Ok, so there we were, driving towards Northallerton, minding our own business in a queue of traffic. Quick check in the mirror reveals a Z3 - nothing to worry about there. Quick check ahead reveals a nice overtaking opportunity on a sweeping right hander, through a long dip. Good visibility and a downhil run to get VTECing.

Indicator on, drop cog, boot it and off we go.

Daern - "Nice easy overtake - loads of room"
Mrs Daern - "Oh look, that hairdresser behind us is also overtaking"
Daern - "I'll show him what a fast car is" (sound of Vans being pressed into carpet)
Mrs Daern - "He's still there"
Daern - (grimmacing) "Bastard!"

I pass the overtaking target, and pull back still accelerating flat out to 100 (kph, of course). The Z3 sails past me. Not quickly, but still passes me without too much effort doing well over a ton giving me a flash of his curling tongs and an eyeful of his four exhaust tailpipes and "M" badge on the back. Damn!

After this, he didn't bother overtaking any more cars - he'd made his point.

We may be able to whup the lower spec Z3s but don't even think of taking on an M Roadster (or Coupe, presumably) - it'll kick your ass. And don't get caught out like me...they look very similar to a stock 1.9 when seen in the mirror.

 

that doesn't annoy you does it?

It's a faster car-and he was just showing you who's boss-we've all done it in the S haven't we

 

But nobody likes getting overtaken by an ugly car!

 

I almost did it to a TT today.





We were in Tracey's Jazz

 

I loved the Z3 coupe (although I saw one recently and the back end is dating horribly) and its a mean car but it suffers terribly from brake fade, as confirmed bya guy who came along to an Academy Day with a M roadster who would have happily swopped cars He was fast in the straights but the lack of brakes saw him back off in the corners.

 

The Z3Ms have a certain, "something" about them that sets them apart from other Z3s. They're certainly bloody quick as I can testify, but I also think they look nearly acceptable (shock!) and as they have the performance to match, I will let them be on this occasion.

They're not, however, allowed to play tricks on innocent S drivers. Ngggg.

 

It wasn't the faster car bit - I've been overtaken be some nice exotica in my time - but the fact that it was masquerading as a "salon" thus encouraging me to be made a fool of.

Note to self, check mirror more closely next time.

 

Good story dearn

I'm not a fan of the BMW image, but the M cars are a different kettle of fish all together. Once you'd clocked it as an M you should have given him a wave

To avoid embarrassment we need to remember - there are some cars out there that are actually faster than the S

 

You'd have it on the twisties though.

 

I wouldn't be so sure of that, San. I had a play with one last summer and it was pulling away from me through some narrow country lanes. Admittedly, I'm not the world's best driver, but even so I think the M version of the Z3 has quite an edge over the S.