Should I buy a Z4 MC?
Discussion
Would welcome some thoughts on this as i'm in a quandry... went to test drive a Z4MC yesterday and absolutely loved it. At the moment my 'weekend' car is a Lamborghini SL which is an absolutely fantastic car but I really want something I can use a bit more regularly. I live in Switzerland and spend a lot of time driving - principally getting my son to nursery which is a really lovely drive - sweeping bends and great roads, however the nursery car park is not a Lambo friendly area. On my way back I often go to the gym or the supermarket, none of which i can do in the Lambo, so I end up using my daily barge all the time. I really want something that I can use sometimes during the week and which i can take on the mountain passes at the weekends. So far I've driven a new Porsche Cayman S - lovely car but by the time it's spec'd the prices are getting too close to 911 territory. I'm also going to drive a GTR - it'd be rude not to and does have the 4 seat advantage for son & O/H. Would also like to drive the new Nissan 370z but so far there aren't any demonstrators in Switzerland. Howevever, as mentioned, yesterday I drove a really well spec'd Z4 M Coupe in interlagos blue. I'm very tempted - it really reminded me of my old TVR in that old fashioned simple sports car way. I am slightly conscious that it wouldn't be too forgiving if i got it wrong - something that does worry me a bit as i generally have my 4 year old strapped into the passenger seat.
So, give me your thoughts - would it make a good fun car that I could use reasonably regular basis, with small child alongside? The car i'm looking at is an 08 demonstrator from a BMW dealer. Are there any real problems i should be aware of? Sorry for rambling, but I'm going around in circles and would value the opinions of those who have or do own them Z4MC's.
Cheers, GillyD
So, give me your thoughts - would it make a good fun car that I could use reasonably regular basis, with small child alongside? The car i'm looking at is an 08 demonstrator from a BMW dealer. Are there any real problems i should be aware of? Sorry for rambling, but I'm going around in circles and would value the opinions of those who have or do own them Z4MC's.
Cheers, GillyD
I would suggest, even though I have never driven one, the Z4MC. It's the car I have been looking at for around 3 years now but it has been binned as the other half has put her foot down and said we cannot have a two seater. I have never seen one in Switzerland either and I've been here a little while now. It just seems, to me, the better car when compared to the Cayman. The GTR is a good shout and coming from an SL would probably be comparable although I'm sure you will miss the noise 
You seem to be in a dilema that I would love to find myself in. What would you say to an Aston Volante/Lotus/Caterham especially as the summer is around the corner and Switzerland is blessed with, quite possible, the best driving roads in Europe.
Oh and if your husband or yourself need any help with exercising any of your cars I'm based in Berne.
You seem to be in a dilema that I would love to find myself in. What would you say to an Aston Volante/Lotus/Caterham especially as the summer is around the corner and Switzerland is blessed with, quite possible, the best driving roads in Europe.
Oh and if your husband or yourself need any help with exercising any of your cars I'm based in Berne.
krallicious said:
I would suggest, even though I have never driven one, the Z4MC. It's the car I have been looking at for around 3 years now but it has been binned as the other half has put her foot down and said we cannot have a two seater. I have never seen one in Switzerland either and I've been here a little while now. It just seems, to me, the better car when compared to the Cayman. The GTR is a good shout and coming from an SL would probably be comparable although I'm sure you will miss the noise
You seem to be in a dilema that I would love to find myself in. What would you say to an Aston Volante/Lotus/Caterham especially as the summer is around the corner and Switzerland is blessed with, quite possible, the best driving roads in Europe.
Oh and if your husband or yourself need any help with exercising any of your cars I'm based in Berne.
Actually, Lotus Elise is a real thought... just looked on Autoscout and they're better value than i thought. We had a part share on an Exige last year which i loved (except changing gear into 2nd was a bit of a challenge with the child seat in the car). Still think it might well be the Z4 though -I saw one at a track day at Donington last year and then saw it going round a hairpin sideways - had one of those 'i need to own one' moments! I'll really miss the Lambo, but I'll enjoy something fun i can drive any time and that i can take on a track without having a panic attack!You seem to be in a dilema that I would love to find myself in. What would you say to an Aston Volante/Lotus/Caterham especially as the summer is around the corner and Switzerland is blessed with, quite possible, the best driving roads in Europe.
Oh and if your husband or yourself need any help with exercising any of your cars I'm based in Berne.
i had an elise 111R as my last car and completley disagree...
It was the best car i have ever owned. Handled amazingly, went like a rocket, and was perfectly comfortable (if a bit noisey)
Yes the Z4M is better for the long distance work - and has lots of mod cons which are nice... but its chalk and cheese..
