Z4 3.0L or Boxter 3.2 S ???!
Discussion
MLH said:
I'm into my 5th year of owning my 3.0 Z4.
Up to now the only problems have been both rear springs cracked, hood motor cooked and coolant expansion tank cracked (pretty much all of the known faults)
Apart from those issues its been faultless over the 60k miles ive done in it.
Regularly returns 35+mpg and is a nice place to be.
As for the boxster being a better drive, i wouldnt know, but knowing that i'll never drive a car up to even 80% of its limit means i dont particular car.
I have thought of changing it on a few occasions but cant think of anything else id prefer in its price bracket.
The Boxster is a better drive, by far and actually better on fuel in the real world too. Up to now the only problems have been both rear springs cracked, hood motor cooked and coolant expansion tank cracked (pretty much all of the known faults)
Apart from those issues its been faultless over the 60k miles ive done in it.
Regularly returns 35+mpg and is a nice place to be.
As for the boxster being a better drive, i wouldnt know, but knowing that i'll never drive a car up to even 80% of its limit means i dont particular car.
I have thought of changing it on a few occasions but cant think of anything else id prefer in its price bracket.
The Z4 is good value for money, but doesnt compare to a Boxster S as a drivers car.
nottyash said:
MLH said:
I'm into my 5th year of owning my 3.0 Z4.
Up to now the only problems have been both rear springs cracked, hood motor cooked and coolant expansion tank cracked (pretty much all of the known faults)
Apart from those issues its been faultless over the 60k miles ive done in it.
Regularly returns 35+mpg and is a nice place to be.
As for the boxster being a better drive, i wouldnt know, but knowing that i'll never drive a car up to even 80% of its limit means i dont particular car.
I have thought of changing it on a few occasions but cant think of anything else id prefer in its price bracket.
The Boxster is a better drive, by far and actually better on fuel in the real world too. Up to now the only problems have been both rear springs cracked, hood motor cooked and coolant expansion tank cracked (pretty much all of the known faults)
Apart from those issues its been faultless over the 60k miles ive done in it.
Regularly returns 35+mpg and is a nice place to be.
As for the boxster being a better drive, i wouldnt know, but knowing that i'll never drive a car up to even 80% of its limit means i dont particular car.
I have thought of changing it on a few occasions but cant think of anything else id prefer in its price bracket.
The Z4 is good value for money, but doesnt compare to a Boxster S as a drivers car.
MLH said:
nottyash said:
MLH said:
I'm into my 5th year of owning my 3.0 Z4.
Up to now the only problems have been both rear springs cracked, hood motor cooked and coolant expansion tank cracked (pretty much all of the known faults)
Apart from those issues its been faultless over the 60k miles ive done in it.
Regularly returns 35+mpg and is a nice place to be.
As for the boxster being a better drive, i wouldnt know, but knowing that i'll never drive a car up to even 80% of its limit means i dont particular car.
I have thought of changing it on a few occasions but cant think of anything else id prefer in its price bracket.
The Boxster is a better drive, by far and actually better on fuel in the real world too. Up to now the only problems have been both rear springs cracked, hood motor cooked and coolant expansion tank cracked (pretty much all of the known faults)
Apart from those issues its been faultless over the 60k miles ive done in it.
Regularly returns 35+mpg and is a nice place to be.
As for the boxster being a better drive, i wouldnt know, but knowing that i'll never drive a car up to even 80% of its limit means i dont particular car.
I have thought of changing it on a few occasions but cant think of anything else id prefer in its price bracket.
The Z4 is good value for money, but doesnt compare to a Boxster S as a drivers car.
ORD said:
MLH said:
nottyash said:
MLH said:
I'm into my 5th year of owning my 3.0 Z4.
Up to now the only problems have been both rear springs cracked, hood motor cooked and coolant expansion tank cracked (pretty much all of the known faults)
Apart from those issues its been faultless over the 60k miles ive done in it.
Regularly returns 35+mpg and is a nice place to be.
As for the boxster being a better drive, i wouldnt know, but knowing that i'll never drive a car up to even 80% of its limit means i dont particular car.
I have thought of changing it on a few occasions but cant think of anything else id prefer in its price bracket.
The Boxster is a better drive, by far and actually better on fuel in the real world too. Up to now the only problems have been both rear springs cracked, hood motor cooked and coolant expansion tank cracked (pretty much all of the known faults)
Apart from those issues its been faultless over the 60k miles ive done in it.
Regularly returns 35+mpg and is a nice place to be.
