UK to Munich. Car spat with missus

[bennyboydurham]

I'm having a ding dong with the wife over this at the moment. In two weeks, we'll be off to Munich via Brugges, Luxembourg and Wurzburg, returning via Alsace. The schedule dictates we can't hang about as we've got some pretty long legs over the week we're away. Car options are her Z4 or my 730d.
She wants to go in the z, I want to go in the 7.

pros of Z4:
roof down motoring around the nice bits

cons of Z4:
small fuel tank, not much space, horrid RFT, noisy on motorway legs (plenty of them on the route)

pros of 7:
comfort, space, long range

cons of 7:
no sunroof when we get to the pretty, sunny bits, risk of 'farmer' tan when resting arm out of window.

This is the longest I've ever driven in a car. I'm attracted to the romance of trundling through the Black Forest with the roof down, but reality dictates taking the more practical option. Anyone done really long trans-continental legs in a baby convertible?

[kambites]

I'd take the Z4 and find back roads all the way.

Plenty of people manage to go camping at Le Mans on a motorbike or in a Caterham.

[iva cosworth]

Z4 ,just more fun than a 7D

[RobM77]

I did a Euro trip last year in my Z4 Coupé, and have done the same trip as you (UK, Lux, Brussels, Munich) in a 3 series. Personally I'd take the 730d. The Z4 would be a great car to take, but I'm not sure I'd be comfortable with the length of some of the stints behind the wheel given the Z4's low NVH. I get easily annoyed by noise though - I know some people that do longer stints in more raw cars than the Z4C! Personal preference really.

[bennyboydurham]

kambites said:

I'd take the Z4 and find back roads all the way.

Plenty of people manage to go camping at Le Mans on a motorbike or in a Caterham.

You see, I really want to do this but it would mean turning four hour legs into seven hour legs. I've prebooked hotels at each stop so it would turn from a sightseeing around European cities trip into a sightseeing between European cities trip as we'd be arriving at each place pretty late into the night. Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.

[VB]

Take hers. If your 7 breaks down, you'll never hear the end of it

[Fish]

Or take the motorrail overnight to do the motorway stuff and spend your time in the alps and take the Z4.

We did loads in the TVRs and never had a problem. They make the Z4 comfy!

[hesnotthemessiah]

7

[Matt UK]

I drove to the 'ring and back in a Mk1 MX5...

I'd take the 7. It's designed for cross-country wafting.

[StottyZr]

I wouldn't have even thought about it. The Z4 would be the instant descision.

[StottyZr]

Figured I'd better give a reason. What about when you hit that perfect road with the sun out, amazing views nice windy fresh piece of tarmac. You will wish you were in the Z4, I think it would easily be worth the lack of comfort.

[kambites]

bennyboydurham said:

You see, I really want to do this but it would mean turning four hour legs into seven hour legs. I've prebooked hotels at each stop so it would turn from a sightseeing around European cities trip into a sightseeing between European cities trip as we'd be arriving at each place pretty late into the night. Hmmm. Decisions, decisions.

Pft, what kind of driving enthusiast are you if you're prefer looking around a boring city to some back-road hoonage?

[hornetrider]

MTFU and take the Z

[Goldmember1]

VB said:

Take hers. If your 7 breaks down, you'll never hear the end of it

This!

[daz4m]

Shouldn't we know which engine is in the Zed before answering.

[Targarama]

I can't believe you're even comparing these two. Yes the 7 is more comfy, but the Z4 is perfectly fine on the motorway, and will be in it's element on all the smooth A and B roads Germany has to offer.

[bennyboydurham]

daz4m said:

Shouldn't we know which engine is in the Zed before answering.

don't get too excited Daz, it's the four pot 2.0.....

The 7 is quicker on the straight bits!

[kambites]

daz4m said:

Shouldn't we know which engine is in the Zed before answering.

Not really, because whatever it is it wont be a diesel like in the 7.

[Deerfoot]

7

[Rude-boy]

For Gods sake man take the Z4.

g/f and I have been all over Europe in the Chim, the S2k and the Boxster before it got sold. We've also done over 500 miles in a strech in the CS without any issue at all.

Now if it were a blast to the south of France and back in 3 days or less I might be half tempted by the 7 but every decent road you find you will be wishing you took the Z4 and every other mile you will be wishing you had the option of roof down to drown out the mutterings of "Bet you wish we'd taken the Z4 now" and "Just think how much more exciting the trip would be if we had the Z4" with added "Next time we are taking the Z4 or you're going on your own."