Z3 Essential Guide

For some reason I originally posted this article in the 'General' forum, where it became lost, and could not be found my someone who was looking for such a review:

A few years ago Veloce Publishing asked me to produce a Z3 version for their popular 'Essential Buyers Guide' series.  I hope no-one minds me having done so, and I will not try to tell you if it is a good or bad publication - I'll leave that to you!  Likewise, I am sorry that almost all the photographs are of my own car, with the odd holiday snap thrown in!

I have tried to provide a historically and technically correct story of the Z3, and done my best to dispel the usual errors, gut feelings, and predjudices of the media which have plagued this excellent car since its inception twenty-five years ago.  I found it difficult to think of anything bad about it, as it simply goes where it is pointed, does not argue, is reliable, cheap to run, well built, and has a decent level of performance appropriate to the engine size.

Perhaps the only shortcoming is that its appearance has an unfortunate effect of some people, depending on if they like the shape!  The snobs at 'Car' magazine, for example, summed up the Z3 as having the 'Lack lustre mechanicals of the E36 Compact, wrapped in an odd, fish-shaped body!'  You cannot please all the people . . .

I have done my best to produce a book which gives an accurate picture of the Z3, and like to think that I have succeeded - maybe I have slipped a few times, but at least I can honestly say that it is the best Z3 book I have ever read!  I hope future generations of Z3 owners, or even just those who find it an object of interest, will enjoy reading this book as much as I enjoyed writing it.