Z4M Coupe - Is it worth it and finance question too?

[cheburator]

Will be test driving a Z4M Coupe at Lovett's in Swindon tomorrow. So far I have only been a passenger in an Alpina Z4S, which left me distinctly underwhelmed. There is no way in hell that I would part with £33k of my cash to get into a car, which felt fussy and difficult to drive on the limit compared to my 928GT-based race car...

Is the Z4M Coupe a massive improvement on the Alpina? Or is just another marketing exercise by BMW?

And lastly, BMW are suggesting a PCP plan - working the maths doesn't make a lot of sense - even with a 10k deposit, which they seem reluctant to take on a car which is advertised for 32.85k, I will be paying 6.5k finance costs in 3years, which seems a bit excessive. Or maybe I should just stick to old Porkers, which you can buy for cash Or maybe I am just thick:

Deposit: 10,000
36m payments of 363.81 13,097
Final Payment : 16,400
Total Cost: 39,497

Cash price of the car is 32849, which leaves me with a finance cost of 6648, which I thought is a bit steep at 20.2% of the value of the car. Or am I looking at it the wrong way?

[catherinej]

Who are you talking to there?

[cheburator]

The salesman is called Mark. I am also worried that the car has dropped 10k in 9mths and 3000miles... They don't seem to hold their value that well?

But then again my 928 was a 70k car in 1990 and is worth 15k now...

[catherinej]

It's pretty much on a par with the loss of £10k on our Boxster over 6 months.

Is the car Ruby Black by any chance?

I've got a 3.0si Coupe Sport and feck me is it quick. I would have ha Z4M but couldn't justify the difference in cost as much as I would have liked one.

Edited by catherinej on Friday 16th March 20:46

[cheburator]

The car is Imola Red with black leather...

I hear you about the Z4 3.0si being quick, but I am stepping out of a 5.0ltr V8 with 350+bhp and around 490Nm of torque. 181mph top speed and I do keep up with the CSLs going up Keselschen at the Ring...

I guess I have to drive it to see for myself...

[catherinej]

Ok it's not the car I thought it was then.

The chances are it is a car bought in from BMW GB. They are able buy in cars at terrific prices from GB. I yjink they had 6 roadsters and were able to sell them out for £32k. Similar excellent deals are available on the M6's

[catherinej]

How did the testdrive go then?

[cheburator]

Liked the car a lot - it does what it says on the tin and it did put a smile on my face

Can anyone advise on where to look for alternative methods of financing it? I have quotes from BMW, but it would be great if someone can point me in the direction of other providers of finance.

Many thanks in advance.

[StuB]

There's a Z4M Coupe in a Northern franchised dealer for £33k, with a decent spec too.

Bargain?

[D.no]

Give Gareth at Bespoke a call: www.bespoke-auto.co.uk/ (phone number on website)

I've just been in a similar situation to yours with regards to the financing of a CSL, and in comparison to the dealer's finance quotation Gareth's deal worked out far better.

All the best.

[JAYZ4]

I second this Gareth will beat BMW quite comfortably on the finance, well worth a look. He helped finance my M3 and Z4M Coupe.

Glad you liked it, had mine since Decemeber and I am addicted to it!!

[taffyracer]

BMW will do deals on finance, I shopped about and looked at using a few brokers when buying my M3, it actually worked out cheaper to do it myself when you factored in the charges for the broker! Best advice is to ring about and let them know you are doing so and also compare rates and quote them the rates you've been offered elsewhere

[JonRB]

I've got to say that the Z4M Coupe is a very good-looking car and a tempting proposition as a daily driver.

cheburator said:

I hear you about the Z4 3.0si being quick, but I am stepping out of a 5.0ltr V8 with 350+bhp and around 490Nm of torque.

I know what you mean. I'd be in a similar situation if I were to change from my TVR.

Edit: Neither AutoCar or EVO give it a very good write-up though, do they? clicky and clicky

Edited by JonRB on Monday 19th March 14:25

[imuir]

Evo rated the car very highly after Steve's upgrade, auto car liked it, its just a bit more demanding than most

[taffyracer]

The Z4MC is a stunning car, if i could live with 2 seats then i'd already have one on my drive

[JonRB]

imuir said:

its just a bit more demanding than most

I was just about to post a retort when I saw in your profile mentions a Griff 500 LE.
I presume it lies outside the definition of "most"?

Edited by JonRB on Monday 19th March 16:27

[olf]

Don not, I repeat do not put down a 10k deposit!

You'll never see it again, It's not a deposit, it's a chunk of cash used to reduce your monthly payments. Deposit is an ambiguous term here.

A car like that is going to depreciate at 3-500 quid a month. Factor this into the monthly payment they are offering and you'll see why it's 6 or 700 a month. Pay that because it's a real cost and not a diguised cost with a 1000 pound deposit and when you're sick of the car dump it!

[catherinej]

Cheburator, did you buy the Imola Red Car? I noticed it was sold when I was in today and looked as thought it was ready for collection.

[jb tco]

Of course it is worth it. Spring is here and I put on the CSL wheels this morning.

[cheburator]

catherinej said:

Cheburator, did you buy the Imola Red Car? I noticed it was sold when I was in today and looked as thought it was ready for collection.

What do you think???