BMW Z4M - Why not ?
Discussion
A friend asks "why a TVR Griffith when for the same money you can get a BMW Z4M, 340bhp, 0-60 5 sec, Germany quality, 3 years old, warrenty, €m development investment, ...."
Its a good question. I responded with British, V8, sound but have to admit that it was a fair call !!
Anyone tried & hated a Z4M ?
Its a good question. I responded with British, V8, sound but have to admit that it was a fair call !!
Anyone tried & hated a Z4M ?
It's impossible to hate the Z4M, it's a nice car. It is possible to dislike it though. The tinny clatter of the engine doesn't sound great compared to a v8 roar. It's very modern, well made, good materials etc It's reliable, comfortable and good looking.
BUT.....
It's not charismatic, it has no character, it doesn't feel like a sports car. It doesn't look any different really to any other Z4 roadster, and there's enough of them about to dilute it's appeal.
Some people love them, mainly because they love the BMW badge and like to have an "M" on the boot.
I looked at them before settling on my Chim. I was looking for a 2 seater sports car. The Chim is a 2 seater sports car, the Beamer is a 2 seater car.
BUT.....
It's not charismatic, it has no character, it doesn't feel like a sports car. It doesn't look any different really to any other Z4 roadster, and there's enough of them about to dilute it's appeal.
Some people love them, mainly because they love the BMW badge and like to have an "M" on the boot.
I looked at them before settling on my Chim. I was looking for a 2 seater sports car. The Chim is a 2 seater sports car, the Beamer is a 2 seater car.
0-60 5 sec is the main reason why not.
That being said, I have had a play with a Z4M coupe and Castle Combe a couple of years back, and in the right hands it can really give a Griff a good run for its money.
At the end of the day tho, you don't feel quite as "involved" with the handling and feedback as you do with a tiv. And its missing a couple of cylinders
That being said, I have had a play with a Z4M coupe and Castle Combe a couple of years back, and in the right hands it can really give a Griff a good run for its money.
At the end of the day tho, you don't feel quite as "involved" with the handling and feedback as you do with a tiv. And its missing a couple of cylinders
Bluebottle said:
0-60 5 sec is the main reason why not.
That being said, I have had a play with a Z4M coupe and Castle Combe a couple of years back, and in the right hands it can really give a Griff a good run for its money.
At the end of the day tho, you don't feel quite as "involved" with the handling and feedback as you do with a tiv. And its missing a couple of cylinders
are you rerrring to a standard griff or a slightly tweaked 500That being said, I have had a play with a Z4M coupe and Castle Combe a couple of years back, and in the right hands it can really give a Griff a good run for its money.
At the end of the day tho, you don't feel quite as "involved" with the handling and feedback as you do with a tiv. And its missing a couple of cylinders
My Dad has a Z4M roadster and have driven it quite a bit recently as my Chim is away. To be honest I would echo most of the comments above.
Plus points would be the electric folding roof and the fact you can drive it seriously fast without much effort (or involvement for that matter). The engine is lovely, just a little bland to listen to. Oh and it's rather economical too!
Dowsides would be a complete lack of soul and character, it really doesn't feel like you're in anything special until you give it some beans. It has dodgy interior trim, rattles more than my Chim and has a rock hard ride.
Don't get me wrong, the BMW is definitely the better car and I would love one of the coupes! I'd just miss the way the TVR shakes and roars into life when you turn the key. And the V8. And all the 'thumbs up'. And the scorching hot handbrake and gear knob in the Summer when sat in traffic!
Plus points would be the electric folding roof and the fact you can drive it seriously fast without much effort (or involvement for that matter). The engine is lovely, just a little bland to listen to. Oh and it's rather economical too!
Dowsides would be a complete lack of soul and character, it really doesn't feel like you're in anything special until you give it some beans. It has dodgy interior trim, rattles more than my Chim and has a rock hard ride.
Don't get me wrong, the BMW is definitely the better car and I would love one of the coupes! I'd just miss the way the TVR shakes and roars into life when you turn the key. And the V8. And all the 'thumbs up'. And the scorching hot handbrake and gear knob in the Summer when sat in traffic!
Bluebottle said:
At the end of the day tho, you don't feel quite as "involved" with the handling and feedback as you do with a tiv. And its missing a couple of cylinders
...you'll also have no brakes! They're shocking as usual on a beamer (tadts)Nice for getting to the track...and parking to watch people with cars they love!
...and I like Beamers and have had loads. My favourite was my 528i fully Schnitzered up. My 2nd most favourite car ever. Can you guess my first?
Edited by Guillotine on Thursday 11th March 17:14
Guillotine said:
Bluebottle said:
At the end of the day tho, you don't feel quite as "involved" with the handling and feedback as you do with a tiv. And its missing a couple of cylinders
...you'll also have no brakes! They're shocking as usual on a beamer (tadts)Nice for getting to the track...and parking to watch people with cars they love!
