RE: BMW Z4 30i | Driven

[Julian Thompson]

GTEYE said:

There is something wrong with the proportions of this car. Wheelbase too short, wheels too big, bonnet line too high, body too deep, just doesn’t look right to me.

A dumpy sports car is a fail.

Exactly this, for me also. It’s a completely white goods sports car. Awful.

[FN2TypeR]

Bright Halo said:

Although I think it looks good in the flesh (grills apart) there is no way I would have one over a boxter.

I agree entirely, but the Porsche is about five grand more than this before you even look at the options list.

Still, I'd beg, steal or borrow for the extra and go for the Bosxter, too. The BMW looks awful.

[Deep Thought]

FN2TypeR said:

Bright Halo said:

Although I think it looks good in the flesh (grills apart) there is no way I would have one over a boxter.

I agree entirely, but the Porsche is about five grand more than this before you even look at the options list.

Still, I'd beg, steal or borrow for the extra and go for the Bosxter, too. The BMW looks awful.

Z4 has always sold most on the entry level variant and when there are decent deals on. I dont understand why BMW insist on pitching it as a Porsche rival.

[Julian Thompson]

Deep Thought said:

FN2TypeR said:

Bright Halo said:

Although I think it looks good in the flesh (grills apart) there is no way I would have one over a boxter.

I agree entirely, but the Porsche is about five grand more than this before you even look at the options list.

Still, I'd beg, steal or borrow for the extra and go for the Bosxter, too. The BMW looks awful.

Z4 has always sold most on the entry level variant and when there are decent deals on. I dont understand why BMW insist on pitching it as a Porsche rival.

Actually that’s a good point. Probably the real price of this z4 is about -25% of what it says on the list price. In which case it’s probably better than it looks!

[Deep Thought]

Julian Thompson said:

Deep Thought said:

FN2TypeR said:

Bright Halo said:

Although I think it looks good in the flesh (grills apart) there is no way I would have one over a boxter.

I agree entirely, but the Porsche is about five grand more than this before you even look at the options list.

Still, I'd beg, steal or borrow for the extra and go for the Bosxter, too. The BMW looks awful.

Z4 has always sold most on the entry level variant and when there are decent deals on. I dont understand why BMW insist on pitching it as a Porsche rival.

Actually that’s a good point. Probably the real price of this z4 is about -25% of what it says on the list price. In which case it’s probably better than it looks!

when BMW come to realise this and discount / incentivise the finance offers heavily it will be a good buy.

Current discounts and deals are laughable frankly.

Edited by Deep Thought on Saturday 20th July 11:39

[AmosMoses]

I’d sum this up as meh.

[Alucidnation]

Another cramped driving position.

[craigjm]

Alucidnation said:

Another cramped driving position.

Have you sat in one and driven one?

[Alucidnation]

craigjm said:

Alucidnation said:

Another cramped driving position.

Have you sat in one and driven one?

I had the use of a 6 series for a couple of weeks and only used it around 5 times due to the overly cramped and tall centre tunnel/console.

And that picture looks like it is the same.

Shame really as I quite like the look of this.

[FN2TypeR]

Julian Thompson said:

Deep Thought said:

FN2TypeR said:

Bright Halo said:

Although I think it looks good in the flesh (grills apart) there is no way I would have one over a boxter.

I agree entirely, but the Porsche is about five grand more than this before you even look at the options list.

Still, I'd beg, steal or borrow for the extra and go for the Bosxter, too. The BMW looks awful.

Z4 has always sold most on the entry level variant and when there are decent deals on. I dont understand why BMW insist on pitching it as a Porsche rival.

Actually that’s a good point. Probably the real price of this z4 is about -25% of what it says on the list price. In which case it’s probably better than it looks!

As big a discount as that? Not shabby at all in fairness!

[WJNB]

Loved the idea of a more sporty focused Z4 so rushed to my local dealer to inspect their demonstrator.
Oh my what a disappointment. The dealer had either been issued with or ordered a dreary medium blue, the all black interior was a dark depressing place & with the hood raised it just looked ugly. It was the boggo basic 2 litre model & looked it, so hardly likely to inspire orders for what I would regard as the 'proper' models rather than something for those on a budget or for girly types to ponce around in.
A pristine low mileage white folding hard top previous version parked nearby looked more a class act & not trying to be a racey sports car which it is not.

[Julian Thompson]

Sorry I need to be clear I’m just making that figure up as an arbitrary large discount. No idea or inside information at all. I know that m3/4 cars have been selling at £50k ish from a £70-odd k list though as pre-reg so who knows.

[rare6499]

I would honestly rather have the Cup packed MX-5, take it to BBR and get the 200 or 220 upgrade...will sound, look and steer better. Probably go better as well.

[StuH]

Saw my first one on the road the other day. Was surprised how purposeful it looked. Always found the previous gen a bit bland and girlie like the mx5 or slk.

I expect in 40i guise it’s probably a decent motor.

[scottydoesntknow]

The looks aren't working for me. The four cylinder engine seals the deal.

[Ninja59]

I do like them in person but they do seem highly colour sensitive. They have a few at my dealer none are 40i cars though (at least to my knowledge).

That being said my dealer is struggling to shift any metal...probably why they recently lopped yet another 5k off an 8 series coupe that was their launch car.

New X5, X4 equally to be not moving very well.

[ambuletz]

rare6499 said:

I would honestly rather have the Cup packed MX-5, take it to BBR and get the 200 or 220 upgrade...will sound, look and steer better. Probably go better as well.

more reliable too.

[Deep Thought]

FN2TypeR said:

As big a discount as that? Not shabby at all in fairness!

No. Currently discounts with the brokers seem to be sitting at around 4-5%

[krisdelta]

Saw my first one in the metal today (in black) and it does look much nicer than in the pictures, no idea why the pictures translate so badly. The fugly new 1 series will make this look better still. Shrewd game BMW...

[Mr Tidy]

I really don't like them, although the blue one BMW had at the PH SS last December looked much better than this one in black.

But by all accounts they're too "GT" in nature for my liking, and there is no manual option (yet).

I have an E86 Z4 Coupe, so it's probably not surprising I much prefer the look of the Toyota Supra.

As others have said BMW seem to have looked at Boxster prices before setting theirs, and it makes Z4 prices look rather ambitious.

Mind you Jaguar seemed to do the same with the F-Type, so it's nothing new. Although the F-Type does at least look great.