Mystery BMW Roadster

Discussion in 'Other Vehicles' started by BlimeyCabrio, Nov 15, 2009.

  1. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    Just a few minutes ago, waiting to turn right, a roadster goes by with the top down. I just caught a passing glimpse of the profile of it.... I thought it had kinda Aston-Martin / Jaguar lines. I said "what was THAT"? Wife says "it's some kind of BMW - I saw the badge". I say - "NO WAY"... thats a Jag or Aston-Martin or something"...

    We manage to pull up behind it at the next stop for a few seconds - and it has a BMW badge on the trunk, but has a tail like nothing I've ever seen on a BMW... very round smooth tail that falls away smoothly, with horizontal "slit" tail lights about 2.5" tall. Very wide, low stance, but fenders not flared like on an M roadster, and definitely not the same tail as on the new Z4 (or any Z4). There was no flat vertical surface on the rear of the trunk lid, like on a Z3 or Z4. Two seater - not a M6, etc. Looked like a ragtop, but not 100% certain.

    I'm completely perplexed. It looked very new/modern... but I never got a good look at the front.

    Maybe just a Z3 with a radical body kit and different trunk and tail? Or something else rebadged as a BMW?

    It was one of the prettiest roadsters I've every seen... but I have no idea what it was. I've looked at lots of BMW roadster images and can't find anything with a tail like this thing had...

    Any Ideas?
     
  2. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    #2 minimark, Nov 15, 2009
    Last edited: Nov 15, 2009
    That would have been a "Z8" FTW!!!


    Loved this car for long long time.....[ame]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_Z8[/ame]
     
  3. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    You are correct, my friend... don't know how I never knew about that...
     
  4. goaljnky

    goaljnky New Member

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    I am ashamed to know you. Strike issued.
     
  5. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    One demerit from "Car Guy" status issued........LOL:lol:
     
  6. Bimmer Lite

    Bimmer Lite New Member

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    Consider yourself lucky - not many opportunities to see Z8s!

    I've seen 2 or 3 I think in the last 9 years, but one of them was the Alpina version with an automatic transmission. Ick.

    - Marc
     
  7. ScottinBend

    ScottinBend Space Cowboy
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    :lol:
     
  8. rkw

    rkw Well-Known Member

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    It was BMW's attempt at a supercar and it gained notoriety for suffering from strut tower mushrooming!

    I live next to a street of shops, restarants and bars, and there is an Alpina Z8 that appears in the area regularly. It's very unique and I love the styling.
     
  9. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    Think it was Motor Trend that said " An instant Classic" when they first reviewed the Z8! It is rare to see one out and about but I did see one just a couple weeks ago on Los Olas in Ft lauderdale!!! Beautiful machine.

    PS: Oh and Paul, your still a "Car Guy" in my book, besides this wasn't nearly as bad as the flag thang......
     
  10. Bimmer Lite

    Bimmer Lite New Member

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    MSRP on one in 2000 was around $130K. No idea if they've depreciated much or if at all.
     
  11. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    Not much depreciation, there ia a little more than a handful listed on Dupont Registry and all about 100K, the low being 90 and upper at 105.

    See them quite often around here. Not only at Cars and Coffee Dallas but at the track as well. Regional BMW CCA Chief Instructor has one. And yes...he does do a session with it now and again.
     
  12. PGT

    PGT Wheel Whore

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    my old CEO had one. Bought it used in '01 for $200k. They're cool but I like the Z1 better.
     
  13. Doggybags

    Doggybags New Member

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    One of my faves for sure. I saw one about three weeks ago and I couldn't help but stare at it for as long as I could. I'm not even sure if someone was driving it :blush2:
     
  14. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    There's several on the bay for $90K - $110K.

    Yeah, well, I stopped being a car guy from about 1994 until I got my MINI in 2006. So I missed that whole era. And really didn't give a carp about BMWs until a couple of years ago. Sorry for my ignorance. :blush2:

    And mark, you're right, it's better than the flag thing.

    And jnky... if this is the worst thing you can hold against me at this point, I guess we've come a long way. :Thumbsup:
     
  15. PGT

    PGT Wheel Whore

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  16. TGS91

    TGS91 New Member

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    From the bottom of the Wikipedia article for US Sales

    Calendar year U.S sales
    2000[1] 317
    2001[2] 970
    2002 524
    2003[3] 439
    2004[3] 110
    2005 17
    2006 5

    At the BMW board meeting in 2006 "5 Cars? Got in Himmel!"
     
  17. TGS91

    TGS91 New Member

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  18. minimark

    minimark Well-Known Member

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    And mark, you're right, it's better than the flag thing.




    :lol::cornut:
     
  19. nabeshin

    nabeshin New Member

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    You had never seen this movie?

    [​IMG]
    The World is Not Enough
     
  20. goaljnky

    goaljnky New Member

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    James Bond in a BMW. Still makes me shake my head in disbelief.
     

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