Boxster S vs Z4 Coupe

[Strachan]

Strachan said:

out of interest, how much will you budget for the vehicle pcm?

Well done - obviously change of circumstances for the better.

BUMP, GE.

See any Z4M's?

[zollburgers]

brillomaster said:

not the roadster, as thats lardy and wallowy. However, 350z coupe, yes. this is the new one but you get the idea:

I do get the idea of the 350z coupe yes, but it's not helped by your picture of a 370z roadster!

[physprof]

Strachan said:

BUMP, GE.

See any Z4M's?

unless he's willing to budget £180-250 (oil) then £700-1000 (Inspections) alternating each 12K miles plus booting it with quality tyres at 200+ corner then he should stay away from M's (+800 quid a year for an extended warranty to cover springs, o2 sensors and other glitches and to protect against other big problems)

[GroundEffect]

Strachan said:

Strachan said:

out of interest, how much will you budget for the vehicle pcm?

Well done - obviously change of circumstances for the better.

BUMP, GE.

See any Z4M's?

Woops, missed your post. I've budgeted only the amount to cover the cost of the vehicle, insurance, tax and fuel so far...but I have enough extra at the end of the month to cover any other eventuality (well, apart from a full catastrophic engine failure!).

I'm still torn a bit: I'd absolutely adore a Z4M but yes, the costs of running it are quite hard to justify (but affordable still). The Z4 Coupe, at least from what I've read, offers a lot more for your money despite not being as good ultimately. £14k for a good Z4 Coupe and more mpg (although that's not really an issue) and much lower running costs versus £18k for a good Z4M and far higher running costs and worse mpg (although that'll only be an issue if I drive it home from Essex to Edinburgh at any point).

I'll have to drive both to make up me mind, I think. And I'm too busy sorting out accommodation for my new job to be looking at cars yet - give me a month or two

[Strachan]

GroundEffect said:

Woops, missed your post. I've budgeted only the amount to cover the cost of the vehicle, insurance, tax and fuel so far...but I have enough extra at the end of the month to cover any other eventuality (well, apart from a full catastrophic engine failure!).

I'm still torn a bit: I'd absolutely adore a Z4M but yes, the costs of running it are quite hard to justify (but affordable still). The Z4 Coupe, at least from what I've read, offers a lot more for your money despite not being as good ultimately. £14k for a good Z4 Coupe and more mpg (although that's not really an issue) and much lower running costs versus £18k for a good Z4M and far higher running costs and worse mpg (although that'll only be an issue if I drive it home from Essex to Edinburgh at any point).

I'll have to drive both to make up me mind, I think. And I'm too busy sorting out accommodation for my new job to be looking at cars yet - give me a month or two

Thanks for reply. Have you looked into ave running costs pcm for 5k/miles pa vs 10k/miles pa. I am genuinely interested in likely monthly / annual costs for myself in future. I have a fair idea, 25mpg ish with steep servicing and 1k for extended warranty? Plus ?

[Asterix]

Not the Boxster but when looking for my current steed I test drove the Z4M and Cayman S back to back.

Cayman was by far the more accomplished car.

[GroundEffect]

Strachan said:

Thanks for reply. Have you looked into ave running costs pcm for 5k/miles pa vs 10k/miles pa. I am genuinely interested in likely monthly / annual costs for myself in future. I have a fair idea, 25mpg ish with steep servicing and 1k for extended warranty? Plus ?

Well apart from the servicing, mpg and warranty costs you don't have much else to account for (if you count tyres and brakes as servicing!).

From what I've looked at. the comparison for the Inspection 1 costs for the two:

Z4C: £320-£420
Z4M: £680-£900

I couldn't get any good figures for the Inspection 2. It basically looks like the main cost differences between the two cars will be roughly double servicing costs, slightly less mpg on the M and higher initial purchase price.

I'm going to have to drive both of them back to back to see if its worth the extra.

