What would you go for?
Discussion
I've been given the green light to change my ageing E36 M3 Evo Saloon.
I have a Budget of 18-24k and have short listed the following:
Z4M Roadster
Z4M Coupe
E46 M3 Cab
Anything I've missed?
(I've ruled these out:
M5 - too big. Besides, I already have a family car that the wife drives.
E46 M3 CS/CSL - too old in my price range)
I'm looking for something a lot newer - 2006 upwards. She'd be my daily drive. I quite fancy a soft top, and I reckon a 2 seater would handle better than a 4. So the Z4M Roadster is currently the top of my list.
I'd value any opinions.
Cheers
I have a Budget of 18-24k and have short listed the following:
Z4M Roadster
Z4M Coupe
E46 M3 Cab
Anything I've missed?
(I've ruled these out:
M5 - too big. Besides, I already have a family car that the wife drives.
E46 M3 CS/CSL - too old in my price range)
I'm looking for something a lot newer - 2006 upwards. She'd be my daily drive. I quite fancy a soft top, and I reckon a 2 seater would handle better than a 4. So the Z4M Roadster is currently the top of my list.
I'd value any opinions.
Cheers
I'm seconding the Z4M coupe. 22kish should get you a 2007 with less than 30K on the clock. Very quick car but as the post above mentions try and get on with PS2s on as the contis don't work well. Barons at Fanborough had my old one, not sure if its gone now tho, imola red if it is still there.
thegreengoblet said:
Is the Coupe really THAT much better than the Roadster?
That much better looking - Yes. 
Performance wise the tweaks & rigidity make the Coupe a much better track tool but there will be nothing in the straight line performance. The roadster has a slightly gentler ride if that's important to you for everyday use.
Happy hunting!
belleair302 said:
The Coupe is a serious drivers car, on the right road it is a fantastic sportscar and the engine is a peach. You will notice the difference with the roadster, less stiff and less communicative at speed. A lovely car though.
+1It's the only car I've kept for more than 2 years, it's a right machine, if you can drive!
Porscheplayer said:
belleair302 said:
The Coupe is a serious drivers car, on the right road it is a fantastic sportscar and the engine is a peach. You will notice the difference with the roadster, less stiff and less communicative at speed. A lovely car though.
+1It's the only car I've kept for more than 2 years, it's a right machine, if you can drive!
So been doing a bit of research.... it would seem that the Coupe didn't exactly get rave reviews with the motoring press.... the Roadster even less so. They all seem to go for the Cayman S. I've driven one of those, and although it was quite nice as an all round package, it didn't exactly light my fire. (I think I've been spoilt with the Cerbera's performance). How does it stand up to the Z4MC?
thegreengoblet said:
Porscheplayer said:
belleair302 said:
said some good stuff
agreedSo been doing a bit of research.... it would seem that the Coupe didn't exactly get rave reviews with the motoring press.... the Roadster even less so. They all seem to go for the Cayman S. I've driven one of those, and although it was quite nice as an all round package, it didn't exactly light my fire. (I think I've been spoilt with the Cerbera's performance). How does it stand up to the Z4MC?
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
or here:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...
my previous thoughts:
ages ago Custardkid said:
Tuscan 4.0 RR to Z4MC
wrote the Tuscan off, so the BMW was a 'safe' & reliable alternative.
90% of the drama, 70% the attention, 70% the noise, 130% cross country ability, 500% the reliability
the highest praise i can give it is that i like it more than i thought i would, and after 3000 miles of hard driving round europe nothing has fallen off! given that the last 2 years i've not made it home in my own car whilst having the TVR that is an achievement!
it has the same 'heman' feeling of being sat over the rear wheels with a long bonnet with a big heart under it, and 'gets up on its toes' on the right road, something the Tuscan would never do.
drive one
custard
wrote the Tuscan off, so the BMW was a 'safe' & reliable alternative.
