2001 BMW Z3

My first Z3 was bright red. I went car shopping, all ready to get a Miata, but wasn't impressed after the test drive. So, on a lark, I went to the BMW dealership and fell in love.

After the red one, I got a green one. The green was totalled in a side collison -- a panel van ran a red light and slammed into me. And the car was GREAT! It didn't roll. Instead, all of the air bags went off and the frame cracked in exactly the place it was designed to.... And I suffered nothing worse than a seat-belt burn. Witnesses (and the BMW body-shop guys) were really impressed.

Now I have a black one. And I just love it. It has pep and it zooms. A bit cramped for a really long drive -- I drove from SF to San Diego in it and won't do that again. However, that was an over-10 hour drive. I regularly make 2-3hour trips on the weekends and it is fine.

Not a lot of storage, but for a family of one, that isn't a problem. The trunk can hold six bags of groceries or a campchair and sleeping bag or a smallish piece of luggage.

It realistically gets around 270 miles to the tankful. Which is well within my comfort zone. I've had it for around 7 years and have not had to take it in for another other than routine maintainance. Brakes are still good, as is the clutch.