Z4 - any experience thus far?
Discussion
Saw one outside the BMW garage in Hungerford. Agree it looks better in the metal than in photos.
I considered pulling in (in my Boxster S) and blagging a test drive just to see....but the truth is unless it was utterly, utterly fantastic I wouldn't actually consider changing...and I suspect the sales guy would have known that so I didn't think it was right to just go and tyre kick...
I considered pulling in (in my Boxster S) and blagging a test drive just to see....but the truth is unless it was utterly, utterly fantastic I wouldn't actually consider changing...and I suspect the sales guy would have known that so I didn't think it was right to just go and tyre kick...
Only had about 1 hour in a slate grey (I think the proper name was anthracite) 3.0 Z4 about a week ago.
Salesman was with me for the whole trip and wouldn't shut his mouth the whole time.
Anyway, back to the Z4...
The 3l feels very quick - and that is coming from someone who drives an M5 as a daily driver.
The grip is phenomenal and I had no understeer whatsoever at the speeds I was trying corners (including some 60-70mph roundabouts) and it just pushes you further into the very supportive seats - I hope you are not smaller than 5ft as you will not see over the steering wheel or doors!
The engine sounds a bit tinny compared to the M5 but that could be due to driving it with the top down rather than behind lots of glass and carpet.
The ride is stiff, but not so much as to pick up every bump on the road although I did get a little bit of tramlining when following the inside line grooves on the motorway.
It is a very high build quality and everything had a good feel to it - black leather seats would not be my choice as they would get very hot if left in the sun, but as it was only a 'demo' car I shouldn't complain.
Clutch pedal effort was lighter than my M5, as was the brake pedal but I suppose it has 500kg less to brake as well.
Gears ratios seemed well chosen and progress through them was smooth and easy - a little clunky into 1st, but the rest were fine.
Salesman was with me for the whole trip and wouldn't shut his mouth the whole time.
Anyway, back to the Z4...
The 3l feels very quick - and that is coming from someone who drives an M5 as a daily driver.
The grip is phenomenal and I had no understeer whatsoever at the speeds I was trying corners (including some 60-70mph roundabouts) and it just pushes you further into the very supportive seats - I hope you are not smaller than 5ft as you will not see over the steering wheel or doors!
The engine sounds a bit tinny compared to the M5 but that could be due to driving it with the top down rather than behind lots of glass and carpet.
The ride is stiff, but not so much as to pick up every bump on the road although I did get a little bit of tramlining when following the inside line grooves on the motorway.
It is a very high build quality and everything had a good feel to it - black leather seats would not be my choice as they would get very hot if left in the sun, but as it was only a 'demo' car I shouldn't complain.
Clutch pedal effort was lighter than my M5, as was the brake pedal but I suppose it has 500kg less to brake as well.
Gears ratios seemed well chosen and progress through them was smooth and easy - a little clunky into 1st, but the rest were fine.
I had a play in one last week and agree with most of what m-five says. The exhaust doesnt sound tinny imo but deep an purposeful. That 3.0 6 is superb and in this chassis its at home.
I'm very seriously considering putting my name to one - current waiting is for a December delivery but I'm not due to change until June next year so no problem.
I'm very seriously considering putting my name to one - current waiting is for a December delivery but I'm not due to change until June next year so no problem.
Drove one - very impressed with the styling/packaging, liked the lower driving position compared to the previous model, engine felt/sounded very smooth (but what else would you expect). Wife said it looked "a bit girly". Only seen 3 on the road (all silver/anthracite or whatever it's called) and all had 30-something females behind the wheel.
Thought about it seriously for a while but decided the Chimaera's more fun/involving - I wasn't looking for a sensible car.
Edited to add that it was a US spec with 2.5L
>> Edited by hut49 on Tuesday 1st July 13:32
Thought about it seriously for a while but decided the Chimaera's more fun/involving - I wasn't looking for a sensible car.
Edited to add that it was a US spec with 2.5L
>> Edited by hut49 on Tuesday 1st July 13:32
Saw one recently at a classic car meet. Never heard one nice comment on its looks. After considered thought, i realised that it is one of the ugliest misproportioned car's you can buy.
Utterley dreadful sculpturing, bulbous snout with no rear overhangs. looks like it got hit up the arse by a Truck. Only super enormous wheels can take your eye of the body shape.
Please stick to saloon cars please.
Utterley dreadful sculpturing, bulbous snout with no rear overhangs. looks like it got hit up the arse by a Truck. Only super enormous wheels can take your eye of the body shape.
Please stick to saloon cars please.
I seem to think the other way round to most others - I quite liked it in the pictures and thought that Bungle might have done a good job - however having now seen plenty I think they look pretty damn awful - they look mal-proportioned, week and under wheeled(and what are those roll bars all about?).
Now clearly this is a much sounder proposition than the Z3 but bearing in mind the numbers already filtering out and the fact that I`ve only seen 1 test in which it`s beaten the standard Boxster (with significant performance and cost advantages) then I worry a little about the longer term residuals...
Now clearly this is a much sounder proposition than the Z3 but bearing in mind the numbers already filtering out and the fact that I`ve only seen 1 test in which it`s beaten the standard Boxster (with significant performance and cost advantages) then I worry a little about the longer term residuals...
I think the Boxster is a fine car (especially in 'S' form) and better than the Z4 in many ways. I see the comparison in Autocar puts the Z4 3.0 against the standard Boxster. Other tests have put it against the 'S' model, and in those it lost. So perhaps this car (and its price point) nicely splits the Porsche range in the middle?
I drove both the standard and the 'S' before I ordered my Z4, and had it not come along would probably be driving on now, but however you cut it, the 'S' works out £10k+ more expensive than the Z4. Yes it is quicker, yes it handles better, and it may depreciate less over 3 years, but I you still have to spend a lot more in the first place to get a similar spec. I worked out that the similar spec of my Z4 to Boxster 'S' would cost £46,500!
More importantly, I have been very disappointed by the way in which I and some of my friends / colleagues have been treated by Porsche dealers - a little to much "attitude" and not enough "service", but that's just my opinion.
As for the styling, some like it, some hate it, I am just glad to have something different (at least for a few months).
I drove both the standard and the 'S' before I ordered my Z4, and had it not come along would probably be driving on now, but however you cut it, the 'S' works out £10k+ more expensive than the Z4. Yes it is quicker, yes it handles better, and it may depreciate less over 3 years, but I you still have to spend a lot more in the first place to get a similar spec. I worked out that the similar spec of my Z4 to Boxster 'S' would cost £46,500!
More importantly, I have been very disappointed by the way in which I and some of my friends / colleagues have been treated by Porsche dealers - a little to much "attitude" and not enough "service", but that's just my opinion.
As for the styling, some like it, some hate it, I am just glad to have something different (at least for a few months).
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