5 years in and I still love my car

T

Thierry

Member
As you can see from my post count I'm a long-time lurker, so I figure it's about time I posted some pictures and shared my enjoyment of Z4 ownership. I bought my car from a forum member just over 5 years ago, getting a one-way train ticket to Newcastle (from London) to drive it back, grinning the whole way. In case he's reading... Thank you Ali_Z4C, I hope you're not regretting trading it in for kids!

I never thought I'd own a car longer than 3 years, but I've not seen much come along that's made me envious. The N52 engine, the long bonnet, the back-end... it just feels special every time I get in it.

Anyway, as I only do 5-6k miles a year I wanted to give it a good run out, and a friend and I have been talking about driving the North Coast 500 for the past couple of years. Last weekend we did it, with 3 days driving round plus a day either side to travel to/from Surrey. About 1,700 miles all in and we didn't see another Z4C all weekend.

I can't recommend the NC500 highly enough, the roads are fantastic and the Zed felt like the perfect car for the task :driving: If I lived closer I'd be up there a few times a year. The car didn't miss a beat and we really lucked in with the weather and the b&b's... it turns out that most were closed until the start of March.

Right, enough chat... enjoy some photos of a dirty Z4. And if anyone's thinking of driving the NC500 and has questions feel free to ask.

P.S. Apologies if this is posted in the wrong section, I couldn't decide whether it was a post about a road trip or just general gushing about my love of the car.

[ATTACH=full]225399[/ATTACH][url=https://flic.kr/p/SMo6j9]Balnakeil Beach by Henry, on Flickr[/url]

[ATTACH=full]225400[/ATTACH][url=https://flic.kr/p/Rys7C7]IMG_4848 by Henry, on Flickr[/url]

[ATTACH=full]225401[/ATTACH][url=https://flic.kr/p/SBenRG]Kylesku Bridge by Henry, on Flickr[/url]

[ATTACH=full]225402[/ATTACH][url=https://flic.kr/p/SBek2U]Applecross Pass by Henry, on Flickr[/url]

[ATTACH=full]225403[/ATTACH][url=https://flic.kr/p/SMnTYo]Eilean Donan Castle by Henry, on Flickr[/url]

[ATTACH=full]225404[/ATTACH][url=https://flic.kr/p/RAZhXR]20170305-4X8A3496 by Henry, on Flickr[/url]
 
Gorgeous pictures. :thumbsup: What a great way to use your Zed. Northern Scotland is such a perfect place for a road trip. :driving: Feeling much envy. :wink:
 
Great to hear from a Zed enthusiast who's still smiling 5 years into ownership :driving:
Wonderful pics, thanks for posting :thumbsup:
 
5 years and these are your first pics?? :o

It's a good job that you posted a few, and all very nice. :)

It was a great result to trade kids for the Zed! :P
 
awesome, was out in mine this morning.... me and my son, lovely long blast roof off just talking about rubbish... really missed the car!
 
I brilliant way to enjoy your Zed! :thumbsup: It is a fantastic road trip - we were lucky to do it twice last year and would highly recommend it as well :thumbsup:
Some great photos and a good time of year to do it - as long as the weather is on side. There are many fabulous views and I just can't imagine the frustration in low cloud and rain :( (the roads would still offer a challenge however). There are so many special bits - the Kylesku Bridge is impressive but I loved the tight scalextric section before that on the single track roads (did you include the loop past Clactoll? - fabulous) What I couldn't get over was how the roads just go on and on . . . .

The Zed is a fantastic sports car to take on such a run. I always have the roof down but I can appreciate your love for the coupe - looks great on your photos :thumbsup: (You must have other photos from your 5 years love affair. . . :thumbsup: )
 
Cracking photos - that trip is very much on my wishlist too...if only it weren't so far from London!

Also a lurker since picking up a coupe at the end of last year, will get some photos up at some point - but this site is a superb resource
 
Great car + Great scenery = Great photos ! Thanks for sharing. :thumbsup: For sheer driving pleasure Scotland does take a lot of beating. Fingers crossed Ali and I are hoping to do the NC500 in the next few years. :driving:
 
Amazing, NC is on my todo list, did you book all the b and bs in advance, i like the idea of just getting in and driving. :roll: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
 
paulgs1000 said:
There are so many special bits - the Kylesku Bridge is impressive but I loved the tight scalextric section before that on the single track roads (did you include the loop past Clactoll? - fabulous) What I couldn't get over was how the roads just go on and on . . . .

The Zed is a fantastic sports car to take on such a run. I always have the roof down but I can appreciate your love for the coupe - looks great on your photos :thumbsup: (You must have other photos from your 5 years love affair. . . :thumbsup: )
Click to expand...

Thanks all for the comments. Yes, we turned off the main road to take the coastal route to Lochinver - a bit too twisty for my liking. I had the fear of meeting locals around some of the blind bends and crests... possibly as my mate was driving that section and I'm a nervous passenger! Good fun nonetheless.

I've taken a few photos over the years, will dig some out and post them up.
 
Rusky said:
Amazing, NC is on my todo list, did you book all the b and bs in advance, i like the idea of just getting in and driving. :roll: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
Click to expand...


We were booking b&b's one night ahead, but only because the websites we were looking on were showing very little availability so we were nervous. I think it was more a case that a lot of b&b's aren't on the typical booking websites and also that it was out of season. The b&b owners we spoke to said it starts getting busier from Easter onwards, so advance bookings might be needed through the summer.

We went anti-clockwise, and from Inverness set ourselves the target of getting round to Tongue on the first day. After that it got easier to gauge how far we'd get the following day. We found 3 days was a good amount, we'd be driving 10 - 4 ish, with quite a few stops along the way. I've read a few people have driven the whole route in a day... fair play to them, but that can't allow any time to stretch your legs.
 
Can confirm the NC500 is a great thing to do.

Probably the only thing I've done before most others on here :lol:
 
Thanks for the great pics and memories

I'm just over 4 years in on my coupe and can relate to everything you say - I have the occasional wobble but can't find anything else that I can afford that interests me

I did the NC (or very similar route) about 8 years ago in my Z roadster ( washes mouth out!) and it was epic - around Cape Wrath and along the coast road up there is like visiting the edge of the earth

Looks like your Coupe is a keeper
 
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