From Z4 Roadster to 320d M Sport Coupe?

[ksher]

Should I change my Z4, based on the following factors:
1). Much better fuel economy (30 mpg vs 57 mpg);
2). Cheaper car insurance (IG18 vs IG16);
3). Cheaper road tax (£215 vs £120);
4). More options fitted (bluetooth, USB interface, heated seats).

But all 320i/320d saloon and coupe do not have DSC+ (Z4 has). Having a diesel car is more sensible at the moment (£1.20 per litre of V-Power :evil: ). I am thinking about changing the car because I am going to test drive the new Z4 this Friday (after the salesman who sold me my current Z4 phone me this week). The demo car is a white sDrive23i with 19" wheels (manual), but that car will not be the one I will consider to buy anyway (£32k). The depreciation of sDrive23i will be too much. If I decide to have the new Z4 now, the price must be around £25k (there is a white AUC with auto box for £26k).

Should I wait another year to buy a better equipped 2-year-old Z4 (with sat nav), or be sensible and buy a more practical 320d M Sport Coupe instead? If I have to travel longer distance to work with my own car in the future, new Z4 will be too expensive to run (22k miles per annum). The current annual mileage is under 12k.

Or should BMW make diesel Z4 (I know it is not the right thing to do )? I love the shape of a roadster but with diesel car fuel economy.

 

[srhutch]

To be honest I dont think you will see 57mpg from the 320d, my E46 320d M Sport coupe would return around 39mpg compared to my 2.5si at around 32mpg, what it costs you to upgrade you wont see the cost saving for thousands of miles.

I have spreadsheet that will tell you the brake even point if you want to know when thoat would be.

 

[paddy wright]

no!

 

[ksher]

Yes. Based on the current annual mileage, it will take over 3/4 years to recover the cost of change. Should the 2007 320d Coupe (with EfficientDynamics) return at least 50 mpg (88% of combined mpg)?

 

[csmith319]

Over 2 years we've averaged about 44mpg from our 2007 320d. That's a mix of all types of driving. If you don't need the space, don't do it. If you need the space and it's your only car, get a 330 (petrol or diesel) - they are both awesome and have signicatly more shove and refinement.

 

[ksher]

Over 2 years we've averaged about 44mpg from our 2007 320d. That's a mix of all types of driving. If you don't need the space, don't do it. If you need the space and it's your only car, get a 330 (petrol or diesel) - they are both awesome and have signicatly more shove and refinement.

I don't need extra space and Z4 is also not the only car. Z4 is currently getting 88% of official combined mpg of 34.4, i.e. 30 mpg. Then I assume 320d can also do 88% of 57 mpg, i.e. 50 mpg. My original estimate of 57 mpg could be too optimistic. I think I should only consider 320d if I really need to do more than 20k miles a year. If my annual mileage is still below 12k miles, I better keep my car (or get the new Z4).

 

[sammyz]

You seem to be convincing yourself you need to keep the Z4

 

[ksher]

You seem to be convincing yourself you need to keep the Z4

Yes. The only main reason for changing from petrol roadster to diesel coupe is fuel saving (£800 saving a year on fuel alone based on current mileage. More miles I drive, the more I save).

 

[Wondermike]

Should I wait another year to buy a better equipped 2-year-old Z4 (with sat nav)

What about a non-nav car and then get the accessory nav which looks like it might be quite good, not as good as integrated nav but for about 20% of the price.

 

[mcbeee]

I look at it this way: I can be sensible after I die, until then I will have as much fun as I can while maintaining a level financial status.
ie: not going broke before then.

Keep the Zed, you know you want to.

As my late wife used to say " Life is short, drive a Jag".

 

[Spikey]

£800 saving in fuel per year versus £???? Gain in fun factor - no competition

Keep the the zed, you know you will regret going back to avarage motoring

 

[csmith319]

Over 2 years we've averaged about 44mpg from our 2007 320d. That's a mix of all types of driving. If you don't need the space, don't do it. If you need the space and it's your only car, get a 330 (petrol or diesel) - they are both awesome and have signicatly more shove and refinement.

I don't need extra space and Z4 is also not the only car. Z4 is currently getting 88% of official combined mpg of 34.4, i.e. 30 mpg. Then I assume 320d can also do 88% of 57 mpg, i.e. 50 mpg. My original estimate of 57 mpg could be too optimistic. I think I should only consider 320d if I really need to do more than 20k miles a year. If my annual mileage is still below 12k miles, I better keep my car (or get the new Z4).

Your logic makes complete sense, The 320d is insanely economical, I can drive to the alps on one tank. However I do miss the grunt when I'm driving it and wish I had got a 330d. Most of the economy with much more power. However as I have the z4 it doesn't bother me too much!

 

[ksher]

Should I wait another year to buy a better equipped 2-year-old Z4 (with sat nav)

What about a non-nav car and then get the accessory nav which looks like it might be quite good, not as good as integrated nav but for about 20% of the price.

It looks quite good. But only integrated sat nav comes with other features, e.g. car setting, visual parking sensor, DVD player.

 

[ksher]

I look at it this way: I can be sensible after I die, until then I will have as much fun as I can while maintaining a level financial status.
ie: not going broke before then.

Keep the Zed, you know you want to.

As my late wife used to say " Life is short, drive a Jag".

I have been doing it since I started working 12 years ago.

 

[powerontap]

I look at it this way: I can be sensible after I die, until then I will have as much fun as I can while maintaining a level financial status.
ie: not going broke before then.

Keep the Zed, you know you want to.

As my late wife used to say " Life is short, drive a Jag".

x2 Trust a Canadian

 

[Darren M]

Keep the Z4.
I assume you meant a new 320d? Bear in mind if you buy an older one, they can go wrong. One of the not often talked about problem with diesels is that they are more expensive to repair. So out of warranty, you could save £800 in petrol in a year driving a rattly narrow torque band car, but could potentially pay out more in repairs. I've had a diesel before and would rather have a more efficient (4cyl) petrol engine to use daily personally. WHen I had a 320td E46 which blew the turbo and drove a 318i for a day I noted how sweet the 318 was compared to the diesel

 

[ksher]

Keep the Z4.
I assume you meant a new 320d? Bear in mind if you buy an older one, they can go wrong. One of the not often talked about problem with diesels is that they are more expensive to repair. So out of warranty, you could save £800 in petrol in a year driving a rattly narrow torque band car, but could potentially pay out more in repairs. I've had a diesel before and would rather have a more efficient (4cyl) petrol engine to use daily personally. WHen I had a 320td E46 which blew the turbo and drove a 318i for a day I noted how sweet the 318 was compared to the diesel

320d (2007) with EfficientDynamics.

 

[klarky]

id say stick with the z4 unless you need the space, saying that im eyeing up a 645 coupe as my next car for summer 2011 i think. im a bmw convert now, used to like all the big power jap stuff but i like my luxuries after being spoilt with the z4, plus saying you drive a bmw is better than a nissan or subaru - ill admit im becoming a badge snob, so the much lusted after subaru p1 isnt even in my thoughts now!

i think everyone gets an itch to change, mine is around 2 - 2.5 years of owner ship, but there is nothing wrong with the z4 thats for sure