As for the boxster being a better drive, i wouldnt know, but knowing that i'll never drive a car up to even 80% of its limit means i dont particular car.
I have thought of changing it on a few occasions but cant think of anything else id prefer in its price bracket.
The Z4 is good value for money, but doesnt compare to a Boxster S as a drivers car.
MLH said:
ORD said:
MLH said:
nottyash said:
MLH said:
I'm into my 5th year of owning my 3.0 Z4.
Up to now the only problems have been both rear springs cracked, hood motor cooked and coolant expansion tank cracked (pretty much all of the known faults)
Apart from those issues its been faultless over the 60k miles ive done in it.
Regularly returns 35+mpg and is a nice place to be.
As for the boxster being a better drive, i wouldnt know, but knowing that i'll never drive a car up to even 80% of its limit means i dont particular car.
I have thought of changing it on a few occasions but cant think of anything else id prefer in its price bracket.
The Boxster is a better drive, by far and actually better on fuel in the real world too. Up to now the only problems have been both rear springs cracked, hood motor cooked and coolant expansion tank cracked (pretty much all of the known faults)
Apart from those issues its been faultless over the 60k miles ive done in it.
Regularly returns 35+mpg and is a nice place to be.
As for the boxster being a better drive, i wouldnt know, but knowing that i'll never drive a car up to even 80% of its limit means i dont particular car.
I have thought of changing it on a few occasions but cant think of anything else id prefer in its price bracket.
The Z4 is good value for money, but doesnt compare to a Boxster S as a drivers car.
MLH said:
As i mentioned, whether its a better drive or not is irrelevant to me.
Why are you here?You appear to have cognitive dissonance. implying a list of common faults and telling us its been faultless.
Bold over exaggerated mpg claims. I managed 30mpg, so if you trundle everywhere at 30mph of course you will get high mpg. it means nothing.
You never mentioned the worst ride ever either.
arcticfire said:
There's also the 9-3 Convertible 2.8T - bags of torque and pre 2006 will be cheaper tax.
The OP is after a fun sports car, not a wallowy boat. I've had a Z4 and used to get given Boxsters when the 911 was being serviced. If you can get a good example with known issues addressed, the only choice for driver enjoyment would be the Boxster. The BM's are cool cars and look great but a Porsche is a Porsche.
Also, use an Indy. It won't be expensive to run.
Tiff and Jason with the Boxster and Z4 -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVc5sFMh0Cs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe9tYS9qaK4
I ran a MY '04 E85 3.0i for 4 years and really enjoyed it.
Bit crashy on UK roads with the run flats and M Sport springs.
But super reliable and a cracking engine (M54 ?) which would never cease to surprise with it's frugality.
Can't comment on Boxster ownership unfortunately.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVc5sFMh0Cs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pe9tYS9qaK4
I ran a MY '04 E85 3.0i for 4 years and really enjoyed it.
Bit crashy on UK roads with the run flats and M Sport springs.
But super reliable and a cracking engine (M54 ?) which would never cease to surprise with it's frugality.
Can't comment on Boxster ownership unfortunately.
I have a Z4 3.0 Coupe in which I've covered over 40000 miles, now at 69000. This car has been very reliable (only rear springs replaced at about £100 including labour). Otherwise just routine servicing (plus intermediate oil changes by me).
On A/B road commute, mainly out of town, this car gives 34 mpg (dropping to 32 in very cold weather), has the get up & go when I need it, & is very docile if you just want to take it easy. A very easy car to live with.
Handling compared to the Boxster is a little less polished, but sometimes the hooligan side of the car can make it more entertaining, but in a good way.
Reputed reliability issues on the Boxster stopped me getting one (IMS / RMS / oil leaks). The cost can be very considerable in the case of IMS, causing a £6K car to be unviable to repair. Plus the fact the Z4 Coupe is more hardcore IMO.
Mine is currently for sale, but in all honesty I just can't think what to replace it with that offers anything like the value & smiles
On A/B road commute, mainly out of town, this car gives 34 mpg (dropping to 32 in very cold weather), has the get up & go when I need it, & is very docile if you just want to take it easy. A very easy car to live with.
Handling compared to the Boxster is a little less polished, but sometimes the hooligan side of the car can make it more entertaining, but in a good way.
Reputed reliability issues on the Boxster stopped me getting one (IMS / RMS / oil leaks). The cost can be very considerable in the case of IMS, causing a £6K car to be unviable to repair. Plus the fact the Z4 Coupe is more hardcore IMO.
