Would a Z4 Coupe be a good upgrade for me?
Discussion
I've had my Z4C (manual) for seven years, so feel well qualified to comment on the fuel consumption aspect!
You will find that consumption varies according to your driving style probably more than any other car you have owned.
Around town, I get about 22mpg, on a long gentle run nearly 40mpg. I once tried to see just how good the consumption could be, and on a motorway run not exceeding 50mph I get 50mpg.
My long-term average is 31mpg.
You will find that consumption varies according to your driving style probably more than any other car you have owned.
Around town, I get about 22mpg, on a long gentle run nearly 40mpg. I once tried to see just how good the consumption could be, and on a motorway run not exceeding 50mph I get 50mpg.
My long-term average is 31mpg.
@ DevonPaul - What you mention about the gears is actually why I am not disappointed to go for the auto. I'm not saying the manual is a bad box by any stretch of the imagination, but I did keep reading that second in particular could be a bit notchy, and in general, the gear shift could be better? Certainly, if it was anything like my previous BMWs, I know exactly where they're coming from. I also read that it took practice to change gear smoothly in these.
The auto for me is very nice to use when you get used to it. It makes it much easier, but the very thing that I like about it is what another person will dislike, but I'm a convert.
The bonnet - yes I find you do have to be very careful! The funny thing about it is, when you're sitting in the car itself, it doesn't actually look very long, but it is, and you do have to be very careful! It would be an easy car to prang accidentally if you forgot about the length of the bonnet.
@ Vroomer - thanks for your insight about the fuel economy. Again, it sounds typical BMW - fairly poor around town but pretty decent on a run. However, I was never going to be too disappointed as long as it could match my previous car overall, and that was showing 23 MPG when I finally said goodbye. To be fair, I never bought it with fuel economy in mind, and, if I did have that in mind, I certainly would never have been thinking about a 350Z as an alternative!
The auto for me is very nice to use when you get used to it. It makes it much easier, but the very thing that I like about it is what another person will dislike, but I'm a convert.
The bonnet - yes I find you do have to be very careful! The funny thing about it is, when you're sitting in the car itself, it doesn't actually look very long, but it is, and you do have to be very careful! It would be an easy car to prang accidentally if you forgot about the length of the bonnet.
@ Vroomer - thanks for your insight about the fuel economy. Again, it sounds typical BMW - fairly poor around town but pretty decent on a run. However, I was never going to be too disappointed as long as it could match my previous car overall, and that was showing 23 MPG when I finally said goodbye. To be fair, I never bought it with fuel economy in mind, and, if I did have that in mind, I certainly would never have been thinking about a 350Z as an alternative!
I agree about the bonnet and gearchange! Parking the Z4C nose up to a wall was a bit of a guessing game; it reminded me of stories of old E Types having a similar issue. As for the gearchange, that was so bad on my car I sometimes couldn't get it into gear at all when cold.
Incidentally, it's a great shame that more cars like the Z4C aren't built. It's got a huge boot for holidays, it's very light weight, has a very stiff shell and is very comfortable. It's the ideal layout for a non practical sports coupe in my opinion. Most coupés (including the new Z4) weigh the same as a saloon car, missing the point entirely.
Incidentally, it's a great shame that more cars like the Z4C aren't built. It's got a huge boot for holidays, it's very light weight, has a very stiff shell and is very comfortable. It's the ideal layout for a non practical sports coupe in my opinion. Most coupés (including the new Z4) weigh the same as a saloon car, missing the point entirely.
TameRacingDriver said:
I definitely don't see any obvious modern alternative to the Z4C nowadays, like you say, the new one is heavy and has gone soft. The GT86 is a completely different proposition - I do like them, but for the money I'd have an Elise (don't need much practicality).
I ran an Elise as my everyday car for three years and to be honest it was wonderful and I really miss it. I owned the Z4C and Elise at the same time actually, and what the Z4C provided was a genuine GT capability, so I took it on longer journeys. There's a massive gap in the market for a lightweight GT 
Imagine a GT86 with the V6 they put in the Evora and no stupid rear seats.RobM77 said:
ran an Elise as my everyday car for three years and to be honest it was wonderful and I really miss it. I owned the Z4C and Elise at the same time actually, and what the Z4C provided was a genuine GT capability, so I took it on longer journeys. There's a massive gap in the market for a lightweight GT Imagine a GT86 with the V6 they put in the Evora and no stupid rear seats.
The closest thing I could think of / considered for this type of role is a Mk2 MR2 with a Camry V6 engine dropped in. However, that type of thing probably isn't for the feint of heart (WRT to modified cars). Also quite old now. Imagine a GT86 with the V6 they put in the Evora and no stupid rear seats.TameRacingDriver said:
RobM77 said:
ran an Elise as my everyday car for three years and to be honest it was wonderful and I really miss it. I owned the Z4C and Elise at the same time actually, and what the Z4C provided was a genuine GT capability, so I took it on longer journeys. There's a massive gap in the market for a lightweight GT Imagine a GT86 with the V6 they put in the Evora and no stupid rear seats.
The closest thing I could think of / considered for this type of role is a Mk2 MR2 with a Camry V6 engine dropped in. However, that type of thing probably isn't for the feint of heart (WRT to modified cars). Also quite old now. Imagine a GT86 with the V6 they put in the Evora and no stupid rear seats.RobM77 said:
Incidentally, it's a great shame that more cars like the Z4C aren't built. It's got a huge boot for holidays, it's very light weight, has a very stiff shell and is very comfortable. It's the ideal layout for a non practical sports coupe in my opinion. Most coupés (including the new Z4) weigh the same as a saloon car, missing the point entirely.
