Everyday usage, general advice
- Thread starter dsj1979
- Start date
I think the 2.0 is just about adequate, yeh id love more power but in all honesty i only work the engine hard about 5% of the time....
its all about bragging rights really at the end of the day.......but so long as ur a bit daring you wont get left too far behind in a 2.0 compared to a 2.5 or veyrons come to think of it :wink:
:driving:
its all about bragging rights really at the end of the day.......but so long as ur a bit daring you wont get left too far behind in a 2.0 compared to a 2.5 or veyrons come to think of it :wink:
:driving:
Well... I enjoy roundabouts and cornering etc. I can have fun in my peugeot diesel estate, so the 2.0 should be fun enough for me. Also, mpg is more important to me than an occasional 3.0 foot down fun - but I have a 60 mile round trip to work. If it costs lots in fuel I'd probably only end up chopping it in before long where the 2.0 should be good enough that it won't be a problem. Hopefully... 
dsj1979 said:
I hope you don't experience the same phenomenon I did. I used to have a 2.4 mile round trip to work. I clocked it several times, in several vehicles. Then I bought an M Roadster. My house hasn't moved; neither has my office. But for some strange reason, I'm experiencing 10 - 20 mile commutes EACH WAY. :lol:
My yearly mileage is very low, so fuel consumption is not a practical concern.
For me, everyday usage raises other issues:
On the MINUS side ... and these comments apply to almost any sports car ... there is a fair bit of stress involved in just doing basic everyday simple things:
a) The front bumper is low, so one tends to graze it in parking lots that have those concrete stoppers (they are meant to stop the wheels going further forward .. but they get your bumper first).
b) Parallel street parking: with the 18 inch wheels, the rear wheels sit out further than the front ones, and one tends to graze the alloys ... no matter how careful you are. Terrible sound ... specially when you have just had them fixed up
. You pop out for five minutes to get some hot bread, and scrape the wheels ... not good economics.
c) The doors are big ... like any coupe ... so you have to be careful in parking lots. Actually - just avoid internal parking lots
d) Because the car is small and low (like almost any sports car), you sometimes worry whether people have seen you on the road. I try to keep clear of buses and trucks.
e) The ride on OEM run-flats is hard
On the PLUS side:
Most of the above comes with the territory ... if you want a sports car. But in the Z4's favour, especially:
a) the Z4 coupe really has quite a practical boot ... especially when the roller-blind is open ... you can fit large boxes in there, as well as big suitcases if giving someone a lift to the airport!
b) It actually works ... usually brilliantly ... unlike other exotic sport cars.
c) Pretty low maintenance ... other than feeling compelled to clean, and remove the brake dust
d) Superb interior ergonomics
e) It's enormously fun to drive anywhere. And gorgeous to look at everywhere
For me, everyday usage raises other issues:
On the MINUS side ... and these comments apply to almost any sports car ... there is a fair bit of stress involved in just doing basic everyday simple things:
a) The front bumper is low, so one tends to graze it in parking lots that have those concrete stoppers (they are meant to stop the wheels going further forward .. but they get your bumper first).
b) Parallel street parking: with the 18 inch wheels, the rear wheels sit out further than the front ones, and one tends to graze the alloys ... no matter how careful you are. Terrible sound ... specially when you have just had them fixed up
. You pop out for five minutes to get some hot bread, and scrape the wheels ... not good economics.c) The doors are big ... like any coupe ... so you have to be careful in parking lots. Actually - just avoid internal parking lots
d) Because the car is small and low (like almost any sports car), you sometimes worry whether people have seen you on the road. I try to keep clear of buses and trucks.
e) The ride on OEM run-flats is hard
On the PLUS side:
Most of the above comes with the territory ... if you want a sports car. But in the Z4's favour, especially:
a) the Z4 coupe really has quite a practical boot ... especially when the roller-blind is open ... you can fit large boxes in there, as well as big suitcases if giving someone a lift to the airport!
b) It actually works ... usually brilliantly ... unlike other exotic sport cars.
c) Pretty low maintenance ... other than feeling compelled to clean, and remove the brake dust
d) Superb interior ergonomics
e) It's enormously fun to drive anywhere. And gorgeous to look at everywhere
Get 33MPG brim to brim out of my 3.0, the computer shows 37MPG though? Test drove the 2.5 but ruled it out as the 3.0 felt alot more torque-y and i love using low down pull instead of changing gear.
