Hi! Help me pick a Z4! :)

[TomTomST]

went to view a black one today. didn't drive it as i was at the dealers at about 5;15pm.

really liked it, I think the black one might be the one i'd get. It's between silver, black and grey anyway.

I had no intentions of buying that one though, not going to be for a month of so until I would/could get one.

No harm in a test drive. I get really annoyed at dealers that expect you to make some kind of commitment before letting you out in the car... what if I don't like it? Private is a little different, but a dealer should be fairly flexible.

Black looks good, mine is black... but it is a PITA to keep clean. I am sure it attracts dusty dirt like a magnet! Sometimes by the time I have finished cleaning the second half of the car the first half is dirty again! Worth it though.

On what planet do you live that makes this a wise choice??? Use the money to go and learn to drive a fast car to its limits and learn all about the joys of using lift off oversteer to your advantage rather than to the detriment of your car or other people... I'd say it was pretty lucky that there was no-one else involved in the accident, unless it was done on track???
Sorry, but someone has to say these things sometimes to make you wake up a bit??
Stick with something that has a roof!!! A RWD car is completely different to drive hard and fast!!

Don't get me wrong, I'm a HUGE fan of hot hatches (although French are more my taste with 205GTI's and Williams Clio's), and chucking loads of power into them with ITB's and such... Stick with your idea of a Focus ST or something like that which won't likely kill you...

Sorry, again, only my 2p worth, but you're mental if you lost the back end of a Fiesta and now want a Z4 3.0!!!

I think we have all made mistakes to one degree or another. I know I have. I actually have a video somewhere of an Escort that a friend of mine chucked into a ditch once whilst learning how to drive in the rain. It happens.

Well, I've discounted the Silver one now. But wondering abut blue. So Black, Grey or Blue.

It was a lesson learnt & I don't want to die.

[TomTomST]

I think we have all made mistakes to one degree or another. I know I have.

x2. There's no one who hasn't "run out of ability" at some stage.

Test drive it and make your own mind up. Have you driven any other RWD cars though - they do behave differently, especially if you drive "progressively"?

Having driven both: hot hatches of various guises, and a number of RWD two seaters - I'd go RWD every time.

No, I haven't driven any RWD cars before. If I did get one I'd book myself onto a day/weekend driving course I think.

Have to admit I'm a bit worried as everyone is giving me the vibe I'm going to die.

[TomTomST]

On another note.

My first impression of sitting in the Z4 was it seemed VERY dark (With the roof up)! What with the black roof, black seats & dash etc. So I'm starting to wonder if maybe cream, or red seats might be better? Or whatever other lighter/brighter colours there are?

Another thing was the size of the windscreen & obviously the elongated bonnet. I am 100% it is just something that you would get used to over time, but it seemed rather strange! I imagine I'd probably go for one with parking sensors to be honest.

Stupid question, what's the deal with the seating position in them? Obviously there are low cars, But I find with the seat down low it makes quite a difference to what you can see ahead & then with it up high.. I felt a bit like a moron to be honest! Plus I kind of felt like the top bar on the windscreen was a bit in the way. I am used to sitting low down in cars as my folks have an Ariel Atom, I guess that is all open in the front, so It's just getting used to having the windscreen infront!

So, so far My wish list is (Not too sure what is an extra), Cruise Control (understand you can retrofit this though), iPod connector (Again, retrofit), Parking sensors, heated seats & just generally a nice few cubby holes in the car as I love them. Do all Z4s have the compartment in the middle behind the seats?

Another quick question. On the newer Z4's it seems the passenger wing mirror moves so you can see the curb in reverse. Do the older Z4's have this? Was it an option? I would LOVE that feature.

Oh, Aircon too would be nice for when the roof is stuck shut . Or when I have valuable papers onboard (wtf!). Automatic lights and wipers would be nice, but I wouldn't cry if it didn't have them. Talking of wipers. Are there lots of settings for them? My ST had 3 settings for the wipers & then you could adjust each setting by about 6 different speeds. So had 18 different speed settings, I did like that. Xenon lights would be good too.

