Z4 M Coupe + Previous
Discussion
Having purchased my latest car a few months ago I thought I'd finally take the time to get some photos up, but first a brief car history.
My first car was a 2003 Seat Ibiza TDI Sport (essentially a FR TDI) which was at age 18 was the fastest thing on planet earth. By working part time through college I was able to afford the insurance on something with a bit more performance than the usual 1.1 Saxos and such and the fact it was a diesel meant my fairly long commute to college each day cost me next to nothing in fuel. Looking back without my rose tinted spectacles is was in truth a rattily (both in engine and interior) old diesel which had clearly been thoroughly shagged by its previous owners.
Aged nineteen and working full time I decided to trade the Seat in against a black 2007 Renaultsport Clio 197 and it was from this point that I realised I never wanted a diesel ever again. Whilst in the real world it was probably only marginally faster than the Seat, winding it up to 8000rpm and chucking it down a twisty B road was pure joy. Sadly I have no pictures of it but I would have another in a heartbeat, and being my first proper car it definitely holds a special place in my car history.
Having loved every minute of my 12 months with the Clio I decided the only thing to do was upgrade to a Megane R26. Again I adored this car, the performance was a sizeable step up from the Clio but the handling was just spectacular, it never failed to astound me with the speed with which it went round corners, until... the Megane met a sticky end in Wales on the Evo Triangle. Pouring rain, no more than 40mph and driving like a nun as I'd never driven there before, downhill left hand bend the rear of the car swung left and me and my friend went sailing sideways into what was apparently a freshly erected sign post. Bugger. A very sad journey back to Stoke in the recovery truck followed and the Megane was written off shortly after due to the chassis damage and the cost of paintwork.
RTI insurance to the rescue I was able to clear the finance I had on the car and still had enough left over for a healthy deposit on another car. And so began the most exhausting, infuriating and wonderful automotive relationship I've had so far. With what else? An Alfa of course. Specifically a 147 GTA. I bought this car from a very well respected Alfa Romeo specialist in Cheshire, it lacked everything that I knew I should have looked for (Q2 diff, 330mm front brakes etc.), but it had an Autodelata exhaust, beautiful paintwork and recent history that essentially made it a new car in terms of all consumables. It was probably one of the best in the country and completely eclipsed every one I'd viewed previously. One test drive and I had to have it. 3 years I owned her, 3 times longer than anything I'd had before. A totally bewitching thing that would make you want to pull your hair out one minute and then make you fall in love again the next; ownership is just one of those things you just can't describe to someone who hasn't experienced it.
Finally, my latest acquisition. I sold the Alfa and pooled the money from a property sale to buy this 2006 Z4 M Coupe. I originally was as after a Megane R26.R but after waiting in vein for the right one to come up, I looked at a few of these and this wonderful example came up for sale literally minutes after walking away from one I'd test drove. It has genuine CSL wheels and I've recently added Supersprint Race backboxes. Plans are to keep it looking lovely and add a custom centre section, aero skirts and perhaps a carbon airbox in time. I absolutely love the thing so far, such a characterful car and something I never anticipated owning as I saw German cars as a little boring after the Alfa. It is anything but boring and requires real hard work to get the best from it on country roads. It also seems to get looks everywhere it goes, the shape is so unique. Anyway, a couple of photos.
My first car was a 2003 Seat Ibiza TDI Sport (essentially a FR TDI) which was at age 18 was the fastest thing on planet earth. By working part time through college I was able to afford the insurance on something with a bit more performance than the usual 1.1 Saxos and such and the fact it was a diesel meant my fairly long commute to college each day cost me next to nothing in fuel. Looking back without my rose tinted spectacles is was in truth a rattily (both in engine and interior) old diesel which had clearly been thoroughly shagged by its previous owners.
Aged nineteen and working full time I decided to trade the Seat in against a black 2007 Renaultsport Clio 197 and it was from this point that I realised I never wanted a diesel ever again. Whilst in the real world it was probably only marginally faster than the Seat, winding it up to 8000rpm and chucking it down a twisty B road was pure joy. Sadly I have no pictures of it but I would have another in a heartbeat, and being my first proper car it definitely holds a special place in my car history.
Having loved every minute of my 12 months with the Clio I decided the only thing to do was upgrade to a Megane R26. Again I adored this car, the performance was a sizeable step up from the Clio but the handling was just spectacular, it never failed to astound me with the speed with which it went round corners, until... the Megane met a sticky end in Wales on the Evo Triangle. Pouring rain, no more than 40mph and driving like a nun as I'd never driven there before, downhill left hand bend the rear of the car swung left and me and my friend went sailing sideways into what was apparently a freshly erected sign post. Bugger. A very sad journey back to Stoke in the recovery truck followed and the Megane was written off shortly after due to the chassis damage and the cost of paintwork.