Mine is currently for sale, but in all honesty I just can't think what to replace it with that offers anything like the value & smiles
Not really a selling point, more of an unexpected surprise.
edc said:
ess said:
And this, which doesn't usually get mentioned.
Can easily do a U turn in the narrow road outside my local offy (E85 and current E86 M)
S
If this type of attribute is a selling point for you then I don't think you will appreciate the Boxster for what it is. Can easily do a U turn in the narrow road outside my local offy (E85 and current E86 M)
S
nottyash said:
Why are you here?
You appear to have cognitive dissonance. implying a list of common faults and telling us its been faultless.
Bold over exaggerated mpg claims. I managed 30mpg, so if you trundle everywhere at 30mph of course you will get high mpg. it means nothing.
You never mentioned the worst ride ever either.
A little harsh maybe. It's OK to be here without wanting the ultimate precision tool and steering feedback, chassis balance, low COG. Otherwise there wouldn't be many members.You appear to have cognitive dissonance. implying a list of common faults and telling us its been faultless.
Bold over exaggerated mpg claims. I managed 30mpg, so if you trundle everywhere at 30mph of course you will get high mpg. it means nothing.
You never mentioned the worst ride ever either.
The Z4 is a fine car actually, at least with a N52 engine. I can totally see why one would prefer it to a Boxster at that budget, it will probably cost less to run.
In terms of mpg, my N52 does deliver 30mpg average, including short commute, school runs, track days, Ring trips. So regularly achieving 35mpg is likely, I got 39MPG Brighton to Dover in a far heavier car.
Also, the RFTs can be replaced by normal tyres for a far better ride, no worse than a non-MO30 Boxster.
My Z4 wasn't the most expensive car I've had, wasn't the fastest either, but it still remains my favourite.
I had a few issues but they were relatively cheap and easy to fix.
My advice; buy it then get rid of the run flats and stick some Eibach springs on it. Handles better, stops any crashiness and sharpens up the handling. Loved it.
I had a few issues but they were relatively cheap and easy to fix.
My advice; buy it then get rid of the run flats and stick some Eibach springs on it. Handles better, stops any crashiness and sharpens up the handling. Loved it.
kambites said:
Does the 3.0 in the Z4 suffer from VANOS failures?
I don't believe it does.Had my Z4 10 years now, and still enjoy it. It's an enjoyable car to drive and own imo. Easy to use for your commute or in traffic, still enjoyable on the open road. A good all rounder. I wouldn't rule out the auto either. Servicing costs are reasonable and my dealer still collects it from me with no quibble.
The Honest John articles seem a bit negative to me - listing every possible issue. You could do that with any car. The roof motor is the only potentially very expensive issue.
The harsh ride is largely fixed with proper tyres, as is tramlining. I wouldn't mind if the seats were more padded and supportive tbh, but I am a bit of an old fart with a broken back so it shouldn't be an issue. Not many early cars had sports seats, and at the time, some people complained they were too narrow - guess it's relative - but the standard seats are electrically controlled, allowing for smaller adjustments.
The steering is dead in the straight-ahead but otherwise ok and as has been said, excellent turning cicle.
Your example didn't have mfsw, which can be added, as is cruise control. It does have the 108 star spoke rims, which have corrosion issues. Personally I prefer the 107 elipsoids. Xenons are good, but upgraded bubs are a cheaper option if not.
I've had to replace the battery on mine; also an abs sensor (largely paid for by BMW @5yo) and an indicator bulb holder. The remotes have played up, but cured by more use
The nav sometimes sticks, but I read a £3.99 antenna will do the trick, if I can be arsed.I like the Boxster, and it may drive better, but the poor reputation of the local dealership and higher costs, initially and subsequently, put me off. The Z4 is easy to live with, and a lot of fun. I still think they look cool in the right colour.
Just my thoughts. You'll just have to try both and see what you prefer.
edc said:
Get the Boxster, you know you want to 
http://youtu.be/lEN-yVI7nug
Well that does sound very nice i have to say! However... i raise you this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SL-cfmtEj5whttp://youtu.be/lEN-yVI7nug
Reminds me of my old RB25DET!
So i went to see this Boxter S today http://goo.gl/fZQkQr and it was very nice.. fantastic condition. Didnt get a drive as the guy was on his own and had other customers seeing other cars but i did get a good feel for the car. Being 6ft3 i couldnt help but feel a little bit cramped in the car and the steering wheel adjustment isnt great. Not a deal breaker but not ideal. Might be popping back in the week for a drive.
Z4 lined up for tmw lunchtime.
Thanks for all the advise everyone, been very helpful!
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