Would a Z4 Coupe be a good upgrade for me?
Discussion
Right, so, no proper pics yet, no time, but this is the car I ended up buying
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&a...
The day didn't get off to a great start, I felt very ill this morning, and if it wasn't for the excitement of a new car (and even then I wasn't sure it was a great idea) I may have cancelled, but I just MTFU and went. Off to the train station at 6am. Back home at 9pm!
The journey home wasn't great either. I nearly found out the hard way about its left hand side rear quarter blind spot! Half of my journey seemed to be roadworks and / or SPECS cameras - I was pretty careful - hopefully I wont end up with any points, but there was some periods I was over 70 and below 80, although generally always below 50 in roadworks. It was dark, pissing down and lots of traffic.
Even so, what a machine! It handles long journeys with aplomb. So comfortable. I went for the auto in the end. I gave it a lot (and I mean, a LOT) of thought and I was cool with the idea. Its a change if nothing else. I love it. So lazy when you just want to go somewhere, but then put it in SMG mode and use the stick to treat it like a manual is so much fun. OK its not a "pure" experience but it is fantastic fun. I'm a definite convert!
Hard to say too much about its performance, due to the conditions, but it feels fast enough to me. Very muscular and the engine revs beautifully and makes a lovely howl when you do (one of the sound generator foams has been removed apparently). Using it like a manual you can see how grunty it is. It returned an estimated 35 MPG on the way home too despite me opening the taps repeatedly between cruises!
Hard to say about the handling as I've not really hustled it properly but the steering is a little lacking feel but is very responsive and direct so its not all bad, and the car itself provides plenty of feedback elsewhere. Brakes initially feel very strong. ETA the guy also ditched the runflats so the ride seemed perfectly acceptable to me - firm yes, but I'm used to an FN2
I was a little worried that it would be a bit dull, but nope, it's in a different league to a 3-series (obviously I guess but I wasn't always sure on this!). I hope to have years of fun in this.
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&a...
The day didn't get off to a great start, I felt very ill this morning, and if it wasn't for the excitement of a new car (and even then I wasn't sure it was a great idea) I may have cancelled, but I just MTFU and went. Off to the train station at 6am. Back home at 9pm!
The journey home wasn't great either. I nearly found out the hard way about its left hand side rear quarter blind spot! Half of my journey seemed to be roadworks and / or SPECS cameras - I was pretty careful - hopefully I wont end up with any points, but there was some periods I was over 70 and below 80, although generally always below 50 in roadworks. It was dark, pissing down and lots of traffic.
Even so, what a machine! It handles long journeys with aplomb. So comfortable. I went for the auto in the end. I gave it a lot (and I mean, a LOT) of thought and I was cool with the idea. Its a change if nothing else. I love it. So lazy when you just want to go somewhere, but then put it in SMG mode and use the stick to treat it like a manual is so much fun. OK its not a "pure" experience but it is fantastic fun. I'm a definite convert!
Hard to say too much about its performance, due to the conditions, but it feels fast enough to me. Very muscular and the engine revs beautifully and makes a lovely howl when you do (one of the sound generator foams has been removed apparently). Using it like a manual you can see how grunty it is. It returned an estimated 35 MPG on the way home too despite me opening the taps repeatedly between cruises!
Hard to say about the handling as I've not really hustled it properly but the steering is a little lacking feel but is very responsive and direct so its not all bad, and the car itself provides plenty of feedback elsewhere. Brakes initially feel very strong. ETA the guy also ditched the runflats so the ride seemed perfectly acceptable to me - firm yes, but I'm used to an FN2
I was a little worried that it would be a bit dull, but nope, it's in a different league to a 3-series (obviously I guess but I wasn't always sure on this!). I hope to have years of fun in this.
Edited by TameRacingDriver on Saturday 2nd January 23:09
t tomorrow, but to hell with it, I'll get it taken out again tomorrow. The carbon effect on the roof looks lovely in the flesh - the photo does it no justice.Wills2 said:
Well done, I have the auto version as well (quite rare) it's very good a ZF6, but there is no SMG mode as you call it having had an SMG M3 they're not the same at all.
Long drive, as I said it would be but a new car always helps......enjoy!