What is the deal with the Sports seats and SE seats?

Sorry for this post, not very well organised, just threw my thoughts at the screen.

[TomTomST]

There are obviously quite strong thoughts on the Z4, as I am receiving from people both in real like & on other car forums.

Good ol' hair dresser comments, get a hard top, get an S2000, an Evo & lots of other things.

I know there are quite a lot of threads on roadsters being hairdresser cars. But what have peoples comments/thoughts been like towards you regards your car?

I know one shouldn't worry about what car you drive as long as you enjoy it etc. But it would be a shame to have stupid comments ruining the potential enjoyment of the car.

[Ste]

You're bound to get the odd comment about it being a hairdressers car from people who really don't know cars, but to be honest they tend to be from the people who drive around in pugs or corsas and don't really know what they're talking about anyway.

It's a a RWD 3litre straight six engine'd sports car with 231bhp and a 0-60 of 5.7seconds, who really cares if some jealous bellend in a piece of unloved japanese metal makes a comment

But if they really bother you, i guarantee the noise of that engine in full flow will shut up even the noisiest commenters.

[TomTomST]

You're bound to get the odd comment about it being a hairdressers car from people who really don't know cars, but to be honest they tend to be from the people who drive around in pugs or corsas and don't really know what they're talking about anyway.

It's a a RWD 3litre straight six engine'd sports car with 231bhp and a 0-60 of 5.7seconds, who really cares if some jealous bellend in a piece of unloved japanese metal makes a comment

But if they really bother you, i guarantee the noise of that engine in full flow will shut up even the noisiest commenters.

Yeah, I guess you're right. To be fair, most of them have hot hatches. It's the Japanese fan boys that I expect are the worst.

What about my earlier post. Any opinions on that?

[Machine monkey]

Bit late getting to this.

But for 6k last year i picked up an 03 plate with 60k miles 3.0l Quite a few toys sat nav ( although quite rubbish ) upgraded sound system heated electric leather and xenon lights. Got it from a dealer ( non BMW )

They are fantastic cars they have a few problems most are DIY if fairly handy with the spanners. I had ( wife had ) a new shape fiesta before the zed great handling but so different to drive. Zeds are much more fun. As for not getting a rear drive car because of you little mishap? I will let you into a little secret i parked a 205 backwards in a hedge quite a few years ago. My experience of front drive cars are harder to predict and catch when on the limit.

Economy wise i see 27mpg out of mine but its a weekend car and is usually driven quite hard.

As for the seating position and what you can see you will get used to very quickly. If all you know is hot hatches it will feel weird. I don't like driving hot hatches any more it feels like you sit on them with your face squashed against the windscreen.

Drive a few before you hand over any cash.

[TomTomST]

Bit late getting to this.

But for 6k last year i picked up an 03 plate with 60k miles 3.0l Quite a few toys sat nav ( although quite rubbish ) upgraded sound system heated electric leather and xenon lights. Got it from a dealer ( non BMW )

They are fantastic cars they have a few problems most are DIY if fairly handy with the spanners. I had ( wife had ) a new shape fiesta before the zed great handling but so different to drive. Zeds are much more fun. As for not getting a rear drive car because of you little mishap? I will let you into a little secret i parked a 205 backwards in a hedge quite a few years ago. My experience of front drive cars are harder to predict and catch when on the limit.

Economy wise i see 27mpg out of mine but its a weekend car and is usually driven quite hard.

As for the seating position and what you can see you will get used to very quickly. If all you know is hot hatches it will feel weird. I don't like driving hot hatches any more it feels like you sit on them with your face squashed against the windscreen.

Drive a few before you hand over any cash.

Thanks for your input. I'll probably be around here for a while & will keep posting all my ''pre purchase'' ideas in this thread.

Your Z4 seems like the sort of spec/age/price that I am looking for.

In all honesty, the ST could easily get down to mid 20's. So I genuinely think that'll be ok.

