T350 to Z4m,thinking of a change.
Discussion
As the title suggests,I'm thinking of selling the T350 & freeing up some cash to do my loft conversion,but I still want a fun car for the weekends,looking around the only car that meets the criteria is a z4m,prices range from £12,000 to £18,000,so buying at the lower end will give me some change from the sale of the T350 for the loft.....am I mental,or would you do the same.
Also has anyone owned both cars for a comparison?
My previous car was an e46 M3,so I know the engine in the z4 well as they are the same unit,great engine,but doesn't sound as good as the T350.
Decisions decisions.
Also has anyone owned both cars for a comparison?
My previous car was an e46 M3,so I know the engine in the z4 well as they are the same unit,great engine,but doesn't sound as good as the T350.
Decisions decisions.
I have never owned a Z4 but I have driven one.
The Z4 is a Marmite car - I must admit I hate it.
That said, the Z4M does everything very well and it is incredibly fast. I am not even going to attempt to say anything bad about the build or performance. However, there is no comparison to a T350. No drama, no excitement.
The biggest problem from my limited experience with the Z4 was the reaction from other drivers. With my Chim and my T350 I have always experienced admiring stares, crowds looking at the cars, friendly banter (even the negative 'how many times has that gone wrong' type of comments have always been friendly. When I was driving the Z4M I got called a 'hairdresser', I was constantly told it was a girls car and on one occassion while I was standing next to it, a guy walked up to me - looked at the car and simply said "tosser".
Perhaps I was just unlucky but the experience reinforced my prejudices about the BMW
The Z4 is a Marmite car - I must admit I hate it.
That said, the Z4M does everything very well and it is incredibly fast. I am not even going to attempt to say anything bad about the build or performance. However, there is no comparison to a T350. No drama, no excitement.
The biggest problem from my limited experience with the Z4 was the reaction from other drivers. With my Chim and my T350 I have always experienced admiring stares, crowds looking at the cars, friendly banter (even the negative 'how many times has that gone wrong' type of comments have always been friendly. When I was driving the Z4M I got called a 'hairdresser', I was constantly told it was a girls car and on one occassion while I was standing next to it, a guy walked up to me - looked at the car and simply said "tosser".
Perhaps I was just unlucky but the experience reinforced my prejudices about the BMW
Z4M will depreciate quicker than the T350. Especially when the next BMW model comes out. TVR has potential to hold its money or maybe even increase!
Having owned BMWs in the past they are 10 a penny and not as exclusive as a TVR.
Having said that a loft conversion and a Z4M. Tempting, although get it priced up. Loft conversions are incredibly expensive nowadays I know someone near me that had a loft conversion redone i.e. to a proper one to be classed as a proper room instead of a "storage space" and that cost them £20k!
Having owned BMWs in the past they are 10 a penny and not as exclusive as a TVR.
Having said that a loft conversion and a Z4M. Tempting, although get it priced up. Loft conversions are incredibly expensive nowadays I know someone near me that had a loft conversion redone i.e. to a proper one to be classed as a proper room instead of a "storage space" and that cost them £20k!
Hi,
I had a Z4 3.0 and moving to a TVR T350, was the difference between a warm bath and jumping into molten lava :P The Z4, even with an after market exhaust, is diminutive, you can barely here it. I had a Remus, which is supposed to be pretty loud. Don't get me wrong, the Z4 is a lovely car, you can have a hoon around in it, without any of the usual fears and it is instantly drivable.
You can also modify the Z4, and their is a great forum (z4forum) which has loads of ideas to improve the car, although the M is pretty sorted anyway. If you are thinking of a substitute, and the loft is something you need, and the TVR must go, there are a lot worse cars than the Z4.
Steve
I had a Z4 3.0 and moving to a TVR T350, was the difference between a warm bath and jumping into molten lava :P The Z4, even with an after market exhaust, is diminutive, you can barely here it. I had a Remus, which is supposed to be pretty loud. Don't get me wrong, the Z4 is a lovely car, you can have a hoon around in it, without any of the usual fears and it is instantly drivable.
You can also modify the Z4, and their is a great forum (z4forum) which has loads of ideas to improve the car, although the M is pretty sorted anyway. If you are thinking of a substitute, and the loft is something you need, and the TVR must go, there are a lot worse cars than the Z4.
Steve
To add to my earlier comment, I did a tour of southern France in a griff years ago and repeated it in 2007 following the Rugby World Cup in the Z4M. given the choice of which car to use again the Z4 woud win every single time.
Dont get me wrong, im the biggest TVR fan out there, but don't underestimate the M until you drive it. Its also chalk and cheese compared to any other Z4 due to not having electric steering and run flat tyres which both make a massive difference. Its also one of the best trackday cars Ive ever had.
In fact, just go and drive it and see what you think.
dont know if youve seen this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgf4dtl-GLI
Dont get me wrong, im the biggest TVR fan out there, but don't underestimate the M until you drive it. Its also chalk and cheese compared to any other Z4 due to not having electric steering and run flat tyres which both make a massive difference. Its also one of the best trackday cars Ive ever had.
