dilemna new 'useable' car. 987s / z4mr
Discussion
Hi everyone.
Just sold my 964rs (yes ok i know big mistake etc... but i would not give it the use that it deserves anyway in the near future, and i can have only 1 car).
I am about to take the plunge on something more modern and useable everyday.
I will buy a left hooker (i am a 'continental' and can' t stand driving rhd' s).
I test drove both of the above and even owned: 986s (with all the toys inc sport exhaust) and z3m roadster (i had two)...
I still cannot make a decision.
I bear in mind driving pleasure but also depreciation.
The 987s with pcm, pasm, 19' classics and 8000km will be 34k from main dealer (germany).
The z4mr with all toys and 1500km will be under 30k. I will add 19' csl wheels and probably sideskirts and strutbrace.
I am a bit scared to get tired of the z4mr too quickly. I am not a big fan of the bangle design, but have to admit that having seen pics of the z4mc with csl wheels has reconciled me with it somehow... Driving wise, i thought the engine gear box combo was amazing!
The 987s, i like the design out of the box. Particularly with the 19' classsics. The engine, i know i will feel a bit underpowered, but nowadays and to drive around London + the occasional countryside blast + the odd trackday should be plenty enough.
I have been wondering for 2 weeks but cannot come down to a decision. I need to decide, otherwise, the 2 cars i am looking at will go, and i will have nothing.
Any experience similar to mine or someone willing to comment: more than welcome.
Thanks in advance,
Eric.
ps: i do not really want to get 911' s etc.. needs to be cab 2 seater, cissors, hairdressing etc... <flamesuit on>
Just sold my 964rs (yes ok i know big mistake etc... but i would not give it the use that it deserves anyway in the near future, and i can have only 1 car).
I am about to take the plunge on something more modern and useable everyday.
I will buy a left hooker (i am a 'continental' and can' t stand driving rhd' s).
I test drove both of the above and even owned: 986s (with all the toys inc sport exhaust) and z3m roadster (i had two)...
I still cannot make a decision.
I bear in mind driving pleasure but also depreciation.
The 987s with pcm, pasm, 19' classics and 8000km will be 34k from main dealer (germany).
The z4mr with all toys and 1500km will be under 30k. I will add 19' csl wheels and probably sideskirts and strutbrace.
I am a bit scared to get tired of the z4mr too quickly. I am not a big fan of the bangle design, but have to admit that having seen pics of the z4mc with csl wheels has reconciled me with it somehow... Driving wise, i thought the engine gear box combo was amazing!
The 987s, i like the design out of the box. Particularly with the 19' classsics. The engine, i know i will feel a bit underpowered, but nowadays and to drive around London + the occasional countryside blast + the odd trackday should be plenty enough.
I have been wondering for 2 weeks but cannot come down to a decision. I need to decide, otherwise, the 2 cars i am looking at will go, and i will have nothing.
Any experience similar to mine or someone willing to comment: more than welcome.
Thanks in advance,
Eric.
ps: i do not really want to get 911' s etc.. needs to be cab 2 seater, cissors, hairdressing etc... <flamesuit on>
I went through this recently (albeit deliberating between a 986 S & a Z3M). The Z3 was FAR quicker in a straight line, but point to point on normal roads the Porsche was a much more entertaining drive, as well as being quicker (& slightly less scary in the wet!).
I have not driven a Z4, but the build quality in the Z3 2.8 I used to own was appalling, with the car creaking & flexing even on the smoothest roads. I get none of this in the Porsche.
At the end of the day, there is not much between the 987S & Z4M in terms of performance so I guess it is a choice of which car feels / suits you better. Personally I do not like the Bangle designed BMW's & find the Z4 to be a ubiquitous, with very little styling difference between the boggo 2.2 & the Z4M. For these reasons, I would go for the Porshce every time (until BMW start making cars that do not look like Euro-boxes!)
Just my 2p worth....
I have not driven a Z4, but the build quality in the Z3 2.8 I used to own was appalling, with the car creaking & flexing even on the smoothest roads. I get none of this in the Porsche.
