Huh? (archive)

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Huh???? I'm lost and it may be due to the lack of sleep from the 3 week old (human that is). As a long time BMW owner and 540 and M Roadster owner I find this disturbing. First I think the Z3'ers have more in common with the '02s than a 540. The Z3 is a small (relatively) cheap car that performs well like the 02s. Z3's (as I understand it) are not allowed at auto-X's under BMWCCA rules unless it has a full roll cage. So it's a wonder that any Z3's show up at all. As for CCA gatherings I see lots of Z3's. Atleast much more Z3's than 5ers. 3'ers far out number all others combined. Infact at my last outing with the club I drove one of two 5ers the rest were Z3's, 3ers 6ers, '02s and one 7 despite the cold weather and still some snow on the ground they drove the Z3. I opted for the 5er since it was cold and there was snow on the ground. Okay so I whimped out but hey, I generally take the Z3. I can tell you that this is not how other CCAers feel about the Z3's. I don't want to get in a pissing contest here but I hear more Z3 owners complain about other BMW's. M's have their event and so should Z3's and yes even X5's if they choose to since the Z3's and X5's are built here in the US. If we were in Germany I would like to see a homecoming for Z1, Z8, 3, 5 and 7ers too.

~Al
'00 540i/6
'99 M Roadster
former cars
'89 535iA
'84 533i
'83 533i
'79 320i
'77 530i
and an ol' 2002

: I received this damn message confidentially from a friend in the community. This is to our CCA president from an individual that's been in BMW (non Z3)community for a while. This will tell you how the CCA really feels about us. As a former Miata owner this really pisses me off.

: You zeroed in on this like a laser. That's Egggzactly on the money. I casually seemed to notice that the atmosphere in BMW circles when the Z3's arrived was that this was a 'different breed' of BMW owner, not the 02, 3, 5, 7, M series CCA member. More akin to someone upgrading from a Miata, than a BMW-junkie buying another car for the garage. And while I didn't ever dwell on this too much, I thought it curious that the Z3 owners never came to the NCC events when we were all anxious to see the car at autocross, etc. It was a couple of years before we saw them start attending events, and even now the turnout is light compared to the number of cars out there.
: I think it a mistake to select a model group for a 'special event' within the marque. Z owners shouldn't be exclusive to an event any more than M owners are. I can't help but notice that when that 'exclusivity' situation occurs, 'tis always BMWNA's idea.....not CCA's. And it does not promote harmony within the membership. It encourages division and elitism.
: BMWNA should be careful when they set up these events, like you say. Yer on the right track with this.....

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