I want a Z4M with seats in the back

[pilchardthecat]

Bit of a quandry; love the Z4M, fab engine, sounds great, plenty fast enough, clocks up 60 miles a day every day rain or shine, not expensive to run (for what it is). Would quite happily keep it forever and ultimately be buried in it.

I am a bit of a "fan boy" to tell the truth - it is the perfect car for me..... I am however under some pressure to have a car that can be used to occasionally transport the wife and kids rather than just ferry me to work and back.

What's a decent alternative?

e46 M3 - not special enough, backward step from Z4M
e92 M3 - too thirsty
M5/M6 - ditto
GTR - 6k mile service intervals, still a bit pricey

Pork?
997 C2S? C4S still a bit pricey
996 TT? Hate the headlights, i'm sure it would be spectacular to drive, but as a daily?
There's quite a few discussions in the search comparing these two, but not many based on the premise that it's a daily hack.

I'm thinking 997. Will it explode? Will it be insufficiently raw and not edgy enough after the Z? Particularly interested in comments from people who have clocked miles on both, and who liked the M (not everyone "gets" them)

ps; this rambling disjointed post merely reflects my state of mind

[Rawwr]

E46 M3 CSL?

[mmm-five]

Rawwr said:

E46 M3 CSL?

+1

It's what I'd get if I suddenly needed the fun of the Z4MC with the extra space.

[vescaegg]

Surely the current m3 isn't too much thirstier than the z4m?

[kambites]

Rawwr said:

E46 M3 CSL?

Probably the best bet. Shouldn't depreciate either.

A 997 will be a very different driving experience to the Z4.

[pilchardthecat]

V8 M3 is massively thirstier - i get about 25/26 from Z, would be in the teens on the M3 by all accounts

Not sure the CSL is suitable as a daily hack? I do require certain comforts (adjustable seats, air con, etc). I have never driven one though.

kambites said:

A 997 will be a very different driving experience to the Z4.

explain!

[mmm-five]

vescaegg said:

Surely the current m3 isn't too much thirstier than the z4m?

In my limited testing over a month, it was 17mpg vs 25mpg for the same type of usage.

[vescaegg]

mmm-five said:

In my limited testing over a month, it was 17mpg vs 25mpg for the same type of usage.

Blimey. I didnt realise it would be that much of a difference. But is 8mpg so much of an issue if you can afford one in the first place?

[Olf]

vescaegg said:

mmm-five said:

In my limited testing over a month, it was 17mpg vs 25mpg for the same type of usage.

Blimey. I didnt realise it would be that much of a difference. But is 8mpg so much of an issue if you can afford one in the first place?

This old cherub. Some people (like me) would seriously rather buy a different car than spend half their life queuing in one of the increasingly few petrol stations left out there.

[daz4m]

Rawwr said:

E46 M3 CSL?

Back seats won't take much weight, the CS or E92 are your options.

Edited by daz4m on Tuesday 13th September 21:49

[edo]

Ignoring my other thread, the M6 isnt that bad - it is just the tank is pathetically small... 23mpg on a longish journey...

If not, the 997 is a great car, loved ours. Needs to be an S, and it needs main dealer warranty (as does a BMW TBH).

[craigjm]

pilchardthecat said:

Bit of a quandry; love the Z4M, fab engine, sounds great, plenty fast enough, clocks up 60 miles a day every day rain or shine, not expensive to run (for what it is). Would quite happily keep it forever and ultimately be buried in it.

I am a bit of a "fan boy" to tell the truth - it is the perfect car for me..... I am however under some pressure to have a car that can be used to occasionally transport the wife and kids rather than just ferry me to work and back.

What's a decent alternative?

e46 M3 - not special enough, backward step from Z4M
e92 M3 - too thirsty
M5/M6 - ditto
GTR - 6k mile service intervals, still a bit pricey

Pork?
997 C2S? C4S still a bit pricey
996 TT? Hate the headlights, i'm sure it would be spectacular to drive, but as a daily?
There's quite a few discussions in the search comparing these two, but not many based on the premise that it's a daily hack.

