Last time I wrote about VXX I asked for other Z4C owning PHers to contact me, and you did. 62 of you. Seems the coupe is becoming a popular car out there. It certainly attracts attention on the street, people come and tell me how much they like the shape when I am parked and the hand car wash chaps seem to take a little more time over it than when I took my old Boxster S there. Other owners even give you a nod, or drop their window for a chat at traffic lights. I like that.
So what about the car? 26mpg average since the day it arrived is good enough for me, the lovely engine and exhaust noise continues to render the stereo redundant and the gearbox seems to be loosening up nicely. Now i'm no track hero, i'll leave that to Trackdemon (another PH 3.0si owner) but I sometimes wish for a touch more power, maybe closer to 300bhp than it's current 265, just seems to lack something on fast B roads or overtakes. The traction control light seems to make a regular appearance too, when going fast(ish) over bumpy roads or even when exiting roundabouts. Lack of traction can be fun, but the Z4C loses it in the most every day circumstances. The red leather continues to split opinion, but I love it as it lifts the interior of an otherwise small cabin, what do you reckon?
VXX has headlamp wash, and when heading up the M1 I heard a light clunk as something bounced off the bonnet and then the screen. When I pulled into some services I noticed that the cover for the washer unit had come off. I visited my local dealer the following week where I was told 'they all do that sooner or later' and then told that the replacement part was on worldwide back order! I still have a hole where the cover should be. That's unacceptable on a 4 month old car costing over £35K.
That aside the Z4C impresses me more than my (1999) Boxster ever did. I still spend too long looking at it, find myself driving it just for the hell of it, drive everywhere with the window down so I can hear the exhaust and, despite the traction issue, love the way it handles. It's been to Le Mans, on various PH hoons, has been commuting through London traffic and still hasn't sipped any oil. Right now, I can't think of anything i'd rather have for the money.
Within the next month or so I will be meeting up with other PHers and their Z4Cs to give you the definitive owners view, if you have one of these cars and haven't contacted me yet please do so.
See you at VW this weekend.
 Dodgy location, great car |
 They all do this apparently |
 Red leather...good or bad? |
 Bonnet sticker imitates drivers face |
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