At the end of the day, there is not much between the 987S & Z4M in terms of performance so I guess it is a choice of which car feels / suits you better. Personally I do not like the Bangle designed BMW's & find the Z4 to be a ubiquitous, with very little styling difference between the boggo 2.2 & the Z4M. For these reasons, I would go for the Porshce every time (until BMW start making cars that do not look like Euro-boxes!)
Just my 2p worth....
Schmalex said:
I went through this recently (albeit deliberating between a 986 S & a Z3M). The Z3 was FAR quicker in a straight line, but point to point on normal roads the Porsche was a much more entertaining drive, as well as being quicker (& slightly less scary in the wet!).
I have not driven a Z4, but the build quality in the Z3 2.8 I used to own was appalling, with the car creaking & flexing even on the smoothest roads. I get none of this in the Porsche.
At the end of the day, there is not much between the 987S & Z4M in terms of performance so I guess it is a choice of which car feels / suits you better. Personally I do not like the Bangle designed BMW's & find the Z4 to be a ubiquitous, with very little styling difference between the boggo 2.2 & the Z4M. For these reasons, I would go for the Porshce every time (until BMW start making cars that do not look like Euro-boxes!)
Just my 2p worth....
I have not driven a Z4, but the build quality in the Z3 2.8 I used to own was appalling, with the car creaking & flexing even on the smoothest roads. I get none of this in the Porsche.
At the end of the day, there is not much between the 987S & Z4M in terms of performance so I guess it is a choice of which car feels / suits you better. Personally I do not like the Bangle designed BMW's & find the Z4 to be a ubiquitous, with very little styling difference between the boggo 2.2 & the Z4M. For these reasons, I would go for the Porshce every time (until BMW start making cars that do not look like Euro-boxes!)
Just my 2p worth....
Bang on the money! You could be mistaken for a hairdresser and crash on the same day.
vr6-er said:
Schmalex said:
Personally I do not like the Bangle designed BMW's & find the Z4 to be a ubiquitous, with very little styling difference between the boggo 2.2 & the Z4M. For these reasons, I would go for the Porshce every time (until BMW start making cars that do not look like Euro-boxes!)
Just my 2p worth....
Just my 2p worth....
Bang on the money! You could be mistaken for a hairdresser and crash on the same day.
cos of course, porsche are known for the huge differences in visuals between models/ the last 50 years of design.
id have a z4m in a heartbeat, in fact i think im going to.
BlueNGT, yes i did look for the 64rs for a long-long time.
And bought it at the end of last year.
Things changed a bit for me recently and it was my only car, so i decided to let it go and think again at a later stage. I would not have been able to give it the use it deserved.
And to top it all, the streets where i leave are all cobbled... Imagine with the rs: a disaster for the car and me.
For now, I need something more user friendly which can still occasionaly stir my soul. I took out of the equation anything too hardcore like gt3' s, rs' s etc.
Guys, thanks a lot for the answers.
I agree on the Bangle' s design: it is 'special' at best, but accomodated to proper wheels (csl) is more pallatable (bit like bad food with ketchup). Only the engine and gearbox combo are worth it, in a small car that is enjoyable in the sunny days.
I like the 987 S with pasm, and having owned 986 S before, i know what to expect. In either case, i think i can buy them reasonably well (cheap that is => plenty of lhd on continent). Major problem will be depreciation.
Can' t really think of any other 'acceptable' small 2 seater cab with reasonable grunt and handling. 55 slk is flawed by its electronics.
And bought it at the end of last year.
Things changed a bit for me recently and it was my only car, so i decided to let it go and think again at a later stage. I would not have been able to give it the use it deserved.
And to top it all, the streets where i leave are all cobbled... Imagine with the rs: a disaster for the car and me.
For now, I need something more user friendly which can still occasionaly stir my soul. I took out of the equation anything too hardcore like gt3' s, rs' s etc.
Guys, thanks a lot for the answers.
I agree on the Bangle' s design: it is 'special' at best, but accomodated to proper wheels (csl) is more pallatable (bit like bad food with ketchup). Only the engine and gearbox combo are worth it, in a small car that is enjoyable in the sunny days.
