RE: Tell Me I'm Wrong: BMW Z8
Discussion
To answer the headline of the article I dropped by to tell Chris why he's wrong. At over 100 replies in I doubt he'll ever read my response, but here goes anyway.
I run the owners board for the Z8, and have done since 2001 - www.bmwz8.us -
To really understand what the Z8 is about have a look at the Drives section of our forum.
Contrary to some of the uninformed opinion expressed here the Z8 is an absolute joy to drive, I've had 4, and done around 50,000 combined miles in them. During that time I've also had an e46 M3, a GT3 an Elise and an Exige as my track cars, and done over 200 track days, so you could say I'm a serious a driver. In fact the reason I moved from the UK to California was for the roads. I fell in love with it when I came for the first US 500cc MotoGP back in 1988. Between Los Angeles and Laguna Seca, one of the great local destinations, are 350 miles of incredible open roads, which you can take going through all of four little villages. You can't find those kinds of beautifully engineered fast open roads with no reason to slow down anywhere in Europe, and I know because I drove all over the it on many different sportbikes as a kid.
With little effort the Z8 can be made to handle and go like a supreme high speed GT, exactly what it was meant to be, and it is an amazing platform from which to enjoy some of the most beautiful roads in the world. Chris is also dead wrong about the SL500 having better driving dynamics, I can say that because for the last five years I've had an SL500 as my daily driver. It's fine, but dead and boring as hell to take on a nice back road.
So why are the prices going up? Because it is an amazing and super fun car to drive on a beautiful day (we get about 300 of a year out here ;-) and a real practical classic, something all us original owners always knew it would become.
So, Chris, to see why you're wrong and really get an insight into the Z8 spend some time on our forum.
I run the owners board for the Z8, and have done since 2001 - www.bmwz8.us -
To really understand what the Z8 is about have a look at the Drives section of our forum.
Contrary to some of the uninformed opinion expressed here the Z8 is an absolute joy to drive, I've had 4, and done around 50,000 combined miles in them. During that time I've also had an e46 M3, a GT3 an Elise and an Exige as my track cars, and done over 200 track days, so you could say I'm a serious a driver. In fact the reason I moved from the UK to California was for the roads. I fell in love with it when I came for the first US 500cc MotoGP back in 1988. Between Los Angeles and Laguna Seca, one of the great local destinations, are 350 miles of incredible open roads, which you can take going through all of four little villages. You can't find those kinds of beautifully engineered fast open roads with no reason to slow down anywhere in Europe, and I know because I drove all over the it on many different sportbikes as a kid.
With little effort the Z8 can be made to handle and go like a supreme high speed GT, exactly what it was meant to be, and it is an amazing platform from which to enjoy some of the most beautiful roads in the world. Chris is also dead wrong about the SL500 having better driving dynamics, I can say that because for the last five years I've had an SL500 as my daily driver. It's fine, but dead and boring as hell to take on a nice back road.
So why are the prices going up? Because it is an amazing and super fun car to drive on a beautiful day (we get about 300 of a year out here ;-) and a real practical classic, something all us original owners always knew it would become.
So, Chris, to see why you're wrong and really get an insight into the Z8 spend some time on our forum.
I like the Z8, it looks great and has a nice v8 engine.
I known people have complained about it not handling like a sports car, but most people dont drive there cars at 9, 8 or even 7 tenths so it's not that big a deal for a lot of people
To a lot of people and that includes those who like there cars, good handling is turning the wheel left and the car going left
Different things appeal to different people, to some it's all about the engine, to others the handling, others outright power, others a balance of the 3 or 2 etc etc
I can see why this car is sought after it looks nice, has a nice engine and is no doubt well built, for many thats more than enough
I known people have complained about it not handling like a sports car, but most people dont drive there cars at 9, 8 or even 7 tenths so it's not that big a deal for a lot of people
To a lot of people and that includes those who like there cars, good handling is turning the wheel left and the car going left
Different things appeal to different people, to some it's all about the engine, to others the handling, others outright power, others a balance of the 3 or 2 etc etc
I can see why this car is sought after it looks nice, has a nice engine and is no doubt well built, for many thats more than enough
Harris is wrong, the Z8 has never had a 'place in time' and probably never will. A mixture of old design and new tech similar to Tammy Wynette singing with the KLF - it kinda works but whichever way you look at it you can't help thinking it's quirky. Which some see as charming. < shrugs>
A very very very beautiful car. I totally get why BMW made them when you look a their DNA and the disappointment that the Z3 was too.
Dynamics are all subjective, but the engine is amazing for the time.
I think that is enough to qualify a car for the upper quartile and place it in car history as a "good" one.
I would love them to do a modern equivalent, with a better interior than the Z8 but all it's lines and grace. Perhaps with a M3 V8 or the forthcoming M3/M4 -V6 TT. So not an Z4 which at the risk of making a pun on names is 1/2 the car the Z8 is.
Dynamics are all subjective, but the engine is amazing for the time.
I think that is enough to qualify a car for the upper quartile and place it in car history as a "good" one.
