BMW Z3 2.3 vs. Mazda Miata...continued
Conclusions
Is the Z3 worth the $10,000 price premium over the Miata? More money
certainly delivers more car - the Bimmer offers more power, more luxury, and
more grip in the curves than the Miata. Yet all its comforts havenāt
diluted the experience of a true sports car. The Z3 is gentle enough, but
on the track, it is a force to be reckoned with. Donāt forget: this is a
BMW weāre talking about.
But for the driving purist who believes that less is more, the Miata is the
way to go. Itās a prodigious handler, but itās limits are approachable.
Itās a willing playmate who will never give you more than you can handle:
cautious drivers will appreciate itās firm set in the corners, while amateur
hot-rodders will be able to flirt with the Miataās limits of traction, and
advanced drivers can tail-slide the Miata to their heartās content.
Never in a million years would I turn down the chance to own a Z3. But the
Miataās just so much more accessible - both in the driving experience and
the price. If youāre looking for luxury and performance, the Z3 is the way
to go. But if the undiluted sports car is what you seek, you donāt need to
spend that much money - what the Miata lacks in prestige, it more than makes
up for in thrills.
Vehicles Tested:
2000 BMW Z3 2.3 (includes air conditioning, antilock brakes, power windows,
power locks, power mirrors, AM/FM stereo with cassette deck, alloy wheels),
$31,300;
metallic paint, $475;
leather interior, x$1,150;
power-operated convertible top, $750;
heated seats and mirrors, $500; sport seats, $400;
fog lamps, $260;
cruise control, $475;
CD player (in place of cassette deck), $200
Destination charge: $570
Price as tested: $36,080
2000 Mazda Miata (includes power windows, power mirrors, power steering,
AM/FM stereo with CD player, alloy wheels), $21,245;
Sports Package (includes larger wheels and tires, sport suspension, limited slip
differential), $995;
Appearance Package 1 (includes front air dam, side sills, mud flaps), $595;
air conditioning, $900;
windblocker, $150;
fog lamps, $250;
floor mats, $80;
California LEV emissions, $150
Delivery charge: $450
Price as tested: $24,815
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