Discussion
I went and had a look this afternoon as I've been looking at getting one of the more recent old models (probably a coupe, but not definite yet). I was curious as to whether it might be worth hanging off for 12 months and picking one up lightly used.
I know some dealers were making more of it but at the one I went to it seemed like just another car on the floor, no fanfare, no nothing really. This surprised me a little as I'd expect a little more effort on day one.
There was only the one car (a 35 with DCT) so it may take a little while to get a drive at some dealers.
As for the car itself, I was pleasantly surprised in terms of the looks - the one they had was a blue one and it looked much more cohesive in the flesh with the roof up. I hadn't expected this as I much preferred the looks of the previous Z and thought the new one looked a bit manky in the photos. I guess this is a common trait of a lot of the recent BMs though.
The interior is undoubtedly nicer than the old model but it didn't strike me personally as being the quantum leap that some magazines have portrayed it as.
What I didn't like?
The boot is a mess and didn't look particularly usable - too much gubbins everywhere. However, as I've no experience of folding roof cars, this may well be the norm.
The other thing is a silly little one in some respects. The gap between the front of the car and where the radiator starts seemed very large to me. I'm sure this is good for the overall looks and good for crash repair costs but it just looked very odd IMHO and is one of those daft little things that would gnaw away in the back of my mind.
Overall, would I have one?
Obviously it's a bit of a moot point without a drive but yes & no. If I was prepared to spend that much on a new car then probably.
However, the car I looked at was £43k with options and I can't help thinking that spending £20k ish on a lightly used old Z4 3.0si (coupe or roadster) or a bit more on an M would be a much better overall purchase, unless you are really intent on a new car or want that roof & reasonably nicer interior.
I know some dealers were making more of it but at the one I went to it seemed like just another car on the floor, no fanfare, no nothing really. This surprised me a little as I'd expect a little more effort on day one.
There was only the one car (a 35 with DCT) so it may take a little while to get a drive at some dealers.
As for the car itself, I was pleasantly surprised in terms of the looks - the one they had was a blue one and it looked much more cohesive in the flesh with the roof up. I hadn't expected this as I much preferred the looks of the previous Z and thought the new one looked a bit manky in the photos. I guess this is a common trait of a lot of the recent BMs though.
The interior is undoubtedly nicer than the old model but it didn't strike me personally as being the quantum leap that some magazines have portrayed it as.
What I didn't like?
The boot is a mess and didn't look particularly usable - too much gubbins everywhere. However, as I've no experience of folding roof cars, this may well be the norm.
The other thing is a silly little one in some respects. The gap between the front of the car and where the radiator starts seemed very large to me. I'm sure this is good for the overall looks and good for crash repair costs but it just looked very odd IMHO and is one of those daft little things that would gnaw away in the back of my mind.
Overall, would I have one?
Obviously it's a bit of a moot point without a drive but yes & no. If I was prepared to spend that much on a new car then probably.
However, the car I looked at was £43k with options and I can't help thinking that spending £20k ish on a lightly used old Z4 3.0si (coupe or roadster) or a bit more on an M would be a much better overall purchase, unless you are really intent on a new car or want that roof & reasonably nicer interior.
I had a drive of the 2.5 version at Woodman's yesterday. Definitely feels bigger and softer - much less sports car more GT cruiser. Still has RFT's on, didn't like the aluminium interior or the rotary switch gear. Very shiny, Amercian bling. As a drive it was quite good but defo not for me. Not that I have any intention of selling my M but it's pushing me towards a Porsche for a replacement 'sports' car.
As for the boot with the roof stowed - useless!
ETA has anyone else spotted the blocks of black polystyrene behind the kidney grills - awefull!
As for the boot with the roof stowed - useless!
ETA has anyone else spotted the blocks of black polystyrene behind the kidney grills - awefull!
Edited by ian in lancs on Sunday 10th May 08:09
ian in lancs said:
I had a drive of the 2.5 version at Woodman's yesterday. Definitely feels bigger and softer - much less sports car more GT cruiser. Still has RFT's on, didn't like the aluminium interior or the rotary switch gear. Very shiny, Amercian bling. As a drive it was quite good but defo not for me. Not that I have any intention of selling my M but it's pushing me towards a Porsche for a replacement 'sports' car.
As for the boot with the roof stowed - useless!