I like the 987 S with pasm, and having owned 986 S before, i know what to expect. In either case, i think i can buy them reasonably well (cheap that is => plenty of lhd on continent). Major problem will be depreciation.
Can' t really think of any other 'acceptable' small 2 seater cab with reasonable grunt and handling. 55 slk is flawed by its electronics.
Have you thought about an old shape SLK 32AMG? Admittedly, slightly stodgy handling, but an awful lot of grunt & all the toys. This one looks to be pretty good value.... [url]www.parksidemotors.co.uk/slk32amg.htm[/url]
erics said:
I agree on the Bangle' s design: it is 'special' at best, but accomodated to proper wheels (csl) is more pallatable (bit like bad food with ketchup).
Problem is, bad food with ketchup is still fundamentally bad food...
Personally, given the choice, I would go for the Porsche (especially the 987) over the Z4mr every time. If you were talking about the Z4M Coupe, that is completely different story, as that is one of the only BMW's where Bangle's design works (IMO of course!)
I carried some prejudices regarding the Z4, having tried a couple of roadsters. I thought it was a bit too jiggly. Too stiff, and a little 'unsorted'. It felt a bit like a car for Americans and American roads if that makes sense - kind of flashy and stupid, and totally out of its depth in bumpy give and take conditions. Certainly no match for a Boxter or a Cayman.
Having just spent the last 4 or 5 days in the company of a Z4 Coupe 3.0, I take it all back. I cannot remember the last time I had so much fun in a car. Whilst I still reckon that it's no match for a Cayman as a 'package', as I hooned around in it trying to get it out of shape on its hopeless winter tyres, I just fell in love with it warts and all. It's strengths totally eclipsed its failings IMO, and I now want one quite badly. Does it have the Cayman's steering? Nope. Does it have the Cayman's balance and poise? Nope. Does it have the Cayman's brakes? Nope. Is it as practical? Nope? But as you throw it sideways around a bend (albeit in my limited capacity to do so) at an angle that would have the more refined, able and sensible Cayman raising its eyebrows and then casually throwing you off the road for being a doofus, none of it seems to matter. The Cayman is like one of those German Shepherds trained to make a citizen's arrest and give talks at schools; you don't so much own the dog as mentor it. If you left it at home and went on holiday, it would catch up on its reading and spit polish all its leads. The Z4 Coupe? More like one of those neurotic Border Collies that chases its own shadow and gives itself a fright whenever it barks, but is totally dependent on you and would pine itself to death if you went outside to empty the bins without it. In some ways flawed and a bit dim, I think the Z4 Coupe is as special as hell. On that basis alone, the Z4 Cabriolet with decent non run-flats has got to be worth a look.
Having just spent the last 4 or 5 days in the company of a Z4 Coupe 3.0, I take it all back. I cannot remember the last time I had so much fun in a car. Whilst I still reckon that it's no match for a Cayman as a 'package', as I hooned around in it trying to get it out of shape on its hopeless winter tyres, I just fell in love with it warts and all. It's strengths totally eclipsed its failings IMO, and I now want one quite badly. Does it have the Cayman's steering? Nope. Does it have the Cayman's balance and poise? Nope. Does it have the Cayman's brakes? Nope. Is it as practical? Nope? But as you throw it sideways around a bend (albeit in my limited capacity to do so) at an angle that would have the more refined, able and sensible Cayman raising its eyebrows and then casually throwing you off the road for being a doofus, none of it seems to matter. The Cayman is like one of those German Shepherds trained to make a citizen's arrest and give talks at schools; you don't so much own the dog as mentor it. If you left it at home and went on holiday, it would catch up on its reading and spit polish all its leads. The Z4 Coupe? More like one of those neurotic Border Collies that chases its own shadow and gives itself a fright whenever it barks, but is totally dependent on you and would pine itself to death if you went outside to empty the bins without it. In some ways flawed and a bit dim, I think the Z4 Coupe is as special as hell. On that basis alone, the Z4 Cabriolet with decent non run-flats has got to be worth a look.
Edited by loach on Wednesday 4th April 01:14
loach, that' s an enthusiastic post and this is certainly not common about z4' s.
