Z4M - the best value performance car on the market?

[Nano2nd]

well i've been bleating on about selling my car for ages, i'm just about to put it up, i'm just waiting on the puma coming back with an MOT

i've been scouring the classifieds for something to replace it with (i've got a massive 911 itch) but one thing about the M stands out for me (probably why i bought it in the first place) - its the best value performance car money can buy!

example... theres a 2008 car, just the right spec black on black, decent options - 15k miles up for 27k... thats about 20k off list (for that spec) in about 15 months. for a genuine 5 second 0-60 car with a prestige badge, thats usable and reliable, reasonably new, under manufacture warranty that has sensible MPG.... nothing comes close! or if it does i can't find it

any thoughts?

for my 25k - i'm looking at a 7 year old 911 done 50k, at 4 year old Cayman done 35k with no options, a 2007 m3 is 37k despite not massively different new purchase prices (approx 50k)... Rs4? nope 2006 car 32k, what am i missing ?

[UpTheIron]

£5k-ish - Scooby or Audi S3 (depending on the image you want)
£10k-ish - E46 M3
£15k-ish 996
£30k-ish 996 Turbo

Each are epic value at their price points.

[Nano2nd]

you are correct, sorry i didn't quite make my point...

i need a car that will easily do 20k a year in all weather, look good on the drive (i know i know), return respectable MPG and go like stink

i agree the 996 turbo sticks out like a swore thumb, but even at 30k there 2003 models, almost 7 years old, done a few miles, no warranty and a whole world of pain if it goes wrong.

what i'm saying is you can name me also any car at the 25-30k mark and i can give you a reason why i think its not as good value as the Z4M... its doing my head in, if i know its so good on paper, why do i want to get rid of it?

Edited by Nano2nd on Saturday 10th October 00:05

[Great Pretender]

UpTheIron said:

£5k-ish - Scooby or Audi S3 (depending on the image you want)
£10k-ish - E46 M3
£15k-ish 996
£30k-ish 996 Turbo

Each are epic value at their price points.

Indeed, but running a £30k 996 Tubbi is an expensive busines (as is a £15k 996).

[Nano2nd]

let me take your examples, these are my reasons for not wanting them

£5k-ish - Scooby or Audi S3 - awful interor on the scooby, A3 is slower than the Z4M
£10k-ish - E46 M3 - slower than the Z4M
£15k-ish 996 - slower than the Z4M
£30k-ish 996 Turbo - awesome, but a 7 year old car - big bills potential (though to be fair this is almost top of my replacement list)


go on name some more?

i'm not trying to be a n0b, i'd love to prove my self wrong!

[Great Pretender]

Nano2nd said:

let me take your examples, these are my reasons for not wanting them

£5k-ish - Scooby or Audi S3 - awful interor on the scooby, A3 is slower than the Z4M
£10k-ish - E46 M3 - slower than the Z4M
£15k-ish 996 - slower than the Z4M
£30k-ish 996 Turbo - awesome, but a 7 year old car - big bills potential (though to be fair this is almost top of my replacement list)


go on name some more?

i'm not trying to be a n0b, i'd love to prove my self wrong!

Well you don't need to convince me; I came from a GT3 to a Z4M and don't feel short-changed.

[Tango13]

What are you missing?

Nothing thats what!

911 good car but 7yrs old and a potential money pit if it has no warranty

Cayman good car but you WILL miss not having the extra toys

As for the V8's as you say a lot of money compared to the Z4M and have you ever been in a straight six BMW when its being worked in it's upper rev range?

I strongly recomend you take it for a test drive then give the dealer a good beating with a wad of used £20 pound notes.

[Gareth135R]

You are right though, nothing or at least not much to rival the z4m. How about a SLK55 AMG?
I window shop on the heads most days looking for a replacement. IMO the next step up is a V8 Vantage with the cheapest ones around early 40s. I'd imagine running costs would be a lot more. Perhaps a Mk1 GT3

[Fidgits]

The SLK55 AMG has an epic engine, but is let down by the rest of the car...

