RE: Tell Me I'm Wrong: BMW Z4 M Coupe

[sennasurgeon]

Pulse said:

What's to say how it drives isn't 'correct'? I'm with a lot of others here - the car certainly isn't perfect. In a way, that's the charm. You don't spend days learning how to drive it, you spend weeks, or months.

I'll agree that sometimes, you simply want a predictable road car, as you've said. Sometimes, just one more skip when taking a corner will drive you to look at another car... I did. When I had my 3.0si Coupe, I test drove the Cayman S. It was absolutely fantastic, and far easier to drive fast; but I still got out of the car thinking it should have had more sense of occasion. Something was missing. It felt slower than my 3.0si, not faster. That's before we even mention that (to me) the Z4 Coupe is simply one of a kind to look at.

I'd wager that a Z4M Coupe has far more chance of becoming a future 'classic' than the Cayman S ever does; because of this.

I think looking at a car as a future classic is incorrect...That may take over a decade for that to occur and possibly prevents true enjoyment of the car at the present time.

I doubt '73RS 911 owners saw their cars as future classics in 1973-74 when they purchased them hence so many were raced back then as they were 'good out the box'

It's not just that the Porsche is faster better or possiby safer, but on a dark wet autumn night when a MK5 Golf GTI Pirelli comprehensively destroys you through the series of roundabouts on the A1 one may not be wishing for a car which has a potential sting in it's tail for no clear reason

[Urban Sports]

sennasurgeon said:

EVO magazine slated it in the group 'M' car tests.

Is everyone else incorrect?

Yet in 2006 it got 5 stars and beat the boxster S in EVO.

Who is correct then?

[sennasurgeon]

Urban Sports said:

Yet in 2006 it got 5 stars and beat the boxster S in EVO.

Who is correct then?

In general journalists can be far more honest once the product they are reviewing is out of production. They get too many 'perks' to be too brutal with the initial review.

I used to review for my college journal...first rule is not to be too harsh

[Cheburator mk2]

sennasurgeon said:

It's not just that the Porsche is faster better or possiby safer, but on a dark wet autumn night when a MK5 Golf GTI Pirelli comprehensively destroys you through the series of roundabouts on the A1 one may not be wishing for a car which has a potential sting in it's tail for no clear reason

So that makes the Astra VXR that I rented at the Nurburgring a better car than few M3s, MINIs, Clios and even 911s that I comprehensively destroyed on my last track day there. What a load of tosh... And if a Mk5 GTI was quicker on a dual carriageway, dunno, change the gasket between the steering wheel and the seat?

[Urban Sports]

sennasurgeon said:

Urban Sports said:

Yet in 2006 it got 5 stars and beat the boxster S in EVO.

Who is correct then?

In general journalists can be far more honest once the product they are reviewing is out of production. They get too many 'perks' to be too brutal with the initial review.

I used to review for my college journal...first rule is not to be too harsh

That must be it then lies

[s m]

Urban Sports said:

sennasurgeon said:

EVO magazine slated it in the group 'M' car tests.

Is everyone else incorrect?

Yet in 2006 it got 5 stars and beat the boxster S in EVO.

Who is correct then?

Maybe different journalists reviewed it - just like on here people have different opinions.
In the big M test didn't an E30 get the overall result? I wonder if many of the M-car fans would have voted the same way

[Pulse]

sennasurgeon said:

I think looking at a car as a future classic is incorrect...That may take over a decade for that to occur and possibly prevents true enjoyment of the car at the present time.

I doubt '73RS 911 owners saw their cars as future classics in 1973-74 when they purchased them hence so many were raced back then as they were 'good out the box'

It's not just that the Porsche is faster better or possiby safer, but on a dark wet autumn night when a MK5 Golf GTI Pirelli comprehensively destroys you through the series of roundabouts on the A1 one may not be wishing for a car which has a potential sting in it's tail for no clear reason

Why would you not get the true enjoyment out of it? Just because you may see it as a future classic, that doesn't mean you have to keep it shrink-wrapped. I certainly wouldn't.

Are you saying a normal MK5 Golf GTI would struggle? Does it have to be the Pirelli version?

[daz4m]

Don't rise to the troll, not one of Sennas posts has had any kind of logic behind it, just meaningless attacks without real explanation or substance.

I'm all for balanced discussion but not in that manner.

What are everyones thoughts on alternatives at a similar price point?

Edited by daz4m on Sunday 9th September 10:35

[Dino D]

Cheburator mk2 said:

So that makes the Astra VXR that I rented at the Nurburgring a better car than few M3s, MINIs, Clios and even 911s that I comprehensively destroyed on my last track day there. What a load of tosh... And if a Mk5 GTI was quicker on a dual carriageway, dunno, change the gasket between the steering wheel and the seat?

I could allot quicker down my favourite roads in many other cars than my very well sorted Z3 but that misses the point completely - I enjoy the Z3 at safer speeds.

Even my old Prelude Vti would be quicker on most roads but was not as much fun. Also, in wet weather I'm far more sensible driver than I ever was in a FWD. Still fun but requires involvement/concentration. If you like mashing the pedal with no real involvement then stick to hot hatches and enjoy...

Edit to say meant to quote previous poster.

Also, you think a GTI doesn't sting when driven like a tool on an autumn evening around wet roundabouts? Any FWD can sting with under/oversteer. Check your local breakers yard...