The z4m left me with the same impression after driving it: it was fun.
I wanted not to like it, but i could not help liking it.
It is cheaper than a 987s (with identical equipment) and has 340 bhp.
I am still not convinced about the dashboard, the overall shape and only 18' wheels.
The z4m left me with the same impression after driving it: it was fun.
I wanted not to like it, but i could not help liking it.
It is cheaper than a 987s (with identical equipment) and has 340 bhp.
I am still not convinced about the dashboard, the overall shape and only 18' wheels.
erics said:
loach, that' s an enthusiastic post and this is certainly not common about z4' s.
The z4m left me with the same impression after driving it: it was fun.
I wanted not to like it, but i could not help liking it.
It is cheaper than a 987s (with identical equipment) and has 340 bhp.
I am still not convinced about the dashboard, the overall shape and only 18' wheels.
The z4m left me with the same impression after driving it: it was fun.
I wanted not to like it, but i could not help liking it.
It is cheaper than a 987s (with identical equipment) and has 340 bhp.
I am still not convinced about the dashboard, the overall shape and only 18' wheels.
great. leaves more for me to love and own.
nervous said:
erics said:
loach, that' s an enthusiastic post and this is certainly not common about z4' s.
The z4m left me with the same impression after driving it: it was fun.
I wanted not to like it, but i could not help liking it.
It is cheaper than a 987s (with identical equipment) and has 340 bhp.
I am still not convinced about the dashboard, the overall shape and only 18' wheels.
The z4m left me with the same impression after driving it: it was fun.
I wanted not to like it, but i could not help liking it.
It is cheaper than a 987s (with identical equipment) and has 340 bhp.
I am still not convinced about the dashboard, the overall shape and only 18' wheels.
great. leaves more for me to love and own.
Love and share, dude. Love and share.
erics said:
loach, that' s an enthusiastic post and this is certainly not common about z4' s.
The z4m left me with the same impression after driving it: it was fun.
I wanted not to like it, but i could not help liking it.
It is cheaper than a 987s (with identical equipment) and has 340 bhp.
I am still not convinced about the dashboard, the overall shape and only 18' wheels.
The z4m left me with the same impression after driving it: it was fun.
I wanted not to like it, but i could not help liking it.
It is cheaper than a 987s (with identical equipment) and has 340 bhp.
I am still not convinced about the dashboard, the overall shape and only 18' wheels.
The dashboard requires a bit of TLC and careful speccing. Mine had a really nice, stitched leather finish to it in blue and black, and I thought it looked quite tasty. Not keen on BMWs wood finishes and aluminium treatment in the slab-like Z4 dash. As for the rest of the internal layout, it's well arranged and easy to use. There's no iDrive, so that's a plus. As for the wheels, just ditch them. Everyone else does. I am fancying a set of multi-piece alloys with black or grey centres and shiny outer rims. Should look the dogs. The M3 CSL alloys beloved of Z4M owners look great, too.
Just kidding. loach said:
No. Seriously. Don't effing stone chip it.
car interior, any given day:
*squeak*
joey: what was that noise?
me: what noise?
*squeak*
joey: that noise.
me: i cant hear anything.
*squeak*
joey: that noise! that noise! its a sort of aggrevied squealing.
me: oh, that noise. thats just loach. hes imagining the stone chips. from hamburg.
joey: right. what does that mean?
me: it means hes a t
t.nervous said:
erics said:
loach, that' s an enthusiastic post and this is certainly not common about z4' s.
The z4m left me with the same impression after driving it: it was fun.
I wanted not to like it, but i could not help liking it.
It is cheaper than a 987s (with identical equipment) and has 340 bhp.
I am still not convinced about the dashboard, the overall shape and only 18' wheels.
The z4m left me with the same impression after driving it: it was fun.
I wanted not to like it, but i could not help liking it.
It is cheaper than a 987s (with identical equipment) and has 340 bhp.
I am still not convinced about the dashboard, the overall shape and only 18' wheels.
great. leaves more for me to love and own.
Er, don't you have one of those weird fibreglass thingies made in blackpool??
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