Weekend sports car round 2: Z4 vs C4 vs C5

[TJveloce]

This is a continuation of my sports car thread. Having now narrowed it down to 3 cars. Z4 coupe non M, C4 Corvette LT1/LT4 and C5 Corvette non Z06.

They might seem very different cars, specially the Z4 compared to the other two. But they offer me similar experience. With each being stronger on things the others are weaker.

But they all fit the main criteria: 2 seats, light-ish, interesting engine, manual transmission, RWD, quick enough for fun, special, classic shape and coupes, even if the Corvettes are actually targa. But with bolt on roofs.

Interested to read if anybody has an opinion on them.

[ZX10R NIN]

I'd say the C5 over the Z4 & C4 but I'd really try to stretch to a C6 as they're really a big step on.

[TJveloce]

ZX10R NIN said:

I'd say the C5 over the Z4 & C4 but I'd really try to stretch to a C6 as they're really a big step on.

Thanks. But speed and performance alone are really not my aim. I feel like a C6 is a bit much and can only be really exploited on a race track. Wouldn't you agree?

Even the C5 is quite up there. And I kind of like the older school feel of the C5 and C4 while still being plenty quick and lots of fun. Classic looks too.

Besides it may be just my personal preference but I think the C4 and C5 are better looking and have more interesting interiors. The C6 interior looks like a budget car and the looks of the base cars is pretty generic.

Z4 is there because I think it's basically the only European alternative to the Corvette at this price point and era. But I fear the maintenance costs and reliability. Plus somehow I doubt it is as fun as a Corvette.

[ZX10R NIN]

TJveloce said:

Thanks. But speed and performance alone are really not my aim. I feel like a C6 is a bit much and can only be really exploited on a race track. Wouldn't you agree?

Even the C5 is quite up there. And I kind of like the older school feel of the C5 and C4 while still being plenty quick and lots of fun. Classic looks too.

Besides it may be just my personal preference but I think the C4 and C5 are better looking and have more interesting interiors. The C6 interior looks like a budget car and the looks of the base cars is pretty generic.

Z4 is there because I think it's basically the only European alternative to the Corvette at this price point and era. But I fear the maintenance costs and reliability. Plus somehow I doubt it is as fun as a Corvette.

The C6 can feel special at low speed as well as high, for me it's ride quality is better than the C5 but if you prefer the styling of the C5 then that's the one to go for.

When it comes to an alternative I'd say a 370Z or 370Z Nismo are better options than the Z4.

[Mr Tidy]

I don't know anything about the Corvettes but I have had two 3 litre Z4 Coupes and the engines are really solid with no complicated service requirements.

My current daily is a 330i with the same N52 engine that has done 118K miles and it still runs sweetly and pulls strongly right up to the 7,000rpm red line.

[TJveloce]

ZX10R NIN said:

TJveloce said:

Thanks. But speed and performance alone are really not my aim. I feel like a C6 is a bit much and can only be really exploited on a race track. Wouldn't you agree?

Even the C5 is quite up there. And I kind of like the older school feel of the C5 and C4 while still being plenty quick and lots of fun. Classic looks too.

Besides it may be just my personal preference but I think the C4 and C5 are better looking and have more interesting interiors. The C6 interior looks like a budget car and the looks of the base cars is pretty generic.

Z4 is there because I think it's basically the only European alternative to the Corvette at this price point and era. But I fear the maintenance costs and reliability. Plus somehow I doubt it is as fun as a Corvette.

The C6 can feel special at low speed as well as high, for me it's ride quality is better than the C5 but if you prefer the styling of the C5 then that's the one to go for.

When it comes to an alternative I'd say a 370Z or 370Z Nismo are better options than the Z4.

Don't discard a late C4 too. By what I have been hearing from people who either have owned both or still do, the C4 can be more fun or more of an occasion to drive than the C5. Style I go back and forth. C5 looks more modern, but C4 looks more exotic at this point.

Problem with the Nismo is the chavy style, for lack or a better way to describe it. The 370Z in general looks a tad much and cartoonish for me. The 350Z is a nice looking car. But they are heavy and don't handle like a sports car.

What I like about the Z4 coupe is that it is exactly what I would think a mainstream TVR would be. More reliable, easier to live with and better built. There is really no European Corvette. I don't think TVR is it. Too unreliable and high maintenance. But I think the closest thing seems to be a Z4 coupe. Even if it's "only" 6 cylinders.

[cerb4.5lee]

TJveloce said:

ZX10R NIN said:

TJveloce said:

Thanks. But speed and performance alone are really not my aim. I feel like a C6 is a bit much and can only be really exploited on a race track. Wouldn't you agree?

