Discussion
Having only sat in an Elise a couple of times but owning a Z4 Roadster, I would get the Z4 anytime. If it's only to be used high days and holidays then an Elise would probably be more fun but is a far more impractical proposition day to day. No carpets, a roof that's hard work to erect, less space and storage.
The Z4 aint an elise but it's a fun practical roadster with a fairly poky engine. Mine's a 2.5 with 195BHP and i'm upgrading to a new 2.5 Si with 218BHP. Can't wait until 1st of March.
The Z4 aint an elise but it's a fun practical roadster with a fairly poky engine. Mine's a 2.5 with 195BHP and i'm upgrading to a new 2.5 Si with 218BHP. Can't wait until 1st of March.
Edited by z4monster on Wednesday 21st February 01:20
Depends what level of compromise (and presumed reliability) you can live with. Elise is undeniably more fun to drive (than most things) but is compromised in the areas of comfort, useability, percieved quality, safety & security.... the Z4 is certainly a more rounded product but is inferior to the Elise as a driving machine.
Thanks everyone. It looks at the moment that it will be my head ruling my heart as the Z4 its been confirmed for me that the Elise would just too impractical and i am sure that given the right roads I can have a lot of fun in a Z4.
Yes the VX220 has also been on my antenna but I just cannot get pass the badge. Thanks again everyone
Yes the VX220 has also been on my antenna but I just cannot get pass the badge. Thanks again everyone
simonrockman said:
This is pistonheads.
You will get recommendations for all sorts of other things - Boxsters, TVRs etc.
So I'll kick it off:
VX220
You will get recommendations for all sorts of other things - Boxsters, TVRs etc.
So I'll kick it off:
VX220
a "VAUXHALL" ..... wash your mouth out
one of my friends has a elise S1 great handling BUT..........
another friend has just bought a Z4M coupe.
...i'd have the Z4 any day...no contest
I had the same choice last November, was also looking at an S2000 and a Boxster S. from a driving point of view the elise cannot be beaten in this company but compromise is the key here, it's 'my' car but the wife does have to use it from time to time hence i bought a 3.0i Z4, having come out of a 330d sport BMW had the favour over the others in my case though the s2000 was a fantastic fun car and the Boxster was sublime, overall the Z4 won it for me, practicality is pretty good for the type of car it is, the drive is rewarding, now i have conventional tyres and an ECU Re-map, looking forward to the run down to Le Mans this year and no regrets about getting this little car it's great fun. !!
Thanks Andy. Its comforting to know someone has faced the same dilemma.The Elise is so inviting for many reasons, the looks,history, the enthusiasm of the owners and their clubs but now I am aware of Piston Heads and its members who seem to have various cars and yet still have meets the Z4 does seem as good a prospect.Whats the driving experience of the Z4 like.Does it feel quick and agile. A couple of my mates keep trying to convince me to buy an MX5 but they really seem too bland for me. Although to be fair I have not driven one of them either.
I live in York, if you are anywhere near your welcome to an experience !!, the drive is fantastic, it is real 'Roadster' style, BMW put alot of development into creating such and have done very well at achiving it. I owned a Westfield a few years ago and the drive is very similar to that, long bonnet, sat back over the rear wheels,the all important rear wheel drive ! it is very strange at first but soon you fall into tghe swing of the feel. The MX 5 thing is very good too, I have alot of experience of driving a family members car, the big problem with it though is the lack of grunt, even in 1.8 guise, it always left me feeling it needs far more power to fully exploit the chassis and fulfill your enjoyment. The Z4 for me is only to be had in 3.0i guise, it's very well matched to the chassis, it copes very well and there is plenty of power, now mine is re-mapped the drive is superb, throttle response is lightening sharpe and there is no hesitation at any point in the rev range, it really has made it come alive, i would recommed re-mapping the 3.0i BMW petrol to anyone who has it in whatever car. The Z4 handles very confidently, I have only had my car since October so have not really had the chance fully exploit it due to the weather not being the best at this time of year but It's obviously a sublime chassis this, most cabrio's suffer from scuttle shake and alot of effects from extra strenght having had the roof remove, as the Z4 was designed as such there is none of that, it's tight and very sharp, the weakest point of the car I will say is the brakes, as with all BMW's I might add, as I will be tracking this car that will be my next mod, but for normal road use they are fine, get yourself out and drivr one, and finally something else to think about is take a look at residual values, in a word they are bullet proof for the foreseeable future.....
plowy said:
now mine is re-mapped the drive is superb, throttle response is lightening sharpe and there is no hesitation at any point in the rev range, it really has made it come alive, i would recommed re-mapping the 3.0i BMW petrol to anyone who has it in whatever car.
