In a couple of days I would have owned my Zed for a year and thought I would share my experiences so far and how she does as a daily driver. TL
R - Love it
It is a 23i 59 plate in Sapphire Black with stock 17" and pauper spec. Cloth seats, no iDrive, but it does have front and rear sensors and automatic lights and wipers. Driving it at first was a tad bit different, low driving position, blind junctions being a right laugh, but it soon all fell into place. For me the 23i gives enough power whilst also having a brilliant soundtrack. If I were to do it again though, I would go for the 3.0 purely as the running costs are identical, I would also go for sports seats, but wouldn't be too fussed around much else. Main reason I didn't do this to being with is because the car was very much an impulse buy from the garage at the end of the road.
The car originally came with run flats which I had no objection to, enough give on 17"s and I was already used to them on our E90 on 18". I am now however on standard tires, Eagle F1 4's, as I needed two new fronts and a rear got a puncture. It was cheaper to switch all four for great standard tires than four bridgestone run flats. The immediate thing I noticed was the reduction in road noise, it was huge! I would advise the change purely based on that. I have also had both rear springs replaced due to being broken, improved the ride a fair bit as well, new pads all round, new front disks and new wipers. The whippy also remains in place and will be a permanent fixture. She has just today flown through her MoT with no advisories so am a happy little bunny.
As a daily drive, I go 10 miles to work and back, 2/3 dual carriage way rest town driving. This distance is only just long enough to get the engine up to temp and I have found I get through a bit of Oil, 2 litres over the past 12 months. With a mixture of this and some long drives, I average a mpg in the low 30's which also includes some spirited drives and get just over 300 miles from a tank. It is just my wife and I with no plans to add to that, ever, so the two seats is not a problem. If we do have guests, we have her E90 to get the extra seats. I have not yet had a problem with space in the boot whilst still keeping the roof down, get my dive gear in happily as well as work bag and gym bag and still get the wind in my (quickly receding) hair. This will be tested when we go to France for a week next month though with my wife under a strict packing rule, will probably leave me with just the clothes on my back mind you.
Over the last 12 months I have done 10,500 miles and am currently sitting with 68,500 on the clock. I also now have a pair of leather gloves, cap and sun cream in the glove box to cover me all year round. Some people do still think I'm a bit mad when it's below zero outside, but if it's dry, it's down. It's just such a nice place to be with the roof down, listening to a bit of engine noise, can't beat it.
All in all, it is my first two seater and my first convertible while being a fair step up from my last car. I wouldn't change it unless I had to, very much has me under it's spell now. I know there is a bit of love/hate with the E89 looks, but personally, I really like the look, including the rear end. The metal roof as well means while it is up, it is very much a 'normal' car which as a daily driver means it is so usable.
Those are my 2 pennies
R - Love itIt is a 23i 59 plate in Sapphire Black with stock 17" and pauper spec. Cloth seats, no iDrive, but it does have front and rear sensors and automatic lights and wipers. Driving it at first was a tad bit different, low driving position, blind junctions being a right laugh, but it soon all fell into place. For me the 23i gives enough power whilst also having a brilliant soundtrack. If I were to do it again though, I would go for the 3.0 purely as the running costs are identical, I would also go for sports seats, but wouldn't be too fussed around much else. Main reason I didn't do this to being with is because the car was very much an impulse buy from the garage at the end of the road.
The car originally came with run flats which I had no objection to, enough give on 17"s and I was already used to them on our E90 on 18". I am now however on standard tires, Eagle F1 4's, as I needed two new fronts and a rear got a puncture. It was cheaper to switch all four for great standard tires than four bridgestone run flats. The immediate thing I noticed was the reduction in road noise, it was huge! I would advise the change purely based on that. I have also had both rear springs replaced due to being broken, improved the ride a fair bit as well, new pads all round, new front disks and new wipers. The whippy also remains in place and will be a permanent fixture. She has just today flown through her MoT with no advisories so am a happy little bunny.
As a daily drive, I go 10 miles to work and back, 2/3 dual carriage way rest town driving. This distance is only just long enough to get the engine up to temp and I have found I get through a bit of Oil, 2 litres over the past 12 months. With a mixture of this and some long drives, I average a mpg in the low 30's which also includes some spirited drives and get just over 300 miles from a tank. It is just my wife and I with no plans to add to that, ever, so the two seats is not a problem. If we do have guests, we have her E90 to get the extra seats. I have not yet had a problem with space in the boot whilst still keeping the roof down, get my dive gear in happily as well as work bag and gym bag and still get the wind in my (quickly receding) hair. This will be tested when we go to France for a week next month though with my wife under a strict packing rule, will probably leave me with just the clothes on my back mind you.
Over the last 12 months I have done 10,500 miles and am currently sitting with 68,500 on the clock. I also now have a pair of leather gloves, cap and sun cream in the glove box to cover me all year round. Some people do still think I'm a bit mad when it's below zero outside, but if it's dry, it's down. It's just such a nice place to be with the roof down, listening to a bit of engine noise, can't beat it.
All in all, it is my first two seater and my first convertible while being a fair step up from my last car. I wouldn't change it unless I had to, very much has me under it's spell now. I know there is a bit of love/hate with the E89 looks, but personally, I really like the look, including the rear end. The metal roof as well means while it is up, it is very much a 'normal' car which as a daily driver means it is so usable.
Those are my 2 pennies
it did everything i asked with great ease but wasn't a sporty roadster in the E85 sense .