Z4MC v's SLK55 vs Cayman

[donutsina911]

kambites said:

They're all good cars in their own ways, choosing between them is just a matter of where your personal priorities lie. Personally I'd go for the Cayman because the chassis and primary control feel are the most important part of a car to me.

Cheers..Priorities in no particular order

1. Ability for an enthusiastic if average driver to enjoy making rapid progress without the extremes of electronic aid overkill or putting myself in a ditch
2. Potential for mahoosive bills outside standard schedule
3. Depreciation
4. Sound
5. Comparable 'fun factor' to B7 RS4 or M3 which have been highlights in the garage so far

[kambites]

Still it depends ton your priorities and on your definition of "fun" - do you like cars that require a precise, clinical driving style to get the best out of them or do you prefer cars that you can go 'round every corner sideways in with relatively little chance of it all going wrong? How important is engine noise to you? Do you like a car that forces you to be in the right gear or one that will happily pull in any? Do you like a manual, a sequential type box or a full automatic?

They should all be fairly reliable and they can all provide fun in their own ways.


Drive them all, and I doubt there will be much doubt left in your mind.

Edited by kambites on Monday 27th February 15:11

[pilchardthecat]

Greedydog said:

The Z4M coupe is much rarer (only 625 or so sold in the UK I think) than the roadster,

Hardly- 617 M roadsters sold in the UK, 588 M coupes

Coupe arguably looks better until you drop the hood on the roadster.

Coupe slightly heavier too.

[DoubleSix]

donutsina911 said:

Cheers..Priorities in no particular order

1. Ability for an enthusiastic if average driver to enjoy making rapid progress without the extremes of electronic aid overkill or putting myself in a ditch
2. Potential for mahoosive bills outside standard schedule
3. Depreciation
4. Sound
5. Comparable 'fun factor' to B7 RS4 or M3 which have been highlights in the garage so far

Glad to see 'sound' on your list. Make sure any Cayman you test drive has PSE or you really aren't hearing the proper sound at all. Don't know if the BMW has options in this area... others will clarify....

[Greedydog]

pilchardthecat said:

Hardly- 617 M roadsters sold in the UK, 588 M coupes

Coupe arguably looks better until you drop the hood on the roadster.

Coupe slightly heavier too.

I stand corrected!

Edited to add that taking in all models the roadster outnumbers the coupe 9 to 1 and the coupe is still better looking!

Edited by Greedydog on Monday 27th February 15:31

Edited by Greedydog on Monday 27th February 15:31

[donutsina911]

Point taken. Proof will definitely be in the pudding - everything is pointing towards the Z4MC other than frustration I cant stretch to the Cayman S and the nagging inside that tells me that the 55 would be a hoot for the kind of driving I am capable of...

[kambites]

donutsina911 said:

Point taken. Proof will definitely be in the pudding - everything is pointing towards the Z4MC other than frustration I cant stretch to the Cayman S and the nagging inside that tells me that the 55 would be a hoot for the kind of driving I am capable of...

Don't discount the standard Cayman just because of the numbers; it's still a very good car.

[daz4m]

Z4MC gets my vote, shock horror. Always fun to drive but be warned though they don't make great daily drivers as they don't ride brilliantly. Owned mine coming up to 4 years and its been very reliable.

[pilchardthecat]

Greedydog said:

pilchardthecat said:

Hardly- 617 M roadsters sold in the UK, 588 M coupes

Coupe arguably looks better until you drop the hood on the roadster.

Coupe slightly heavier too.

I stand corrected!

Edited to add that taking in all models the roadster outnumbers the coupe 9 to 1 and the coupe is still better looking!

Edited by Greedydog on Monday 27th February 15:31

Edited by Greedydog on Monday 27th February 15:31

I used to think like that, and was shopping exclusively for a coupe (or a Cayman S)...... had an unplanned test drive in a roadster.... heard the engine with the roof down.... blown away by the noise.... bought the roadster immediately

[donutsina911]

daz4m said:

Z4MC gets my vote, shock horror. Always fun to drive but be warned though they don't make great daily drivers as they don't ride brilliantly.

Thanks - would probably only use it for the odd commute when sun is out and I can get up before the lemmings on the A3 to emjoy it. Dont really do much in town driving, but cheers for the heads up

[Urban Sports]

pilchardthecat said:

Greedydog said:

pilchardthecat said:

Hardly- 617 M roadsters sold in the UK, 588 M coupes

Coupe arguably looks better until you drop the hood on the roadster.

Coupe slightly heavier too.

I stand corrected!

Edited to add that taking in all models the roadster outnumbers the coupe 9 to 1 and the coupe is still better looking!

Edited by Greedydog on Monday 27th February 15:31

Edited by Greedydog on Monday 27th February 15:31

I used to think like that, and was shopping exclusively for a coupe (or a Cayman S)...... had an unplanned test drive in a roadster.... heard the engine with the roof down.... blown away by the noise.... bought the roadster immediately

Same here!

[Baryonyx]

Wouldn't boter with the Z4. I'd go for the AMG if I wanted an every day car that could give a serious turn of pace when needed, or the Cayman if I felt like I wanted something which was a little wilder, day in and day out.

[DoubleSix]

pilchardthecat said:

I used to think like that, and was shopping exclusively for a coupe (or a Cayman S)...... had an unplanned test drive in a roadster.... heard the engine with the roof down.... blown away by the noise.... bought the roadster immediately

It's even better when the engines in the cockpit with you.....

[donutsina911]

Bet the sound when in the roadster is immense...subjectively I just think the Z looks better in coupe guise.

[cay]

cragswinter said:

never driven a slk55 but have extensive porsche experience. cayman is better balanced & will keep up in the twisties but even an S will be utterly monstered by the Z4MC's power.

You sure about that?

Autocar figures Z4MC vs Cayman S

0-60 5.1 5.1
0-100 11.9 12.0
30-70 4.6 4.4

In gear times are pretty much the same too.

50 bhp more but also 150kg more!

[donutsina911]

Interesting stats. Can't afford the 'S' so unfortunately not relevant to my conundrum though..

[Greedydog]

cay said:

You sure about that?

Autocar figures Z4MC vs Cayman S

0-60 5.1 5.1
0-100 11.9 12.0
30-70 4.6 4.4

In gear times are pretty much the same too.

50 bhp more but also 150kg more!

It's my understanding that the Z4M is actually a touch quicker than those figures suggest, I've often seen sub 5 secs to 60 times mentioned (not that it makes any difference in the real world). Maybe it's the way that the Z4M delivers the performance tha makes it seem faster?

Edited by Greedydog on Monday 27th February 16:15

[cay]

Both the reviews are available on Autocar, might be worth a read.

I've never driven the BMW but I do like the look of them.

Maybe next time!

[donutsina911]

Interesting review in Autocar, cheers for headsup..

[DoubleSix]

Greedydog said:

It's my understanding that the Z4M is actually a touch quicker than those figures suggest, I've often seen sub 5 secs to 60 times mentioned (not that it makes any difference in the real world). Maybe it's the way that the Z4M delivers the performance tha makes it seem faster?

Edited by Greedydog on Monday 27th February 16:15

I've run against Z4M quite a bit as a friend has one, there's really nothing in it in the real world. A slightly iffy shift or clutch action and the gap is closed on either.... but if it all comes together right I nose ahead pretty consistently. BMW aren't the only ones who can be slightly conservative with the stats.