This why it is not only a great car, but a car that has stopped depreciating (and the best are actually nibbling upwards).hilly10 said:
My Roadster is an 08 and I can honestly say the gear change is bang on, snaps into gear every time with no problems it never sticks in fact its tactile I love every time I change gear. The car as only done 54k so barely run in.
For the record mine was a 2007 car, bought in 2009 with 10,000 miles on the clock and run for a year to about 21,000 miles. Selecting reverse from cold was extremely difficult, although popping into another gear first often solved the problem, but I'd frequently be sat on the drive for about a minute trying to find reverse. It wasn't really a big problem as I always got going in the end. My Dad's 2007 320d actually had an entire new gearbox and clutch at 10k miles for the same problem (on warranty!), but it didn't solve it - it loosened up with age though and by about 30-40k miles it wasn't an issue anymore.The Z4C was my perfect car on so many levels, but marred for me by the clutch delay valve and drive by wire throttle lag. The former is fixable quite cheaply, but the latter isn't, so I sold it in the end. Just a personal thing, but I simply couldn't get on with it. It's a bit like the steering in the Porsche Cayman - a perfect car in a lot of ways, but I just couldn't live with that weird variable ratio steering rack.
I can't say I've noticed any throttle lag so far, maybe I'm not sensitive to it (though I have driven some cars which are bloody awful for it). All cars seem to have their foibles mind and the Z4C isn't perfect - steering could be a little more detailed, and an LSD would probably be nice, but overall, I think its going to be difficult to beat for the cash. I positively love the way it looks too [/shallow].
TameRacingDriver said:
I can't say I've noticed any throttle lag so far, maybe I'm not sensitive to it (though I have driven some cars which are bloody awful for it). All cars seem to have their foibles mind and the Z4C isn't perfect - steering could be a little more detailed, and an LSD would probably be nice, but overall, I think its going to be difficult to beat for the cash. I positively love the way it looks too [/shallow].
The steering was indeed rather lifeless, and if you need rapid opposite lock the assistance couldn't keep up. Neither thing really worried me hugely though; I just learnt to drive without steering feel (a useful skill!), and rapid opposite lock wasn't usually necessary, even when larking around. The throttle lag was very small (similar to the E46 M3 that I also test drove at the time), but sadly definitely there. A wonderful car though 
It seemed to have such a sense of occasion for each journey.RobM77 said:
he steering was indeed rather lifeless, and if you need rapid opposite lock the assistance couldn't keep up. Neither thing really worried me hugely though; I just learnt to drive without steering feel (a useful skill!), and rapid opposite lock wasn't usually necessary, even when larking around. The throttle lag was very small (similar to the E46 M3 that I also test drove at the time), but sadly definitely there. A wonderful car though It seemed to have such a sense of occasion for each journey.
I doubt most of those issues will really affect me, as this car will rarely ever see a track, and although I do like to drive quite hard, I doubt I'll ever reach its limits on the public road. You're certainly right about it being an occasion / event though, this is the main thing I wanted from a car, and it certainly delivers. I wanted something that would make me smile every time I drive it, and so far, it certainly does that! It seemed to have such a sense of occasion for each journey.
OP, interesting to see you prefer it to your 350Z as I had considered one of those before I got my Z4C - looks like I made the right choice!
And I know exactly what you mean about a sense of occasion when you drive it - always puts a smile on my face (well until Wednesday night when I think the water pump expired
)! Will find out when it goes to my local indy in a couple of weeks.
Gearchange on mine is fine even at 60K+, very precise and it always slots into the gear I want (unlike the baggy change in my 325ti)! My limited experience seems to suggest some are better than others - my 320td was always notchy and obstructive, whereas my 123d was fine.
And I know exactly what you mean about a sense of occasion when you drive it - always puts a smile on my face (well until Wednesday night when I think the water pump expired
)! Will find out when it goes to my local indy in a couple of weeks.Gearchange on mine is fine even at 60K+, very precise and it always slots into the gear I want (unlike the baggy change in my 325ti)! My limited experience seems to suggest some are better than others - my 320td was always notchy and obstructive, whereas my 123d was fine.
RobM77 said:
Parking the Z4C nose up to a wall was a bit of a guessing game; it reminded me of stories of old E Types having a similar issue. .
Within a week of getting my Z4C, I had misjudged parking in a U shaped parking space at work (l always try and nab that space to be safe from carelessly opened doors on other cars). The resultant scrapes on the front bumper almost had me in tears.£150 cash to the local body shop had the front of the car as good as new again - they also painted the whole front bumper to get rid of some stone chips (which is the bane of any Z4 owner's life).
Embarrassingly, I subsequently did the same again a few weeks later but can't face going back to the body shop and telling them I'm stupid enough to have nudged the front again.
I did wonder about getting some front PDC sensors fitted or get a pair of glasses.
Well I wont keep adding to this thread, as its pretty much done now, but I went out for my first proper hoon today with my mate in his RX-8 and obliterated 3/4 of a tank of petrol. Not exactly the best weather and driving conditions at times but some stunning scenery. I'm in love with the Z4, what an absolutely cracking car it is. The engine note is intoxicating (which will explain the 18 MPG I got), and the sequential gears are great fun now that I'm used to them - though I can see why some won't like them, but I'm happy with the overall trade-off (ease of use when just going from A-B and hooning ability). The handling seems pretty good to me, it had no real problems other than a bit of brake fade on a very fast descent from Hartside. Overall the car seems to have tons of character and a real depth of all-round ability. I can't think of many cars I'd rather have as a "one-car-does-it-all" machine. I got out the car grinning from ear to ear!
Gassing Station | BMW General | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff