It’s nearly time, M4 or M4CP, personal loan or PCP

[Chestrockwell]

cerb4.5lee said:

The Nissan GTR has always been a dream car for me(I know that it is big/heavy/auto etc though).

If I'm ever in a position to afford the current M4 I'd definitely go for the M4 xDrive for sure. I think the switchable mode from 4WD to RWD is too hard to resist, and for me it offers the best of both worlds(grip or fun at the flick of a switch).

I love BMW’s but im a Japanese car fan boy deep down, and I wish we had more choice, it explains the excellent residuals of the GTR as it doesn’t have a direct competition, GTR’s are in their own lane and have their own market as 911/R8 owners are too busy trying to figure out if their cars are super cars or not

There is no reason for the cheapest S2k to be 8k with 150k miles, nor is there any reason for a half decent near 20 year old evo 9 cost 20k other than the fact they don’t have any replacements.

Ah, petrolhead ism, you’re always thinking about the next car

[nickfrog]

Chestrockwell said:

The Golf is miles quicker in the bends as it’s so much more easy to control

I don't understand this. At least in the dry, the M4 should have immense traction with decent throttle modulation. I agree that it would take even more care in the wet though where the Golf will still be very point and squirt.

4wd won't add any lateral grip though so on turn in and at the apex at least the M4 should be as quick, and probably quicker.

Ideally, this should be verified on track rather than on the public road though

Edited by nickfrog on Thursday 24th June 08:21

[liner33]

cerb4.5lee said:

The Nissan GTR has always been a dream car for me(I know that it is big/heavy/auto etc though).

If I'm ever in a position to afford the current M4 I'd definitely go for the M4 xDrive for sure. I think the switchable mode from 4WD to RWD is too hard to resist, and for me it offers the best of both worlds(grip or fun at the flick of a switch).

I had the chance to switch my rwd order to x drive and apart from poor road conditions I couldn't think of a good reason. I live in the south east and haven't found weather that much of an issue so far

Rwd is more engaging and thats the biggest usp of these cars

The g8x is more planted than the f8x but that engagement is what people enjoy and why many people feel the Golf r is dull , it lacks this engagement. Nowadays if you just want quick you buy a Tesla

I do like the r35 and have had a lot to do with them in the past but they are a generation back now , very basic and the fuel economy is scary

[cerb4.5lee]

liner33 said:

I had the chance to switch my rwd order to x drive and apart from poor road conditions I couldn't think of a good reason. I live in the south east and haven't found weather that much of an issue so far

Rwd is more engaging and thats the biggest usp of these cars

The g8x is more planted than the f8x but that engagement is what people enjoy and why many people feel the Golf r is dull , it lacks this engagement. Nowadays if you just want quick you buy a Tesla

I do like the r35 and have had a lot to do with them in the past but they are a generation back now , very basic and the fuel economy is scary

Overall I definitely prefer RWD, but I do like the flexibility that the M xDrive system offers on the current M4/M5. I will always remember a bit of fun I had years ago in my 200SX with a Celica GT4 in the wet, and I was fighting wheelspin left, right and centre and he just sailed off into the distance!

Having the flexibility of RWD or 4WD so easily definitely appeals to me, so I'd definitely go for the xDrive M4. The current RWD M4 has had plenty of fantastic reviews from what I've read though, and it does look very planted from what I've seen too.

I think if the car was lighter I'd consider sticking with the RWD version, but because it is such a heavy car anyway I don't think the additional weight of the 4WD system will make much odds to it. I definitely hope to get one in the future for sure.

[liner33]

It’s only about 30kgs more than the f82 , the problem with 4wd is even if you aren’t using it you are still carrying it . The x drive will be quicker to 60 though ideal for times when 60 in 3.6 seconds is not sufficient

[cerb4.5lee]

liner33 said:

It’s only about 30kgs more than the f82 , the problem with 4wd is even if you aren’t using it you are still carrying it . The x drive will be quicker to 60 though ideal for times when 60 in 3.6 seconds is not sufficient

I've read that there is quite a big difference in weight between the F82 M4 and G82 M4(RWD). The F82 M4 is around 1600kg whereas the G82 M4(RWD) is over 1700kg and some even mention nearer 1800kg for it. All the reviews I've seen do say that it does hide the extra weight well though.