As above, its practical, reliable, comfortable, getting the roof down after a shtty day in the office is brilliant. Had a few "nice car mate" comments which make smile
Ride is harsh but i can live with it (mostly), stereo i've had to change to get something MP3 compatible.
As above, its practical, reliable, comfortable, getting the roof down after a shtty day in the office is brilliant. Had a few "nice car mate" comments which make smile
Ride is harsh but i can live with it (mostly), stereo i've had to change to get something MP3 compatible.
I use my 2.0 daily for a ~12 mile round trip commute. It's mostly fun country road when the 40mph corps aren't on training exercises. Love it, really enjoy my commute to and from work.
I get 34mpg on average, about 320-350 miles a tank (I fill up when the light comes on, so there's usually about 8-10l left). On the motorway I'll get 40-45mpg if I'm careful, or far more likely 38mpg. If I'm honest I'm disappointed with the 2.0's fuel economy. I would rather drop another 2-3mpg and have the power of the 3.0.
Other than that I agree with everything krusty said. The roadster has an amazingly large boot for a roadster too.
Now the biggest reason you should have a Z4: You feel special. Go out for a drive and count how many other people are driving roadsters, any kind of roadster. No matter where you park, you'll see your car from a mile off. Plus, everyone seems to be much nicer to you, I get let out a lot more in the Z4 than I did in my previous car (a new-shape Civic). There is a minor drawback though, I did have my car keyed a little while back which was deep enough to require a respray of 3 panels. I still park on the street @ work, but in a more affluent area...
I get 34mpg on average, about 320-350 miles a tank (I fill up when the light comes on, so there's usually about 8-10l left). On the motorway I'll get 40-45mpg if I'm careful, or far more likely 38mpg. If I'm honest I'm disappointed with the 2.0's fuel economy. I would rather drop another 2-3mpg and have the power of the 3.0.
Other than that I agree with everything krusty said. The roadster has an amazingly large boot for a roadster too.
Now the biggest reason you should have a Z4: You feel special. Go out for a drive and count how many other people are driving roadsters, any kind of roadster. No matter where you park, you'll see your car from a mile off. Plus, everyone seems to be much nicer to you, I get let out a lot more in the Z4 than I did in my previous car (a new-shape Civic). There is a minor drawback though, I did have my car keyed a little while back which was deep enough to require a respray of 3 panels. I still park on the street @ work, but in a more affluent area...
As mentioned by Boogle I would not expect a massive difference in fuel economy between the 2.0 and 3.0, my 3.0 regularly returns 35MPG with normal driving and on long runs will go up to about 38MPG, I have had 44MPG once but the computer is a little optimistic.
My Girlfreind has just bought a brand new polo 1.2, it's only getting 37MPG from normal driving... though we are hoping it is because the engine is still tight!
Smaller engines are great but have to be worked harder for the same performance.
My Girlfreind has just bought a brand new polo 1.2, it's only getting 37MPG from normal driving... though we are hoping it is because the engine is still tight!
Smaller engines are great but have to be worked harder for the same performance.
Boogle said:
Blimey... I get that out of a tank easily in my 3.0 even when driving enthusiastically... You'll also find the 3.0 a very lazy car to drive in that you can leave it in 6th & it wont struggle @ 30mph, so if you've got good throttle control is such an easy cruizer.. or make it playtime when it hits 3000 rpm
