Alpina or M?

Poll Poll Alpina or M

  • Alpina

    Votes: 24 30.4%

  • M

    Votes: 55 69.6%
  • Total voters
    79
Thanks Tertius. I thought I knew a bit about brakes until I read that. The distribution of weight was something I hadn't considered.

My M has brand new discs and pads and stops like nothing I have ever driven. I may need to go and try the Cayman and see how it compares.

H.
 
Probably the main reason the cayman can afford to run smaller discs is the fact that it weighs approx 120kg less than an M. Energy dissipation required from braking is hugely affected by the mass being stopped.
Another benefit of this of course is that the caymans smaller discs will weigh considerably less than M discs, particularly beneficial as this is unsprung weight.
 
TomK said:
Probably the main reason the cayman can afford to run smaller discs is the fact that it weighs approx 120kg less than an M. Energy dissipation required from braking is hugely affected by the mass being stopped.
Another benefit of this of course is that the caymans smaller discs will weigh considerably less than M discs, particularly beneficial as this is unsprung weight.
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Good point - everything I wrote above needs to be read in the context of the mass you are dealing with - hence my 800kg Elise had titchy 295 discs (non-standard) and weedy 2 pot calipers but would stop on a sixpence.

One thing to bear in mind when test driving a Cayman is that Porsche brakes are generally very lightly servoed (esp. compared with BMW who in my view over-servo their brakes) so at first you will think "bah, these are rubbish" it's only when you really use them hard that you realise how brilliant and easy to modulate they are - you do actually have to push on a Porsche brake pedal.
 
Back on topic if you ignore the TVR & Porsche input this is a great read for those unsure of the differences

http://www.evo.co.uk/tvr/tuscan/14195/bmw-z4-m-v-boxster-s-v-tvr-tuscan-v-alpina-m-power-strikes-back
 
mr wilks said:
Back on topic if you ignore the TVR & Porsche input this is a great read for those unsure of the differences

http://www.evo.co.uk/tvr/tuscan/14195/bmw-z4-m-v-boxster-s-v-tvr-tuscan-v-alpina-m-power-strikes-back
Click to expand...

That brings this thread to a conclusion :D

Get the mods to lock it now :lol:
 
srhutch said:
mr wilks said:
Back on topic if you ignore the TVR & Porsche input this is a great read for those unsure of the differences

http://www.evo.co.uk/tvr/tuscan/14195/bmw-z4-m-v-boxster-s-v-tvr-tuscan-v-alpina-m-power-strikes-back
Click to expand...

That brings this thread to a conclusion :D

Get the mods to lock it now :lol:
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I thought so too :D although it does highlight the Alpina's plus's there are too many negatives that make it 2nd choice :o rarity + cheap tax doesn't equal the ///M :( case closed :wink:
 
So, having read the article previously, the main points are lack of an LSD (agreed, its an omission on the RS), crashy ride (disagree, having driven both the Alpina is a better ride over uneven surfaces - 18" alloys is a small change if needed, and the suspension is more forgiving in the Alpina), and brakes (never found the Alpina brakes an issue, so would disagree with that point. Unless, of course, he'd cooked them on his test drive). Would also state that the power curve is smoother on the Alpina delivery than the ///M, which I found more brutal in its application.

But, of course, this post isn't about which is the better drive, more about which is the better investment. Alpinas have the rarity but a small market for buyers, ///Ms have the volume, but a larger potential buyers market. Neither will make you much money unless its a low mileage, immaculate model in 20 years time. And, for most of us, that's not the reason we purchased these cars.

Finally, for me owning an Alpina is more like having Raffles burgle your house, and owning an ///M has the local ASBO youth performing the same service. The end effect is the same, but the experience is vastly different. ;)
 
Btw it wasn't my intention to slate the Alpina , it certainly has much to offer someone looking for a rare form of Z4 with bespoke engine tweaks
As for the op question ?
Imo they have a niche market between 3.0Si's & ///Ms & that's where they should sit , the minute the prices merge into M territory then i struggle to see why there would be a choice :?
 
mr wilks said:
the minute the prices merge into M territory then i struggle to see why there would be a choice :?
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the 1's on autotrader (only 2 at the moment) are as dear as M's
 
mr wilks said:
Taz said:
mr wilks said:
the minute the prices merge into M territory then i struggle to see why there would be a choice :?
Click to expand...

the 1's on autotrader (only 2 at the moment) are as dear as M's
Click to expand...

& what do you make of that ? :?
Click to expand...


makes me thing there are worth more, the Alpina is older that the M so if there were like for like they should be cheaper
 
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