Today's Autocar
Discussion
Test between BMW Z4 Alpina & T350t ... ...
... ... says the T350t is toooo expensive and has toooo much wind noise! Gonna have to get that sports exhaust fitted sooner rather than later then!!
Oh, it did say that the TVR was faster, nimbler, and prettier! But the guy would still prefer the Beemer ... ... FOOL!
... ... says the T350t is toooo expensive and has toooo much wind noise! Gonna have to get that sports exhaust fitted sooner rather than later then!!
Oh, it did say that the TVR was faster, nimbler, and prettier! But the guy would still prefer the Beemer ... ... FOOL!
Well when you think about it you get a lot more kit in the Alpina for a similar price. TVRs have gradually got more and more expensive in recent years. Yes they have got better too in all ways, but I understand why they came to this decision.
Of course to a Petrolhead the differences are clear.
Anyone care to comment on the tall gearing 'issue' they refer to where the Alpina would leave the T350 behind coming off a roundabout?
Of course to a Petrolhead the differences are clear.
Anyone care to comment on the tall gearing 'issue' they refer to where the Alpina would leave the T350 behind coming off a roundabout?
Is it a full road test with autocars performance figs or manufactors claimed figs before i go out and get a copy?Followed a Z4 today - needless to say it was in the obligatory monochrome shade of gunmetal - and two things crossed my mind. i) The backside really is one of the most ugly butts ever designed, alongwith the Morgan cross-eyed 8. and ii) Every time I see one I am reminded of John Major because they are allways grey and the grill looks like his funny 'tash over a thin top lip! 
Rich...
Rich...
T88CAN said:Nope, a little disappointing really, only a small article shoved near the back of the mag.
Is it a full road test with autocars performance figs
They stated how the T350 looked great, sounded fantastic and how it was more fun to drive than the Z4.............so obviously they chose the Alpina.
Maybe Autocar have a point you know....
Tvr's have got a lot more expensive over the years, but what do you actually get extra, a bit extra performance thrown in. They used to be a real performance bargain without lots of exttra thrills
Lots of hairdressers have TVR's you know, and sports bikes (I know of one female hairdresser (who is tiny) with a ducati monster.
I like the Z4 The shape has definetly grown on me, I remember hating the tuscans looks when I first saw it.
I would be very tempted by a z4, especially with a 400 (real) bhp M V8, which at least one after market tuning company has done allready. Can't be too long before an official M version...
Anyway why the anti BMW rhetoric, surely we should welcome all sports cars that dare to be a bit different, looks, engineering, etc. After all the market place will sort out whether there are enough buyers out there.. Personally I think the aero morgan is the uglest car on the planet, but I would not want it to not exist.
B
>> Edited by bjwoods on Thursday 11th March 14:13
Tvr's have got a lot more expensive over the years, but what do you actually get extra, a bit extra performance thrown in. They used to be a real performance bargain without lots of exttra thrills
Lots of hairdressers have TVR's you know, and sports bikes (I know of one female hairdresser (who is tiny) with a ducati monster.
I like the Z4 The shape has definetly grown on me, I remember hating the tuscans looks when I first saw it.
I would be very tempted by a z4, especially with a 400 (real) bhp M V8, which at least one after market tuning company has done allready. Can't be too long before an official M version...
Anyway why the anti BMW rhetoric, surely we should welcome all sports cars that dare to be a bit different, looks, engineering, etc. After all the market place will sort out whether there are enough buyers out there.. Personally I think the aero morgan is the uglest car on the planet, but I would not want it to not exist.
B
>> Edited by bjwoods on Thursday 11th March 14:13
The one overwhelming point that this article highlights is that new TVRs are too expensive - the price of (savagely depreciated)one year old Tamoras, T350s and Tuscans also indicates that the new price is way too high.
A Tamora /T350 should be in the low £30ks fully specced not up in the £40Ks. I know it's possible to pay almost £50K for a specced up T350C - regardless of bhp etc. that's just too high IMO.
It's going to backfire on TVR if they don't temper their prices - new sports car buyers will vote with their feet.
>> Edited by jigs on Thursday 11th March 14:52
A Tamora /T350 should be in the low £30ks fully specced not up in the £40Ks. I know it's possible to pay almost £50K for a specced up T350C - regardless of bhp etc. that's just too high IMO.
It's going to backfire on TVR if they don't temper their prices - new sports car buyers will vote with their feet.
>> Edited by jigs on Thursday 11th March 14:52
blueyes said:
Unless of course its got the M5 engine in it, then it becomes interesting...
nope... it just becomes a faster hairdressers car!
It's STILL ugly no matter what you put under the bonnet
True...
And won't putting the M5 engine in it push the price up to somewhere near the Z8 i.e. £80k?
Not really comparing like for like seeing as thats what a Typhon would cost you, and I know which one I'd have
When the old griff 4.3 came out, autocar did a comparitive test of a griff 4.3, vs maserati vs porsche 968 (much more interetsing than a boxster)
The Griffith won, as it had performane in the supercar league (for the time) AND was £6000 pounds cheaper than the maserati, and £11000 pounds cheaper than the porsche....
A similar test today might be this alpina z4, Boxster S and a T350 or a tamora or an 3.6 tuscan.
Now all you get is the supercar performance, BUT the prices are the same. Thus a lot of people might start taking notice of all the extras the other cars have , and start comparing residuals, the joys of electric hooods, abs, tc, etc,etc,etc.
I would personally tend to go for the performance, but it would not quite be such an easy descision now. I've driven z4's and boxsters and I like them as well, they are very good at being exactly what they are designed to be.
B
The Griffith won, as it had performane in the supercar league (for the time) AND was £6000 pounds cheaper than the maserati, and £11000 pounds cheaper than the porsche....
A similar test today might be this alpina z4, Boxster S and a T350 or a tamora or an 3.6 tuscan.
Now all you get is the supercar performance, BUT the prices are the same. Thus a lot of people might start taking notice of all the extras the other cars have , and start comparing residuals, the joys of electric hooods, abs, tc, etc,etc,etc.
I would personally tend to go for the performance, but it would not quite be such an easy descision now. I've driven z4's and boxsters and I like them as well, they are very good at being exactly what they are designed to be.
B
swilly said:
Well when you think about it you get a lot more kit in the Alpina for a similar price.
Yeah but I bought TVR's BECAUSE they didn't waste weight/space on pointless 'must have' kit.
But the issue is that you still pay for the air where the kit would be.
I don't begrudge paying 40k for a T350 BTW, just agreeing with the journo's comments in the article in this case.
trefor said:
I think the Hartege Z4 was 62k give or take a few thousand.
According to Autocar - Hartge Z50 (Z4 with M5 engine) is £87,225 as tested
See www.birdsauto.com/birds/newsframes/autocar_9_9.pdf
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