SLK or Z4

[JohnG123]

Wife's SLK is due to go back after 2 years lease deal.
She has only done 8500 miles and really likes how it drives must admit I find it a little under powered it's a SLK 200

Car has been ultra reliable

I now intend to purchase her next car .

Budget about 28 K.

Searching the autotrader looks like you can get a 1 year newer Z4 then the SLK
Any thoughts or experience on both models.
Many thanks

[Thankyou4calling]

JohnG123 said:

Wife's SLK is due to go back after 2 years lease deal.
She has only done 8500 miles and really likes how it drives must admit I find it a little under powered it's a SLK 200

Car has been ultra reliable

I now intend to purchase her next car .

Budget about 28 K.

Searching the autotrader looks like you can get a 1 year newer Z4 then the SLK
Any thoughts or experience on both models.
Many thanks

Why not consider leasing a 250 AMG SLK? There are plenty about and with your mileage £275 per month should be possible. On a 6+ 23 this would be £8000. You'd have a brand new car, lower maintenance costs, better economy and performance it'd even include car tax. Worth looking into.

[JohnG123]

Thought about the diesel just concerned about the DFP filter as car would very rarely get a motorway run.

So the savings in fuel over 8000 miles would be small as on the very odd time I have a done a long journey I got 40 mpg
Out of the SLK 200

Might look at a white SLK 250 petrol or a 2.3 Z4 to buy.

[IainF]

Like the look of the SLK, but have not driven one. But we took a test drive in a 2.0 litre Z4, and I found it a bit boring. Drove up Weardale, which has some of the best driving roads in the country. But it failed to shine. I thought the suspension was too wallowy in its standard setting, and too crashy when firmed up. Not much steering feel. Stopped in Wolsingham for coffee, and neither of us wanted to drive it back. I won, sat in the passenger seat, and slept all the way back to Durham! We bought an Audi TTS cab instead, so maybe that is another one to add to your "possibles" list?

[Ari]

I think the Z4 is a great looking car, but you don't see many about do you?

Not driven one as generally the finish and quality of BMWs always seems to me to leave a lot to be desired.

[illmonkey]

IainF said:

Like the look of the SLK, but have not driven one. But we took a test drive in a 2.0 litre Z4, and I found it a bit boring. Drove up Weardale, which has some of the best driving roads in the country. But it failed to shine. I thought the suspension was too wallowy in its standard setting, and too crashy when firmed up. Not much steering feel. Stopped in Wolsingham for coffee, and neither of us wanted to drive it back. I won, sat in the passenger seat, and slept all the way back to Durham! We bought an Audi TTS cab instead, so maybe that is another one to add to your "possibles" list?

You're comparing poverty spec Z4 to a TTS. No wonder they were different! What a stupid comparison.

[Thankyou4calling]

You won't have to worry about DPF, the lease car old be warranteed. Any issue would be covered, and, as for fuel, you'd use 30/40% less in a diesel (real world)

[JohnG123]

We have decided to purchase so guess she will have to test drive a 2.0 Z4

[JohnG123]

We have decided to purchase so guess she will have to test drive a 2.0 Z4

[Biggriff]

Had a slk55 and wife now has a new z4 with 2.0 turbo in 28i spec. Not an overly charismatic engine, but car seems generally well screwed together and a pretty good place to be. Ride is a bit lumpy but more than tolerable.

The car cost £42k and we bought ex demo with 3k miles for £26k so good value with five year service plan. Couldn't go wrong really plus it seems very economical.

Would I buy one over an SLK, yes, we looked at one but quality with Merc wasn't that good, all a bit plasticky, and styling a bit conservative.

[JohnG123]

Thanks for that I prefer the Z4 but the wife prefers the SLK .

[CraigV6]

Save yourself £8k -£10k and get a low mileage 2007 R171 SLK55.

[JohnG123]

I would but wife gets her own fuel so that's a none starter.

[JetskiJezz]

I don't know if this helps the debate, but I have had/got both although not really comparable models.

I'm currently running a 250 Cdi AMG SLK (2012 model) - my daily driver
Just before I bought it I had a Z4 35iS (2011 model) - as a weekend toy

Clearly in terms of performance they are miles apart, the Z4 was the monster spec insanely powerful version, I sold it because I should've really bought the V8 M3 convertible instead and needed to scratch that itch.
The SLK was on one of the stupidly cheap lease deals at the time so I signed up for it.
I got to say it's been a really good run around, It gets used for mainly short journeys on A and B roads and I can't really fault it at all. I think the fuel economy is awful for a diesel, It has total 39mpg from new and has now done just under 11,000 miles ( mind you I'm very heavy footed and pretty much always drive it in sport mode which makes it much more responsive).

As far as finish and quality go, I don't think there is much if anything to tell them apart. personally I prefer the look of the Z4 with it retro long bonnet, my wife however prefers the look of the SLK.

[JohnG123]

its a game this car hunting.
I prefer the Z4 she prefers the SLK ?????????????????

However she wants the luxury Climate control which seems to be ultra rare in the SLK.

seems nearly all the BMW Z4 have auto climate.

been offered about 5 percent discount on a brand new build SLK but cannot bring myself to give the VAT man £6K

[steveflatt]

Sorry to be provocative but go for Boxter knocks both into a cocked hat on every level I've had slk55 and Boxter prefer Boxter but beware if you buy Boxter you will want 911
Cheers
Steve

[Ari]

steveflatt said:

Sorry to be provocative but go for Boxter knocks both into a cocked hat on every level I've had slk55 and Boxter prefer Boxter but beware if you buy Boxter you will want 911
Cheers
Steve

That depends very much what you want from the car surely?

I looked at a Boxster. For the same money it would have been an older leggier car with a cloth roof, less space in it, and not as well equipped and it doesn't look as nice (although I do like the very latest one I must admit!). I suspect the SLK is more refined too, but I just didn't like the Boxster enough to even bother driving it.

I'm sure the Boxster is a better 'ten tenths' driving machine, but for those of us that aren't track based Driving Gods that's pretty irrelevant to be honest.

[Ari]

JohnG123 said:

However she wants the luxury Climate control which seems to be ultra rare in the SLK.

Rare, but not impossible to find.







It is a great convenience feature though, and it looks a lot nicer than the four plain silver knobs.

[tobinen]

Buy the car she just had

[JohnG123]

Unfortunately the lease deal I have does not allow me to purchase.
Also the better half wants heated seats and air scarf.

Still only very few 2011 new shape cars with the auto climate

Looks like we are ordering a brand new CdI version with all the options we like.
Diamond white
Red leather
Luxury climate
Heated seats
Air scarf
Electric seats memory pack
Parktronic
Just negotiating with about 5 dealers after getting a price from Broadspeed.

Looks like 10-12 % discount on list is acheivable.
We did consider the Boxter but I have just purchased a Ferrari California and we tend to go out in that at weekends.
We have had the SLK on lease for over 18 months and car has only done 8500 miles.