What is a Z4 like to own? Or alternatives?

[anonymous-user]

I like to change cars quite often, and this time I am finding a lot of appeal in a Z4, this would be an older one at around 5 to 6k probably and it would have to be the 3L as I just can't see the point of choosing a smaller engine unless there are some serious mechanical reasons to do so. Mileage will be miniscule and I am old so mpg, insurance etc... matter very little.

But I am wondering what is a Z4 actually like to own and drive?

I value driver involvement and fun most, outright top speed does not interest me in the slightest, I do like being able to accelerate hard but I won't risk my licence so fun / soundtrack or just some other weirdly appealing mystery factor are what matters. I currently have a Grand Cherokee and a Civic Tyre R and love both equally but for quite different reasons, but I feel the need for a RWD convertible again having owned a few mk1 MX5s and a couple of kit cars before.

S2000s are too expensive, Z3s do nothing for me at all, a turbo MX5 was an option I considered but I've had enough of the rust aspect and with the roof up I found them utterly miserable to be in, and mk1s are quite rare now and I can't get exited about the mk2 and onwards. Caterhams way too expensive, Westfields etc ... affordable but I've done that Seven-style already and don't want to go back as they are too impractical for almost everything apart from a fair-weather blat. V8 yank tanks appeal too, but most are impossible to find at that price range. The V8 Hemi GC was almost an option but the valve-drop issue put me off and the 6.1 is way out of my price range. 300C Hemi out for the same reason. RX8s again don't interest me for no particular reason.

Is a Z4 likely to scratch my weird / fun itch? Or is there something else that I am overlooking?
The other likely option is a 350Z - better or worse than a Z4 if you want to have fun driving it?

Edited by anonymous-user on Monday 27th March 15:51

[TameRacingDriver]

I'd start here, loads of great info

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

I've had a z4 coupe. I enjoyed it personally. Not the best in any area but a compelling all round package.

I've also had a 350z and enjoyed that too. Very different packages, the 350 was more thuggish but the z4 was classier and more understated.

[GroundEffect]

Owned two:

- Z4 3.0si Coupe Sport
- Z4 M Roadster

3.0si positives:

+ Looked the bks
+ Sounded great
+ Was very economical for what it was

3.0si negatives:

- Steering was dead (EPAS)
- Lack of LSD meant it liked to spin inside wheel at roundabouts
- Ride was very, very harsh
- Handling balance was a bit safe

I bought the M because of the negatives. It ticked all the boxes (and was properly fast) but running costs went through the roof, and its own handling was sadistic - it would spit you off the road if you looked at it funny.

Overall, the 3.0si was a competent car, but not all that fun (IMO).

[Koyaanisqatsi]

I was looking at pristine Z3s a few years ago before a colleague rightly suggested I might as well just get a Z4 (E85), so ended up with a fairly decent pre-facelift 3.0-litre, Ruby Black with a beige top. I deeply regret selling it, and it's firmly on my list of cars to own again when I have the chance. Bought with 40,000ish miles I think, I put 20,000 more on it and had not a single problem in that time. The post-2006 facelift only gave redesigned lights and a redesigned front bumper, nothing to get excited about but you can slot the rear facelift lights in the pre-facelift if you fancy.

You're probably looking at higher than average mileage with your budget but get a manual, get heated seats, buy a stubby gearstick for it, check the roof motor under the parcel shelf isn't wet, make sure the windows drop as they should and sit up nicely into the roof when it's up, avoid runflat tyres unless you like randomly veering into tramlines on the road, check the wheels aren't kerbed to hell (that bonnet is very long and you can't see the front of it), xenon headlamps are a nice option over the fairly poor halogens (check for moisture in the lenses). Mine didn't have factory satnav but I think that was an option too.

Make sure a windbreaker is included as well, either the rigid style which slots down between the headrests or the one kind of like a leather hood that slots over the headrests and secures with clips -- it makes a hell of a difference with the roof down.

[Shifter1]

Oh no.

[TameRacingDriver]

Shifter1 said:

Oh no.

[anonymous-user]

The EPAS thing and comments about the steering being lifeless concerns me a bit as I was used to the steering on a mk1 mx5 which was really good.

How does the steering feel on a 350Z compare? Is that similarly over-assisted or lacking feedback?

[cerb4.5lee]

JimSuperSix said:

How does the steering feel on a 350Z compare? Is that similarly over-assisted or lacking feedback?