[liner33]

cerb4.5lee said:

I've read that there is quite a big difference in weight between the F82 M4 and G82 M4(RWD). The F82 M4 is around 1600kg whereas the G82 M4(RWD) is over 1700kg and some even mention nearer 1800kg for it. All the reviews I've seen do say that it does hide the extra weight well though.

I think its the way that the weight is measured nowadays compared to how they used to be . Joe Achilles had his m3 corner weighted and the guy said they weigh about the same as the f8x

[cerb4.5lee]

liner33 said:

I think its the way that the weight is measured nowadays compared to how they used to be . Joe Achilles had his m3 corner weighted and the guy said they weigh about the same as the f8x

When Autocar did their full road test on it(G82 M4) they weighed it at 1800kg versus a claimed weight of 1725kg. I believe that Autocar weighed the F82 M4 at 1600kg. The new M4 has gone in a bit of a different direction I reckon, and the extra weight and the switch from DCT to Auto backs that up for me. I still really want one though regardless!

[Chestrockwell]

I was in waitrose and I got stopped by a guy who kept looking at me and asked if I owned the blue M4, he works for BMW and said there is a shortage of M4’s in the used market and said he has a few interested buyers and said if I want to sell, give him a call.

I had a look on autotrader and pre LCI M4 competitions are going for 35k without BMW warranties. I bought mine for 34 from BMW, it’s just had a service, disks and pads changed and has 4 nearly new tyres.

Im thinking, I might be able to turn over a quick profit. I contacted the guy and he said he’ll get back to me, in the meantime I could also advertise mine and see what happens.

The question is, what do I replace it with! I feel like any Fast BMW is going to be inferior to the M4 so it won’t be a M140i or anything, I couldn’t think of anything else so looked at Honda’s, EP3 Type R’s are 5k minimum for an early ratty one, DC3 Integra’s are 12k minimum too and FK8 Type R’s are 25 minimum, I sold mine for 22 in Dec 2019!

What is going on with used car prices and what would you do if you were me?

The M4 makes my heart melt but it is extremely fast, winter is looming and the thought of a light cheap NA manual engaging hot hatch does appeal at the moment

[nickfrog]

^^ that's a nice problem to have. If you downgrade then it will be a "profit" or perhaps a very low depreciation ownership.

But if you want to go back to another car of similar value next year then you have to hope that prices do go back down or you would have just deffered the problem for a few months.

Don't forget that the dealer spread will be out of your pocket even in a rising market and that you are amortising it over a very short period.

I wouldn't worry about driving a M4 in winter on recent quality tyres. It's just a car that can be driven sedately if needed.

[cerb4.5lee]

I had a few full throttle blasts in mine earlier, and I absolutely love it in this weather where you can enjoy it's thrust in terms of it just gripping and going. It also amazes me how it still pulls at high revs for a turbo engine.

It does feel quite laggy though on the odd occasion, and I'm not sure if that is the turbos, or the DCT gearbox just making it's mind up on what it wants to do.

[cerb4.5lee]

Chestrockwell said:

What is going on with used car prices and what would you do if you were me?

You haven't had it very long so if it was me I'd hang onto it I think. However there is something nice about having a car and not suffering any depreciation on it though(not that it has ever happened to me though!).

If you do get rid at least you can say that you've had/experienced one.

[Mark83]

What would you replace it with? All other used cars are inflated too.

[cerb4.5lee]

Just a quick question for those that have an F8x M3/M4, what setting do you like to use for the steering when you are pushing on down a nice road? This afternoon I had a bit of fun, and I've had my most sporty set up(M2) as sport plus for the steering. However I found it really twitchy today and I found myself fighting/moving the steering wheel a lot more than I'd like. What setting do you use/prefer for faster driving?