In fact, just go and drive it and see what you think.
dont know if youve seen this. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgf4dtl-GLI
went Tuscan to Z4MC
its about 80% of the excitement,with 1000% better reliability and running costs.
It'll take all the abuse you can throw at it and feels more special than an M3
it wont ever be a TVR, but a good compromise
look back couple of years on my topics to see my various comparisons at the time
Custard
its about 80% of the excitement,with 1000% better reliability and running costs.
It'll take all the abuse you can throw at it and feels more special than an M3
it wont ever be a TVR, but a good compromise
look back couple of years on my topics to see my various comparisons at the time
Custard
sadly you wont see much Z4 coupe with V8 (except of the lovely wide body'd racecars)
but to get an impression of a Z4 V8 here the Hartge Z50 that also was on sale a while ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plGeMXmKh94&pla...
it can be brutal but also 'normal' depends how heavy your right foot is
but to get an impression of a Z4 V8 here the Hartge Z50 that also was on sale a while ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plGeMXmKh94&pla...
it can be brutal but also 'normal' depends how heavy your right foot is
Thanks for the replys chaps,always good to hear your thoughts.
I know the z4 won't be as exciting,my T350 is a scream,but I'm sure it'll be almost as quick,& will certainly be better put together.
I was originally looking at the coupe as I'm not usually a big fan of soft tops,but I'm now swaying towards the roadster,it's a good looking car,will definitely be doing some mods if I buy it though.
The loft will cost more than the difference between the 2,but I don't want to borrow to much,plus I'm in the building industry,so I can do a lot of the work myself.
I know the z4 won't be as exciting,my T350 is a scream,but I'm sure it'll be almost as quick,& will certainly be better put together.
I was originally looking at the coupe as I'm not usually a big fan of soft tops,but I'm now swaying towards the roadster,it's a good looking car,will definitely be doing some mods if I buy it though.
The loft will cost more than the difference between the 2,but I don't want to borrow to much,plus I'm in the building industry,so I can do a lot of the work myself.
GentlePersuasion said:
You're right; the Z4M is a better car to drive.
I could have gone along with comments re build quality, reliability, etc but not driving - driving is a very personal thing anyway which is not really covered by the term 'better'. Better technically or emotionally?I took the OP's question at an emotional level in which case I believe there is very little than can hold a candle to jumping in a TVR for a weekend blast after a hard week at work!
For me, good though the Z4M is, it would be far too sanitised for this and more of an every day, only car which I accept the TVR is not. I see from your garage that you have a lot of BMW experience but not so much TVR...if you have come from something relatively mundane then I'm sure a Z4M will blow your socks off but I think it will be a poor substitute moving from a T350 to Z4M.
All IMHO!
peteA said:
GentlePersuasion said:
You're right; the Z4M is a better car to drive.
I could have gone along with comments re build quality, reliability, etc but not driving - driving is a very personal thing anyway which is not really covered by the term 'better'. Better technically or emotionally?I took the OP's question at an emotional level in which case I believe there is very little than can hold a candle to jumping in a TVR for a weekend blast after a hard week at work!
For me, good though the Z4M is, it would be far too sanitised for this and more of an every day, only car which I accept the TVR is not. I see from your garage that you have a lot of BMW experience but not so much TVR...if you have come from something relatively mundane then I'm sure a Z4M will blow your socks off but I think it will be a poor substitute moving from a T350 to Z4M.
All IMHO!
The integrity of the BMW appeals to be on an emotional level. Whereas the TVR (as much as I wish it weren't true) cannot compare because of the risks of a failure.
Apart from which, I genuinely believe the Z4 to be a 'better' steer dynamically, so it's win-win for the BMW in all but visual/aural drama.
GentlePersuasion said:
Well that's just it, isn't it?
The integrity of the BMW appeals to be on an emotional level. Whereas the TVR (as much as I wish it weren't true) cannot compare because of the risks of a failure.
Apart from which, I genuinely believe the Z4 to be a 'better' steer dynamically, so it's win-win for the BMW in all but visual/aural drama.
TVR also equals... Smile Factor, Greater Speed The integrity of the BMW appeals to be on an emotional level. Whereas the TVR (as much as I wish it weren't true) cannot compare because of the risks of a failure.
Apart from which, I genuinely believe the Z4 to be a 'better' steer dynamically, so it's win-win for the BMW in all but visual/aural drama.
Acceleration Boot Space Zero Hairdresser Comments (never understood that tbh) Less Depreciation 
Servicing is compatible as Z4M isn't cheap and has similar service costs so no saving there TVR an event, anyway the chap can't have one and the Z4M is hardly crap, go for it, my Z4 was lovely, easy to use and stunning to look at (mildly pimped), completely faultless and a blast straight out the garage top down on a sunny day
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