Fun face off: Audi S4 (B8) vs BMW Z4 Coupe

[Mr Tidy]

RoVoFob said:

It’s not the absolute figures, more the feel. The 130i just feels so alive and energetic compared with bigger cars, and I imagine that’s the case compared with the 330i. Imagine the Z4 is even more so.

Well, maybe, but I like the underdog; prefer the smooth, progressive 3.0-litre compared with the raucous, much heavier 3.2.

E39 is a nice idea on paper, but as exciting as the M5 surely is, a 540i was never going to cut it!

My 3 litre Z4C definitely felt significantly quicker than my 330i, but possibly partly because the 330i is so much more refined!

A 3 litre Z4C will definitely be cheaper to run than an M, but it's only about 100kg lighter. Mind you road tax is over £200 a year cheaper.

[RoVoFob]

Mr Tidy said:

My 3 litre Z4C definitely felt significantly quicker than my 330i, but possibly partly because the 330i is so much more refined!

A 3 litre Z4C will definitely be cheaper to run than an M, but it's only about 100kg lighter. Mind you road tax is over £200 a year cheaper.

I'll take the 100kg saving!

Spotted a very nicely looked after 130i LE earlier. Ok the LE is a high-spec facelift model, but it looks so much better quality inside than most Z4s.

Why couldn't they fit the leather on the doors properly in the Z4 and give it a nice-looking wheel and dials? The outside is so right it makes the interior look cheap and nasty even though it looks very much like a sports car cabin.

[Mr Tidy]

They did, but mostly in the Z4M with the Carbon Leather Dash!

[RoVoFob]

Mr Tidy said:

They did, but mostly in the Z4M with the Carbon Leather Dash!

Looks good. Loads of Z4s look really tatty inside with scrunched up leather all around, while a few others look very tidy. Don’t get it...

Found a Z4 M with immaculate extended Amarone leather, including across the dash, but others look trashed at 70k miles.

[cerb4.5lee]

RoVoFob said:

Looks good. Loads of Z4s look really tatty inside with scrunched up leather all around, while a few others look very tidy. Don’t get it...

Found a Z4 M with immaculate extended Amarone leather, including across the dash, but others look trashed at 70k miles.

The interior and the way my Z4M was put together was a bit of a shock for me compared to the other Bmw's I'd had. So I'm not surprised that they don't wear well as they get older, and mine had 36k miles on it back in 2012 and the interior was full of rattles...I guess the punishing ride/suspension doesn't help much with that though.

[RoVoFob]

cerb4.5lee said:

The interior and the way my Z4M was put together was a bit of a shock for me compared to the other Bmw's I'd had. So I'm not surprised that they don't wear well as they get older, and mine had 36k miles on it back in 2012 and the interior was full of rattles...I guess the punishing ride/suspension doesn't help much with that though.

Is this just simply the result of it being made in the US?

My 130is - especially the facelift one - were notably better than the Z4s I looked at way back. And my Legacy is hardly the most soft-touchy thing in the world, but touch points like wheel and gearstick feel so much more tactile and solid.

Quality questions plus ability to climb out through the boot - yes the garage is that narrow! - are all pushing me towards the 130i. Anyone driven a 130i on sorted suspension and a Z4 - do you really lose that much handling-wise with 130i? Hoping to drive - or at least get in - a Z4 this weekend to answer at least one of those.

[TameRacingDriver]

Have to agree my old z4c did feel quite low rent inside compared with almost any other BMW I've owned or been in. Shame really as the exterior is (subjectively) the best you can get in this price bracket.

I'm also considering a 130i as my next car so I'll be interested how you get on. If they were better looking it would almost be a no brainer.

[RoVoFob]

TameRacingDriver said:

Have to agree my old z4c did feel quite low rent inside compared with almost any other BMW I've owned or been in. Shame really as the exterior is (subjectively) the best you can get in this price bracket.

I'm also considering a 130i as my next car so I'll be interested how you get on. If they were better looking it would almost be a no brainer.