It was the best car i have ever owned. Handled amazingly, went like a rocket, and was perfectly comfortable (if a bit noisey)
Yes the Z4M is better for the long distance work - and has lots of mod cons which are nice... but its chalk and cheese..
yes, i've read some of your posts on Lotus Mike - and you do seem to contridict yourself quite often.. as well as having a rather large chip on your shoulder.
but your entitled to your opinion, as am i...
and i've owned a few decent sports cars - 911's, fast audi's, the Lotus and now the Z4M...
I've also driven a lot more fast cars (albeit not having the time or circumstances to explore the full potential) including track work with race spec hatches, caterhams and a Formula Ford racing car.
And I stand by the fact, when it comes to a drivers car, the Elise is the best car I have ever driven - sure there are better built, quieter and faster cars, but for the sheer joy of controlling a machine nothing compares.
but your entitled to your opinion, as am i...
and i've owned a few decent sports cars - 911's, fast audi's, the Lotus and now the Z4M...
I've also driven a lot more fast cars (albeit not having the time or circumstances to explore the full potential) including track work with race spec hatches, caterhams and a Formula Ford racing car.
And I stand by the fact, when it comes to a drivers car, the Elise is the best car I have ever driven - sure there are better built, quieter and faster cars, but for the sheer joy of controlling a machine nothing compares.
I recently purchased a Z4MC and pick it up at the end of the week. The Z sold itself about 5 minutes into the test drive.
I drove a Cayman S earlier in the day and it felt very benign and "woolly" compared to the Z4M. The Cayman was a car that I felt I would master too quickly and the result would be a car I would get bored of very quickly. The interior looked rather dated and the controls (gearchange and handbrake) felt rather vague. The engine note changed nicely once you hit 4k rpm, but it really didn't feel "quick". The handling was very nice and flat in corners, but the front end wandered quite a lot on a motorway run. I may have been expecting more from the badge, but I walked away disappointed at the car feeling so normal and not at all special.
In contrast, the Z4MC felt much sharper. The handling may not have been (IMO!) as nice and placeable (sp?) in the corners as the Cayman, but in a straight line the Z certainly felt faster and more of an "event" to drive than the benign Porsche.
The interior of the Z felt a million times more special, you really felt like you were sat in a sports car rather than a two door "anything" as the Porsche felt.
As I mentioned above, I was sold on the Z4MC a few minutes into the drive, whereas I was happy to give the keys back to the Cayman and jump into my Impreza to drive up to the BMW dealer. the Porsche really did leave me rather cold and disappointed.
I drove a Cayman S earlier in the day and it felt very benign and "woolly" compared to the Z4M. The Cayman was a car that I felt I would master too quickly and the result would be a car I would get bored of very quickly. The interior looked rather dated and the controls (gearchange and handbrake) felt rather vague. The engine note changed nicely once you hit 4k rpm, but it really didn't feel "quick". The handling was very nice and flat in corners, but the front end wandered quite a lot on a motorway run. I may have been expecting more from the badge, but I walked away disappointed at the car feeling so normal and not at all special.
In contrast, the Z4MC felt much sharper. The handling may not have been (IMO!) as nice and placeable (sp?) in the corners as the Cayman, but in a straight line the Z certainly felt faster and more of an "event" to drive than the benign Porsche.
The interior of the Z felt a million times more special, you really felt like you were sat in a sports car rather than a two door "anything" as the Porsche felt.
As I mentioned above, I was sold on the Z4MC a few minutes into the drive, whereas I was happy to give the keys back to the Cayman and jump into my Impreza to drive up to the BMW dealer. the Porsche really did leave me rather cold and disappointed.
What a wonderful predicament to be in!
Having a Z4MC I have to say it is a perfect car for commuting, fun drives and longer distances. Not tiring at all.
Funny that a lot of the people looking at these were also looking at / like TVRs (me included) but need something better engineered (sorry TVR, I REALLY wanted one until I saw the build quality up close....)
Lotus is much more of a 'raw' experience but I would have an Exige maybe if the running costs of the Z4MC become prohibitive. I think the Z4MC will give you all you need but I am very sorry that the Lambo can't 'get on' with the areas you need to park to fit in to your life. I know that feeling and you have to make sure that whatever you get is useable and I think the Z4M will manage that. I understand that the Lambo is pointless if you can't actually use it - however good it is!
I loved the Porsche Cayman by pricey. Good luck with your decision, beware of the savege depreciation on the Z4M though, how about a 2yr old at 45% of new price so you don't lose too much? I'm sure you can't go too far wrong with the cars you are considering and do let us know what you decide.
Very best of luck!
Having a Z4MC I have to say it is a perfect car for commuting, fun drives and longer distances. Not tiring at all.
Funny that a lot of the people looking at these were also looking at / like TVRs (me included) but need something better engineered (sorry TVR, I REALLY wanted one until I saw the build quality up close....)
