350Z GTvs Z4 3.0 Sport...
Discussion
It depends entirely what you're after. I looked at both of these, alongside S2000, Boxster and E36 M3, when considering a road and track car around £5k.
The 350Z is almost muscle-car in its feel. The ride is hard, it's quite noisy, the controls are heavy, the interior is crap, but it's all about that engine and it's a really good one. Sounds great, torquey but still enjoys being hammered, and coming with an LSD certainly helps it feel playful. It'll do 22, maybe 25mpg.
I really like the idea of it, but I think it might start to annoy me day to day and I would struggle with looking at the steering wheel from a Pathfinder every time I got into it.
The Z4 is almost the opposite, it's far less effort to just get where you want to go, it makes a good cruiser and the soft top is very good if that's what you're after. It still feels brilliantly involved, though, and the driving position is perhaps even more "sports car" than the 350Z. The engine is a corker, not as operatic as the 350's V6 but still really rewarding. No LSD here, but the tradeoff is a car that feels far more expensively put together. Handling balance is very good, to me. These are capable of 30mpg+.
As my only car, I'd have the Z4 every time. For weekends and playtime, I'd consider the 350Z, but I really think most people will make their minds up very quickly after driving each.
The 350Z is almost muscle-car in its feel. The ride is hard, it's quite noisy, the controls are heavy, the interior is crap, but it's all about that engine and it's a really good one. Sounds great, torquey but still enjoys being hammered, and coming with an LSD certainly helps it feel playful. It'll do 22, maybe 25mpg.
I really like the idea of it, but I think it might start to annoy me day to day and I would struggle with looking at the steering wheel from a Pathfinder every time I got into it.
The Z4 is almost the opposite, it's far less effort to just get where you want to go, it makes a good cruiser and the soft top is very good if that's what you're after. It still feels brilliantly involved, though, and the driving position is perhaps even more "sports car" than the 350Z. The engine is a corker, not as operatic as the 350's V6 but still really rewarding. No LSD here, but the tradeoff is a car that feels far more expensively put together. Handling balance is very good, to me. These are capable of 30mpg+.
As my only car, I'd have the Z4 every time. For weekends and playtime, I'd consider the 350Z, but I really think most people will make their minds up very quickly after driving each.
I have the 350Z, drove the Z4 and liked it but decided on the 350Z, it is a bit more of a yobbo than the BMW and there are less of them about.
There isnt as much between them in straight line speed as the power difference would suggest.
I think we have it very good at the moment in that for say six grand we can get lovely stuff like the Z4, Boxster, 350Z, S2000 etc, insurance isnt that bad these days, buy a pre 2006 one and tax isnt too bad and the fuel has come down.
My 350Z doesnt cost that much to run, it is to be fair, horrendous on fuel but the tax, even though it is £500, when you add the insurance for £250, £40 for an MOT, little bit of maintenance and the fact it doesn't seem to have depreciated means it has cost me not much more than a grand a year to run, even when you add in the difference in fuel cost with it, and something miserable for the mileage I do.
The guys at work gasp in amazement when I mention 18 - 22 mpg, they scoff when I say I pay £500 VED, they tell me I should get something cheaper to run, £100 tax, 44 to the gallon ! and then I point out that they pay £300 odd a month to save that money....
Do it, now is a really good time to get one of these cars, I would say the BMW is the better all rounder but I just thought it a bit polite, relative to the 350Z.
There isnt as much between them in straight line speed as the power difference would suggest.
I think we have it very good at the moment in that for say six grand we can get lovely stuff like the Z4, Boxster, 350Z, S2000 etc, insurance isnt that bad these days, buy a pre 2006 one and tax isnt too bad and the fuel has come down.
My 350Z doesnt cost that much to run, it is to be fair, horrendous on fuel but the tax, even though it is £500, when you add the insurance for £250, £40 for an MOT, little bit of maintenance and the fact it doesn't seem to have depreciated means it has cost me not much more than a grand a year to run, even when you add in the difference in fuel cost with it, and something miserable for the mileage I do.
The guys at work gasp in amazement when I mention 18 - 22 mpg, they scoff when I say I pay £500 VED, they tell me I should get something cheaper to run, £100 tax, 44 to the gallon ! and then I point out that they pay £300 odd a month to save that money....
Do it, now is a really good time to get one of these cars, I would say the BMW is the better all rounder but I just thought it a bit polite, relative to the 350Z.
McSam said:
The 350Z is almost muscle-car in its feel. The ride is hard, it's quite noisy, the controls are heavy, the interior is crap, but it's all about that engine and it's a really good one. Sounds great, torquey but still enjoys being hammered, and coming with an LSD certainly helps it feel playful. It'll do 22, maybe 25mpg.
This.Though I managed better economy in mine, used to get 26-28mpg on my commute without too much issue. Even got 32mpg once on a steady run to the south coast. Aside from a service and a rear wheel bearing, I put 14k or so on it without spending a penny and sold it for what it owed me. Their values still seem to remain solid for a good example.
For me the Z4 was a halfway-house between the coarse and grunty 350Z and the light and nimble S2000, so whilst it is no doubt a decent competent car it didn't quite do it for me.
I have an '06 350Z and my brother has a 3.0i SE Z4 from 2005. They are VERY different cars.
