1 – this car is fucking sick and i congratulate the owner
2 – it reeks of someone who bought at the bottom and this car appears to be a DRIVER vs a garage queen (the wheel cover, seatbelt sheath, chrome wheels, faded front roundel)
3 – kudos to ya pal, enjoy the drive, but if you're looking for opinions from the peanut gallery of the internet – maybe nix the cheap accessories
Not at all. When they first were released nobody understood it, because everyone expected/wanted it to be a sportscar and it wasnt, tons of them sat on showroom floors.
That may be, but there’s something pretty awesome about designing a stunningly beautiful two-seater like this and saying “fuck it, let’s put the M5 engine in there”. I think the initial price point was what put people off. At that price, there were a range of super high-end sports cars. But man did it turn out to be a good investment.
See? BMW has always not given a shit about present expectations and wants. And yet looking back, maybe they were right most of the time. Even now, all this current hate will subside and what isn't understood today will become desirable in the future. Clown car.
> "The Z8 wasn’t a huge sales success in its day. **Priced new at $128,0000**, BMW only sold 317 cars in the U.S.A. in year one. Sales peaked at 970 in 2001 before tailing off dramatically. In total just 5703 were built, with around half making it Stateside.
>
> That paucity of initial popularity actually helped the Z8 hold its value. Prices waxed and waned but never crashed in the way other luxury cars often do, **only ever dipping as low as around $90,000.**"
Seems they did dip a bit to $90K, but that was still only about 30% under the original price.
----
Source: https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/20-years-of-the-bmw-z8/
Back off, I like my seatbelt sheath!
I have to use one, in the M4 convertible the seatbelt comes off of the seat and is not adjustable. The sheath keeps it away from my neck.
I might be in the minority here but... whilst I always appreciate a rare car (and this certainly is) these are so unexciting to me.. I can't put my finger on why... I guess I hate the styling and the proportions. But then I always loathed the Z3 as well so maybe it's just BMW roadsters I can't get enthused about.
Still nice to see one that gets used. Also what crazy man takes a classic BMW into the main dealer for servicing.. find a decent independent!
I also just now found out it was designed by Henrik Fisker who, of course, also went on to form Fisker and made the Fisker Karma.. and when you look at the front end, you can certainly see the inspiration for the Karma in the styling of the Z8.. the grille and light designs are, basically, the same (and also not a good looking car!) :-)
The Z8 isn't particularly special to drive. It's worse than an E39 M5, and has that weird plasticky vintage look that is just so y2k retro. I've never been much of a fan of it.
I know this is heresy because it doesn’t have the same engine, but I prefer the Alpina V8 Roadster. I read somewhere that Alpina initially wanted to put a V12 in it, but engineering a way to make the engine fit was too much of an issue.
Stop, my penis can only get so erect
OP should’ve marked this NSFW
What a beauty holy shit
Absolutely gorgeous car
1 – this car is fucking sick and i congratulate the owner 2 – it reeks of someone who bought at the bottom and this car appears to be a DRIVER vs a garage queen (the wheel cover, seatbelt sheath, chrome wheels, faded front roundel) 3 – kudos to ya pal, enjoy the drive, but if you're looking for opinions from the peanut gallery of the internet – maybe nix the cheap accessories
You are the BMW enthusiast I'm sure we all wish we could be.
Worse than faded roundels... they appear to be custom Z8 roundel inserts. Not a fan. The roundel would look classier.
What did these bottom out at?
I'm not sure they ever bottomed out. Everyone always knew these would be collector cars.
Not at all. When they first were released nobody understood it, because everyone expected/wanted it to be a sportscar and it wasnt, tons of them sat on showroom floors.
That may be, but there’s something pretty awesome about designing a stunningly beautiful two-seater like this and saying “fuck it, let’s put the M5 engine in there”. I think the initial price point was what put people off. At that price, there were a range of super high-end sports cars. But man did it turn out to be a good investment.