...and I like Beamers and have had loads. My favourite was my 528i fully Schnitzered up. My 2nd most favourite car ever. Can you guess my first?
Edited by Guillotine on Thursday 11th March 17:14
I moved from a Z3M Coupe (much better looking than the Z4M Coupe IMHO and not the hairdresser Z3M Roadster) to the Griff. I know the Z4MC is a little quicker than the Z3MC (only 'cause they de-restricted the M3 S54 engine in the Z4M that was restricted in the Z3M) but it's much more of a production/blend into the scenery type car than the Z3MC
The Z3MC is a great car, I loved it, but it is still a mass produced car (OK, I know the Z3MC's were very limited numbers) and doesn't have the feel, noise, sensation, and road presence of a TVR. I can't see them being that close on performance either, the ZM's are more or less the same as an E46 M3, I would have thought a Griff 500 is quicker at least in a straight line? Mine certainly feels quicker anyway.
Apart from the performance the ZM's are no different to other Z's, there is almost nothing on the road like a TVR and that has to make you feel good about the car. Apart from an M badge, the Z4M's could be any old BMW.
If you were a kid, would you point and get excited at seeing a Z4M or a Griff?
Oh yes, no good for tall'uns like me, steering wheel/Knee/Dash interface problems and they are way too heavy compared with TVR's. Too many bloody electrics as well.
Mags
The Z3MC is a great car, I loved it, but it is still a mass produced car (OK, I know the Z3MC's were very limited numbers) and doesn't have the feel, noise, sensation, and road presence of a TVR. I can't see them being that close on performance either, the ZM's are more or less the same as an E46 M3, I would have thought a Griff 500 is quicker at least in a straight line? Mine certainly feels quicker anyway.
Apart from the performance the ZM's are no different to other Z's, there is almost nothing on the road like a TVR and that has to make you feel good about the car. Apart from an M badge, the Z4M's could be any old BMW.
If you were a kid, would you point and get excited at seeing a Z4M or a Griff?
Oh yes, no good for tall'uns like me, steering wheel/Knee/Dash interface problems and they are way too heavy compared with TVR's. Too many bloody electrics as well.
Mags
Edited by Mags on Thursday 11th March 17:53
Targarama said:
Guillotine said:
Bluebottle said:
At the end of the day tho, you don't feel quite as "involved" with the handling and feedback as you do with a tiv. And its missing a couple of cylinders
...you'll also have no brakes! They're shocking as usual on a beamer (tadts)Nice for getting to the track...and parking to watch people with cars they love!
...and I like Beamers and have had loads. My favourite was my 528i fully Schnitzered up. My 2nd most favourite car ever. Can you guess my first?
Edited by Guillotine on Thursday 11th March 17:14
you couldn't tell (unless you were a geek and knew the big wheels and the fact that it was 2" lower than normal)
They do proper stuff as well as ebay badges
Guillotine said:
Targarama said:
Guillotine said:
Bluebottle said:
At the end of the day tho, you don't feel quite as "involved" with the handling and feedback as you do with a tiv. And its missing a couple of cylinders
...you'll also have no brakes! They're shocking as usual on a beamer (tadts)Nice for getting to the track...and parking to watch people with cars they love!
...and I like Beamers and have had loads. My favourite was my 528i fully Schnitzered up. My 2nd most favourite car ever. Can you guess my first?
Edited by Guillotine on Thursday 11th March 17:14
you couldn't tell (unless you were a geek and knew the big wheels and the fact that it was 2" lower than normal)
They do proper stuff as well as ebay badges
I met one of these Z4 German things the other week in my Chimaera 4.0HC on the A41 between Watford & Aylesbury.
Not sure if he was an M or just a 3.0 litre but the thing was quick.
The young sausage muncher seemed to want to play so with us both starting from 65 mph I opened the taps.
I couldn't make any ground on him at all, we were absolutely equal all the way until speeds got a bit silly at which point I flew past.
I expect he backed off a bit when the speed exceeded 120 leptons.
I think the old Chim did very well all things considered.
The miserable zeplin pilot didn't even return my friendly wave though, he seemed upset by my 13 year old Blackpool thunderstorm going by.
I really didn't mean to upset him.
Not sure if he was an M or just a 3.0 litre but the thing was quick.
The young sausage muncher seemed to want to play so with us both starting from 65 mph I opened the taps.
I couldn't make any ground on him at all, we were absolutely equal all the way until speeds got a bit silly at which point I flew past.
I expect he backed off a bit when the speed exceeded 120 leptons.
I think the old Chim did very well all things considered.
The miserable zeplin pilot didn't even return my friendly wave though, he seemed upset by my 13 year old Blackpool thunderstorm going by.
I really didn't mean to upset him.
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