Z4 Coupe vs Roadster

Z4 Coupe vs Roadster

Author
Discussion

ali_kat

Original Poster:

31,995 posts

222 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
Guys

I'm looking at buying a Z4, but in a bit of difficulty that you may be able to help with

Do I get the Coupe or the Roadster? Having driven both, love both. The Coupe is sexier looking, but the Roadster - has a roof that comes off cloud9

My Fiance says the Coupe, as he thinks I'll kill myself in a soft top, but it's not me that has written cars off furious

And do I go for the M or the 2l or the 3l???? For the price of the M I can buy both in a 2l...........

Thanks for your opinions

john_r

8,353 posts

272 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
Roadster = Smart & Posy

Coupe = Cool & Sophisticated

2litre = <yawn...>

3litre = <ooh!>

M = OBVIOUSLY!!

obiwonkeyblokey

5,399 posts

241 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
what he said!

from a smart posy overpowered fella.


tuffer

8,850 posts

268 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
Just had a 2.5 Roadster for 2 days, underwhelmed at first buut when pushed hard it really grew on me. The droan from the exhaust nearly drove me mad so I would say the Coupe for me and in 3.0 form! Wife loves the looks and would like one in Black with Red Leather.....Maybe next year I will let her keep her bonus

GTRene

16,653 posts

225 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
The Z4 roadster is nice when the wetter is good I guess...

But for me the only car to buy is the M coupe (Z4 or Z3) its really just a bit more firm and better ride control, also no wind noise caused by the soft-top at high speeds and no soft-top drama's...
Also the look of the Coupe is way betteryes but I'm biasedhehe
GTRene

ali_kat

Original Poster:

31,995 posts

222 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
yes Coupe is sexier to look at, but.................

Roadster with the roof off is seier to drive??


What is so good about the M then? Convince me to fork out the extra £20k on that rather than buying both a Coupe and a Roadster

brenmona

72 posts

211 months

Wednesday 28th February 2007
quotequote all
ali_kat said:
yes Coupe is sexier to look at, but.................

Roadster with the roof off is seier to drive??


What is so good about the M then? Convince me to fork out the extra £20k on that rather than buying both a Coupe and a Roadster



LOL, An M has got an all round grin factor attached to it, test drive one, or hire one for a weekend and hopefully you'll see, and grin :-)

GTRene

16,653 posts

225 months

Thursday 1st March 2007
quotequote all
brenmona said:
ali_kat said:
yes Coupe is sexier to look at, but.................

Roadster with the roof off is seier to drive??


What is so good about the M then? Convince me to fork out the extra £20k on that rather than buying both a Coupe and a Roadster



LOL, An M has got an all round grin factor attached to it, test drive one, or hire one for a weekend and hopefully you'll see, and grin :-)

Indeed with a good M from mmmmmmmmmm you don't need 2 cars hehe so you save a lot road-tax and other stuff, also you will have most of the time the right car for the "job" and indeed that grin/smile you can't buy..euhm wait you can, buy a M and you get a smile for free
GTRene

el77

622 posts

213 months

Thursday 1st March 2007
quotequote all
M Coupe if you like see the back of the car from your side window.

mmmmmmmmmm i love tyre smoke!!!!

john_r

8,353 posts

272 months

Thursday 1st March 2007
quotequote all
ali_kat said:
yes Coupe is sexier to look at, but.................

Roadster with the roof off is seier to drive??


What is so good about the M then? Convince me to fork out the extra £20k on that rather than buying both a Coupe and a Roadster


All down to your confidence and needs as a driver. If you pootle about then the 2l variants, however if you like to push on occasionally then the 3l. However if you want to GRIN LIKE A MANIAC every time you drive the car and know you have the ability to crush just about anything like a beetle under your heelevil, then the M is the one to go for. I think the coupe will hold its value better (personal opinion; so roadster owners, please don't get all insulted and huffy!), as will the M.

2 cars = double depreciation! eek

ali_kat

Original Poster:

31,995 posts

222 months

Thursday 1st March 2007
quotequote all
john_r said:
All down to your confidence and needs as a driver.

However if you want to GRIN LIKE A MANIAC every time you drive the car and know you have the ability to crush just about anything like a beetle under your heelevil, then the M is the one to go for.


I'm female and invincible

evil I do that in a 1.4 Lupo

bennem

284 posts

240 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
You don't need to buy a new one. There are plenty of very low mileage Z4M's around, especially roadsters. £30-35k will get you one with all the toys and less that 4k miles.

You want the M not the 3.0. I had a 3.0 roadster after coming out of a TVR. The 3.0 is nice but nothing special. If the 3.0 had been like the M I wouldn't have changed cars.

ali_kat

Original Poster:

31,995 posts

222 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
I'll not be buying new, looking at ex demos, 1k miles on the clock, fully loaded.