Asterix said:

Not the Boxster but when looking for my current steed I test drove the Z4M and Cayman S back to back.

Cayman was by far the more accomplished car.

I do like the Cayman but for the same money as a Z4M Coupe you can only get the 2.7...which most journalists have said is a bit underpowered. £20k seems to be the minimum for an S.

Question: Does the Cayman suffer the same reliability issues as the Boxster?

Edited by GroundEffect on Monday 29th August 10:43

[carl_w]

Are you comparing like for like?

Boxster S = Z4M
Boxster = Z4 3.0

[GroundEffect]

carl_w said:

Are you comparing like for like?

Boxster S = Z4M
Boxster = Z4 3.0

A Z4 Coupe 3.0si has 260BHP, like the 986 Boxster S, and weighs about the same. I'd say the Boxster is too slow for this comparison.

The Z4M is in another league all together

[Strachan]

GroundEffect said:

I do like the Cayman but for the same money as a Z4M Coupe you can only get the 2.7...which most journalists have said is a bit underpowered. £20k seems to be the minimum for an S.

Question: Does the Cayman suffer the same reliability issues as the Boxster?

Edited by GroundEffect on Monday 29th August 10:43

Much difference in insurance?

[billzeebub]

Boxster S

[AndyBrew]

Don't know about the older cars but I had a Z4 3.0 Si for a few months and was quite disappointed, a very poor notchy gearbox, surprisingly lack lustre performance I was expecting a bit more, good fun in the wet though very easy to get sideways in-fact a bit too easy for the wife's liking!

We've just bought a brand new Boxster S and I have never been a Porsche fan (without every driving one, go figure LOL!) but after prising the keys out of the wife's hands and having had a few goes I'm sold on Porsche a truly fantastic car, I know I'm not quite comparing apples with apples so its a little unfair but the Porsche is on another level in my opinion.

[physprof]

GroundEffect - I'm running, what I guess is one of the few Z4M north of 60K miles now....here is low down below.

Insurance has been circa 500-550 quid p.a. SDC + business - I'm 45 and 14yrs protected NCD plus named driver - wife who's similar record - garaged and tracker in middling postcode.

Fuel consumption - averages 22.5mpg. On long motorways if you sit at 58mph you'll see 35mpg.

The running costs are below (i've just updated car on profile)

Got at 23K miles - Sept 2008 for 22.5K AUC.

Loaded with options except Cruise and TV module.

5/2009 - 35K - oil service - £201 inc wipers.

5/2009 - 35K miles - Conti M3 tyres 2 x 255 rears and 2 x 225 fronts - £675.

10/2009 - 41K - O2 sensor fault/replace - warranty.

3/2010 - 45K - cracked rear spring - warranty.

5/2010 - 47K Insp II - £931 inc. brake fluid, aircon clean and regas and wipers.

8/2010 - 49.5K - O2 sensor fault/replace - warranty.

1/2011 - 55.8K - electrical issues inc battery drain - warranty.

3/2011 - 2 x 255 rear tyres Conti M3s - £453

4/2011 - 58K - 4 x new hub caps £36.

6/2011 - 59.6K - Oil service £252 - inc. aircon cleanse, wipers. [tyre wear front @ 4.5mm, rears @ 7.0mm]

Hope that gives an accurate picture of Z4M life - from z4-forum it seems similar to others.

[J4CKO]

Never really considered the Z4 but just had a look and they are fairly affordable now, always liked the look but they are really colour and wheel sensitive, can look a quite dated with the wrong shade and wheels.

[GroundEffect]

physprof said:

GroundEffect - I'm running, what I guess is one of the few Z4M north of 60K miles now....here is low down below.

Insurance has been circa 500-550 quid p.a. SDC + business - I'm 45 and 14yrs protected NCD plus named driver - wife who's similar record - garaged and tracker in middling postcode.

Fuel consumption - averages 22.5mpg. On long motorways if you sit at 58mph you'll see 35mpg.