Lotus is much more of a 'raw' experience but I would have an Exige maybe if the running costs of the Z4MC become prohibitive. I think the Z4MC will give you all you need but I am very sorry that the Lambo can't 'get on' with the areas you need to park to fit in to your life. I know that feeling and you have to make sure that whatever you get is useable and I think the Z4M will manage that. I understand that the Lambo is pointless if you can't actually use it - however good it is!
I loved the Porsche Cayman by pricey. Good luck with your decision, beware of the savege depreciation on the Z4M though, how about a 2yr old at 45% of new price so you don't lose too much? I'm sure you can't go too far wrong with the cars you are considering and do let us know what you decide.
Very best of luck!
mikez328 said:
Fidgits said:
"yes, i've read some of your posts on Lotus Mike - and you do seem to contridict yourself quite often.. as well as having a rather large chip on your shoulder.
but your entitled to your opinion, as am i..."
What's a "contridiction" (?!!). How have I contradicted myself Fidgits? I have given an honest opinion on the sheer cheek that Lotus have towards their customers. Would you buy a £34K car knowing that it was built by agency plebs & had half a ton of filler applied before it was painted? I don't think so. Bear in mind that for the last 35 years Lotus has utterly relied on "Agency Labour". I know because in the early 70's it was quite common for Lotus to have a sales downturn & sack 600+ staff in January only to take on another 600+ staff later in the year. Several of my early mates worked "on & off" for Lotus because of their peculiar employment policy. Nothing has changed in 35 years. Colin Chapman would be turning in his grave if he saw what his prodigy Mike Kimberley has done to the company over the years.
I'll tell you something else mate: When I first started driving I had a 1600cc 1972 Ford Escort Mexico. I could go to a fellow in Aslacton (a few miles from Hethel) & buy a pair of brand new DHLA 45 Carb's (fitted to 1973/74 Lotus Elise's/Eclats etc.) for £25. I could also buy a pair of 1973 Lotus Elise/Eclat wheels with brand new tyres for £20. They were stolen from the factory....
At my age (& retired) I have no chips on my shoulder. I just would not pay a ridiculously inflated price for a heap of s**t like a Lotus. I had my Elise for all of 12 weeks before I decided to get shut. I had my Europa Special in 1986, rebuilt & resprayed it myself but could not live with the gearchange (something like 12 balljoints between gear lever & gearbox!). You never knew which gear (inc REVERSE) you might get. And at 6 foot tall my forehead was almost touching the windscreen. Horrible car!
Before you post absolute c**p give the readers an indication of you age & limited experience. You don't come across well. Anybody can land a well paid job out of the blue & suddenly go from a 1984 Astra to an ///M car. That doesn't make them an expert. It merely means that their opinions are poo....
Eeek! Chaps please I'm sure my wife values all opinions no matter whether they come from somebody with 5 car history or 500. That's the value of asking on here - you get a lot of useful insight, and if many people say the same thing that tends to point to something."yes, i've read some of your posts on Lotus Mike - and you do seem to contridict yourself quite often.. as well as having a rather large chip on your shoulder.
but your entitled to your opinion, as am i..."
What's a "contridiction" (?!!). How have I contradicted myself Fidgits? I have given an honest opinion on the sheer cheek that Lotus have towards their customers. Would you buy a £34K car knowing that it was built by agency plebs & had half a ton of filler applied before it was painted? I don't think so. Bear in mind that for the last 35 years Lotus has utterly relied on "Agency Labour". I know because in the early 70's it was quite common for Lotus to have a sales downturn & sack 600+ staff in January only to take on another 600+ staff later in the year. Several of my early mates worked "on & off" for Lotus because of their peculiar employment policy. Nothing has changed in 35 years. Colin Chapman would be turning in his grave if he saw what his prodigy Mike Kimberley has done to the company over the years.
I'll tell you something else mate: When I first started driving I had a 1600cc 1972 Ford Escort Mexico. I could go to a fellow in Aslacton (a few miles from Hethel) & buy a pair of brand new DHLA 45 Carb's (fitted to 1973/74 Lotus Elise's/Eclats etc.) for £25. I could also buy a pair of 1973 Lotus Elise/Eclat wheels with brand new tyres for £20. They were stolen from the factory....
At my age (& retired) I have no chips on my shoulder. I just would not pay a ridiculously inflated price for a heap of s**t like a Lotus. I had my Elise for all of 12 weeks before I decided to get shut. I had my Europa Special in 1986, rebuilt & resprayed it myself but could not live with the gearchange (something like 12 balljoints between gear lever & gearbox!). You never knew which gear (inc REVERSE) you might get. And at 6 foot tall my forehead was almost touching the windscreen. Horrible car!
Before you post absolute c**p give the readers an indication of you age & limited experience. You don't come across well. Anybody can land a well paid job out of the blue & suddenly go from a 1984 Astra to an ///M car. That doesn't make them an expert. It merely means that their opinions are poo....