90% of the drama, 70% the attention, 70% the noise, 130% cross country ability, 500% the reliability
the highest praise i can give it is that i like it more than i thought i would, and after 3000 miles of hard driving round europe nothing has fallen off! given that the last 2 years i've not made it home in my own car whilst having the TVR that is an achievement!
it has the same 'heman' feeling of being sat over the rear wheels with a long bonnet with a big heart under it, and 'gets up on its toes' on the right road, something the Tuscan would never do.
drive one
custard
ages ago Custardkid said:
for the person that was asking, i tried the cayman S, its scalpel like handling made me smile when i found the perfect fast flowing 's' bend, on the 3rd test drive.
the Z4MC made me smile from the moment I sat in it. (well apart from when a t#t of a dealer that insisted on driving it in london with the sport button on!.. needless to say i didnt buy from those monkeys!)
custard
the Z4MC made me smile from the moment I sat in it. (well apart from when a t#t of a dealer that insisted on driving it in london with the sport button on!.. needless to say i didnt buy from those monkeys!)
custard
The cayman is probably the better overal package, but after a tiv you will def find yourself wanting a bit more from a car...
gear box is a bit of pain initially from 1st to 2nd when cold or just trying to drive normally, but after a few weeks its not a prob, esp if like me it becomes your daily driver.
Here is a good little read that sold the idea to me http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2046...
I was looking for a car that could scare me so was heading towards a Tiv, but then stumbled across a replica of the car in the above article but in silver grey and was sold. Almost all the drama of a tiv, but a tad more reliable!
Coupe in my opinion is the one to go for as looks a lot different from a standard z4, but if you want the wind in the hair experiance then go for the roadster - added advantage is you get to hear the engine in even more detail!
gear box is a bit of pain initially from 1st to 2nd when cold or just trying to drive normally, but after a few weeks its not a prob, esp if like me it becomes your daily driver.
Here is a good little read that sold the idea to me http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/2046...
I was looking for a car that could scare me so was heading towards a Tiv, but then stumbled across a replica of the car in the above article but in silver grey and was sold. Almost all the drama of a tiv, but a tad more reliable!
Coupe in my opinion is the one to go for as looks a lot different from a standard z4, but if you want the wind in the hair experiance then go for the roadster - added advantage is you get to hear the engine in even more detail!
Edited by Wiggwam on Tuesday 3rd August 18:29
Thanks for all the info and links. It's taken me a while to read through, but it would seem that the Coupe is the way to go. BTW, I'd not read these threads before because the wife had originally discounted 2 seaters! Woman eh!
The comparisons with the T350 has helped to sell it for me. My mate has a T350 and I've driven it many times. For me it's the best looking Tiv and although not as brutal as my Cerb, it offers plenty of performance in the real world. After reading the threads it would seem that the Z4MC matches the T350 for performance. It certainly matches it for looks. Love it on CSL alloys and in silver.
Interesting to hear about the gearbox and clutch in the Z4MC. It's taken me absolutely ages to master my e36 M3 Evo. Really struggled with the clutch (heavy and poor bite) and the fact that the clutch pedal is hinged above while the throttle pivots on the floor. I've never had any problems with any of my cars before!
So begins the search. I should also try and get a test drive in one I guess.
Thanks again
The comparisons with the T350 has helped to sell it for me. My mate has a T350 and I've driven it many times. For me it's the best looking Tiv and although not as brutal as my Cerb, it offers plenty of performance in the real world. After reading the threads it would seem that the Z4MC matches the T350 for performance. It certainly matches it for looks. Love it on CSL alloys and in silver.
Interesting to hear about the gearbox and clutch in the Z4MC. It's taken me absolutely ages to master my e36 M3 Evo. Really struggled with the clutch (heavy and poor bite) and the fact that the clutch pedal is hinged above while the throttle pivots on the floor. I've never had any problems with any of my cars before!
So begins the search. I should also try and get a test drive in one I guess.
Thanks again
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