ETA has anyone else spotted the blocks of black polystyrene behind the kidney grills - awefull!
eeewww that sounds nasty, it wasn't transit packaging missed at pdi was it?As for the boot with the roof stowed - useless!
ETA has anyone else spotted the blocks of black polystyrene behind the kidney grills - awefull!
Edited by ian in lancs on Sunday 10th May 08:09
Went to see one yesterday, didn't drive it, and probably wont. Just really did not like the look of it, looks too big and heavy and seems to have lost any sportiness it had. The interior probably has a bit more quality about it, but I love the sparseness of our coupe, this is all just bling knobs and all a bit of a jumble. Also suspect the suede everywhere will look pretty ropy in a years time. The boot is a joke, roof down, you'd struggle to go to the supermarket, and roof up the boot space is compromised by all of the mechanical clutter. Also I might be wrong but its pretty much the same engine as the coupe isn't it? So with all that added weight I'm guessing it'll feel a whole lot slower.
There was a late 50s lady there in front of us saying she really didn't like the old one as it was too butch, but she really liked this as it was more girly, also she said with the roof up she'd be able to get her golf clubs in the back. That pretty much summed it up for me.
Anyway as an early poster says this is really pushing me down the porsche route - especially as showroom model was £43k. For the time being though going to stick with the coupe for another year and see what's what then
There was a late 50s lady there in front of us saying she really didn't like the old one as it was too butch, but she really liked this as it was more girly, also she said with the roof up she'd be able to get her golf clubs in the back. That pretty much summed it up for me.
Anyway as an early poster says this is really pushing me down the porsche route - especially as showroom model was £43k. For the time being though going to stick with the coupe for another year and see what's what then
Ian, I think it's going to be difficult to compare your Z4M with the base model car TBH.
I drove it today and thought it was pretty good. The ride is much better considering 19" wheels with runflats on the car would be spine killers on the current model. Performance I felt was a bit down on my 2.5 Si but i'm sure the 3ltr would be fine. I like the styling overall and think it's a good update to the old model.
However someone on z4-forum has priced a pcp deal on a 35i with some toys and it's over £800 per month! Way too much IMO for the car as it stands.
Think I will be keeping my current car until next year and then see what I fancy at that point.
I drove it today and thought it was pretty good. The ride is much better considering 19" wheels with runflats on the car would be spine killers on the current model. Performance I felt was a bit down on my 2.5 Si but i'm sure the 3ltr would be fine. I like the styling overall and think it's a good update to the old model.
However someone on z4-forum has priced a pcp deal on a 35i with some toys and it's over £800 per month! Way too much IMO for the car as it stands.
Think I will be keeping my current car until next year and then see what I fancy at that point.
Z4monster said:
Ian, I think it's going to be difficult to compare your Z4M with the base model car TBH.
I drove it today and thought it was pretty good. The ride is much better considering 19" wheels with runflats on the car would be spine killers on the current model. Performance I felt was a bit down on my 2.5 Si but i'm sure the 3ltr would be fine. I like the styling overall and think it's a good update to the old model.
However someone on z4-forum has priced a pcp deal on a 35i with some toys and it's over £800 per month! Way too much IMO for the car as it stands.
Think I will be keeping my current car until next year and then see what I fancy at that point.
This my second Z4. I had a 2004 2.5 before the Z4M.I drove it today and thought it was pretty good. The ride is much better considering 19" wheels with runflats on the car would be spine killers on the current model. Performance I felt was a bit down on my 2.5 Si but i'm sure the 3ltr would be fine. I like the styling overall and think it's a good update to the old model.
However someone on z4-forum has priced a pcp deal on a 35i with some toys and it's over £800 per month! Way too much IMO for the car as it stands.
Think I will be keeping my current car until next year and then see what I fancy at that point.
rhubarb said:
There was a late 50s lady there in front of us saying she really didn't like the old one as it was too butch, but she really liked this as it was more girly, also she said with the roof up she'd be able to get her golf clubs in the back. That pretty much summed it up for me.
A Saga special.Z4monster said:
However someone on z4-forum has priced a pcp deal on a 35i with some toys and it's over £800 per month! Way too much IMO for the car as it stands.
We were told similar figures by our local dealer. I cant see how anyone could justify this given the lease deal that is avail on the m3 at the moment. You'd have to really want a convertible.It didnt impress us at all. As the dealer proudly declared 'its softer and more refined than the previous car - designed as a boulevard cruiser, and with a boot shaped to hold golf clubs, and built to meet the new SLK head on' - i think that sums it up fairly well.