Still not convinved by the M tho, I've driven a Z3 M Coupe and it terrified me for a while, I think it was the 4th time I drove it I felt confident in it. Need to drive the others to compare I guess. Plus, I'm still having problems with the fact that for the price of the M I'm looking at (just under £40k), I can buy both, similar mileage & spec in a 2l, just means I have to replace the Lupo, rather than keep it hehe

sleep envy

62,260 posts

250 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
ali_kat said:
And do I go for the M or the 2l or the 3l????


as if you needed to ask a question like that

ali_kat

Original Poster:

31,995 posts

222 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
sleep envy said:
ali_kat said:
And do I go for the M or the 2l or the 3l????


as if you needed to ask a question like that


See reasoning

Ok, more of a do I buy both the Roadster & Coupe @ 2l or just an M, in which case the Roadster or the Coupe???

john_r

8,353 posts

272 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
ali_kat said:
sleep envy said:
ali_kat said:
And do I go for the M or the 2l or the 3l????


as if you needed to ask a question like that


See reasoning

Ok, more of a do I buy both the Roadster & Coupe @ 2l or just an M, in which case the Roadster or the Coupe???


john_r said:
Roadster = Smart & Posy

Coupe = Cool & Sophisticated

2litre = <yawn...>

3litre = <ooh!>

M = OBVIOUSLY!!


So, everyone on here is going to say "GET AN M"; that's the easy bit!

Coupe looks better IMHO, but Roadster is great in the summer. But even in the summer, the Coupe will still look better...

Catherinej

9,586 posts

244 months

Friday 2nd March 2007
quotequote all
I've ordered a Z4 Coupe Sport.

It arrives on the 15th of this month.

Edited to say that the coupe is only available as a 3.0 or M.

Edited by Catherinej on Friday 2nd March 21:52

GTRene

16,653 posts

225 months

Saturday 3rd March 2007
quotequote all
Catherinej said:
I've ordered a Z4 Coupe Sport.

It arrives on the 15th of this month.

Edited to say that the coupe is only available as a 3.0 or M.

Good for you Catherine, great choice what color?
Also see you had some nice cars...and also pretty much did you see the King of Pistonheads list in gassing-station? maybe you can become queen
cheers,
GTRene

Catherinej

9,586 posts

244 months

Saturday 3rd March 2007
quotequote all
Hi Rene,

It's the following spec:

Stratus Grey
Black Dakota Leather
Sun Protection Glass
Bluetooth
Heated Seats
Comfort Pack





Edited by Catherinej on Saturday 3rd March 09:05

DoctorD

1,542 posts

257 months

Saturday 3rd March 2007
quotequote all
I owned a Roadster (Alpina S) prior to Z4M Coupe and you really need to be a roadster kind of person to prefer it to the coupe.

Apologies to the Roadster fans out there, but here are my reasons;

1) The Roadster looks slightly awkward by comparison - the flame surfacing just looks more resolved in coupe form particularly with the coupe's double-bubble shaped roof. When I parked my roadster and looked back, I rarely felt comfortable. It had to be parked at the right angle and showing its best side.

Bear in mind I did two magazine articles with my Alpina S (EVO and Total BMW) so spent 'a lot' of time trying to find the best visual angle. I still look back fondly on my Roadster, but have no regrets moving to a Coupe.

2) I am not a 'big' fella (6', 13st), but the Coupe feels more spacious than the Roadster. Somehow I just find this more comfortable and relaxing on longer journeys.

3) There is a noticeable difference in build quality 'feel' - the Coupe feels like it's built like a brick. Very reminiscent of my old 993, whereas the Roadster feels merely good. The Coupe is 'twice' the stiffness of the roadster and that shows, you can also feel it when steering and when going over bumpy roads.

4) Perception on the road - I found that other road users and joe public had a generally low opinion of Z4 drivers - most people did not like it, although the Roadster S looked way better than other Z4s. I have run out of fingers to count the number of times people have approached me in petrol stations or in car parks just wishing to pay their compliments about how stunning my Coupe looks, or to ask me what it is. I've even had some people ask me if it's a new TVR..

Partly because the design of the Coupe seems better resolved and partly because the girly/hairdresser jokes cannot be applied it just seems to have way more street cred. In fact the Coupe reminds me (in character) of a Rottweiler.

The main reason for recommending the M model over the 3.0si is that I could never go back to that electronic power-assisted steering. BMW improved it in the latest version, but I have a real fetish for good steering and the Z4M's when enhanced by a strut brace is everything I want in a steering system and more. If it was possible to option this hydraulic system on the 3.0si then I would happily recommend it. As it is, somewhat irrationally I would gladly pay the premium of buying an M model, just for the steering alone.


Edited by DoctorD on Saturday 3rd March 09:12