Any more info on the power / driveability / economy gains & cost? I'm soon to be an '02 e46 330i owner...
Sorry to distract the thread, but it is relevantish..
This is a situation with which I am familiar.
I have a s1 elise 111s. It is my baby and I would never part with it. However I could not cope with it everyday. It offers one of the best driving experiences available at the price. However the roof is awkward, the suspension rattles, and the sports exhaust can be intrusive on long journeys. Hence my everyday car is a BMW coupe.
That said I would never tell anyone not to own an elise - one the right road on a good day.....
P.S you can get carpet mats for an elise!
I have a s1 elise 111s. It is my baby and I would never part with it. However I could not cope with it everyday. It offers one of the best driving experiences available at the price. However the roof is awkward, the suspension rattles, and the sports exhaust can be intrusive on long journeys. Hence my everyday car is a BMW coupe.
That said I would never tell anyone not to own an elise - one the right road on a good day.....
P.S you can get carpet mats for an elise!
callahan said:
plowy said:
now mine is re-mapped the drive is superb, throttle response is lightening sharpe and there is no hesitation at any point in the rev range, it really has made it come alive, i would recommed re-mapping the 3.0i BMW petrol to anyone who has it in whatever car.
Any more info on the power / driveability / economy gains & cost? I'm soon to be an '02 e46 330i owner...
Sorry to distract the thread, but it is relevantish..
yes mate, the power figures are not much to shout about, 15-20 bhp and 25-30 lb ft of torque but this does not tell the full story, as it's a normally aspirated petrol engine big gains in power are not going to come as cheap and easy as an ECU re-map however, what this map does is really sharpen the cars response's, it pulls stronger at the top end also without doubt, it's smoother and much more crisp power delivery makes it a joy to drive, though it is subtle i say it's worth every penny, as I had arranged more than one car to be done on the day I got a keen price, speak to jason via email at; info@chippeduk.com he is the main man but has dealers all over the uk and will come to you, when you contact him mention me and i am sure he will look after you. On another note the ecconomy is better, running around my OBC always stuck at 22.5 mpg, since remap it was reset and is stuck at 23.7 mpg, not done a long run yet but I am sure it will be better, and finally this map also removes the speed limiter which allegedly allows the car to run out at about 165-167 mph !!!, the way it pulls at the top end that would not suprise me in the least, any more questions just let me know..
trackdemon said:
Cant see the need for an ECU map on later 3.0i - our Z4Coupe is rated around 270bhp, delivers 30mpg (astonishing!), yet turns easy sub 6 secs to 60mph. All with bulletproof and intact BMW warranty.....
Granted, but that motor as the rest will benefit from a re map so why not ???
plowy said:
trackdemon said:
Cant see the need for an ECU map on later 3.0i - our Z4Coupe is rated around 270bhp, delivers 30mpg (astonishing!), yet turns easy sub 6 secs to 60mph. All with bulletproof and intact BMW warranty.....
Granted, but that motor as the rest will benefit from a re map so why not ???
do some homework on the detection of ECU remaps by franchised dealers, when you find out what is involved and how it must be done etc you will understand why loads of people do it and the benefits they are reaping ALL WITH BULLETPROOF AND INTACT BMW WARRANTY ....
Edited by plowy on Saturday 24th February 21:48
trackdemon said:
Cant see the need for an ECU map on later 3.0i - our Z4Coupe is rated around 270bhp, delivers 30mpg (astonishing!), yet turns easy sub 6 secs to 60mph. All with bulletproof and intact BMW warranty.....
The reason I asked was because I had a Mk3 Golf GTI 8v many years ago and had it remapped at AMD and the change to the power delivery was huge, even though the power outputs weren't that much better. Even the economy improved, which I didn't expect.
If you can get similar improvements with the 330i I may well be tempted, have to get the car first though!
We have a similar dilema around changing Mrs BC's 5 liter TVR Chimaera. Looking at the Z4M and Morgan. Will also take a look at the Lotus but I can't help thinking that does not have the practicality for an every day car. Last time I tried one getting the roof on and off was a disaster.
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