The 2003 Z8 is an important vehicle to BMW for the convertible market segment. The Base is a member of a series of two trim levels for the Z8 which include Base and Alpina. The two-door car with its rear-wheel drive is positioned to aggressively fill this niche for BMW. There is strong competition from vehicles from Infiniti.

Performance

The restyled Z8 Base is equipped with a BMW 5.0-liter 8-cylinder engine that utilizes a total of 32 valves. The engine is paired with a Getrag 6-speed transmission. This configuration has proven to be a successful design for BMW.

The Z8 uses power-assisted brakes, with 4-Wheel ABS support. The front brakes are disc while the rear brakes are disc. Steering is handled through a power-steering rack-style configuration. The car uses coil and coil springs front and rear respectively.

The fuel system for the 2003 Z8 is a traditional Siemens MS, running on gasoline fuel. The fuel is controlled by an electronic system and is a fuel-injected MFI design. The capacity of the fuel tank is 19.30 gallons.

Z8 Base Statistics

The dimensions of the Z8 Base are 72.00 inches wide by 173.20 inches long. It sits a comfortable 51.90 inches off the ground. It seats a standard two passengers, with 2 doors. The wheelbase of 98.60 allows for limited leg room for the backseat passengers.

The standard warranty period for the Z8 is 48 months, or 50,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is standard in the convertible market.

The listed retail price in 2003 (MSRP) was $136,900, with an invoice cost of $124,740. This price is slightly higher than the industry average price for a two-door Convertible.

Fuel Efficiency

The Z8 Base received a miles-per-gallon rating of fourteen in-city driving and twenty one when it came to long-distance. Being a gas-powered non-green car, this was subpar.

The vehicle is available in Jet Black, Jet Black with Black Soft Top, Titanium Silver Metallic, and Titanium Silver Metallic with Black Soft Top.

Conclusion

The 2002 model began the promise of the BMW Z8. The 2003 expanded on this success and has proven to be a strong seller in most markets. Even with strong competition from other manufacturers BMW hopes that the Z8 Base will continue to be a profitable vehicle.

Tags: 2-Door, Base, BMW Z8, Convertible, United States market

This entry was posted on Monday, June 8th, 2009 at 4:00 am and is filed under 2003, BMW, Z8. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.