Not really a sports car any more then.
Stopped in at a dealer to have a look at one yesterday, having read almost nothing about it in the press.
It looks even longer of bonnet than the old one (but for no obvious reason), interior looks better put together, but the boot is ridiculous.
Won't be changing the current Z for a new one, for definite. Has lost what focus it had.
It looks even longer of bonnet than the old one (but for no obvious reason), interior looks better put together, but the boot is ridiculous.
Won't be changing the current Z for a new one, for definite. Has lost what focus it had.
ClintonB said:
As for the car itself, I was pleasantly surprised in terms of the looks - the one they had was a blue one and it looked much more cohesive in the flesh with the roof up.
The interior is undoubtedly nicer than the old model but it didn't strike me personally as being the quantum leap that some magazines have portrayed it as.
What I didn't like?
The boot is a mess and didn't look particularly usable - too much gubbins everywhere. However, as I've no experience of folding roof cars, this may well be the norm.
Overall, would I have one?
Obviously it's a bit of a moot point without a drive but yes & no. If I was prepared to spend that much on a new car then probably.
However, the car I looked at was £43k with options and I can't help thinking that spending £20k ish on a lightly used old Z4 3.0si (coupe or roadster) or a bit more on an M would be a much better overall purchase, unless you are really intent on a new car or want that roof & reasonably nicer interior.
Completely agree. Popped down to the local dealer to have a look. The boot was a complete mess and I wasn't impressed by the seats either. The interior was a nice upgrade (as long as you didn’t look too hard at the roof where there are gaps for the mechanism).The interior is undoubtedly nicer than the old model but it didn't strike me personally as being the quantum leap that some magazines have portrayed it as.
What I didn't like?
The boot is a mess and didn't look particularly usable - too much gubbins everywhere. However, as I've no experience of folding roof cars, this may well be the norm.
Overall, would I have one?
Obviously it's a bit of a moot point without a drive but yes & no. If I was prepared to spend that much on a new car then probably.
However, the car I looked at was £43k with options and I can't help thinking that spending £20k ish on a lightly used old Z4 3.0si (coupe or roadster) or a bit more on an M would be a much better overall purchase, unless you are really intent on a new car or want that roof & reasonably nicer interior.
Despite the fact it's not what I am looking for, what is the point on a big soft GT cruiser when it has no boot?
I think I will be holding on to the Z4C for some time to come.
[quote=(steven)]
I think I will be holding on to the Z4C for some time to come.
[/quote]
Ours is due to go back next March, so we'll probably defer making a decision until then. Cant see it being a new z4 though.
Maybe an m3 if our finances could cope, or maybe a 370z if we're not feeling quite so flush.
I think I will be holding on to the Z4C for some time to come.
[/quote]
Ours is due to go back next March, so we'll probably defer making a decision until then. Cant see it being a new z4 though.
Maybe an m3 if our finances could cope, or maybe a 370z if we're not feeling quite so flush.
Drove one of these by shear luck yesterday.
2.5 Auto. Really liked it apart from the road noise on the motorway, though the ride quality and weight/response of the steering was really good if overal feel lacking. The paddles on the steering wheel confused me a bit but overall it felt a little cheap for the money being asked. Looks very purposeful and that bonnet is just great to sit behind and admire the view out front. Handling felt very secure and it certainly gave the confidence that it could handle loads more power. The 35i must be a beast of a thing.
Discounts being offered as well. Optional extras offered very poor value. Sales guy was excellent and no BS. If it was cheaper and came with leather and a few more toys standard I would even buy a new one which is unheard of for me.
2.5 Auto. Really liked it apart from the road noise on the motorway, though the ride quality and weight/response of the steering was really good if overal feel lacking. The paddles on the steering wheel confused me a bit but overall it felt a little cheap for the money being asked. Looks very purposeful and that bonnet is just great to sit behind and admire the view out front. Handling felt very secure and it certainly gave the confidence that it could handle loads more power. The 35i must be a beast of a thing.
Discounts being offered as well. Optional extras offered very poor value. Sales guy was excellent and no BS. If it was cheaper and came with leather and a few more toys standard I would even buy a new one which is unheard of for me.
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