Quite happy to live in ignorance where the gearbox is concerned, there might be better but I'm happy with it. Thanks fella, I'm well happy with it. Can't imagine what I'd replace it with for vaguely sensible money so its here to stay for a while Long drive, as I said it would be but a new car always helps......enjoy!
I've sold the Civic now but one last drive of it today after 2 days in the Zed. The first thing I noticed was the bolt upright driving position. Otherwise, it felt seriously dull in normal driving. The Civic is a good car I maintain for what it is, but the Z4 was, to quote the thread title, a good upgrade
otolith said:
And this is why I can't go back to hot hatches.
I think I'm well and truly done with hot hatches now. Completely. I honestly could not care less if a new Megane or whatever could still show me a clean pair of heals, it just feels a lovely thing to be in and pilot at all times, even when taking it easy.otolith said:
I had an EP3 and the wife had an MX-5. It was the realisation that the MX-5 was more fun, despite being in many ways objectively inferior to the Civic, that did for it. That Civic was almost everything I wanted out of a hot hatch too, it's just that ultimately you can't get away from the fact that a hot hatch is an ordinary everyman car with a bit of fettling.
I know what you mean.When I think back to all of the most memorable drives and cars I've had, they were always generally in the sports cars. I've had a couple of MX5s, an MR2 Turbo and a 350Z and they were all in orders of magnitude much more fun pretty much all of the time, even if in some cases slow (MX5).
In the time since I started this thread, I've changed my mind lots but came back to this, but TBH I was even considering a Mk3 MR2 as a cheaper option. In the end, I don't think my heart was ever in it with the Civic - TBH it wasn't really my first choice when I got it, but it was cheap and I needed a car. Its actually surprised me how competent and fun it was considering the slating they get. BUT, for anyone reading this thinking of making a similar move, a drive out in the Z4C has put that starkly into perspective, it really is MUCH more fun / special (much the same can be said for a 350Z, Elise, Boxster, S2000 etc).
So I've been using this all week at work. Just boring stuff, but it handles it well especially with being an automatic, it can be an incredibly lazy car to drive. It is great for launching off the line, just plant your foot and you are away - I know none of this is news to owners of autos/DSGs but after 20 years of driving manuals its a nice change. The heated leather seats are comfortable and proving popular. I love the low driving position, the feeling you're climbing down into it. The only other car that has had as nice a driving position was my MR2 Turbo. The cabin is very minimalist which I like!
It is quite a firm car and you can feel every little detail through the chassis. Its very low so speed bumps do need to be slowed down for! The steering is not the most feel-some, but its definitely no worse than the likes of the 350Z say, and if you are coming from just about any hot hatch it will definitely be a step up, if only because the steering is not corrupted by power in a way which just isn't possible in a hot hatch. I've not used them in anger but the brakes feel very good too, nice amount of bite and power.
I would say that early indications are that it's not as good on fuel as I was led to believe, however, I always maintained if it was no worse than my FN2 that would be acceptable. It seems to return mid to upper 20's around town. It seems more impressive on a run, I reckon it would possibly nudge 40 MPG on a steady run. This is still very impressive for a 3.0L 6-cylinder sports car.
Tonight however, I had to pick up a parcel, so I left the wench at home, and stuck her in Sports + Manual. I am definitely getting used to it now, and the car is absolutely fantastic in this mode. It really seems to sharpen the whole car, and you can now much better control it. You can now hold on to gears whenever you like. It obviously wont let you over or under-rev it but I don't see that as much of a downside. If you press fully down on the loud-pedal it will kick down if you're in the wrong gear; I've got mixed feelings about that but I can now easily drive around that after just a couple of goes (i.e. don't press fully down, it's easy enough to feel for it; alternatively, be in the right gear!). The car is an animal in this mode. The engine sounds absolutely glorious (apparently 1 sound generator foam has been removed) and it pulls hard throughout the entire rev range, in almost any gear/speed.
Absolutely loving the driving experience it offers. I'd probably say in this format (auto) it's not really for the purist, but I really like it and it suits the character of the car. It gives the best of both worlds. Its great for being lazy around town in auto, but in manual, it has a much more "arcade racer" style about it, which is actually really fun if you have an open mind. You dont have to lift off between gear changes, it changes down perfectly smoothly each time, every time, and you can make very quick changes. Actually really addictive in its own way. I know some will say it takes some of the skill out of the driving, but it takes practice in its own right and when you finally get it, it's almost quite a silly, childish but fun experience!
