xi and it is a fucking waste she doesn't go above 65 and never prob been above 3K RPM. So I think that's really cool when women drive like your wife, hahahah.