Z4C as daily driver

[alfaspiderman2]

Having narrowed my search down to a 130i or 330i/335i, I'm now strangely drawn to the Z4C.

I can just about live with the impracticality but wonder whether the Z4C would comfortable enough for 18k miles/year of fast A road/motorway work?

Anyone care to comment on how useable these are c.f the 130/330?

[Vroomer]

The Z4C is a great all-round car: fast, comfortable, reasonably economical and surprisingly practical with the hatchback.

Edited by Vroomer on Tuesday 12th July 10:50

[mmm-five]

The only downside is the relative lack of space in the boot and lack of rear seats.

I use my Z4MC as a daily driver, and it's just done 10k in 3 months - average of 27mpg, the non-M should easily get over 30mpg on a similar motorway/DC/A/B/town mix.

The non-M version may be even more comfortable as you can get it with an auto box to make it easier to live in traffic jams.

[alfaspiderman2]

Thanks

I'm actually drawn to a 3.0 SE given the auto (with paddles presumably) and cruise control

[Vroomer]

Very, very few SEs about; nearly all are S.

[TheCadd]

I wouldnt go for one as your only/main vehicle.
It's a great car but it's NOT 'comfortable' for long distances unless you want to drive it like a boring saloon.

Based on owning one for 2 years.

[taylor172]

ive got one, the 3.0i and ive done 25k in the 18 months ive owned it, most of which are motorway miles... fantastic as a cruiser.. just CC on and just let it much up the miles, get out the other end frash as a daisy

[Vroomer]

TheCadd said:

I wouldnt go for one as your only/main vehicle.
It's a great car but it's NOT 'comfortable' for long distances unless you want to drive it like a boring saloon.

Based on owning one for 2 years.

Disagree completely.

Based on owning one for 2.5 years.

[S3_Graham]

if its ride your worried about, my 130 is just as bad as the old Z4 3.0si i used to drive regularly.

[mmm-five]

Vroomer said:

Disagree completely.

Based on owning one for 2.5 years.

+1

Based on 50,000 miles and 2.5 years in a Z4MC.

Although my e34 M5 was more comfortable - but then it wasn't as 'chuckable' either.

[Sticks.]

Obviously, how long you can put up with the firm ride is subjective, but for me the lack of useable interior space/storage is as much an issue.

[sjj84]

Had mine since January and use it everyday. Mine is the 3 litre and I average 31mpg and don't go on motorways vary often. I reckon that could easily be 34+ on a motorway run.
Although it's perfectly fine for everyday use, I don't find it particularly comfortable over long distances, I'm hoping chaning from runflats might improve this.
As for interior space, how much do you need? I find there to be plenty to be honest, and you can fit another first aid box under the drivers seat to give you some extra space if needed.

[Sticks.]

Don't know if the later cars are better, but you can't even get a small bottle of water in my 04's door bin.

[JCW]

I used mine for 40k miles over a two year period and it was fine, although the business paid for fuel which helped offset the servicing costs; certainly more comfortable than the JCW I've been driving for the last couple of years which is slowly destroying my back.

[cj_eds]

I've owned one for 18 months, and happily done plenty of long distance & shorter commuting driving. The ride is reasonably hard but I didn't think it was as bad as the Mondeo ST I had previously. I don't think it's uncomfortable so far. General mix of driving I get mid 30's for mpg, long distance easily more than that. The flappy paddles are good, I'm sure some will complain that you should have a manual box but I find the auto great for traffic etc, and the semi-auto mode good fun for b-road more spirited driving. The boot is surprisingly spacious, I've crammed far more in there than I'd expected to.

Have a look at the Z4-Forum website for plenty of info, including a buyers guide in there.

[Guiseley]

M8 I'm a bit biased as I've got the sport z4c and the mrs has the se z4c. The se hasn't got the sports suspension and 17 inch wheel and the ride is a lot softer and easier for longer distances, but the sport has + points in the twisties. 32mpg in the manual easy, 30 for the auto - cruise isn't too expensive to retrofit.

+1 for z4-forum for more details (hi guys!)

[Gruber]

Perfectly useable as a daily, but my experience was that the seats are more comfortable in the 1er and the 3er.

I drove the Z4MC down to Italy and back and, while comfortable enough, the seats don't have the depth and comfort of the others.

And there's precious little difference between the SE and the Sport in ride terms. Biggest difference is made by ditching the RFTs.

[R26Andy]

alfaspiderman2 said:

Thanks

I'm actually drawn to a 3.0 SE given the auto (with paddles presumably) and cruise control

You can also get all this on the sport, albeit with slightly hard suspension and bigger alloys.

Ditch the run flats for a better ride.

Andy

[CatherineJ]

I ran a 3.0si Z4C as a daily driver and when it wasn't in the garage, it made a pretty good everyday car. It had a strut brace put on and that did make the front end a little sharper, although I'm not sure I would have added it if I had been footing the bill.

Edited by CatherineJ on Wednesday 13th July 11:56

[R26Andy]

Do they not come with a strut brace? TBH Ive never actually looked lol. After spedning best part of 2 years under the bonnet of an Rx8 I`m just happy to let someone else do it.