From 911 to Z4 - no regrets!
- Thread starter Kenmode
- Start date
I have no regrets to ,I also had a996 I paid £14,000 spent another £7,000 on it ims,rms a/c rads etc the cost just got crazy and all the time scared to death in case the engine went bang ( quite common on this model ) so time to sell all these costs were in a 18 month period of ownership I part x the car and got £8000 so happy with my 2007 z4 mr just seems better built and a lot more robust now into 2 months ownership and it just keeps giving love it ,and he's right this is a much much better forum than most of the Porsche ones I've used they do tend to get a little pretentious and up there own arse at times
in defence for the 911 / when batting on at speed ( 3 numbers & rising where permitted 8) ) the feeling of the car being sucked to the ground & increasing its traction & grip is pretty amazing as is the surge of power from 3/4k revs 
a real buzz .
the zed ive only driven at around legal uk limits :wink: & whilst the non runflats have improved handling i do feel into 3 numbers could get to hanging on until you bottle it ? i may be wrong & will have to wait until my first france run to explore its boundaries
a real buzz .the zed ive only driven at around legal uk limits :wink: & whilst the non runflats have improved handling i do feel into 3 numbers could get to hanging on until you bottle it ? i may be wrong & will have to wait until my first france run to explore its boundaries
Pacemaker1000
Member
Surely the z4s competitor is Boxster/Cayman? This would equal a newer, cheaper to run Porsche?
Had a Boxster and now looking to buy one of the three. Never liked the 911 and think it ugly from the rear and out of proportion with overhanging bum. Cayman every time on looks and to me even better than the zed.
Tried original zed4 and absolutely hated it. Awful ride and reason I got a 986. New one though is a different kettle of fish and definitely in the running
Had a Boxster and now looking to buy one of the three. Never liked the 911 and think it ugly from the rear and out of proportion with overhanging bum. Cayman every time on looks and to me even better than the zed.
Tried original zed4 and absolutely hated it. Awful ride and reason I got a 986. New one though is a different kettle of fish and definitely in the running
I think i can sum up my thoughts on the Porsche range..
I wouldnt own anything with an M96 derived engine fitted...
I adore the 993 and 964,buy they are too pricy and old for a daily driver.. And a 991 doesnt really do it for me(i cant afford one either)..
@Andy..
Hitting the speed limiter up the Woodhead pass in a Z4M is pretty..................errrrr exciting.........
I wouldnt own anything with an M96 derived engine fitted...
I adore the 993 and 964,buy they are too pricy and old for a daily driver.. And a 991 doesnt really do it for me(i cant afford one either)..
@Andy..
Hitting the speed limiter up the Woodhead pass in a Z4M is pretty..................errrrr exciting.........
Z4M-2006 said:I think i can sum up my thoughts on the Porsche range..
I wouldnt own anything with an M96 derived engine fitted...
I adore the 993 and 964,buy they are too pricy and old for a daily driver.. And a 991 doesnt really do it for me(i cant afford one either)..
@Andy..
Hitting the speed limiter up the Woodhead pass in a Z4M is pretty..................errrrr exciting.........
limiter ? is that not the pacemaker kicking in Gary :lol: 964/993 is possibly my only way back to porsche but in reality too much cash & maintenance costs . this guy's (sram from911 uk ) car blog is definitive reading for any potential 993 owner . still find it compelling
http://pistonheads.com/members/showServiceHistory.asp?carId=113578
Mr Sram's experience is absolutely not the norm. He has been really unlucky imo.mr wilks said:
In under six months of ownership I've spent more on my Z than I have the 993. It's been superbly reliable and the only expense has been ocd type improvements, which were largely unnecessary. Great cars.
i appreciate sram's is not the norm & my 964 proved that to me , there were jobs i could have done but i stuck to the mundane maintenance issues & thoroughly enjoyed my aircooled experience & would not be put off in the future . i just feel they are aged now compared to the Zc which suits me more for what i want from a carRialas said:Mr Sram's experience is absolutely not the norm. He has been really unlucky imo.mr wilks said:
In under six months of ownership I've spent more on my Z than I have the 993. It's been superbly reliable and the only expense has been ocd type improvements, which were largely unnecessary. Great cars.
A while back i went to High Wycombe to look at an "excellent" condition 1994 964 carrera 4 for sale at Platinum autos...It looked awesome on the pics,it was a deep metallic purple with BBS LM splits on.
When we got there,within 5 minutes i knew it wasnt for me...I could easily see £5000 of work,and that was without getting on my hands an knee's.
It was a long trip to look at a proper bucket of spuds..
When we got there,within 5 minutes i knew it wasnt for me...I could easily see £5000 of work,and that was without getting on my hands an knee's.
It was a long trip to look at a proper bucket of spuds..
Its like anything if you look after them they are bullet proof if you dont they arent. Also they are easy to buy not so easy to maintain so many people dont maintain them properly which is where the problems come for the potential buyer.
Just have to know exactly what to look for and budget for things that need doing.
I have to admit people seem to have had bad experiences and I have a feeling this is why.
Just have to know exactly what to look for and budget for things that need doing.
I have to admit people seem to have had bad experiences and I have a feeling this is why.
Hi Kenmode,
good to read that there is other guys out there coming from Porsche.
My BMW and Porsche acquentainces so far:
Z4 3.0i Roadster manual
987 Boxster S manual
Z4 3.0si Roadster manual
997 Carrera S manual
Z4 35i DKG
Looking back at all of those I honestly can't pick which one was best. I remember them more by the driving experiences I had with them. The E85's had a lot of track time, the 3.0si for example did around 600 miles aorund the Nordschleife and Spa without any issues. The Boxster I owned during a perfect summer, can't remember when I was driving with the roof up really. In addition to that I did a lot of trip to the french alps with it from Geneva. The 3.0si I only owned for 5 months and the got the Carrera, I got the 35i 3 months ago.