Edited by mikez328 on Monday 16th March 12:20
Cheers!
The Lotus Elise is a real wildcard. Build quality issues aside they are a great drive but a real marmite car. A quick drive in one and you'll know instantly if it's for you or not.
I found the lack of practicality tiresome and the idea of fitting a child seat would rule it out for me.
I'd say go for the Z4MC if you like it. It's only metal so you can change it if you don't gel with it.
I found the lack of practicality tiresome and the idea of fitting a child seat would rule it out for me.
I'd say go for the Z4MC if you like it. It's only metal so you can change it if you don't gel with it.
mikez328 said:
Before you post absolute c**p give the readers an indication of your age & limited experience. You don't come across well. Anybody can land a well paid job out of the blue & suddenly go from a 1984 Astra to an ///M car. That doesn't make them an expert. It merely means that their opinions are poo....
i already answered your question on the car front... As well as having my recent cars in my profile... and i think im experienced enough to have a fair opinion... and im pretty sure i come across better than you as im unbiased and dont have an axe to grind 
and mike, i read your comments on this thread:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
i just saw you as too biased and opinionated to take your opinions seriously...
mikez328 said:
I'll also say that a few years ago I bought Martin Brundall's Ferarri 355 (given free to him when he drove for Ferarri) from his family dealership just outside Kings Lynn, Norfolk. It cost me £55K at the time. What a financial disaster that was. £6000 every 6000 miles just for the requisite cam-belt change (engine out job...). It went very quickly.
What I will say is that in every day driving, BMW have got it absolutely right. The Z4M Roadster or Coupe is far better than the F355. It is faster on REAL roads, handles better, is far more comfortable & is probably 1/8th the cost to run. Herewith I end my sermon brothers (& sisters).
In which year did Martin Brundle drive for Ferrari?..... and in what series?What I will say is that in every day driving, BMW have got it absolutely right. The Z4M Roadster or Coupe is far better than the F355. It is faster on REAL roads, handles better, is far more comfortable & is probably 1/8th the cost to run. Herewith I end my sermon brothers (& sisters).
Thanks for the replies and thoughts for alternative options - I know I'm in a very lucky place! I don't really want an M3 - i know they're brilliant cars but I'm not after a saloon type car - yes i know that's what the GTR is but it's the only one i'm considering as you can't really ignore it given the coverage it's had in the press. What I really want is a small nimble car that I can have a bit of fun in and take on an occasional track day. I don't really need the 4 seats as it's not that likely that I'll extract O/H from his car, so we're always likely to go out in 2 cars at weekends. I'm trying to arrange to drive a couple of Elises on Wednesday. The thing that worries me slightly is the reliability factor - having been through the pain with a TVR (between O/H and i, we've had 4)I really value being able to get where you want to go without having to fix something before you leave. I've spent too much time mending stupid little things on my Chimaera - I just ended up falling out of love, specifically at the point where it conked out on the M1 in the pouring rain in rush hour! I don't want that again though i suspect Lotus are a lot better than TVR. I suspect/hope that i come back to the Z4M - as i said originally, i really loved it, but half the fun's in the looking! I think the Cayman's a very good car - it's more subtle than the Z - you can push it to limits which you never would with either a Z or a 911, just because of the balance, but i do agree that it's feels too benign. Porsche are so good that there's a danger that they've lost some excitement- PDK and all that (except for GT3's which i adore)! I nearly bought a 997 Turbo last year and didn't for the same reason - we thought we would get a bit bored - that's how i ended up in the SL. Anyway, i shall let you know how I get on with the Elise twins assuming i can arrange it all tomorrow.
G
G
just FYI - i ran the R (toyota engined) Elise for a year - and apart from a small electrical problem (which never actually effected me driving the car) it was faultless...
The new owner is on here, and as far as i know, he hasnt had any problems...
they are definatley better than they used to be, as with most, the mantra is find a good one... and i think for your needs, the Elise would be the much better car..
The new owner is on here, and as far as i know, he hasnt had any problems...
they are definatley better than they used to be, as with most, the mantra is find a good one... and i think for your needs, the Elise would be the much better car..
Back again... and it's looking like it's going to be the Z4M Coupe. Found one I really like in interlagos blue with absolutely every extra I could want and very low KM's. Decided against the Lotus Elise in the end as i want some creature comforts and I don't really relish the idea of lugging my 4 year old son in and out! However, on the subject of children/car seats - i haven't tried son or seat in the car yet - does anyone have any experience of putting a child seat/child in the passenger seat? I'll probably pop over to the dealer with child and various seats later in the week, but in the meantime, if anyone has any info i'd be glad to hear.
Cheers, Gilly
Cheers, Gilly
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