14 Z4s owned / my top 3 would be . . . . .

[mr wilks]

I couldn't find a specific section for this thread & no doubt it will create some discussion so posted here .
Been without a Z for almost a month , a situation i haven't experienced for 7 years as generally speaking i overlapped the incoming with the outgoing .
There would obviously be favourites & fails for varying reasons & id guesstimate over the 14 cars spread over 7 years that id have covered 25k-30k pleasure miles predominantly roadtrips , weekends away & drives out .
Easy enough to pick a top 5 but more difficult choosing a top 3 in order but ive given it a lot of thought the past few weeks so thought id share them & perhaps stir some debate
Top 5 Zs ive owned (no particular order ) would be
stratus Si roadster , silver 35i manual , midnight Si coupe(auto) , silvergrey ZMR & Imola ZMR , that's not to say the others were not enjoyed or good cars but for me these 5 stand out .

Number 1
Now getting a top 3 in order is almost impossible as the 3 are wildly differing models but by sheer miles in months the number 1 car i couldn't stop putting fuel in was the silver grey ZMR https://www.instagram.com/p/BNu3WyVDUhU/ owned for 9 months but the Dec & Jan it was SORN so in just 7 months i covered almost 7000miles , with custom backboxes & S54 it was simply infectious & any excuse i was out in it , Scotland , Wales , Yorks Dales , France were memorable roadtrips plus many many days out , just a brilliant car & one for my motoring memory bank .

Number 2
would have to be the 35i manual ,https://www.instagram.com/p/BgNzPr2lSci/ only buying the 35is DCT made me recognise just how different but just how compelling this car was to own & drive , remapped to around 375bhp the torque with twin turbo + manual box was electrifying , those 2 factors alone were enough to mask the clear failings the E89s have with driver feedback & handling characteristics ( no matter the mods or the power you will never make a sports car out of these , its just not there , great fast road cruisers though )
Covered around 4k in 7 months with this car & looking back now i sold it too soon (bought in Oct sold Easter) & regret not keeping it longer

Number 3
is perhaps a quirky choice being auto & because it arrived with HVA problems but no matter i just clicked with the car , imo the auto suits the Si coupe so well .
It drove impeccably , it looked stunning , decent spec , decent history & just made me want to polish it , drive it or simply just look at it .
Had it 6 months , plenty of weekends away & days out , very much enjoyed the midnight blue Si coupe https://www.instagram.com/p/BvkQU6gJsmt/

So to compress the above prior to discussion my favourite 3 Zs

no1 silvergrey ZMR
no2 ti silver 35i
no3 midnight blue Si coupe

[Lynchy]

So an ///M as your top car, good choice I think you've had 3 ///Ms though so why the silver grey one over the Imola and Titanium silver one. Was it because it was your first ?

[mr wilks]

So an ///M as your top car, good choice I think you've had 3 ///Ms though so why the silver grey one over the Imola and Titanium silver one. Was it because it was your first ?

The ///M Z just has a character i instantly "got" , its gruff , its unrefined & a pita in slow traffic but get it off the leash & they just do it all so well , the way they corner & grip really flatters the amateur & the mechanical noise emphasises is hard to ignore when the pedal is down in truth they aren't the fastest of things a Golf R or TTRS will show it the door on any stretch of road you choose but its not always about having the quickest or fastest , from behind the wheel they have a way of connecting the driver & even on the max of my own abilities i never felt out of control or that the power exceeded the cars capabilities , every mile was enjoyable in all 3 ZMs but the grey one was the first & felt more special for that

[paddy wright]

That first ///M of yours was a beaut! The exhaust sounded so angry!

[Monster666]

When they launched I bought a 3.0 with flappy paddle gearbox; black exterior with full body kit & red leather. Did around 50k miles in it with no problems - the delay in the gear change was a constant irritation though.

When the M was launched I traded it in on a ZMR, imola and black nappa interior. So far have done around 100k miles in it. Still love it, the look, the sound & the way it drives.

[Mr Tidy]

That's very interesting, given how many you have had!

But if an MR made Number 1 and an E86 made Number 3, I can't help wondering where an MC might have fitted into your favourites.

[buzyg]

Well what can I say.

Agreed.

[mr wilks]

That's very interesting, given how many you have had!

But if an MR made Number 1 and an E86 made Number 3, I can't help wondering where an MC might have fitted into your favourites.

Well ive driven a few ZMC but never bought one does that help your wondering

[Mr Tidy]

Well ive driven a few ZMC but never bought one does that help your wondering

I suppose it means you didn't like them enough to want to buy one!

[DPG]

And the worst?

[mr wilks]

And the worst?

worst model or worst example

[DPG]

And the worst?

worst model or worst example

Model

[mr wilks]

Model
[/quote]

And the worst?

worst model or worst example

Model

Well , 2 of the models ive bought multiple times so that rules those out (Si auto E86 & ZMR ) as clearly their virtues & abilities appeal to my needs & desires from a weekend car
Of the remaining i would buy all of the models again barring one & the reason for that is based purely on my own use & circumstance .
The 35is would top my league of disappointments & can categorically state i would never buy another for a daily driver that can cut it at weekends fair enough , they can do that but as a purely weekend pleasure car to engage the driver for a few hours a week i i found it a very numbing experience , the DCT just not for me & found the manual 23i was far more engaging with the 6spd 35i being the plum choice (granted i haven't owned a 4pot 89)
I should add at this point that id been after a 911 for some time & looking back now id clearly reached & breached my Z saturation point at no13 so that didn't help the situation with the 35is

[stevo///m3]

Interesting thoughts there, Andy; the new wheels looks great
Stevo

[mr wilks]

Interesting thoughts there, Andy; the new wheels looks great
Stevo

Thanks , i am very much enjoying the change of scene catch up for breakfast soon