I can't remember what the steering was like in the 350Z because it was 2006 when I last had a go in one. However the hydraulic system in my 370Z is really nice in my opinion. It is nicely weighted and it gives you good feedback I reckon.

I can't comment on the electric rack in the Z4, but I didn't mind the hydraulic system in the Z4M I had either though.

[anonymous-user]

Shifter1 said:

Oh no.

Care to explain this?

[Shifter1]

JimSuperSix said:

Shifter1 said:

Oh no.

Care to explain this?

Sorry. If you have a look at the other thread (link was posted here) with basically identical topic you will understand. But we just went through this or are still going. Was more of an inside joke for those who are partaking in the other basically identical thread.

[TameRacingDriver]

Shifter1 said:

JimSuperSix said:

Shifter1 said:

Oh no.

Care to explain this?

Sorry. If you have a look at the other thread (link was posted here) with basically identical topic you will understand. But we just went through this or are still going. Was more of an inside joke for those who are partaking in the other basically identical thread.

Yep, this

+ the other one is getting quite feisty

[anonymous-user]

Shifter1 said:

JimSuperSix said:

Shifter1 said:

Oh no.

Care to explain this?

Sorry. If you have a look at the other thread (link was posted here) with basically identical topic you will understand. But we just went through this or are still going. Was more of an inside joke for those who are partaking in the other basically identical thread.

Ah ok i see. I'm sure an M3 is lovely but I am almost certain i want an open-top car again, unless its something really mad that is.

[Mr Squarekins]

I've had 5 z4s. Two roadsters, one coupe and two E89s. They're ok. Think of it as a more interesting e46 3 series. Done over 600k miles in them. Easy motorway cruiser, but with some weekend interest.

E89 35is was my favourite, but needs a warranty. Adaptive dampers, 19" wheels, turbos, all 'consumable'. Lovely drive and underated. Not a Boxster for handling, but not got a Boxster fisher-price interior either.

E89 3.0l non-turbo was bullet proof.

Best to drive a few different models.

[TameRacingDriver]

One point to note about the 350Z Roadster. You aren't supposed to operate the roof below 8C, and I found that if the temperature dropped much lower than that, the roof would get stuck half way and the only way was back up again. You could help it a bit by blasting the heating on for a while before dropping the roof to soften it up a bit, but something to bear in mind if you're planning to keep it beyond summer and expect to be able to use it for those crisp winters drives.

[Shifter1]

TameRacingDriver said:

Shifter1 said:

JimSuperSix said:

Shifter1 said:

Oh no.

Care to explain this?

Sorry. If you have a look at the other thread (link was posted here) with basically identical topic you will understand. But we just went through this or are still going. Was more of an inside joke for those who are partaking in the other basically identical thread.

Yep, this

+ the other one is getting quite feisty

[ZX10R NIN]

350Z:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303195...

3.2 Audi TT not the last word dynamically but a sweet engine:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302254...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206287...

MK1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212132...

[ZX10R NIN]

TameRacingDriver said:

Shifter1 said:

Oh no.

[cerb4.5lee]

ZX10R NIN said:

TameRacingDriver said:

Shifter1 said:

Oh no.

Love it!

[anonymous-user]

ZX10R NIN said:

350Z:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202303195...

3.2 Audi TT not the last word dynamically but a sweet engine:

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202302254...

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206287...

MK1

https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202212132...

Thanks - I have absolutely no interest in an Audi TT but the 350 convertible is very appealing....lovely colour too.

I need to find one at a dealer that offers nationwide delivery though as where I am based there are almost none of any of these interesting cars for sale within sensible driving distance - it's just endless Corsas and whatnot - which is why I am asking about how they drive etc.. and finding to test out within about 100 miles is impossible. I've never bought a car sight-unseen before, I used to only buy locally and then I'd crawl over each one and examine everything and then without fail the engine would implode within 6 months. The only reliable cars I've bought were the ones where I didn't examine anything - the CTRs bonnet wouldn't even open before I bought it

This time I'm going to try buying a nice one totally unseen from long distance and see how that goes....

Edited by anonymous-user on Tuesday 28th March 09:34

[TameRacingDriver]

I can relate to the distance thing. Nothing really much up here in the North East, every decent looking car is down south. Funnily enough I'm off down to Wolverhampton tomorrow to pick up my Boxster. Exciting but I've never much liked traveling, I find the whole thing stressful personally but that's probably just me.