I'm thinking 997. Will it explode? Will it be insufficiently raw and not edgy enough after the Z? Particularly interested in comments from people who have clocked miles on both, and who liked the M (not everyone "gets" them)

ps; this rambling disjointed post merely reflects my state of mind

None of them, why? because its not your Z4M and as such you will possibly always be disappointed. I had the same argument when I got my Cayman S and it was cheaper to pay for taxis or occasional hire car than sell and take the depreciation hit for two extra seats I would use once in a while.

[Efbe]

Maybe you are looking at this in totally the wrong way?

you are looking to replace your current car that you love dearly with one that is as similar as possible. In all honesty this is not going to happen.
What you will find is that after spending a bit too much on the replacement car, you will never bond with it because of how good your last car was.

I have done this a few times, and always regretted the replacement vehicle.

In my opinion, what you need to do is experience something completely different from your next car.
Just because you love the Z, does not mean that you will enjoy the same format of car...

for your next car I would suggest getting something such as a firebreathing sleeper/ a capable 4x4/ a yank classic/ a porsche turbo

[Nano2nd]

Interesting I couldn't live with my z4mc day to day suspension or lack of drove me nuts! Oh and the stupid clutch arrrghh.. Brilliant engine though

Changed to a 997 c2s, it's IMO a better car in almost every way, looks, sound (with pse mind), comfort, practicality and performance.... Only down sides are cost, more to buy(older car) and run ( servicing and consumables ) economy is 10-15% worst I've found, though on the plus side depreciation seems less

[johnpeat]

I'll second the "you need something completely different" idea...

Either instead of or as-well-as the Z4 - an old smoker like this as a 2nd-car perhaps??

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/advert/2011...

If you go 'replace', go for something totally different IMO

[kambites]

pilchardthecat said:

kambites said:

A 997 will be a very different driving experience to the Z4.

explain!

The Z4 has a lot of weight over the nose, which seriously affects its steering accuracy and feel, but makes it more benign if the back end breaks grip and of course makes it easier to break grip under power. The 911 has almost unbelievable amounts of traction and relatively little weight over the nose so the steering is much more precise, but if you're ham-fisted with the steering inputs the front wont bite and it'll under-steer.

Modern 911s are remarkably benign past the limits considering where all the weight is, but they're still not cars for people who want to drive sideways everywhere, they reward a much smoother, more careful driving style.

The 911 also does a massively better job of being a GT, the ride is orders of magnitude better to start with.

[mmm-five]

daz4m said:

Back seats won't take much weight...

They took my 18 stone for 2,000 miles, along with a boot full of gear for 3.

[daz4m]

Did you inspect underneath afterwards...

[mmm-five]

daz4m said:

Did you inspect underneath afterwards...

Nope, it's not my CSL, but the owner has since had it on ramps to clean it before putting it away for winter, and hasn't mentioned anything.

I also know of at least 6 who use their CSLs as family cars and have kids crawling all over the back, along with pushchairs and luggage in the 'cardboard' boot.

[Snowboy]

I had a similar conundrum recently.
Moving from a small 2 seat sports monster to a 4 seat somethingorother.

You haven't mentioned if your z4m is a softop?
I'm going to presume it is.
(While realising I may look silly if all the z4ms were coupes)

I visited all the dealers, tried all the different 4 seat softtops.

The only thing I found that had a small sports car feel, RWD, and rear seats was. . .
(drum roll)

The 135i M Sport.


It's a massive compromise over a real 2 seat sportscar.
But, you knew you had to make that compromise when you posted the first post.
Everything else I tried was just too big.
They all felt like Grand Tourers rather than sports cars.
Too much chesterfield not enough recaro.

The only other thing I would consider (as suggested here) was a Porshe.
But for my price range it would be an old one.. too old for my liking.

So, the baby BMW with the 3l twin turbo engine is my suggestion.