RTI insurance to the rescue I was able to clear the finance I had on the car and still had enough left over for a healthy deposit on another car. And so began the most exhausting, infuriating and wonderful automotive relationship I've had so far. With what else? An Alfa of course. Specifically a 147 GTA. I bought this car from a very well respected Alfa Romeo specialist in Cheshire, it lacked everything that I knew I should have looked for (Q2 diff, 330mm front brakes etc.), but it had an Autodelata exhaust, beautiful paintwork and recent history that essentially made it a new car in terms of all consumables. It was probably one of the best in the country and completely eclipsed every one I'd viewed previously. One test drive and I had to have it. 3 years I owned her, 3 times longer than anything I'd had before. A totally bewitching thing that would make you want to pull your hair out one minute and then make you fall in love again the next; ownership is just one of those things you just can't describe to someone who hasn't experienced it.
Finally, my latest acquisition. I sold the Alfa and pooled the money from a property sale to buy this 2006 Z4 M Coupe. I originally was as after a Megane R26.R but after waiting in vein for the right one to come up, I looked at a few of these and this wonderful example came up for sale literally minutes after walking away from one I'd test drove. It has genuine CSL wheels and I've recently added Supersprint Race backboxes. Plans are to keep it looking lovely and add a custom centre section, aero skirts and perhaps a carbon airbox in time. I absolutely love the thing so far, such a characterful car and something I never anticipated owning as I saw German cars as a little boring after the Alfa. It is anything but boring and requires real hard work to get the best from it on country roads. It also seems to get looks everywhere it goes, the shape is so unique. Anyway, a couple of photos.
Edited by clowesy on Monday 18th May 22:22
Thanks so much for the kind words.
Engine and straight line performance? Being turbocharged the Megane felt quick day to day, would overtake in high gears using its torque but at the top end it really felt strangled as with most turbo engines. Not sure I'd ever willingly go back to a turbocharged engine. The 3.2 V6 in the Alfa is glorious and has to be experienced, very strong low down but winding it up is one of life's joys; the noise is to die for. Above say 90mph the Megane would not keep up. The BMW engine is in a different league to both, not quite as gutsy low down as the Alfa but up top the performance is far beyond. Sound is different but almost as nice as the Alfa but in the gear at the right time it would level both it and the Megane quite easily I imagine.
InductionRoar said:
Fantastic photo at the bottom. Where was that taken?
Thumbs up to my girlfriend here; she took the photo on our recent trip to the Lake District. Taken east of Elterwater and Little Langdale where in truth the roads were too narrow for anything other than slow progress but the photo opportunities were worth it. Pommygranite said:
Silly question but how much faster in the real world than the 147GTA and Megane is the BMW?
I suppose it depends on your definition of "the real world" but on a twisty, bumpy British B road the Megane would undoubtedly be the quickest; the suspension set up is just as close to perfect as you'd like for our roads. The Alfa, until I had the Quaife diff installed really didn't handle that well at all and even then its the suspension that really needs work, the whole car is very firm over small bumps but then has no compliance over large undulations where it wallows and then really leans around corners. Poor quality damping I suspect, but there are those who have coilover set ups and imagine this would transform the car. The BMW as others have mentioned is very stiff; the torsional rigidity of the chassis is monumental. Like the Alfa, however it can be the flaws that that really make it engaging to drive and the fact that you work up a sweat on a demanding road can be just as rewarding as dissecting it at warp speed. Engine and straight line performance? Being turbocharged the Megane felt quick day to day, would overtake in high gears using its torque but at the top end it really felt strangled as with most turbo engines. Not sure I'd ever willingly go back to a turbocharged engine. The 3.2 V6 in the Alfa is glorious and has to be experienced, very strong low down but winding it up is one of life's joys; the noise is to die for. Above say 90mph the Megane would not keep up. The BMW engine is in a different league to both, not quite as gutsy low down as the Alfa but up top the performance is far beyond. Sound is different but almost as nice as the Alfa but in the gear at the right time it would level both it and the Megane quite easily I imagine.
clowesy said:
Thanks so much for the kind words.
Engine and straight line performance? Being turbocharged the Megane felt quick day to day, would overtake in high gears using its torque but at the top end it really felt strangled as with most turbo engines. Not sure I'd ever willingly go back to a turbocharged engine. The 3.2 V6 in the Alfa is glorious and has to be experienced, very strong low down but winding it up is one of life's joys; the noise is to die for. Above say 90mph the Megane would not keep up. The BMW engine is in a different league to both, not quite as gutsy low down as the Alfa but up top the performance is far beyond. Sound is different but almost as nice as the Alfa but in the gear at the right time it would level both it and the Megane quite easily I imagine.
Cheers - appreciate the insight, nicely written.InductionRoar said:
Fantastic photo at the bottom. Where was that taken?
Thumbs up to my girlfriend here; she took the photo on our recent trip to the Lake District. Taken east of Elterwater and Little Langdale where in truth the roads were too narrow for anything other than slow progress but the photo opportunities were worth it. Pommygranite said:
Silly question but how much faster in the real world than the 147GTA and Megane is the BMW?
