Anyone come from an Elise, VX or similar?

J

Jonnymito

Member
 Perth
I have only recently bought my Coupe and when I first picked it up my initial thoughts were that it was a beautifully made sports car with looks to match the performance :thumbsup:

The more time I spend with the car though I'm finding myself thinking that it is just a bit too refined and much as I hate to say this... A bit boring? :o

There were alot of things I hated about my last car (A VX220 which I owned for nearly 7 years!) from the terrible build quality to the rubbish dealers but every time I drove it, it always felt special even the day I drove it to the dealer to trade it in.

I haven't had the car long and I am hoping that a good hoon soon :driving: will bannish how I'm feeling just now but I just wondered if there was anyone else who had come from something similar and had similar thought to me to begin with?
 
Search is your friend. Sure it is more refined as that's the point with the Z. But it does yield if you give it a good run. :thumbsup: Perhaps an M would have suited better for raw thrills.
 
Sorry to hear that Jonnymito, hooning will help. I know you said the car was unmolested when you got it, but a nice shouty exhaust really does make for a more visceral experience, more akin to what you're used to.

As for people switching, I'm reluctant to get him started, but EdButler came from a VX220... apparently he quite liked it.
 
Thanks guys,

playalistic: I did look at getting an M but to be honest as it is a daily drive for me the running costs were prohibitive.

PawnSacrifice: I'm sure your right. A nice dry day and a good hoon should help. :thumbsup: I agree about a bit more noise as I expect I'll be getting a quad of some sort soon
 
I got my Coupe in December and came from an Elise 111S and know what you mean. The 'raw seat of your pants' excitement factor is missing in the Coupe but then I expected it to. They are very different cars: the Lotus is a basically a track car that can be used on the road whereas Z4 is a road car that can be used on the track. I love the Elise and will miss it dearly but I wanted a car that was more usable more of the time than the Elise. It was/is too track focused to be a practical road car used throughout the year which meant keeping another car to use during the winter. These days I can't really justify keeping a Lotus as a 3rd car, so basically 2 cars sold and replaced with the Coupe. Mind you, the Lotus is still in the garage waiting to be sold! Me and my Coupe are still getting to know each other but at the moment I think it's certainly what I was looking for. Although it does need a better exhaust to make it sound like a sports car should. Search Capristo Z4 on Youtube and you'll know what I mean.
 
fraserbottomley said:
Have you took any of the foam out of your sound generator yet? :D
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:lol: First weekend! I did leave some of it in though as Though it droned just a bit too much with it all out!
 
Half Colin

I changed for the exact same reason and like you I did realise that it was going to be a different car but I'm just a little surprised how little fuss it makes even when you push on a bit. I do however think that my first trip to Europe shopuld be much more enjoyable. :thumbsup:
 
Raw, no not really but it will light up if its pushed enough. The grip is so good though that it does take quite a lot of provoking to wake up.

With a skilled driver this is how good a z4 3.0 can be...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BGi9ODqGzcI
 
Jonnymito said:
Half Colin

I changed for the exact same reason and like you I did realise that it was going to be a different car but I'm just a little surprised how little fuss it makes even when you push on a bit. I do however think that my first trip to Europe shopuld be much more enjoyable. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Need to release the sound of those 265 horses!
 
Apologies I can't actually answer your question but would love to here more opinions as I'm currently reading this forum trying to decide whether a 3.0 would suit me and I too would be coming from a VX220 !
However I only managed a year in my VX although it was trouble free. I always thought the VX felt much faster than it was where as my current car a V8 Audi S4 is much much faster than it feels ! I'm hoping a 3.0 Z4 will feel somewhere in between but without the awkward VX access and useless heater ?!
My biggest concern about buying a Z is the Evo mag reviews 'fidgety chassis' but I believe binning the runflats would sort this.
Still trying to make my mind up - hope you and the Z jel !
 
I came from a 2.2 VX which I'd owned and loved for 5 years and in comparison the BMW is a revelation for me, comfortable, smooth (ish) and fast which was exactly what I wanted. :) It's not the sportiest two seater out there though with vague turn-in, isolated ride feel and a general lack of excitement but if you're after a "grown up" plaything then it's just the ticket.

Gone all gooey eyed about the VX now, fantastic car...
SDC11584.jpg
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...but I just couldn't put up with the crashy ride and constant noise anymore. :cry:
 
I tried an elise and a vx220 before buying my Z4M. I could only have run the VX as a second car and wanted something for the next year or so I can use everyday.

I tried a VX220 turbo (mapped) and a supercharged 2.2l.

I thought I was going to die on both. In a good way? If that makes sense.
 
Molinites said:
Apologies I can't actually answer your question but would love to here more opinions as I'm currently reading this forum trying to decide whether a 3.0 would suit me and I too would be coming from a VX220 !
However I only managed a year in my VX although it was trouble free. I always thought the VX felt much faster than it was where as my current car a V8 Audi S4 is much much faster than it feels ! I'm hoping a 3.0 Z4 will feel somewhere in between but without the awkward VX access and useless heater ?!
My biggest concern about buying a Z is the Evo mag reviews 'fidgety chassis' but I believe binning the runflats would sort this.
Still trying to make my mind up - hope you and the Z jel !
Click to expand...

Without starting the usual debate..have you tried both a Coupe and a Roadster ?
 
Hark said:
I thought I was going to die on both. In a good way? If that makes sense.
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Sounds about right, every drive had the potential to turn into a life/death experience but I always got out grinning. :D

Turns out that clambering in and out was giving me some dodgy postural problems and a sore knee though. :o :roll:
 
I had a Lotus Elise S1 for just 2 weeks. It was very quick and exciting to drive, but I couldn't live with it as a daily driver. Later S2 with all electrical and air-con may be different though. I only found out S1 was too basic for me after I bought it.

If I have spare money, I would like to have an Elise/Exige S2 as a second car :D .
 
Only had my Z4 3 days but i did own a S1 elise for 4 years, I loved the elise but as time wore on i was only using it on track ( which was quite often)
They are very different cars, I decided I wanted something more usable and with a bit of refinment and that is deffo what i got.I hope to purchase an even more track orientated car in the future but for daily use the Z4 is going to be just perfect.
I think it boils down to what you can live with and as time goes on I think that changes.
hth
 
Jonnymito said:
I have only recently bought my Coupe and when I first picked it up my initial thoughts were that it was a beautifully made sports car with looks to match the performance :thumbsup:

The more time I spend with the car though I'm finding myself thinking that it is just a bit too refined and much as I hate to say this... A bit boring? :o

There were alot of things I hated about my last car (A VX220 which I owned for nearly 7 years!) from the terrible build quality to the rubbish dealers but every time I drove it, it always felt special even the day I drove it to the dealer to trade it in.

I haven't had the car long and I am hoping that a good hoon soon :driving: will bannish how I'm feeling just now but I just wondered if there was anyone else who had come from something similar and had similar thought to me to begin with?
Click to expand...

Just noticed you're from Perth, have you seen the Isle of Skye meet in the Meets forum? I sometimes get bored of my car but a good group thrash with a load of fellow enthusiasts always seems to make me fall back in love with the car!
 
I had a S2000 -

(excuse the bin!)

P1010484.jpg

Love the refinement of the Z coupé and the style is pure class. At the right rev's in 2 - 3 gear it can bring a grin to my face. But i always feel i should have bought a M to match that raw extra 100 Horses that kicked in at 65000 rpm on the S2!
 
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