How do you have your seat adjusted? Do you sit quite low? I'm just curious.

I will certainly test drive a few before committing myself. I am finding I'm not being taken seriously though turning up in a T reg Corsa B & asking about buying 3.0L Z4's!

[Denis O]

Some good advice here but I'll add my 2 penneth anyway.

Heated seats are not as common as you might think. When I was looking back in February probably less than 50%. You can normally tell from the interior pictures in the car ad. Just in front of the gear lever are a row of buttons. Button on the outside edge are the heated seats.

I don't know why the BMW Sat Nav gets such a bad rap. It's a bit clunky and oldish technology (and so am I) but I've used it throughout the UK and extensively in Europe and it's been brilliant. For Euro trips I also take my TomTom and both systems follow the same route.

My Z does have SatNav which will also give you the opportunity for the best iPod integration via Intravee. Search Intravee on here. You're in for a treat especially with all the extra bits it can do.

Cruise, as has been said, is an easy retrofit for about £60 all in if you do it yourself. That's pre facelift cars which is what you'll get with your budget. I'm off to the south of France during late July so will get to use mine properly at that time.

Xenons are useful but I would think an aftermarket set would be fairly easy.

I agree that they can feel a bit dark and claustrophobic with the roof up and that was one of the reasons why I have cream interior. Once the roofs off it's not a problem. It's also not the same car Black with a cream interior is quite rare, in fact, any BMW with a cream interior is rare. The trouble I had getting my X5 with cream was horrendous. Too many people want "safe" when they buy their cars.

And the only thing you really need to learn when starting with a rear wheel drive car is be gentle with the loud pedal till you know what you're doing....especially in the wet. Once you're used to it then just have fun. RWD is much more fun that FWD. You don't get RWD euro boxes you know

[Machine monkey]

I am about 6,1 and i have it as low as it will go.

[TomTomST]

Some good advice here but I'll add my 2 penneth anyway.

Heated seats are not as common as you might think. When I was looking back in February probably less than 50%. You can normally tell from the interior pictures in the car ad. Just in front of the gear lever are a row of buttons. Button on the outside edge are the heated seats.

I don't know why the BMW Sat Nav gets such a bad rap. It's a bit clunky and oldish technology (and so am I) but I've used it throughout the UK and extensively in Europe and it's been brilliant. For Euro trips I also take my TomTom and both systems follow the same route.

My Z does have SatNav which will also give you the opportunity for the best iPod integration via Intravee. Search Intravee on here. You're in for a treat especially with all the extra bits it can do.

Cruise, as has been said, is an easy retrofit for about £60 all in if you do it yourself. That's pre facelift cars which is what you'll get with your budget. I'm off to the south of France during late July so will get to use mine properly at that time.

Xenons are useful but I would think an aftermarket set would be fairly easy.

I agree that they can feel a bit dark and claustrophobic with the roof up and that was one of the reasons why I have cream interior. Once the roofs off it's not a problem. It's also not the same car Black with a cream interior is quite rare, in fact, any BMW with a cream interior is rare. The trouble I had getting my X5 with cream was horrendous. Too many people want "safe" when they buy their cars.

And the only thing you really need to learn when starting with a rear wheel drive car is be gentle with the loud pedal till you know what you're doing....especially in the wet. Once you're used to it then just have fun. RWD is much more fun that FWD. You don't get RWD euro boxes you know

This Z4 isn't too far off the spec I am wanting I don't think. http://www.autotrader.co.uk/classified/ ... ?logcode=p

That's quite interesting about the sat nav. It may possibly have just gone from my 100% don't want to my essential need. I would like something nice to connect the iPod too. Especially as I won't be able to put an aftermarket head unit in the vehicle.

I have only managed to have a brief look at it, will have a better look when I get home, but you have got me very interested!! What's the rough costs of this? Would it be easy to navigate through music. I use a 160gb iPod classic with just over 120gb of music on it. So I need something that is very easy to navigate through! My current headunit is designed to work with the iPod so it is a doddle.