Cult status: Now that we're having a ZHP Mafia meet in Virginia this week, have we reached it yet?

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Marc Biunno, who wrote a column about ZHPMafia.com and BMWMafia.com in the June 2011 issue of Roundel, once wrote (on another Internet forum) that the ZHP could not be considered a cult car until there were gatherings dedicated to the ZHP-optioned E46 car.

Said Marc: To me, a cult car has to have gatherings dedicated to it. People need to get together just to ooh and aah at their exact same cars. They need to point out obvious things like, "Ah, I see you went with the hounds tooth interior; I went with the leather." As I said, maybe one day: "Ah, you went with the silver cube - mine's black. Nice red needles - I have those, too."

Satch Carlson, Editor-in-Chief of Roundel magazine, is already on the record as saying that the ZHP is a cult car.

Marc, what say you? Has the ZHP reached cult status yet? Or do we still have a ways to go?

[danewilson77]

Total cult status. Wait until were online for a few years. Ima have to buy a bigger house.

Droid + Tapatalk = FTW!

[GMATT]

We are the Mafia!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Marcus-SanDiego]

When I think of cult status, I think E30 M3 owners. But, given time, I believe the ZHP owners will be seen similarly.

The difference, of course, is that E30 M3 owners are rallying around an entire car. We're rallying around an option.

It's fascinating to think about.

[johnrando]

Not to mention we've already had West Coast meets just based on the car alone as well.

[az3579]

When I think of cult status, I think E30 M3 owners. But, given time, I believe the ZHP owners will be seen similarly.

The difference, of course, is that E30 M3 owners are rallying around an entire car. We're rallying around an option.

It's fascinating to think about.

I've always seen the M3 as an option as well, only an option with much more goodies. It is still technically a 3 series with more performance based stuff, just like the ZHP is, only to a much larger extent.

If the M3 looked entirely different and was a different chassis, then I would consider it a different model.

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Good point, BP.

And you're right. The M3 has A LOT more goodies.

[zhpnsnv]

never mind - see below

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Looking forward to hearing from you, Marc. Maybe it's time for a column on the subject. Satch has weighed in. Your turn.

Your column can be about cult cars in general. How does one define that term? Which BMWs qualify for the status? Which BMW is likely to be the next cult car?

[zhpnsnv]

Okay, upon further review I can say this: a car is not a cult car solely as result of its rarity. For instance the r53 jcw Cooper s gp had a run of 400. I don't think it's a cult car yet.

The zhp has a website, a reunion, and it commands a slightly higher price in some instances. It also has a 2-3 letter moniker, which is important since cult cars have nicknames (cuda, stang, vette, etc...). Further, the zhp has zhp-only options, most noteworthy being the alcantara interior. Even the m3s cloth interior isn't the same.

But a cult is a group of people so brainwashed into thinking something untrue is true that none of that matters; therefore, a cult car is a cult car if its owners are looney.

So perhaps I've revised my original thesis.

Expect a column on the topic.


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