The 350Z is more of a GT car, it sounds great, is fast through being torquey and has nice kit - with the BOSE sound system etc. It is very stable at high speeds, comfortable on longer journeys but definitely not as nimble as the Z4. The Z4 on the other hand is very slick inside but has less kit, is light and nimble so feels more sporty whilst still being as quick as the 350Z. However, it is less comfortable particularly on longer motorway drives and not as good for long term high speed journeys etc. Storage in the 350Z is pretty hopeless. MPG is definitely much better in the BMW and the 350Z needs super-unleaded.
Hope that helps, happy to answer any more questions.
The 350Z is more of a GT car, it sounds great, is fast through being torquey and has nice kit - with the BOSE sound system etc. It is very stable at high speeds, comfortable on longer journeys but definitely not as nimble as the Z4. The Z4 on the other hand is very slick inside but has less kit, is light and nimble so feels more sporty whilst still being as quick as the 350Z. However, it is less comfortable particularly on longer motorway drives and not as good for long term high speed journeys etc. Storage in the 350Z is pretty hopeless. MPG is definitely much better in the BMW and the 350Z needs super-unleaded.
Hope that helps, happy to answer any more questions.
Roundozo said:
TommoAE86 said:
I've only been a passenger in both but the Z4 I lift share into work in is very nice, polished and sounds great.
So I'd have the 350Z, to me it looks better, is more honest, and has much more character
Right, you're not getting a lift home! So I'd have the 350Z, to me it looks better, is more honest, and has much more character
TommoAE86 said:
Roundozo said:
TommoAE86 said:
I've only been a passenger in both but the Z4 I lift share into work in is very nice, polished and sounds great.
So I'd have the 350Z, to me it looks better, is more honest, and has much more character
Right, you're not getting a lift home! So I'd have the 350Z, to me it looks better, is more honest, and has much more character
Roundozo said:
TommoAE86 said:
Roundozo said:
TommoAE86 said:
I've only been a passenger in both but the Z4 I lift share into work in is very nice, polished and sounds great.
So I'd have the 350Z, to me it looks better, is more honest, and has much more character
Right, you're not getting a lift home! So I'd have the 350Z, to me it looks better, is more honest, and has much more character
I've never driven the Z4 but went from a 350Z to a 330i and remember thinking that the BMW engine seemed a bit 'thin' and dull-sounding after the Z. That said, I'm used to it now and the BMW 3.0 engine is a lovely thing, much more refined.
I would imagine that the Z might feel a bit more like a traditional sports car (heavier controls, noisier, more 'different' if that makes any sense) but the BMW will probably be easier to live with day to day and certainly a nicer place to sit in a traffic jam if that sort of thing is important to you.
I would imagine that the Z might feel a bit more like a traditional sports car (heavier controls, noisier, more 'different' if that makes any sense) but the BMW will probably be easier to live with day to day and certainly a nicer place to sit in a traffic jam if that sort of thing is important to you.
I test drove both in the summer (only a 2.5 Z4 - no 3.0 near me at the time) and really didn't like the steering in the Z4. It felt completely disconnected and couldn't cope with the tramlines in the A14. Even tested a second one just in case and that had the same problem.
The 350Z had a lovely engine, but the interior really let it down. Both I looked at (in the 7-10k price range) seemed a bit tired. Saggy seats and scratches everywhere.
Tried an S2000 too. Beautiful engine & gearbox, but dead steering. Plus it had a modified exhaust which was LOUD all the time.
Ended up getting an MX-5. Yes, slower than all the others, but still a lot of fun on my country road commute.
The 350Z had a lovely engine, but the interior really let it down. Both I looked at (in the 7-10k price range) seemed a bit tired. Saggy seats and scratches everywhere.
Tried an S2000 too. Beautiful engine & gearbox, but dead steering. Plus it had a modified exhaust which was LOUD all the time.
Ended up getting an MX-5. Yes, slower than all the others, but still a lot of fun on my country road commute.
To answer the thing about the Z4's steering and tramlining, driving a relatively light car on wide, low-profile runflats is going to do that do you. I'd wager that car was on 18" runflats. They're quite transformed on proper rubber.
OP: I really do recommend you drive both, videos are one thing but they feel totally different and you're likely to know within minutes which one suits you properly. I expect you'll be surprised how far apart they are, so even driving one won't give you the full picture!
The BMW six can sound a little muted as standard, but a nice open induction system brings the howl out something serious. Imagine this, just a lot newer, quicker and more aggressive
OP: I really do recommend you drive both, videos are one thing but they feel totally different and you're likely to know within minutes which one suits you properly. I expect you'll be surprised how far apart they are, so even driving one won't give you the full picture!
The BMW six can sound a little muted as standard, but a nice open induction system brings the howl out something serious. Imagine this, just a lot newer, quicker and more aggressive
As mentioned already, the 350Z is a mini muscle car. A hoot to drive when you're in the mood, but not very relaxing at other times. If you're the sort of person that like to drive around like their pants are on fire you will love it.
I loved mine, had it for 5 years, still miss it now, but its horses for courses. Either would be a great choice.
I loved mine, had it for 5 years, still miss it now, but its horses for courses. Either would be a great choice.
I didn't realise the Z4 3.0si was received so well in coupé form by some-
http://www.evo.co.uk/bmw/z4/6440/bmw-z4-30si-coupe
Article suggests the 17's and non M-sport suspension are a winning combination.
http://www.evo.co.uk/bmw/z4/6440/bmw-z4-30si-coupe
Article suggests the 17's and non M-sport suspension are a winning combination.
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