Edited by Dino D on Sunday 9th September 10:32

[Patrick Bateman]

sennasurgeon said:

It's not just that the Porsche is faster better or possiby safer, but on a dark wet autumn night when a MK5 Golf GTI Pirelli comprehensively destroys you through the series of roundabouts on the A1 one may not be wishing for a car which has a potential sting in it's tail for no clear reason

Maybe it's the driver and not the car. Not to mention pushing a car at its limit around a series of roundabouts with other cars isn't the smartest thing.

[Makem]

The threads of "whichever car is crap" are just pointless. Give me any so called PH hero and I'll tell you 5 things that were crap about it.

Only time will tell how history receives cars and therefore future classics. For example if BMW turbocharge all their further M cars then the mcoupe will be the last ever straight 6 normally aspirated M car. That will have a charm all in its own despite potential minor flaws.

[Pulse]

daz4m said:

Don't rise to the troll, not one of Sennas posts has had any kind of logic behind it, just meaningless attacks without real explanation or substance.

I'm all for balanced discussion but not in that manner.

What are everyones thoughts on alternatives at a similar price point?

Edited by daz4m on Sunday 9th September 10:35

There simply isn't anything. I think that's why people tend to stick with the Z4M for so long. It's a fantastic car, and the amount of times I've seen someone say exactly what I think, which is the next step would be to an AMV8, is quite representative.

Don't take my experience as an example though - I sold my Z4M after just 2 months. I did have my 3.0si Coupe for about 18 months though, and have never 'replaced' it.

I look back at all of my cars and the two Z4s I will never be able to replace... At least with the current market.

[Pittsy98]

I used to own an early 2008 Z4M Coupe and loved it.
When choosing the car I didn't even consider an M3. The reason: With the shear number of them on the road, they bored me to tears! The M3 may drive and handle better, but who cares?
I don't drive my cars on track, but I do drive them to work, and I had no end of people admiring the Z4M Coupe. In the 2 years I owned my coupe, I only saw 3 others - now what M3 driver can say that?

[0836whimper]

Pittsy98 said:

I used to own an early 2008 Z4M Coupe and loved it.
When choosing the car I didn't even consider an M3. The reason: With the shear number of them on the road, they bored me to tears! The M3 may drive and handle better, but who cares?
I don't drive my cars on track, but I do drive them to work, and I had no end of people admiring the Z4M Coupe. In the 2 years I owned my coupe, I only saw 3 others - now what M3 driver can say that?

There's an obvious answer to that question, but I am biased so someone else can say it.

[AliV6]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Simply put, you buy a car based on a set of criterias...be it performance, looks, image, etc. The Z4M ticked most the boxes hence why i bought it; the Cayman didn't, the image wasn't there, i couldn't see myself driving it...So if that makes me ill-informed twonk so be it.

I also drive a mid engined Clio which the media love to slate, so i'm not typically one to follow the opinion of the masses and if you read my thread again you'll see i'm being particularly honest about my views of the Z4.

[Urban Sports]

This topic is really about the Coupe version of the Z4M.

I'll be honest, I don't really like my Z4M Roadster with the roof up, it's hard work if I'm being honest, all of the the things that are wrong about the car really stand out, so much so that when I can't get the roof down I genuinely would rather be driving my focus (most of the time ).

When the roof is down it really is a completely different experience.

I have no idea why people pay a premium to have no option to lower the roof and really enjoy the thing, for me one of my car's biggest assets is getting the roof down and enjoying the noise of that engine and the rest of the package.

Chris, drive the roadster you will see a different car!

[CooperS]

Urban Sports said:

This topic is really about the Coupe version of the Z4M.

I'll be honest, I don't really like my Z4M Roadster with the roof up, it's hard work if I'm being honest, all of the the things that are wrong about the car really stand out, so much so that when I can't get the roof down I genuinely would rather be driving my focus (most of the time ).

When the roof is down it really is a completely different experience.

I have no idea why people pay a premium to have no option to lower the roof and really enjoy the thing, for me one of my car's biggest assets it getting the roof down and enjoying the noise of that engine.

Chris, drive the roadster you will see a different car!

You know why you can't bring yourself to fess up to the answer

I really enjoy my coupe and you know what it not being predicatable is what give it character and make driving at slower speeds more fun. I don't want to have to explore silly speeds to get to the edge.

The only issue for me for running a M is the servicing which is a joke over standard BMW fodder as it doesn't require a M specialist mech

[Urban Sports]

CooperS said:

You know why you can't bring yourself to fess up to the answer

I really enjoy my coupe and you know what it not being predicatable is what give it character and make driving at slower speeds more fun. I don't want to have to explore silly speeds to get to the edge.

The only issue for me for running a M is the servicing which is a joke over standard BMW fodder as it doesn't require a M specialist mech

I've always been into roadsters, I grew up with them, I don't understand why anybody would buy the coupe over the roadster, I just don't get it!

It does look awesome though, the cayman is an awkward pig in comparison (maybe that's the reason).

[CooperS]

In fairness i love open top motoring Elise with the roof off in the snow is a great combo but the coupe has a very useable boot and has that classic breadvan shape.

[k-ink]

I personally think the Z3 looks utterly daft. The M3 is too common. Yet the Z4M looks superb. Especially from the rear 3/4. Yes please!