Please talk me into a Z4M Roadster
Discussion
Mines black with imola on 19" csl's. Drive one and you'll have a shock. I was expecting it to be like a Porsche all balanced and race car like. All I can say is its massive fun at low speed, once your confident in its limits it's a very quick machine...
You can also spend a bit of money at ESS as well :-).
You can also spend a bit of money at ESS as well :-).
obikaii said:
I owned a TVR T350c for 2 years,I now own a Z4m coupe,& in my opinion the Z4m is by far the superior car in most areas that count,on paper the tvr was faster,but in the real world,on our crappy roads,you can enjoy the Z4 more of the time,you'll use it way more,its more refined,much more comfortable,& the build quality is light years ahead of the tvr.
But the most important thing is that if you buy a tvr,you will always have that nagging doubt in the back of your mind that the engine is gonna go pop,I know I did,I did loads of research before I bought mine,found one with low miles(12,00)that had already been rebuilt by tvr power,& was always mechanically sympathetic,warming it up properly before each drive,regular services,it wanted for nothing,but at 17,000 it needed another rebuild,which is totally unacceptable for a modern car,needless to say I was less than impressed,but thats the risk you take if you buy one,tvr power said that it was unusual for an engine to need a second rebuild,but it does happen.
So if you're prepared to go through that,then by all means buy a tvr,you could be fine & get a trouble free car,but my advice would be to go for the Z4m,the roadsters are incredible value for money,& extremely reliable,& if you want to modify it,theres loads of options,beedubs being a wonderful example of what you can achieve.
You where desperately unlucky with your's needing a 2nd rebuild!! TVR power offer a 100k miles 5 year warranty on all rebuilds now so I guess they have confidence in them, and I have not heard of a Power or STR8 6 engine go pop after a rebuild, Each to their own but I certainly won't be swapping my Tuscan for a Z4M anytime soon.But the most important thing is that if you buy a tvr,you will always have that nagging doubt in the back of your mind that the engine is gonna go pop,I know I did,I did loads of research before I bought mine,found one with low miles(12,00)that had already been rebuilt by tvr power,& was always mechanically sympathetic,warming it up properly before each drive,regular services,it wanted for nothing,but at 17,000 it needed another rebuild,which is totally unacceptable for a modern car,needless to say I was less than impressed,but thats the risk you take if you buy one,tvr power said that it was unusual for an engine to need a second rebuild,but it does happen.
So if you're prepared to go through that,then by all means buy a tvr,you could be fine & get a trouble free car,but my advice would be to go for the Z4m,the roadsters are incredible value for money,& extremely reliable,& if you want to modify it,theres loads of options,beedubs being a wonderful example of what you can achieve.
The first rebuild was in 2008 @ 10,000 miles,which only carried a 2 year warranty, so the warranty was up when I bought it in 2012 @ 12,000 miles,but you'd think you were safe as it had only done 2,000 miles,had loads of issues after I bought it,but they were sorted by the garage I purchased it from under their 3 months warranty,New radiator, gearbox leak,air con not working.
But non of the above reasons is why I'd choose the z4m over a tvr,the main reason is it's just a better car full stop,in every area.
But non of the above reasons is why I'd choose the z4m over a tvr,the main reason is it's just a better car full stop,in every area.
Pistom said:
bennyboysvuk said:
I've owned a Z4MR and driven several TVRs (Tuscan, Tamora, Griff and Chim).
The V8 TVRs did little for me since they seemed to be all mid-range and no top end and I love a top-end flourish! The Tuscan and Tamora felt much faster and more wild and had phenomenal soundtracks.
However, the problem for me was that most (and I'm about to completely generalise here) Tuscans and Tamoras seem to need an engine rebuild every 30,000 miles whereas the Z4MR should need relatively little in terms of maintenance in its lifetime.
The Z4MR is a 10/10ths car, you can push it really hard and it becomes more fun the harder you push. It also makes a great noise too. However, it also has the ability to sit quietly in traffic in the rain without leaking, overheating or drinking much fuel (I averaged roughly 18 to 28mpg in my ownership).
The TVRs are like the Z4MR turned up to 11. They're louder, brasher, and a bit lairier at the limit. They will ultimately be more rewarding drives, but can you live with the worry and uncertain expense that goes with them?
Good post and good advice. The V8 TVRs did little for me since they seemed to be all mid-range and no top end and I love a top-end flourish! The Tuscan and Tamora felt much faster and more wild and had phenomenal soundtracks.
However, the problem for me was that most (and I'm about to completely generalise here) Tuscans and Tamoras seem to need an engine rebuild every 30,000 miles whereas the Z4MR should need relatively little in terms of maintenance in its lifetime.
The Z4MR is a 10/10ths car, you can push it really hard and it becomes more fun the harder you push. It also makes a great noise too. However, it also has the ability to sit quietly in traffic in the rain without leaking, overheating or drinking much fuel (I averaged roughly 18 to 28mpg in my ownership).
The TVRs are like the Z4MR turned up to 11. They're louder, brasher, and a bit lairier at the limit. They will ultimately be more rewarding drives, but can you live with the worry and uncertain expense that goes with them?
I'd love a TVR but I honestly think I'd kill myself given the lack of any traction/stability control and sturdiness in an accident, combine that with some properly eye watering costs/issues and a more modern, albeit comparatively civilised alternative in something like the Z4M appeals.
I owned a Z4m roadster for about 6 months as a toy car, and while it was good, it was not a toy car for high days and holidays. Yes it was reliable and fast and the engine was a belter, but overall I would park it up and just walk away never looking back at it. If you want a daily driver that is fast and fun then crack on as you will not be disappointed. Must add it was reliable as well, needing nothing in my ownership other than consumables.
Also I would disagree that it was a 10/10ths car. I did a few track days in it and often went out blatting with my Westfield and caterham friends, and it got quite ragged at 10/10ths. pilot super sports did help, but there was no disguising the weight at the end of the day. It was not so happy to transition through quick turns.....but we are talking at the limits here, be they the cars or mine
Can not comment on TVR's other than friends with speed 6 engined cars are always happy with them and always smiling driving them, but none of them have them as daily drivers, only weekend toys.
Also I would disagree that it was a 10/10ths car. I did a few track days in it and often went out blatting with my Westfield and caterham friends, and it got quite ragged at 10/10ths. pilot super sports did help, but there was no disguising the weight at the end of the day. It was not so happy to transition through quick turns.....but we are talking at the limits here, be they the cars or mine
Can not comment on TVR's other than friends with speed 6 engined cars are always happy with them and always smiling driving them, but none of them have them as daily drivers, only weekend toys.
My Z4MR was on epically poor tyres. In the dry, they gave average grip, but in the wet I could do 3rd gear transitional drifts from roundabout entry to exit. Of the TVRs I've driven, they didn't inspire confidence to that degree, but they were involving in a different way. It was more like I felt I had to drive them more tidily than in the 'take it by the scruff of the neck' way that my Z4MR seemed to like.
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