Better start here then.....

M

MattZCars

Member
 New Forest
Hey all,

Thanks already to all for the wisdom and knowledge on here that I have been trawling for the past week or three to hopefully make sure I buy a half decent Z4.

Finally decided on a facelift 2.5 which I put a deposit down on yesterday, collecting on Wednesday. It seems the best roadster out there for real world money, can't get excited by MX5's (and I've tried!), Boxsters...(hmmm in my price range no thanks!), Honda S2000 (now too expensive for a decent one).

Others that fell by the wayside...350Z (love fast Nissans but convertible is an eyesore!)...Mercedes SLK (my Dad drives a Merc...next!!)....Audi TT Roadster....(as for 350Z..)....

So Z4 it is and I'm quite excited! At my last count I had owned over 50 cars, a real mixed bag starting with a MK1 Ford Escort (wish I still owned that...) passing by Skoda Rapid (so glad I don't still own that!) 1964 Mustang convertible (still traumatised by selling that!)...and at least 7 Nissans! But only 1 other BM, a Z3 that I still have and might one day make into quite a nice car.

Hope to be making some connections on here along the way and enjoying the ride!
 
Sorry...noob error number 1...no pic!!.. hopefully attached now. Will upload some proper images once it's actually mine!
 
Welcome to the forum. :)

AddFiles button bottom left of editor window and load your pic directory on to the forum. :wink:
 
Welcome, and kudos for at least attempting to post a pic in your first thread. We'll just have to wait and see... :lol: :thumbsup:
 
Good day all. Thanks for the welcome, it's good to be here :thumbsup:
OK, hopefully.. a couple of pictures of my E85. It seems it was a file size issue before... It's not exactly a replacement for the Z3 (also hopefully pictured!), I'm just going to see which one gets left in the garage, although I think I already know the answer :D :D

I almost bought the E89 pictured but in the end decided it's not quite the time for me to spend that kind of money and having driven the E85 it feels like it will give me 95% of what the '89 did for a lot less than half the money. Maybe one day though... 8) ...
 

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Hi and welcome - good to see the photos too. :thumbsup:

Roll on Wednesday - you might want to take the long way home. :lol:
 
Hi and welcome from an E89 35i owner!
I do still have an MX5 but I ought to be selling it. I was supposed to sell it before I got my Z4 but just can’t bring myself to do it. Because I disagree with you. The MX5 is a much more exciting car to drive! Yes it’s slower... a lot slower, but they aren’t about speed. They are about attacking the corners. If you are used to driving a turbo-diesel then the power delivery will feels weak but if you thrash it and attack every corner they really are great fun!
Yes my 35i has double the power, much more grip and is a much nicer place to be but it’s also a much more “mature” car and doesn’t beg to be mistreated like the ‘5 does. I’ve had my 5 since 2004 though and for more than 10 years it was supercharged with over 240bhp (so it was as fast as my 35i) and it is just time to move on.
 
Lazza said:
Hi and welcome from an E89 35i owner!
I do still have an MX5 but I ought to be selling it. I was supposed to sell it before I got my Z4 but just can’t bring myself to do it. Because I disagree with you. The MX5 is a much more exciting car to drive! Yes it’s slower... a lot slower, but they aren’t about speed. They are about attacking the corners. If you are used to driving a turbo-diesel then the power delivery will feels weak but if you thrash it and attack every corner they really are great fun!
Yes my 35i has double the power, much more grip and is a much nicer place to be but it’s also a much more “mature” car and doesn’t beg to be mistreated like the ‘5 does. I’ve had my 5 since 2004 though and for more than 10 years it was supercharged with over 240bhp (so it was as fast as my 35i) and it is just time to move on.
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Hey Lazza, thanks for the welcome.. your MX5 does indeed sound like a lot of fun and as my favourite ever road car was a lotus Elise, I completely agree that there is more fun to be had with cars that encourage you to attack corners and make the most of handling, balance and brakes. What I should have said somewhere in the midst of my intro were the words "for me" after Z4 is the best roadster. Due to a serious health issue I am restricted by extreme fatigue so I have to drive in cruise mode these days. I've been fortunate to compete in road rallies, sprints and a ton of track days over the years so I've had more than my share of driving on (and occasionally over!) the limit.

So my fun is gained from a nice engine note, smooth power delivery, quiet on the motorway and roof off on a sunny day. It seems I've turned into an old git a bit earlier than planned :oldman: But what the hell, there are many ways to have fun and I think I'll have a lot of it with the Z. One things for sure though, I will never EVER choose anything with a diesel engine unless I buy a farm!!

I think cars are one of man's greatest inventions and it's good to be among enthusiasts again!
 
In that case I 100% agree with you :thumbsup:

After 5 years with a standard Mk1 MX5 followed by 15 years with a Mk2.5 MX5 (10 of those years supercharged with track spec suspension), matched with a Focus then a Mini I needed something calmer so bought a Merc C Class. Then decided to “merge” the C Class & MX5 so bought the Z4 to replace both. The C Class was traced in but I still haven’t sold the MX5. I went for DCT-auto because I wanted to let the car do more of the driving.

Enjoy your Z, they really are great cars :driving:
 
paddy wright said:
Nice zs! Welcome
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Cheers Paddy! It was a close call on the E89 but in the end I'm a tightwad and couldn't bring myself to spend 5 figures!! Sounds like you've done some nice mods to yours and of course you have the 2.2 engine, well that's what got me started on this whole Z thing.....the Z in my nickname actually comes from being a big fan of Nissan Z cars for about the last 15 years or so, but I think I might be changing allegiance!
 
Welcome from NZ. I’ve owned 2 350Z’s, one was fairly well tuned engine and suspension wise and was a great car to drive but let down by a plasticky interior. Still great bang for your buck. WHen I stopped racing my M3 I wanted some convertible fun and looked at the Boxster, 350Z and the Z4.
Also, now retired and this was going to be a 3rd “fun” car my budget was restricted. Ruled out the Boxster because the year I could afford looked dated and running costs likely to be high. The 350Z doesn’t look good with the hood up and visibility is poor. Plus, in standard form I always thought the engine felt strangled and rough at the top end although the reliability and running costs, spares etc quite cheap.
At the end of the day the quality of the Z4 interior, smooth engine and gearbox won out and I love it. Have had it on the track and it handles very well as standard. Did ditch the run flats, bought some Schnitzer wheels and very happy. Soft top adds another dimension to normal road driving. I wanted a manual which are rare as hen’s teeth here in NZ but managed to find a low mileage one imported from the UK. So far so good.
Welcome to the forum and Z4 ownership. :driving:
 
MattZCars said:
So my fun is gained from a nice engine note, smooth power delivery, quiet on the motorway and roof off on a sunny day. It seems I've turned into an old git a bit earlier than planned But what the hell, there are many ways to have fun and I think I'll have a lot of it with the Z.
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Welcome aboard. My sentiments as well, plus this weird thing whereby I like to just sit and look at the car. Enjoy!
 
So today I am finally a Z owner! Drove back from Canterbury to the New Forest through rush hour and very "English" weather (wet!). Not exactly what I was hoping for but back in 1 piece and I know I've made the right choice. There are plenty of things that I want to change though!! More on that soon but I'm knackered, so I'm signing off.

Thanks to all for the welcome and shared thoughts, will catch up properly with those too :thumbsup:
 
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