I'm thinking of trying the comfort setting for the steering to see if that improves things next time I'm out in it.

[Mrkevuk]

When I’m on the motorway, or having a bit of fun on the bends I always have the steering in sports plus . I’ve had my car about the same time as you and to be honest I’ve never felt it twitchy. Maybe the extra weight as it’s a convertible helps .

[cerb4.5lee]

Mrkevuk said:

When I’m on the motorway, or having a bit of fun on the bends I always have the steering in sports plus . I’ve had my car about the same time as you and to be honest I’ve never felt it twitchy. Maybe the extra weight as it’s a convertible helps .

Thanks. It was the hardest that I've driven it today since I've had it, and to be fair I'd not noticed it before. I was shuffling at the wheel far more than I would have liked, and it didn't feel very direct at all. It was the first time since I've had it that I thought that it could possibly benefit from a hydraulic system instead of the electric.

I was really going for it though to be fair, and I think the camber of the road probably played its part as well.

[Fattb]

cerb4.5lee said:

Just a quick question for those that have an F8x M3/M4, what setting do you like to use for the steering when you are pushing on down a nice road? This afternoon I had a bit of fun, and I've had my most sporty set up(M2) as sport plus for the steering. However I found it really twitchy today and I found myself fighting/moving the steering wheel a lot more than I'd like. What setting do you use/prefer for faster driving?

I'm thinking of trying the comfort setting for the steering to see if that improves things next time I'm out in it.

For Regular driving i have M1 set to Sport throttle, comfort steering and suspension with the gearbox in D2 if sitting in traffic as i often do (the joys of living in London) i wind back the the gearbox and engine to d1 and comfort and find it behaves more like the ZF in my old 140i. For M2 its MDM, d3, Sport plus throttle, sport steering and Suspension, i didn't really like it all in sport plus neither comfort on the steering i prefer a bit more weight but not as much as sport plus, gives a nice compromise for my taste, a lot of the time i find myself driving in manual out of traffic it think it suits the car/DCT far more than using manual on the ZF

[nickfrog]

cerb4.5lee said:

Thanks. It was the hardest that I've driven it today since I've had it, and to be fair I'd not noticed it before. I was shuffling at the wheel far more than I would have liked, and it didn't feel very direct at all. It was the first time since I've had it that I thought that it could possibly benefit from a hydraulic system instead of the electric.

I was really going for it though to be fair, and I think the camber of the road probably played its part as well.

First step would be to check tyre pressure but I am sure you've done that. Then perhaps it could do with a quick geo check. Those cars are very sensitive to alignment, and front toe in particular. The front end is very sharp but shouldn't require taking lock on or off past turn in. In theory anyway!

[cerb4.5lee]

Fattb said:

For Regular driving i have M1 set to Sport throttle, comfort steering and suspension with the gearbox in D2 if sitting in traffic as i often do (the joys of living in London) i wind back the the gearbox and engine to d1 and comfort and find it behaves more like the ZF in my old 140i. For M2 its MDM, d3, Sport plus throttle, sport steering and Suspension, i didn't really like it all in sport plus neither comfort on the steering i prefer a bit more weight but not as much as sport plus, gives a nice compromise for my taste, a lot of the time i find myself driving in manual out of traffic it think it suits the car/DCT far more than using manual on the ZF

Thanks. I have the steering in sport for normal driving, and I will give sport steering a try for the spirited stuff then.

[cerb4.5lee]

nickfrog said:

First step would be to check tyre pressure but I am sure you've done that. Then perhaps it could do with a quick geo check. Those cars are very sensitive to alignment, and front toe in particular. The front end is very sharp but shouldn't require taking lock on or off past turn in. In theory anyway!

Yes and the tyre pressures are fine and I'm a bit OCD when it comes to that. A quick geo check is a great shout cheers.