I spent months shopping for my car, and the Z4M really was the most exciting car I found, and thats against M5's, RS4's, AMG's and even the M3 CSL..

Its an absolute bargin, and such a fantastic all rounder!

[john_p]

Owned one for 2 yrs - agree that you get a lot of performance for the money. Only prob with a 2008 car is that you may be due an Inspection 1 soon, which is a pricey main dealer service (~£700) but compared to the other cars linked in the thread, that's probably not too bad. Mine was reliable too, no warranty probs in the 2 yrs aside from a sticking satnav screen. Biggest downside was the tiny boot, but still managed to fit all our Le Mans kit into it

[Fidgits]

i dont know, i did okay with the boot - soft bags work better than suitcases..

[jontysafe]

I`ve had one for 3 weeks now and am LOVING it. Get the Z4 M Coupe and the boot problems go away. Get one from AUC and you`ll have no worries. It`s sat outside now and all I can think about is waiting for the roads to dry a bit and go and drive the wheels off the thing. I`m with GP on this one. Anyone near Hungerford fancy a blatt?

[Nano2nd]

i'm glad i'm not the only one!

the SLK55AMG, now this is something i hadn't considered, just had a quick search and it appears to be quite a rare car which apeals... BUT the price, for a 2007/2008 car with circa 15k miles there 35-40 grand... significantly more than the Z4M... plus i'm not keen on the slush box

whats the economy like on these?

[Nano2nd]

V8 Vantage, i do like this idea, but your up at 40k, you've got no warranty at that price and serious fuel consumption for 20k a year - reliabilty?

mk1 GT3 - fantastic car, again, seriously old car for 35-40k, no warranty, possible too hardcore for the daily grind?

[Soovy]

Nano2nd said:

whats the economy like on these?

[Nano2nd]

Soovy said:

Nano2nd said:

whats the economy like on these?

well on paper its equivalent to the Z4M at least

[Yanto]

Nano2nd said:

you are correct, sorry i didn't quite make my point...

i need a car that will easily do 20k a year in all weather, look good on the drive (i know i know), return respectable MPG and go like stink

i agree the 996 turbo sticks out like a swore thumb, but even at 30k there 2003 models, almost 7 years old, done a few miles, no warranty and a whole world of pain if it goes wrong.

what i'm saying is you can name me also any car at the 25-30k mark and i can give you a reason why i think its not as good value as the Z4M... its doing my head in, if i know its so good on paper, why do i want to get rid of it?

Edited by Nano2nd on Saturday 10th October 00:05

This.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1238536.htm

or a 30K miler for mid-late £20K's

[Nano2nd]

Yanto said:

This.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1238536.htm

or a 30K miler for mid-late £20K's

again great car, but its almost 6 years old and well out of warranty, plus its a like hardcore for 20,000 miles a year

[Yanto]

Nano2nd said:

Yanto said:

This.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1238536.htm

or a 30K miler for mid-late £20K's

again great car, but its almost 6 years old and well out of warranty, plus its a like hardcore for 20,000 miles a year

http://www.bmw-warranty.co.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

is your friend...


tbh - not sure its too hardcore. Admit there aren't too many toys, but imo, its not as harsh as most people believe. Horses/Courses etc.

[Nano2nd]

Yanto said:

Nano2nd said:

Yanto said:

This.

http://www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/1238536.htm

or a 30K miler for mid-late £20K's

again great car, but its almost 6 years old and well out of warranty, plus its a like hardcore for 20,000 miles a year

http://www.bmw-warranty.co.uk/Pages/Home.aspx

is your friend...


tbh - not sure its too hardcore. Admit there aren't too many toys, but imo, its not as harsh as most people believe. Horses/Courses etc.

]

its deffo to hardcore, i find the Z4M a bind sometimes with its harsh ride, the CSL is alot worst and thats before you mention the SMG

the point is the comparison is against a <2 year old car and there simply isn't any....