Every time I look at the exterior of the Z4 I get seduced. But every time I went and sat in one in the past I got turned off and bought a 130i!

Now I’m in a position where I have a separate sensible car and would value the sports car feel - and there’s less price difference between 130is and Z4s - I feel like I should get a Z4. Interior quality is no doubt less noticeable in a second car than a daily...

Stupid question, but is there any chance in hell of climbing in/out over seat and through the hatch? If I knew I could get it in the garage and get myself out, I’m sure I would plump for the Z4, naff interior or not.

[TameRacingDriver]

You might be skinnier than me but I wouldn't have fancied my chances of climbing out of the boot, but it's been a few years so I can't remember exactly how small it is. I would have thought getting over the back of the seats might pose a significant challenge

[RoVoFob]

TameRacingDriver said:

You might be skinnier than me but I wouldn't have fancied my chances of climbing out of the boot, but it's been a few years so I can't remember exactly how small it is. I would have thought getting over the back of the seats might pose a significant challenge

Thanks. I’m relatively slim, but can’t imagine managing it without destroying myself or the car! Damn.

So, choice is Z4 on the drive or 130i in the garage. How stealable are Z4s - they’re not like Golf Rs, are they?

As much as I really want to park whatever I get in the garage, maybe I should just give myself a good talking to and jam the Z4 between the Legacy and garage door...

All depends whether Z4 is that much more exciting than 130i. Will hopefully find out over the weekend.

[Mr Tidy]

I really don't think getting into a Z4 Coupe via the boot is an option - you'd need to get Fagin to send the Artful Dodger round!

To be fair from what I have read about 130is and Z4 Coupes (and experienced in the case of the Z4C) they both benefit hugely from some upgraded suspension and a Quaife LSD.

If you got lucky you might find one that has had those sort of upgrades, which would be a much cheaper option than buying a standard one then paying to have them done. Non run-flat tyres are also said to improve both no end.

AFAIK neither is a particular theft target - they're all over 10 years old now anyway and don't have keyless entry! I had Z4 Coupes parked in an "allocated" space for over 5 years and the only interference I suffered from was when someone stole the dust caps with the BMW logo on them!

Enjoy the test drives.

Edited by Mr Tidy on Friday 21st February 22:39

[RoVoFob]

Mr Tidy said:

I really don't think getting into a Z4 Coupe via the boot is an option - you'd need to get Fagin to send the Artful Dodger round!

To be fair from what I have read about 130is and Z4 Coupes (and experienced in the case of the Z4C) they both benefit hugely from some upgraded suspension and a Quaife LSD.

If you got lucky you might find one that has had those sort of upgrades, which would be a much cheaper option than buying a standard one then paying to have them done. Non run-flat tyres are also said to improve both no end.

AFAIK neither is a particular theft target - they're all over 10 years old now anyway and don't have keyless entry! I had Z4 Coupes parked in an "allocated" space for over 5 years and the only interference I suffered from was when someone stole the dust caps with the BMW logo on them!

Enjoy the test drives.

Edited by Mr Tidy on Friday 21st February 22:39

I don’t know, a carefully placed trampoline and some diving practice could help to post myself into the cabin...

I’ve heard the same re: suspension, though as I’d want to fit lightweight 17s in either case and that might improve things somewhat even with standard setup. Oddly, I preferred the standard worn 130i setup to the BabyBMW recommended one.

There are a couple of 130is on sale currently with Eibach/Bilstein setups which look good despite both being 100k+. Most Z4s seem to be in standard suspension, or at least don’t mention any new bits.

Non runflats are a definite. My second 130i with proper tyres had about three times as much grip as my first on runflats - enormous difference. Have never understood need for LSD, though. Traction on proper tyres was fine, so does an LSD really make that much difference?

Having looked at insurance quotes for both, they’ve actually gone down a lot. Maybe they’re more inconspicuous than I thought. As you said lack of keyless entry is a bonus!

[cerb4.5lee]

RoVoFob said:

Have never understood need for LSD, though. Traction on proper tyres was fine, so does an LSD really make that much difference?

For me personally I think that a LSD is essential in both a FWD and RWD car for sure.