Even the C5 is quite up there. And I kind of like the older school feel of the C5 and C4 while still being plenty quick and lots of fun. Classic looks too.

Besides it may be just my personal preference but I think the C4 and C5 are better looking and have more interesting interiors. The C6 interior looks like a budget car and the looks of the base cars is pretty generic.

Z4 is there because I think it's basically the only European alternative to the Corvette at this price point and era. But I fear the maintenance costs and reliability. Plus somehow I doubt it is as fun as a Corvette.

The C6 can feel special at low speed as well as high, for me it's ride quality is better than the C5 but if you prefer the styling of the C5 then that's the one to go for.

When it comes to an alternative I'd say a 370Z or 370Z Nismo are better options than the Z4.

Don't discard a late C4 too. By what I have been hearing from people who either have owned both or still do, the C4 can be more fun or more of an occasion to drive than the C5. Style I go back and forth. C5 looks more modern, but C4 looks more exotic at this point.

Problem with the Nismo is the chavy style, for lack or a better way to describe it. The 370Z in general looks a tad much and cartoonish for me. The 350Z is a nice looking car. But they are heavy and don't handle like a sports car.

What I like about the Z4 coupe is that it is exactly what I would think a mainstream TVR would be. More reliable, easier to live with and better built. There is really no European Corvette. I don't think TVR is it. Too unreliable and high maintenance. But I think the closest thing seems to be a Z4 coupe. Even if it's "only" 6 cylinders.

I'd personally put the 370Z way above the Z4(I've had a Z4M) in terms of the way it handles/rides. I've also had a TVR Cerbera 4.5, and for me my 370Z does a much better job of reminding me of the TVR than the Z4M ever did.

[TJveloce]

cerb4.5lee said:

TJveloce said:

ZX10R NIN said:

TJveloce said:

Thanks. But speed and performance alone are really not my aim. I feel like a C6 is a bit much and can only be really exploited on a race track. Wouldn't you agree?

Even the C5 is quite up there. And I kind of like the older school feel of the C5 and C4 while still being plenty quick and lots of fun. Classic looks too.

Besides it may be just my personal preference but I think the C4 and C5 are better looking and have more interesting interiors. The C6 interior looks like a budget car and the looks of the base cars is pretty generic.

Z4 is there because I think it's basically the only European alternative to the Corvette at this price point and era. But I fear the maintenance costs and reliability. Plus somehow I doubt it is as fun as a Corvette.

The C6 can feel special at low speed as well as high, for me it's ride quality is better than the C5 but if you prefer the styling of the C5 then that's the one to go for.

When it comes to an alternative I'd say a 370Z or 370Z Nismo are better options than the Z4.

Don't discard a late C4 too. By what I have been hearing from people who either have owned both or still do, the C4 can be more fun or more of an occasion to drive than the C5. Style I go back and forth. C5 looks more modern, but C4 looks more exotic at this point.

Problem with the Nismo is the chavy style, for lack or a better way to describe it. The 370Z in general looks a tad much and cartoonish for me. The 350Z is a nice looking car. But they are heavy and don't handle like a sports car.

What I like about the Z4 coupe is that it is exactly what I would think a mainstream TVR would be. More reliable, easier to live with and better built. There is really no European Corvette. I don't think TVR is it. Too unreliable and high maintenance. But I think the closest thing seems to be a Z4 coupe. Even if it's "only" 6 cylinders.

I'd personally put the 370Z way above the Z4(I've had a Z4M) in terms of the way it handles/rides. I've also had a TVR Cerbera 4.5, and for me my 370Z does a much better job of reminding me of the TVR than the Z4M ever did.

This is good to hear. I'm just not sure I can get passed the looks. But by what you are saying, it handles nothing like the 350Z then? The 350Z handles basically like a saloon more or less.

What I like about the 370Z is, because it's so old and had been on sale without much updating for so long, it probably feels quite old school even if you get a 2019 model, compared to another 2019 car. So it's probably a good option if you want a low mileage and newer car that feels old school. Would you agree with that? I have never driven one.

[cerb4.5lee]

TJveloce said:

This is good to hear. I'm just not sure I can get passed the looks. But by what you are saying, it handles nothing like the 350Z then? The 350Z handles basically like a saloon more or less.

What I like about the 370Z is, because it's so old and had been on sale without much updating for so long, it probably feels quite old school even if you get a 2019 model, compared to another 2019 car. So it's probably a good option if you want a low mileage and newer car that feels old school. Would you agree with that? I have never driven one.