I was worried about it being dull but its got tons of character. Definitely glad I bought. It's a massive upgrade over the FN2 (and I'm not taking anything away from it, I still think these are underrated). I really needn't have worried; I am also glad I chose it over the 350Z. That car would certainly have been a manual, and from my experience, not a great box. I loved that car, it had a huge heart, but its was plasticky inside, not a great gearbox / clutch, a worse driving position, a worse looking interior and driving position, and was not really any quicker and probably worse handling, from what I remember. I definitely prefer the Z4C, it's the best car I've had by a fair margin.
It is quite a firm car and you can feel every little detail through the chassis. Its very low so speed bumps do need to be slowed down for! The steering is not the most feel-some, but its definitely no worse than the likes of the 350Z say, and if you are coming from just about any hot hatch it will definitely be a step up, if only because the steering is not corrupted by power in a way which just isn't possible in a hot hatch. I've not used them in anger but the brakes feel very good too, nice amount of bite and power.
I would say that early indications are that it's not as good on fuel as I was led to believe, however, I always maintained if it was no worse than my FN2 that would be acceptable. It seems to return mid to upper 20's around town. It seems more impressive on a run, I reckon it would possibly nudge 40 MPG on a steady run. This is still very impressive for a 3.0L 6-cylinder sports car.
Tonight however, I had to pick up a parcel, so I left the wench at home, and stuck her in Sports + Manual. I am definitely getting used to it now, and the car is absolutely fantastic in this mode. It really seems to sharpen the whole car, and you can now much better control it. You can now hold on to gears whenever you like. It obviously wont let you over or under-rev it but I don't see that as much of a downside. If you press fully down on the loud-pedal it will kick down if you're in the wrong gear; I've got mixed feelings about that but I can now easily drive around that after just a couple of goes (i.e. don't press fully down, it's easy enough to feel for it; alternatively, be in the right gear!). The car is an animal in this mode. The engine sounds absolutely glorious (apparently 1 sound generator foam has been removed) and it pulls hard throughout the entire rev range, in almost any gear/speed.
Absolutely loving the driving experience it offers. I'd probably say in this format (auto) it's not really for the purist, but I really like it and it suits the character of the car. It gives the best of both worlds. Its great for being lazy around town in auto, but in manual, it has a much more "arcade racer" style about it, which is actually really fun if you have an open mind. You dont have to lift off between gear changes, it changes down perfectly smoothly each time, every time, and you can make very quick changes. Actually really addictive in its own way. I know some will say it takes some of the skill out of the driving, but it takes practice in its own right and when you finally get it, it's almost quite a silly, childish but fun experience!
I was worried about it being dull but its got tons of character. Definitely glad I bought. It's a massive upgrade over the FN2 (and I'm not taking anything away from it, I still think these are underrated). I really needn't have worried; I am also glad I chose it over the 350Z. That car would certainly have been a manual, and from my experience, not a great box. I loved that car, it had a huge heart, but its was plasticky inside, not a great gearbox / clutch, a worse driving position, a worse looking interior and driving position, and was not really any quicker and probably worse handling, from what I remember. I definitely prefer the Z4C, it's the best car I've had by a fair margin.
@ 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!
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.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].
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.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!
otolith said:
I bet the RX-8 got about the same - if all drives were like that, their fuel consumption would be less of an issue for people!
Yeah I think they hover around that no matter how they are driven. I suppose at least mine has the potential to do alright on a run if it needs to! Although with most of my driving as town driving or hooning, its unlikely I'll ever see much better than mid - high 20s... not that I bought it with fuel economy in mind, so not complaining!At least I can HEAR where my money is going though, who needs a stereo?!
Mine has cruise retro-fitted, and I don't know whether its just not a great install of it or whether that's just how it is, but it's borderline pointless. It will do the whole cruise thing when you set it, but you can't add or remove speed using the stalk, doing so simply disengages it. Additionally you also can't resume it with the press of a button. Literally all it does is you can set it, it will cruise, then doing almost anything with the stalk will disable it, or braking will disable it. If I had to try and fit it myself I'm not sure I'd have bothered.
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