RE: BMW M4 Convertible '30 Jahre Edition'

[AppleJuice]

unsprung said:

"What's that? A 1000 Jahre Edition, you say?"

[AppleJuice]

^ You started it, unsprung ^

[moffat]

I'm looking forward to the day when BMW go back to soft tops rather than hard top convertibles. The E46 330Ci was a great car to look at.

An extra 200-300kg for a folding hard top on a 'sports car' is not ideal.

[Ares]

moffat said:

I'm looking forward to the day when BMW go back to soft tops rather than hard top convertibles. The E46 330Ci was a great car to look at.

An extra 200-300kg for a folding hard top on a 'sports car' is not ideal.

155kg actually 1595kg Vs 1750kg

For interest, the E46 was 1525kg Vs 1655kg

Ergo, the hard roof has only a 25kg penalty. Or less than half a tank of fuel. Or less than the amount a fat lad weighs more compared to a skinny lad.

[julian64]

PHMatt said:

julian64 said:

Having had a little experience of trying BMW cabs and hard tops I wouldn't say there is a little difference between the two. I would say its like driving a completely different car dynamic wise. I'm afraid I would never pay the premium for a 'sporty' cab, just buy a standard cab because the 'sporty' money is wasted

So you think lopping the roof off an M4 makes it less sporty than a 318 SE hard top?

In a straight line, no.

[anonymous-user]

I habe to agree with some of the comments from earlier.

Have just sold an M4 Comp Pack convertible which I would say is the least enjoyable performance car I have yet owned.

It was decent convertible but a poor M car. The weight isn't the major issue, it's the steering feel (or lack of it) and suspension settings.

It's handsome beast with the roof down but a 440I would be just as good day to day I suspect. Not something you can say when comparing the tintop equivalents.

[va1o]

Looks amazing, my new semi-realistic dream car

[Philv8s]

Remember the old adage. If the the roof goes down the price goes up!
Personally I like the choice and after my first roof down trip of the year on the school run(at my sons request) I can see why.

[HardMiles]

Jual Mass Flywheel said:

GTEYE said:

M1C said:

Tuvra said:

I'm a fan of the BMW M4, however, the other day I was parked next to a Silverstone II Cab with the roof up and all I could think is "the roof line isn't right", I don't like it. Like the other poster here, I couldn't give a hoot about the loss of rigidity, added weight etc, to my eyes the roof totally spoilt the look so I'd never consider the cab. It's noticeable in photos but in the flesh its more obvious to my eyes:-


I'm sure the roof joints just draw my eyes to the area and spoils the "visual flow" of the car

Totally agree. The convertible looks nice enough with roof down and the open to the elements thing + extra sounds etc would be great...but with the roof up it just looks wrong.

The coupe is so much nicer

The rear window needs to be less raked or it would never fold up into the boot.

I think they actually did a decent job - and whilst it may not look as rakish as the coupe - it was always going to have to be a bit of a compromise - it still looks better than a big expanse of folded fabric IMHO anyway.

Maybe I'm biased as I have an E93 cabrio - but you do get 2 cars in one - roof up its as refined as the normal coupe - but roof down in summer is quite special.

I think it's the boot on the cab. It seems much flatter and doesn't flow down from the rear screen.

Couldn’t agree more with the original post. I’ve thought this with most modern cars. They just lose the flowing lines and get a fat arse!

Even the 993 looks miles better as a coupe than a cab & that came out a while ago!

[WJNB]

Over over under steer said:

Personal preference alert...

For road use I'd always go for the convertible version of a sports car. I prefer the heightened exposure to the elements which just makes the drive feel like more of an event. I accept that there might be some compromise to chassis rigidity but for road use I couldn't care less.

Well said. So many have delusions as they prop up the bar pontificating about their ability to perceive the structural & handling differences imagining they are professional testers & drivers.

[unsprung]

AppleJuice said:

^ You started it, unsprung ^

"We did not start it."

[HRCM]

30 years of convertibles but still no room for estates in the line up.

[Iceicebsby1980]

There's a image thing for me associated with convertibles . I remember about 10 years ago every one I saw on the road . Had a middle aged man with a bald head driving one . On hot summers days I used to think hope you've applied your sun cream . Then you'd get the plonker driving one in the middle of winter with the roof down . Also can't understand in this country with our weather . Why would want to take the roof of a performance car and jepordise the handling . Then you've got everyone else who drives a peogeot convertible etc who thinks there cool lol . But a extra 10k for a plaque and a individual coulor bargain .

[TooMany2cvs]

Iceicebsby1980 said:

Then you'd get the plonker driving one in the middle of winter with the roof down

Heaters are fitted, y'know.

A day like some of the recent ones - sunny, but crisp - is perfect roof-off weather.

iceicebsby1980 said:

Also can't understand in this country with our weather

The roof closes when it rains.

iceicebsby1980 said:

Why would want to take the roof of a performance car and jepordise the handling

Not every convertible is a tubby, floppy compromise of a thing. And, even then, you really can't get even remotely close to the edges of the handling in something like an M4 on the road without driving like the most raging of bell-ends.

Mind you, my opinion may not be mainstream, since I'm somebody who commuted in one of these all year round... (except my sidescreens were largely tape, and I never had an upper tailgate)

[Iceicebsby1980]

If you think you look good driving a m4 with the top down in the middle of winter. Each to there own I suppose . I've owned a m3 in the past as you can probably gues it wasn't a convertible and coment about the roof closes when it rains . I didn't know that I'm of to classifieds now to look at buying one .

[TooMany2cvs]

Iceicebsby1980 said:

If you think you look good driving a m4 with the top down in the middle of winter.

Why on earth would "what others might think you look like" affect how you choose what car to drive?

[Iceicebsby1980]

I don't m8 my current car wrx sti . Hardly in fashion are they anymore . People prob think I'm a chav for driving one don't care love the car. Just my problem with convertibles is look at me I can fold the roof down on my car and in most cases fk the handling arnt I good lol

[Ares]

HRCM said:

30 years of convertibles but still no room for estates in the line up.

Because they are a dying breed?

Why launch something that is seeing diminishing demand? Like it or not, the world is dumping Estate Cars and going to SUVs.

The dafter move, IMO, is Audi not doing RS Saloons for most of its range.

[Ares]

Iceicebsby1980 said:

If you think you look good driving a m4 with the top down in the middle of winter. Each to there own I suppose . I've owned a m3 in the past as you can probably gues it wasn't a convertible and coment about the roof closes when it rains . I didn't know that I'm of to classifieds now to look at buying one .

Actually, driving a convertible on a cold but sunny is fantastic.

[culpz]

Tuvra said:

I'm a fan of the BMW M4, however, the other day I was parked next to a Silverstone II Cab with the roof up and all I could think is "the roof line isn't right", I don't like it. Like the other poster here, I couldn't give a hoot about the loss of rigidity, added weight etc, to my eyes the roof totally spoilt the look so I'd never consider the cab. It's noticeable in photos but in the flesh its more obvious to my eyes:-


I'm sure the roof joints just draw my eyes to the area and spoils the "visual flow" of the car

I'm glad someone else noticed this. I see one near my way that's convertible and it simply doesn't look right to me at all. I know many hard-top cars may suffer the same but it really ruins the look of the M4 for me.