The running costs are below (i've just updated car on profile)

Got at 23K miles - Sept 2008 for 22.5K AUC.

Loaded with options except Cruise and TV module.

5/2009 - 35K - oil service - £201 inc wipers.

5/2009 - 35K miles - Conti M3 tyres 2 x 255 rears and 2 x 225 fronts - £675.

10/2009 - 41K - O2 sensor fault/replace - warranty.

3/2010 - 45K - cracked rear spring - warranty.

5/2010 - 47K Insp II - £931 inc. brake fluid, aircon clean and regas and wipers.

8/2010 - 49.5K - O2 sensor fault/replace - warranty.

1/2011 - 55.8K - electrical issues inc battery drain - warranty.

3/2011 - 2 x 255 rear tyres Conti M3s - £453

4/2011 - 58K - 4 x new hub caps £36.

6/2011 - 59.6K - Oil service £252 - inc. aircon cleanse, wipers. [tyre wear front @ 4.5mm, rears @ 7.0mm]

Hope that gives an accurate picture of Z4M life - from z4-forum it seems similar to others.

Have you driven the 3.0si? Would you say the extra cost is worth it?

And ouch at the tyre prices

[physprof]

GroundEffect said:

Have you driven the 3.0si? Would you say the extra cost is worth it?

And ouch at the tyre prices

...you'll love this logic... right my 40K miles has excluding petrol and tax cost circa 5p / mile. On the one hand I doubt the running costs of a OPC serviced Boxster S would be very different. If we were thinking about a normal non-M 3.0 litre car - what would savings be .... maybe a few tens of quid on the oil service and maybe half price max on the Insp II - so maybe the cost/mile drops to 3.5p. I discount thinking about insurance as at 500 quid I might get a 3 litre for maybe 100 quid less probably not and road tax, pfahhh. Fuel consumption again discount - you're buying a performance sports car ... tootle around and I could push figures up a bit .... too many variables.

On the Si debate - when I was looking it was only between a Boxster S and M roadster - I chose M for several reasons - more ragged/rough, takes longer to get used to (relevant as I was keeping it for a few years), more kit and VFM to make life bearable (Bluetooth, NAV, heat seats), newer, and more importantly much, much rarer.

The 3.0 and Si versions wasn't, isn' t and never will be a M... so I discounted it right from the off. Yes, they are nice (boulevard) cars but owning one will never give you the experience of travelling and daft speeds and still only at 7,000 rpm and more to go, in fact the engine is getting even more visceral, that sensation a normally aspirated M engine gives - that alone is worth the driving premium - plus I get to drive it in several environs where it all makes sense. But the car is a daily driver and each trip, even the most benign, gives me pleasure. I'd see the 3.0 too much like the 528i I've sitting outside too - I've done nearly 100K in it so I'm familiar with smooth creamy BMW sixes... I needed something extra.

[GroundEffect]

Thanks for the insight. I agree with you that the more expendable performance of the Si would make the car less exciting in the long-run. I need to go test drive both cars back to back to see what happens. I really think though that I'll end up with the M. In Interlagos Blue with CSL wheels, if possible

[Strachan]

GroundEffect said:

Thanks for the insight. I agree with you that the more expendable performance of the Si would make the car less exciting in the long-run. I need to go test drive both cars back to back to see what happens. I really think though that I'll end up with the M. In Interlagos Blue with CSL wheels, if possible

You being quoted much difference in insurance between the cars?

[GroundEffect]

Strachan said:

You being quoted much difference in insurance between the cars?

I haven't tried quotes yet (too busy sorting out accommodation and stuff down south!) but I can't imagine them being too different - will be low risk for both I bet. Hopefully that wont be a deciding factor.

[Strachan]

GroundEffect said:

I haven't tried quotes yet (too busy sorting out accommodation and stuff down south!) but I can't imagine them being too different - will be low risk for both I bet. Hopefully that wont be a deciding factor.

Yeah, best guess would be a few hundred here or there, depending on how old you are.