RE: BMW Z4 20i: Driven

Author
Discussion

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
Ares said:
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?
But the M cars haven't really delivered either...

Odd that BMW makes a class leading diesel saloon but can't for the life of it produce a half decent sports car.

But as you say, don't think buyers really care.

cerb4.5lee

30,197 posts

179 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
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.
I think it must be a case of low volume sales so BMW just can't be arsed. They put the effort into the 3 series and it always hits the mark, and its a massive volume seller so they can't afford to get that wrong .

As one or two have mentioned most punters that buy the Z4 aren't that interested in the way it drives. I was shocked at how poor the chassis/suspension was on my Z4M, and it was as if BMW had developed it to drive it slowly and just take in the scenery. When you pushed on in it-it just went to pieces.

Admitted though it was still more engaging to drive than the Audi TTS I had. These types of cars are for posing in first and foremost I reckon.

Ares

11,000 posts

119 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
SidewaysSi said:
Ares said:
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?
But the M cars haven't really delivered either...

Odd that BMW makes a class leading diesel saloon but can't for the life of it produce a half decent sports car.

But as you say, don't think buyers really care.
Every M version owner I know has loved theirs? QED?

....and they're not great at ocean liners, vans, HGVs, buses or helicopters either. Is that odd too?

Or maybe you just look at their 2-seaters in the wrong direction. "If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”....etc


Halo in reverse

147 posts

106 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
I am not a fan of the looks at all, too many angles, too bloated, not a good day at the office BMW

MX5 all day long for the fun factor

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
Ares said:
SidewaysSi said:
Ares said:
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?
But the M cars haven't really delivered either...

Odd that BMW makes a class leading diesel saloon but can't for the life of it produce a half decent sports car.

But as you say, don't think buyers really care.
Every M version owner I know has loved theirs? QED?

....and they're not great at ocean liners, vans, HGVs, buses or helicopters either. Is that odd too?

Or maybe you just look at their 2-seaters in the wrong direction. "If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid.”....etc
Is there any review that has said this car is a class leading GT car? I can't remember one.

A fish which can't swim or even climb a tree will soon get eaten etc.

And I know a good number of people who were disappointed with their (Z4)Ms...

Edited by SidewaysSi on Wednesday 20th March 15:06

anonymous-user

53 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
SidewaysSi said:
Is there any review that has said this car is a class leading GT car? I can't remember one.

A fish which can't swim or even climb a tree will soon get eaten etc.
BMW enthusiasts will like them, no doubt. And why does everything have to be class leading? By whose definition? If you're in the market for this, and like it, great. Otherwise does what we think really matter?

griffdude

1,819 posts

247 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
Halo in reverse said:
I am not a fan of the looks at all, too many angles, too bloated, not a good day at the office BMW

MX5 all day long for the fun factor
+1
Oh & the £15k in your pocket.

Brian Fallon

40 posts

70 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
This model is far too expensive. With options it comes in at more than £40k. A fully loaded 2 litre Mazda MX-5 is actually quicker in terms of acceleration, costs £15k less and is probably a lot more fun.

High Roller

110 posts

172 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
That's a lot of money for 200HP. I know Porsche aren't very generous in that respect either although they seem to extract a lot of performance per HP compared with other manufacturers.

Boggy

4,603 posts

234 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all


Seriously!

197BHP!

BMW! This shi@ is so simple. 30K - 32K 350bhp C'Mon what are you doing! This is another missed opportunity. Look at what you did with the M140i Wake Up!

Boggy

flight147z

960 posts

128 months

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



Not a bad car to share an appearance with

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
Simonium said:
SidewaysSi said:
Is there any review that has said this car is a class leading GT car? I can't remember one.

A fish which can't swim or even climb a tree will soon get eaten etc.
BMW enthusiasts will like them, no doubt. And why does everything have to be class leading? By whose definition? If you're in the market for this, and like it, great. Otherwise does what we think really matter?
True, average middle of the road st is perfectly fine. wink

And if what we think about anything doesn't matter, not sure this or any forum would exist.

cerb4.5lee

30,197 posts

179 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
Brian Fallon said:
This model is far too expensive. With options it comes in at more than £40k. A fully loaded 2 litre Mazda MX-5 is actually quicker in terms of acceleration, costs £15k less and is probably a lot more fun.
I'd find the MX5 purely more fun because of its manual gearbox/less weight, the auto in this plays its part in removing any fun that might have been there.

Pumpsmynads

267 posts

155 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
DoubleD said:
And people complain about the costs of a hot golf!
A sporty convertible shouldn’t really be left in the dust by said hot golf though should it?

cerb4.5lee

30,197 posts

179 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
Pumpsmynads said:
DoubleD said:
And people complain about the costs of a hot golf!
A sporty convertible shouldn’t really be left in the dust by said hot golf though should it?
I thought we'd established that this type of car is for looking good in. Pace is irrelevant in this market, I don't know for sure but I'd guess that the 20i previous model Z4 easily outsold the 35iS model.

asimmalik

167 posts

193 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
BMW 0-62 times are very optimistic. The 2.0 MX-5 which is only 13bhp down but a massive 300kg lighter, is officially only 0.1 quicker to 62, don't think so.

Leggy

1,018 posts

221 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
Looks like a decent package and will suit its target market. In that blue it looks better than the Silver that’s been in the press before.
BMW is a premium brand, which is why it’s more expensive than a common a garden Mazda.
Doesn’t matter if the Mazda is more fun, that’s not the point.
Sure they could squeeze more power out of that engine. But why, 200bhp is more than enough for most people.

flight147z

960 posts

128 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
asimmalik said:
BMW 0-62 times are very optimistic. The 2.0 MX-5 which is only 13bhp down but a massive 300kg lighter, is officially only 0.1 quicker to 62, don't think so.
Other factors to take into account though

  • The Mazda time might be prudent
  • The Mazda probably doesn't have tyres that are this good
  • Gearing(?)
  • I don't believe the Mazda has a turbo (does it?) and this probably has an impact on the power curve
I think the tyres will be worth a few tenths alone

J4CKO

41,287 posts

199 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
Boggy said:
Seriously!

197BHP!

BMW! This shi@ is so simple. 30K - 32K 350bhp C'Mon what are you doing! This is another missed opportunity. Look at what you did with the M140i Wake Up!

Boggy
Er, you are aware they are making a version with the M140i's engine and that most one series have small and or diesel engines ?

Its the entry level engine for those that can manage with 197 bhp, a lot of those will not be bothered one iota, can understand why anyone gets so offended by a car that isnt of interest to them, I cant abide Prawn Cocktail crisps but the presence of them next to the Cheese and Onion doesnt bother me.

I just did 231 miles in a Skoda Octavia with just over 100 bhp, and it was fine, so 197 would be quite adequate, more is better but it will still be plenty fast enough for those who buy one, if it isnt there are currently two notches above it.




RushDom

230 posts

93 months

Wednesday 20th March 2019
quotequote all
I've really grown to like the new Z4.

To me it's one of those cars that looks infinitely better in standard form without any of the 'M Sport' nonsense which just adds visual bulk and fussiness. The basic trim is really a very nice shape with lots of hints of the Z8.