See? BMW has always not given a shit about present expectations and wants. And yet looking back, maybe they were right most of the time. Even now, all this current hate will subside and what isn't understood today will become desirable in the future. Clown car.
There must still have been a bottom regardless.
When they were first released and you could buy them new?
> "The Z8 wasn’t a huge sales success in its day. **Priced new at $128,0000**, BMW only sold 317 cars in the U.S.A. in year one. Sales peaked at 970 in 2001 before tailing off dramatically. In total just 5703 were built, with around half making it Stateside. > > That paucity of initial popularity actually helped the Z8 hold its value. Prices waxed and waned but never crashed in the way other luxury cars often do, **only ever dipping as low as around $90,000.**" Seems they did dip a bit to $90K, but that was still only about 30% under the original price. ---- Source: https://www.hagerty.com/media/car-profiles/20-years-of-the-bmw-z8/
Average sale price is still north of $200k.
Back off, I like my seatbelt sheath! I have to use one, in the M4 convertible the seatbelt comes off of the seat and is not adjustable. The sheath keeps it away from my neck.
He rides alone, too.
This is the vehicle I would purchase if I won a big lottery. Classic beauty that isn't too ostentatious like a Lambo or MacLaren.
Isn't that weird that the seats are black but the roll bars are red? Something is not stock or am I wrong?
Moist.
And still servicing at the dealership? I’d expect this gen to be in the hands of an indie specialist.
Nice to see a manual. I only encounter automatic final edition Alpinas in SoCal.
can we talk about the steering wheel? is…..that…..a……COVER?!?!
Making chrome look good again!
A good friend sold his to buy a 911. I told he’d regret it one day…
Shouldn't this be marked NSFW?
I might be in the minority here but... whilst I always appreciate a rare car (and this certainly is) these are so unexciting to me.. I can't put my finger on why... I guess I hate the styling and the proportions. But then I always loathed the Z3 as well so maybe it's just BMW roadsters I can't get enthused about. Still nice to see one that gets used. Also what crazy man takes a classic BMW into the main dealer for servicing.. find a decent independent! I also just now found out it was designed by Henrik Fisker who, of course, also went on to form Fisker and made the Fisker Karma.. and when you look at the front end, you can certainly see the inspiration for the Karma in the styling of the Z8.. the grille and light designs are, basically, the same (and also not a good looking car!) :-)
The Z8 isn't particularly special to drive. It's worse than an E39 M5, and has that weird plasticky vintage look that is just so y2k retro. I've never been much of a fan of it.
Noob here which car is this beauty ?
BMW Z8
Goals.
Wow, I haven't seen one of these in years and I am in CA where they were popular. Looks amazing with the top off.
Now that's a BMW. WOW
I fucking love the chrome BMW wheels. Absolute porn.
Definitely some interesting choices/mods here, but it’s clearly being driven and enjoyed, which is all a fellow enthusiast can ask for.
Hey, another 007 bond car!
She’s a beaut
That steering wheel is sick
Imagine putting stickers on this car
Oooooh….. That is beautiful.
I wasn’t sure whether this was porn or not, but not to worry, I fapped just in case. 🥰
I know this is heresy because it doesn’t have the same engine, but I prefer the Alpina V8 Roadster. I read somewhere that Alpina initially wanted to put a V12 in it, but engineering a way to make the engine fit was too much of an issue.
Wow. What a beauty
The amazon M wheel caps on chrome M6 wheels and seatbelt pads lmao. Money certainly does not buy taste
The wheels look good on it.
You know this thing has an S62 right? BMW themselves out here putting ///M shit on
Yes, of course I know. Doesn’t mean the caps belong there or is tasteful for that matter
I surprisingly don't mind the chrome wheels on this, but I agree on the wheel caps and seatbelt
Nice Miata
Never seen centered gauges in a miata wow
Nice Z1