RE: BMW Z4 20i: Driven

Author
Discussion

rayyan171

1,294 posts

92 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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Caught a glimpse of these at the dealers, very nice looking. Personally, the 20i engine will be the base engine, and as such not the one you want. I think 4 cylinder roadsters are already out there, with the MX-5 and 124 spider, and a new Z4 would only be on the list for me in 6 cylinder form. That would be a very expensive idea however, at nearly £50k.

derin100

5,214 posts

242 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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I recently had my E85 Alpina Roadster S on display, along with other previous Z-cars, at a launch day for the new Z4.

To my eye, all previous Z-cars were better design statements than the new one which just seems a bit like it has blended into the rest of the corporate mould. A bit like the new 8-Series which I think was another styling opportunity missed.

It's also quite big and bulky in the flesh compared to the others and really feels it when you sit in it.


cookington

103 posts

141 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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Kawasicki said:
Less than 200bhp from a 2l turbo seems a bit old fashioned though!
I agree, I assume 200hp from a 1.6T provides a decent weight saving compared to a 2.0. which would make a difference in a 2 seater.

I've come to expect a minimum of 270hp from a 2.0T these days.

tim milne

344 posts

232 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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Simonium said:
Burwood said:
I’m staggered how a car company can release a car after so much investment and journalists say it’s st. I can only assume the car companies know their customers don’t know good from bad. I like the looks though.
They probably know what their customers want and disregard the opinions of journalists. I would. Besides, when did you last read a properly coruscating official review? It doesn't happen. The worst you'd get now is something only mildly priapic.
I love it when people introduce words I've not heard before, but looking up "coruscating" — meaning either flashing or sparkling or severely critical or scathing — means I'm none the wiser as to what you mean.

Similarly, "priapic" is defined as 'relating to or resembling a phallus or relating to male sexuality and sexual activity'. Assuming you were referring to the review and not the car (though that old sports car joke might still have some mileage left in it), I'm not sure how this might be relevant.

loveice

646 posts

246 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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RemarkLima said:
Is it me, or does that look like a Mercedes GT...



It isn't made by the Chinese. It's from another German maker, so by definition they don't look the same...biggrin

Denorth

559 posts

170 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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Saw one this weekend, glanced over and never looked at it again.

edwheels

256 posts

145 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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BMW know what they are doing here. This is very impressive looking base model Z4, it'll impress to the max in the golf club car park and parked up on many a herring-bone paved driveway and, despite the complaints about lack of grunt, I think on paper figures of 0-60 in about 6.5 seconds and around 150MPH are very impressive too.

It looks well built, well designed and reassuringly classy inside - on those wheels it also looks seriously aggressive but...

... If I was in the market for a brand new 2 seater sportscar just a entry level non optioned, manual Mazda MX5 on 16" rims would always win over this base model BMW Z4 everytime. Not too mention a saving of £15K+

The test being... would I take such an MX5 out on an autumn evening on favourite roads (on our not always well surfaced UK roads) just for the joy of actually driving it - undoubtably Yes, as I always did with my old Mk2 and Mk3. The BMW? Highly unlikely.... and that is, badge snobbery aside, surely, the whole point of a base model 2 seater convertible.

tankplanker

2,479 posts

278 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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cookington said:
I agree, I assume 200hp from a 1.6T provides a decent weight saving compared to a 2.0. which would make a difference in a 2 seater.

I've come to expect a minimum of 270hp from a 2.0T these days.
The 1.5l from the Mini and i8 would have been great. The 1.5 in i8 form makes 231BHP so 200 out of it would have been achievable for the Z4.

I guess the prospective punters for this base Z4 would care that the engine capacity was less than 2l even though in practical terms its nothing like going from 6 cylinders to 4?

I can't see how this is a direct competitor for the MX5/124, the people who will buy a brand new base Z4 would be more likely to buy a base TT. Quality of the interior and perceived badge quality would be more important to them than how it drives or saving ~£8k new vs. new for the same spec.

Marc H

207 posts

153 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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I call bright blue a pretty aggressive colour!

Ares

11,000 posts

119 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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The article seems to miss the point though. Plenty of people want the sports car look and the open top, but want it to be a normal car.

This is for them. It's an expensive mid-range hatch-back alternative (or a cut price SL350). They won't be driven hard, they won't be taken on track. The driver will not be looking for his apex in his quest for optimal A-B times. The example owner/driver will sit with his/her spouse, happy in their retirement, enjoying driving along at normal speeds with the wind in their hair, satisfying their lifelong desire to own a sports car, but not need three burly men or a hoist to get them out of their car. The car will seldom see north of 4,000rpm so engine note isn't an issue, and they will likely be of a generation when 2.0 was a big engine. They will have likely chosen this car over a base-model SLK (or whatever it's called now).

For those that want this car (rather than a stripped out Lotus/etc, or a Boxster/etc) to be sporty and performance orientated, they will go for the M40 version.

Sycamore

1,726 posts

117 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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Not sure on so many comparisons vs an MX5. Natural competitor to this will be a st spec TT surely.

The people buying these Z4s won't care about its' power, engine or dynamics. It'll sell well because it has a BMW badge and it's a "sports car". Leases deals will be plenty. Similar vein to how many low spec 1-series are around.

I'll stick to my 2004 E85 biggrin




Maccles

69 posts

117 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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This seems perfect for the target market, who demand refined and confident and probably don't want the drive to be 'exciting'. Hella expensive for what it is though - but as above, these will all be bought on finance / lease so the list price probably doesn't matter.

DoubleD

22,154 posts

107 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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And people complain about the costs of a hot golf!

iphonedyou

9,234 posts

156 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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anonymous said:
[redacted]
30% discount within 9 months of launch? Are they doing that currently?

Greg the Fish

1,410 posts

65 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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I'm sure all the 'nice boys' down here in Brighton will love it.

Helicopter123

8,831 posts

155 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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Looks lovely, but HOW MUCH!!!

Ares

11,000 posts

119 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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Helicopter123 said:
Looks lovely, but HOW MUCH!!!
Makes me chuckle even time this comes up.

It's 2019, not 1989. Cars are expensive. The cheapest 3-series you can buy at the moment is £35k (320d M Sport). You think the roadster should be cheaper?

Smart money will get something chipped off that. Even smarter money will just pay monthly (likely paying less/mth than the car depreciates, but with no risk/exposure to depreciation)

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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Why has every single BMW Z car been below par?

Don't they know how to make a decent sports car as it would appear not.

TTmonkey

20,911 posts

246 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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So they've binned the hard top folding roof?

Ares

11,000 posts

119 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
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SidewaysSi said:
Why has every single BMW Z car been below par?

Don't they know how to make a decent sports car as it would appear not.
Maybe PH's definition of a decent sports car isn't what BMW think it is, nor what their target market thinks it should be?
Maybe they are not trying to rival the MX5/Fiat Spider/4C/Boxster S/Elise?
Maybe it more mini-GT than focused sports car?
Maybe that's why they do an 'M' version, to spice it up and give the 'decent sports car' enthusiast something to consider?