The 911 was a great car, rock solid with great built quality and always performing. Along came the Z4 with more detailed built quality, but it doesn't have this indestructible feel of the Porsches. Gimmick wise the E89 beats the crap out of the 997 (even the 2nd generation) with USB Connection, HDD, high res nav etc.In addition to that I never got used to the roughness of the Boxer engine and their thirst for oil. BMW in my opinion designes better engines overall. Kenmode already touched on the servicing costs of the 911, a Z4 costs a fraction in comparison.
Driving wise the Porsches have the edge, even though I got my suspension tweaked together with a 380hp remap on my current Z4, it just does not feel the same once you really get going. Having said that I have more day to day fun with the E89 (after the little tweaks) driving sideways here and there. With the 911 it always felt like Russian Roulette, once the 295's let go and the heavy back stepped out :dizzy:. The Boxster S was in between the two I'd say. Adding everything up the differences between the 35i and the Carrera S are smaller than one might think, even performance wise. I hate when people quote times from the Nordschleife or claimed 0-100 performance. I've been going to the Nordschleife frequently since 10 years now (I feel old saying that :lol
and all the car magazine times just melt away when the barrier opens :evil:. The few people that are able to get a 100% from cars of that caliber earn their money with doing just that.
Have a good one everyone and enjoy one of the nicest cars out there!
good to read that there is other guys out there coming from Porsche.
My BMW and Porsche acquentainces so far:
Z4 3.0i Roadster manual
987 Boxster S manual
Z4 3.0si Roadster manual
997 Carrera S manual
Z4 35i DKG
Looking back at all of those I honestly can't pick which one was best. I remember them more by the driving experiences I had with them. The E85's had a lot of track time, the 3.0si for example did around 600 miles aorund the Nordschleife and Spa without any issues. The Boxster I owned during a perfect summer, can't remember when I was driving with the roof up really. In addition to that I did a lot of trip to the french alps with it from Geneva. The 3.0si I only owned for 5 months and the got the Carrera, I got the 35i 3 months ago.
The 911 was a great car, rock solid with great built quality and always performing. Along came the Z4 with more detailed built quality, but it doesn't have this indestructible feel of the Porsches. Gimmick wise the E89 beats the crap out of the 997 (even the 2nd generation) with USB Connection, HDD, high res nav etc.In addition to that I never got used to the roughness of the Boxer engine and their thirst for oil. BMW in my opinion designes better engines overall. Kenmode already touched on the servicing costs of the 911, a Z4 costs a fraction in comparison.
Driving wise the Porsches have the edge, even though I got my suspension tweaked together with a 380hp remap on my current Z4, it just does not feel the same once you really get going. Having said that I have more day to day fun with the E89 (after the little tweaks) driving sideways here and there. With the 911 it always felt like Russian Roulette, once the 295's let go and the heavy back stepped out :dizzy:. The Boxster S was in between the two I'd say. Adding everything up the differences between the 35i and the Carrera S are smaller than one might think, even performance wise. I hate when people quote times from the Nordschleife or claimed 0-100 performance. I've been going to the Nordschleife frequently since 10 years now (I feel old saying that :lol
and all the car magazine times just melt away when the barrier opens :evil:. The few people that are able to get a 100% from cars of that caliber earn their money with doing just that.Have a good one everyone and enjoy one of the nicest cars out there!
Hi Kenmode really interesting read always wanted a 911 but never really knew which one, we used to have a Porsche test driver live opposite us when we lived in Surrey and he turned up one day in a Carrera GT and WOW what a car. when we had a chat he said on the test track they only used Boxter's as it really responded well to flinging around a track. And have to say when I tested one I liked it, a really proper sports car, but will you get should have brought a 911 :?
always wanted a 911 but never really knew which one, we used to have a Porsche test driver live opposite us when we lived in Surrey and he turned up one day in a Carrera GT and WOW what a car. when we had a chat he said on the test track they only used Boxter's as it really responded well to flinging around a track. And have to say when I tested one I liked it, a really proper sports car, but will you get should have brought a 911 :?[/quote]
Never understood what people see in Porsches but then never driven one so probably missing something, but purely looking at it = boring where the Zed = gorgeous
Tim.[/quote]
Says the guy that put 'mud flaps' on his Zed and then hides it away in the garage for winter coz he doesn't want anyone seeing the horrible things he's stuck on!!
Never understood what people see in Porsches but then never driven one so probably missing something, but purely looking at it = boring where the Zed = gorgeous
Tim.[/quote]
Says the guy that put 'mud flaps' on his Zed and then hides it away in the garage for winter coz he doesn't want anyone seeing the horrible things he's stuck on!!
I know what that felt like! At first I had a grey Z4 E85, but having a good friend working at Porsche with a Porsche company car, it wasn't hard to fall in love with the 911. So I bought a 996 which seemed to be in good condition. But what a mistake I made... After a year I ended up with loads of replacements, errors on the dash, white smoke from the exhaust... That car really must have come straight from hell! So I also ended up selling the car (luckily at almost the same price as I bought it) and looking for a replacement. I flirted with the 997, then a more recent Boxster... But I just had no faith left in the brand... So I did 2 test drives with another E85 and it felt exactly as you said: decent, reliable and still fun to drive. I would say it's even a little more dangerous (thus fun) at low speeds than a 911 which sticks to the road. You don't need to go at high speeds before it becomes really exciting.
So basically I went from a Zed to a 911 and back and no regrets!
So basically I went from a Zed to a 911 and back
and no regrets!