I suppose it depends on your definition of "the real world" but on a twisty, bumpy British B road the Megane would undoubtedly be the quickest; the suspension set up is just as close to perfect as you'd like for our roads. The Alfa, until I had the Quaife diff installed really didn't handle that well at all and even then its the suspension that really needs work, the whole car is very firm over small bumps but then has no compliance over large undulations where it wallows and then really leans around corners. Poor quality damping I suspect, but there are those who have coilover set ups and imagine this would transform the car. The BMW as others have mentioned is very stiff; the torsional rigidity of the chassis is monumental. Like the Alfa, however it can be the flaws that that really make it engaging to drive and the fact that you work up a sweat on a demanding road can be just as rewarding as dissecting it at warp speed. Engine and straight line performance? Being turbocharged the Megane felt quick day to day, would overtake in high gears using its torque but at the top end it really felt strangled as with most turbo engines. Not sure I'd ever willingly go back to a turbocharged engine. The 3.2 V6 in the Alfa is glorious and has to be experienced, very strong low down but winding it up is one of life's joys; the noise is to die for. Above say 90mph the Megane would not keep up. The BMW engine is in a different league to both, not quite as gutsy low down as the Alfa but up top the performance is far beyond. Sound is different but almost as nice as the Alfa but in the gear at the right time it would level both it and the Megane quite easily I imagine.
jbaddeley said:
Nice selection of cars there Clowsey. I'm a stokie and off to wales early next Sunday with a few tasty motors for a bit of a run if you fancy it. I'll be in my golf r. PM me if you fancy it.
Thanks very much for the offer mate but unfortunately I work weekends. Shame as I'm yet to take on the Welsh roads in my Z4.parabolica said:
I keep looking at Z4 Coupes as a potential replacement for my 645 (although I'm not quite ready to change just yet). Your one looks amazing.
Thank you. I believe the non M versions are a lot softer in ride quality terms. I'm not sure what you're looking for but the 3.0 might be less of a shock coming from a 6 series, could be worth trying both.43034 said:
The 147 looks bloody gorgeous. That 3.2 is just ludicrous isn't it! Anymore photos?
It was a wonderful car and will be very sorely missed and indeed that engine is sublime; surely one of the all time greats. I do hope the new owner is taking care of her. Here are a few more shots...
Quick update. Nine moths into ownership now and I've done more miles in that time than I did in the entire last year of Alfa ownership as I just cant seem to stop driving it; it's great owning a car that makes you just want to get out and go for a drive. I'm completely sold on RWD now after being convinced by a mate into going for this rather than holding out for an R26.R, it just opens up a completely different level of enjoyment that you can access even at low speeds and really adds another dimension of involvement and difficulty when you're driving a demanding road.
In October I did a solo drive through the Peak District where the car was just awesome. A few runs around Ladybower reservoir and across the Snakes pass with a few bikers who were rather impressed by the cars abilities (and the noise) had me grinning like a little kid. Last weekend me and a friend (the same one who convinced me to go RWD) took a drive through the Peak District again this time with his GoPro in tow. Unfortunately the quality once he converted the file for YouTube is a bit naff and the damp roads and 50 mph average cameras on these roads slowed things down a bit; from about 9 minutes in you can get an idea of the noise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6dM2KFlhqk
Me and my Girlfriend spent the last few day at Lake Vyrnwy in Wales, we had to make our way through some pretty thick snow about 10 miles from the hotel but the little coupe didn't get stuck once. Definitely worth the drive for the viewsalone.
If you ever want to see parts of the country you never knew existed and drive along roads that should probably not be classed as such, simply pop your destination into a BMW sat-nav system and enjoy the 'Fast Route'; you never know where you'll find yourself.
Car was clean before we left.
Plans going forward are to fit a new pair of front tyres, either Pilot SS's or Eagle F1 asymmetric, not sure yet. Then I'm going to look at solving the drone caused by the Supersprint exhaust at 2K RPM (perhaps using some quarter wavelength pipes branching of the X-pipe) and I may take the plunge and pick up Evolve automotive's new intake system.
In October I did a solo drive through the Peak District where the car was just awesome. A few runs around Ladybower reservoir and across the Snakes pass with a few bikers who were rather impressed by the cars abilities (and the noise) had me grinning like a little kid. Last weekend me and a friend (the same one who convinced me to go RWD) took a drive through the Peak District again this time with his GoPro in tow. Unfortunately the quality once he converted the file for YouTube is a bit naff and the damp roads and 50 mph average cameras on these roads slowed things down a bit; from about 9 minutes in you can get an idea of the noise.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6dM2KFlhqk
Me and my Girlfriend spent the last few day at Lake Vyrnwy in Wales, we had to make our way through some pretty thick snow about 10 miles from the hotel but the little coupe didn't get stuck once. Definitely worth the drive for the viewsalone.
If you ever want to see parts of the country you never knew existed and drive along roads that should probably not be classed as such, simply pop your destination into a BMW sat-nav system and enjoy the 'Fast Route'; you never know where you'll find yourself.
Car was clean before we left.
Plans going forward are to fit a new pair of front tyres, either Pilot SS's or Eagle F1 asymmetric, not sure yet. Then I'm going to look at solving the drone caused by the Supersprint exhaust at 2K RPM (perhaps using some quarter wavelength pipes branching of the X-pipe) and I may take the plunge and pick up Evolve automotive's new intake system.
Edited by clowesy on Friday 16th January 12:55
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