[TameRacingDriver]

I would have liked an LSD on my coupe but it was certainly not the end of the world not having it.. Still plenty of traction in the majority of conditions and quite easy to get the back end to play.

[greygoose]

RoVoFob said:

Every time I look at the exterior of the Z4 I get seduced. But every time I went and sat in one in the past I got turned off and bought a 130i!

Now I’m in a position where I have a separate sensible car and would value the sports car feel - and there’s less price difference between 130is and Z4s - I feel like I should get a Z4. Interior quality is no doubt less noticeable in a second car than a daily...

Stupid question, but is there any chance in hell of climbing in/out over seat and through the hatch? If I knew I could get it in the garage and get myself out, I’m sure I would plump for the Z4, naff interior or not.

I don’t think you could get out through the boot as the headrest part of the seat would get in the way unless you are super skinny and the headrests don’t come off from what I remember of mine. The ride is hard on runflats and definitely better without them.
I still miss mine as I loved the looks of the coupe and the boot is quite practical for a weekend away for two camping.

[cerb4.5lee]

TameRacingDriver said:

I would have liked an LSD on my coupe but it was certainly not the end of the world not having it.. Still plenty of traction in the majority of conditions and quite easy to get the back end to play.

I've always been a big fan of a LSD in a RWD car and I can't really put my finger on why but I just like the way they feel. I never realised how important they are in a FWD car though until I got my F56 Mini Cooper S...it only has 189bhp but it still wants to light the tyres up at any opportunity. That car is desperate for a LSD for me and I can't understand why it doesn't have one.

[talksthetorque]

I’ve had a B9S4 and a Z4MC, with a slight overlap on the timing.

The Z was much more fun to drive more of the time. A lot of that for me was down to the ‘experience’ of getting into a 2 seater low down that cocooned you, and it sounded great with the awesome S54 engine.
I know the 3.0 engine from our 330 we had before and that is smooth and powerful as well, just without the edge at the top end.
It held its value and cost peanuts to run - oxygen sensor was the only thing that went on it in 4 years.
The S4 was a great all rounder. Spirited drive round the twisties, 300 mile trip to Scotland, stick loads of tools in it and fight the commuters on the way to work, all dispatched easily. But it was a four door saloon, and therefore not an event.
You’ll enjoy both for different reasons. But you hit the nail on the head with your OP.
Do you want one all rounder or two different cars.

[RoVoFob]

cerb4.5lee said:

For me personally I think that a LSD is essential in both a FWD and RWD car for sure.

With normal driving or only when blasting down a tight road at 10/10ths?

[RoVoFob]

cerb4.5lee said:

I've always been a big fan of a LSD in a RWD car and I can't really put my finger on why but I just like the way they feel. I never realised how important they are in a FWD car though until I got my F56 Mini Cooper S...it only has 189bhp but it still wants to light the tyres up at any opportunity. That car is desperate for a LSD for me and I can't understand why it doesn't have one.

I’ve driven loads of FWD cars with diffs and some of them give you greater traction and make the car feel 4WD, others tug you all over the place when you put the power on.

Since with RWD you’re not affecting the steering when accelerating, is a diff noticeable if you’re not spinning the wheels? Do they do much when you’re driving normally or on the edge of traction - or only if the wheels are actually slipping? Sorry, despite being a car nerd, my technical knowledge is...limited.

[cerb4.5lee]

RoVoFob said:

Since with RWD you’re not affecting the steering when accelerating, is a diff noticeable if you’re not spinning the wheels? Do they do much when you’re driving normally or on the edge of traction - or only if the wheels are actually slipping? Sorry, despite being a car nerd, my technical knowledge is...limited.

Driving normally you don't really notice them, but I do just like having one and I like the traction benefits if you need it and I like the way the car behaves with one(many people don't though). I also prefer the way they feel to an open diff if you want a little bit of sideways fun.

I've also never been a fan of electronic traction aids(I spent 10 years combined without them in my 200SX/Cerbera) and I just prefer to rely on a LSD on its own.