I would love them to do a modern equivalent, with a better interior than the Z8 but all it's lines and grace. Perhaps with a M3 V8 or the forthcoming M3/M4 -V6 TT. So not an Z4 which at the risk of making a pun on names is 1/2 the car the Z8 is.
It's one of those cars people "in the know" think is going to an investment. But they don't so lots of burnt fingers.
I think the BMW Z1 is far more investment worthy, just for the drop down doors.Surely this is more noteworthy than a car which was entirely designed for the SoCal coffee scene.
I think the BMW Z1 is far more investment worthy, just for the drop down doors.Surely this is more noteworthy than a car which was entirely designed for the SoCal coffee scene.
AW35 said:
It's one of those cars people "in the know" think is going to an investment. But they don't so lots of burnt fingers.
I think the BMW Z1 is far more investment worthy, just for the drop down doors.Surely this is more noteworthy than a car which was entirely designed for the SoCal coffee scene.
I think the BMW Z1 is far more investment worthy, just for the drop down doors.Surely this is more noteworthy than a car which was entirely designed for the SoCal coffee scene.
who's had Burt fingers.! As I have said I sold my car for £55K and would now be worth £120/140K..?.the Z1 has no were near the investment potential,I sold a 1991 Z1 about 12 years ago for £17K and would only be worth £20K ish now..! And the Z1 was not a nice driving car,and totally under powered..!
CRA1G said:
who's had Burt fingers.! As I have said I sold my car for £55K and would now be worth £120/140K..?.the Z1 has no were near the investment potential,I sold a 1991 Z1 about 12 years ago for £17K and would only be worth £20K ish now..! And the Z1 was not a nice driving car,and totally under powered..!The Z1 being underpowered? Who is going to drive these cars in 15 to 30 years time? If a car has not got motorsport lines in it's blood it will be the unusual features that make a difference.
I'm not going to buy either of these cars, but to me the Z1 is the one that stands out as being an unusual part of BMW's history, the Z8 has nothing to make it stand out.
Edited by AW35 on Sunday 16th December 15:40
AW35 said:
Well you for a start if you sold it for that amount and lost out on £70k if you held onto it. You sold too early and no doubt people will lose similar amounts after the peek. You can get your fingers burnt on the way up equally as well as on the way down.
The Z1 being underpowered? Who is going to drive these cars in 15 to 30 years time? If a car has not got motorsport lines in it's blood it will be the unusual features that make a difference.
I'm not going to buy either of these cars, but to me the Z1 is the one that stands out as being an unusual part of BMW's history, the Z8 has nothing to make it stand out.
Selling a car and it rising in value years and years later isn't a 'loss'. You must be quite the trader if you can see in to the future. The Z1 being underpowered? Who is going to drive these cars in 15 to 30 years time? If a car has not got motorsport lines in it's blood it will be the unusual features that make a difference.
I'm not going to buy either of these cars, but to me the Z1 is the one that stands out as being an unusual part of BMW's history, the Z8 has nothing to make it stand out.
Edited by AW35 on Sunday 16th December 15:40
DJRC said:
don logan said:
DJRC said:
don logan said:
IDrinkPetrol said:
The Z8 is now exactly what it always was: a more modern take on the 507.
What more does it need to be?
I think I first approached it with the wrong expectations, I jumped in and expected it to be an "M" type of car, if I`d known what it was really about I would have been a LOT more forgiving!What more does it need to be?
A) If you knew a little more BMW history you wouldnt be so ignorant
and
B) Listened to BMW who said exactly this when it was launched you wouldnt be so ignorant.
But hey, we cant all know what we are talking about.
Come to think of it, I really ought to have read the manual first too!
The shame!
Edited by don logan on Saturday 15th December 00:43
If you weren't so ignorant you might be better at detecting sarcasm!
Don't bother attempting to concoct some sort of retort because I won't be back here to appreciate it!
Anyone interested in owning a z8 I have access to a mint 2001 manual for sale in Abu Dhabi. Could arrange to ship worldwide for reputable buyer and it would be a significant discount on current uk prices as only asking the equivalent of £80k. 42000km with Service history and hardtop included!
greggy50 said:
What sort of prices did the reach I am sure 5/6 years ago they were more like 40k instead of the 100 or so they seem to be now...
Your spot on, as I remember considering them at the time, but the LHD put me off. Hindsight is a beeatccch..Edited by Carnnoisseur on Monday 17th December 19:18
I had one back in 2005/6 as my 24/7 car & put 40K miles on it before I sold it (bad move!) I even did the Cannonball run in 2005 in it. All I can say is of all the cars I have had it was my all time favourite & if my lottery numbers came up this would be the first thing I would buy! Wish I had more video of it but this is still on youtube. Makes me grin now remembering that I nearly got the wheels spinning in 3rd, but I just backed off a bit as people kept jumping in the road to take photos!
youtube link Z8
youtube link Z8
Carnnoisseur said:
Your spot on, as I remember considering them at the time, but the LHD put me off. Hindsight is a beeatccch..
Apart from my grammer anyway... Edited by Carnnoisseur on Monday 17th December 19:18
5/6 years ago I would have been 14/15 so probably out of reach for myself then!
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