I think that saying that the 350Z(or 370Z) handles like a saloon(and many people do) is a bit unfair, because ironically if the Z4 handled like a 3 series then it would be a much better car(for me). For example my E92 M3 absolutely wiped the floor with my Z4M in terms of its chassis/suspension/ride. The M3 was the far better car, yet the Z4 was supposed to be the "sports car" if you understand what I mean.

Yes and I do agree with you in terms of the 370Z feeling lovely and old school(that is the big part of the appeal for me). I'm not saying that the Z4 is a bad car, but it is definitely unresolved/flawed in my opinion. I think what has always frustrated me is that I know that BMW can make a great car(3 and 5 series for example), yet when it comes to making a sports car they always seem to fall short though for me.

[SarlechS]

cerb4.5lee said:

I think that saying that the 350Z(or 370Z) handles like a saloon(and many people do) is a bit unfair, because ironically if the Z4 handled like a 3 series then it would be a much better car(for me). For example my E92 M3 absolutely wiped the floor with my Z4M in terms of its chassis/suspension/ride. The M3 was the far better car, yet the Z4 was supposed to be the "sports car" if you understand what I mean.

Yes and I do agree with you in terms of the 370Z feeling lovely and old school(that is the big part of the appeal for me). I'm not saying that the Z4 is a bad car, but it is definitely unresolved/flawed in my opinion. I think what has always frustrated me is that I know that BMW can make a great car(3 and 5 series for example), yet when it comes to making a sports car they always seem to fall short though for me.

This is exactly how i felt when driving the Z4M, i walked away from the test drive feeling deflated and unimpressed.

[Om]

TJveloce said:

This is good to hear. I'm just not sure I can get passed the looks. But by what you are saying, it handles nothing like the 350Z then? The 350Z handles basically like a saloon more or less.

What I like about the 370Z is, because it's so old and had been on sale without much updating for so long, it probably feels quite old school even if you get a 2019 model, compared to another 2019 car. So it's probably a good option if you want a low mileage and newer car that feels old school. Would you agree with that? I have never driven one.

I would definitely agree about the 370z being more old school in the way it feels to drive. Firmer/weightier steering, clutch, gearbox but with a well controlled/damped ride. They are the antithesis of modern (often German) sports cars.

As far as their sportiness/abilities go I usually trot out this old Best Motoring clip:



It certainly isn't a sports car in the MX5 sense but it is more than capable - and fun with it.

[TJveloce]

I get what you are all saying of the 370Z. But as a sports car and a purchase from the emotional side, you need to be able to get on with the looks and like I said, I'm not sure I can.

[cerb4.5lee]

TJveloce said:

I get what you are all saying of the 370Z. But as a sports car and a purchase from the emotional side, you need to be able to get on with the looks and like I said, I'm not sure I can.

The Z4 Coupe and the Z4M Coupe are fantastic looking things to my eyes, whereas the looks of the 370Z do seem to be very marmite. I think the majority prefer the looks of the 350Z in comparison.

[TJveloce]

cerb4.5lee said:

The Z4 Coupe and the Z4M Coupe are fantastic looking things to my eyes, whereas the looks of the 370Z do seem to be very marmite. I think the majority prefer the looks of the 350Z in comparison.

I definitely prefer the looks of the 350Z. I think it's the headlights and taillights on the 370Z. Having said that, way better looking than most modern BMWs.

[Mr Tidy]

cerb4.5lee said:

I think that saying that the 350Z(or 370Z) handles like a saloon(and many people do) is a bit unfair, because ironically if the Z4 handled like a 3 series then it would be a much better car(for me). For example my E92 M3 absolutely wiped the floor with my Z4M in terms of its chassis/suspension/ride. The M3 was the far better car, yet the Z4 was supposed to be the "sports car" if you understand what I mean.

Yes and I do agree with you in terms of the 370Z feeling lovely and old school(that is the big part of the appeal for me). I'm not saying that the Z4 is a bad car, but it is definitely unresolved/flawed in my opinion. I think what has always frustrated me is that I know that BMW can make a great car(3 and 5 series for example), yet when it comes to making a sports car they always seem to fall short though for me.

That probably just proves we all like different things.

For most of 2019 I ran an E90 330i as a daily with a 3.0Si Z4 Coupe for weekends so both with the N52 engine and manual gearbox, and I just found the 330i dull and inert. Although I did prefer the 3 Series hydraulic PAS.

I thought the Z4 felt old school being a bit unruly at times, then I replaced it with a Z4MC that feels even more old school!