Z4MC vs RS4 vs V8M3

[tailora]

Currently have a 2008 Ruby black Z4MC 7k miles... love it!!! but baby on the way. Wht should i get and why for 35k?
cheers

[Neil.D]

Have you driven either?

Id suggest an M5.

[AliV6]

M3 would be my choice.

[jontysafe]

You`d probably struggle to find an M3 at that price within the AUC programme, prices have been swelling of late and start at £37ish. That said, find the extra 2k, it will be worth it. If it were my money, and it will be in about a years time, I`m in a Z4MC and will be going to M6. They`re starting at about £33k. ONe hell of a lot of car for the money, but if you need 4 doors I`d go M5 for about £32k. Don`t buy outside of AUC, I`ve just had to have a load of warranty work that would have cost me over £2k, only had the car 2 weeks!

[mmm-five]

M5, M6, or M3 CSL - if you want the same screaming engines.

RS4/RS6/S8 if you want something more 'meaty'.

[Great Pretender]

jontysafe said:

You`d probably struggle to find an M3 at that price within the AUC programme, prices have been swelling of late and start at £37ish. That said, find the extra 2k, it will be worth it. If it were my money, and it will be in about a years time, I`m in a Z4MC and will be going to M6. They`re starting at about £33k. ONe hell of a lot of car for the money, but if you need 4 doors I`d go M5 for about £32k. Don`t buy outside of AUC, I`ve just had to have a load of warranty work that would have cost me over £2k, only had the car 2 weeks!

Here's a thought:

Babies are quite fragile little things aren't they? Do you think therefore that the accelerative forces from the 5.0, 500bhp V10 might do some harm to the internal organs at full throttle?

Bizarre question, but I'd be interested to find out if Social Services have ever been involved because 'Daddy's car was too fast'.

[tailora]

Thing is... the M5 is fast... very fast and sounds amazing!! But not too keen on the looks and not sure i can pick up a decent one for 35kish (give or take 5k)... The Z4MC is such an involving drive and saloons are never going to come close. I have to accept this fact... but still want feel, power and sound with decent rear seats... does not have to be 5 door... only ever owned BMWs hence looking closely Audi's to see if i can be tempted away...

[The Milfman]

Is it too obvious to suggest keeping the Z4MC and spending the extra on a sensible second car? Otherwise, I'd say M6.

If you can afford to get into the E92 M3 then it will be a better car than the RS4 but then it should be, being newer & more expensive.

[jbtco]

Hi,

I have owned all 3 and currently (just) have the M3. I would suggest keeping the Z4MC for fun and something else for family duties.

[Gareth135R]

M6 is far too cramped in the back.

[heal&toe]

I recently went through the same journey but decided to keep the coupe and buy a second run around for daily use.

Pluses here would be (1) good fuel consumption 35-60 mpg depending on what you go for (2) depreciation shield, coupe values have more or less bottomed out for at least the next 18-24 months (maybe longer), while some of your potential suitors still have some gravity against them (3) the wife can drive/curb/supermarket trolley the daily drive as many times as is usually possible....

Just my opinion..

[Chemical Ali]

tailora said:

Thing is... the M5 is fast... very fast and sounds amazing!! But not too keen on the looks and not sure i can pick up a decent one for 35kish (give or take 5k)... The Z4MC is such an involving drive and saloons are never going to come close. I have to accept this fact... but still want feel, power and sound with decent rear seats... does not have to be 5 door... only ever owned BMWs hence looking closely Audi's to see if i can be tempted away...

I wouldnt bother with audi's at the moment if you want an involving drive. TTRS is overpriced and has poor balance (front heavy and twitchy when braking hard), RS6 is way too heavy feeling with poor brakes and wallowy feeling, rs4 is an M3 with beefier feel but again poor brakes (this time too sharp - like an on off switch), rs5 hasnt come out yet, R8 is too expensive and not as good as a porsche 997 4s or turbo, and no way near a gt3, and the s3 and s5 and s4 all need a few more bhp's.

Must say, though, s5 very smooth. But I would go for M3 coupe, if you can get one, or RS4 (although getting on and have inherant mech concerns) or early 997 carrera.

[taffyracer]

Had an S5 as a courtesy car for 2 weeks about a month ago.....the most boring car I have EVER driven, good engine, nice interior but it was sleep enducing......M3 everytime given your budget

[tailora]

What about an E46 M3 CSL?

[bennyboysvuk]

Do you ever drift it at all? If so then the Audi's out.

I've only driven the V8M3 out of those three and can report that the handling was phenomenal.

[krallicious]

Chemical Ali said:

tailora said:

Thing is... the M5 is fast... very fast and sounds amazing!! But not too keen on the looks and not sure i can pick up a decent one for 35kish (give or take 5k)... The Z4MC is such an involving drive and saloons are never going to come close. I have to accept this fact... but still want feel, power and sound with decent rear seats... does not have to be 5 door... only ever owned BMWs hence looking closely Audi's to see if i can be tempted away...

I wouldnt bother with audi's at the moment if you want an involving drive. TTRS is overpriced and has poor balance (front heavy and twitchy when braking hard), RS6 is way too heavy feeling with poor brakes and wallowy feeling, rs4 is an M3 with beefier feel but again poor brakes (this time too sharp - like an on off switch), rs5 hasnt come out yet, R8 is too expensive and not as good as a porsche 997 4s or turbo, and no way near a gt3, and the s3 and s5 and s4 all need a few more bhp's.

Must say, though, s5 very smooth. But I would go for M3 coupe, if you can get one, or RS4 (although getting on and have inherant mech concerns) or early 997 carrera.

Did the RS4 you drove have the ceramics? I find the brakes to have a good deal of feel and are easy to modulate. They haul the car down from high speeds very well but the back end gets a little skittish under heavy braking.

I can reccommend the M3 whole heartedly. I've had mine for 3 monthes and have covered 6000 miles in that time. The car just gets better and better. The balance and poise at full tilt is amazing.

[Thorny]

is this as an only car? If so, 997 etc won't cut it for load capacity I am afraid and rear facing car seas take up a lot of room in the back...

M5 (touring maybe?) would be my vote or Range Rover Sport SC. Or new S4 if you can get one for the budget?

[sv]

RS4 Avant - you'll be thankful for the boot space...

[DMS1979]

Just went from the Z4MC to RS4 myself a few months ago and havent looked back. Loved the Z4MC but for my needs it just didnt fit any more.
Couldnt quite stretch to an M3 at the time so i had a very easy decision - i was also glad that i didnt have to face the BMW stealers any longer. Saying that give me a year and i will probably be saying the same about Audi.

[athol]

Went thru the same 5 months ago when my wee boy arrived into this crazy world. Kept the z4mc and bought a Jeep Patriot. Blinged with some Startech bits (Brabus for Jeep) and new it was a pathetic £12750. Use the Jeep most of the time and keep the MC for runs at the weekend and jaunts to Grand Prix.

Shop around and get something decent on a silly low APR deal. There's lots of dealers that can't shift their cars and have deals around.

Job Done.