Getting used to the Z4...still not totally comfortable

[ThaiZ4]

Hi all,

I have browsed these forums for a few weeks before my Z4 purcahse and finally picked up the keys last week. Now I did test drive the car (and I've been driving a lowered Audi TT previously) but I still don't feel totally comfortable driving like I have in other cars.

The country I drive in (Thailand) has notoriously narrow roads with street sellers, random bikes driving everywhere and so on. I just find that my visibility is TERRIBLE in this car.

Now I'm not trying to bash it. I absolutely love it and look forward to sitting in it every day (you get a lot of attention here when you drive with the top down haha).

Just I find that my viewpoint is terrible. I actually drive with my left mirror very low down (don't have auto-lowering mirrors) so I can see curbs much closer.

Has anyone else had this issue? I only found one other person talking about this but it was on another forum.

I'm a pretty tall guy so my seat is as far back as it will go which may not help things. I really wish I could drive this back in the UK where the visibility and roads are 1,000 times better.

So I guess what I'm asking is:

- Will I get used to this (lower visibility and the huge bonnet upfront)?

- Do you have any tips for speeding up that process?

- Any tips for anything I can adjust or do differently that will help me.

Just to give a final example. I was driving out of a car park today and the lanes were super narrow, barely the width of the car. I knew there was a cone in front of me that I would have to navigate around. But, by the time I got to the booth where I give my ticket, I had zero visibility of that cone and curb. Just had to best guess where it was from where I was driving previously.

I fear I'm going to end up scratch the wheels or hitting something before I can get this figured out.

Again, I'm not bashing the car so please keep any flaming comments to yourself. Just looking for advice on handling this car - which I absolutely love - better and being safer on the roads for myself and others.

Thank you in advance!

 

[envy]

its good to hear from another international member. i was in thailand on holiday this time last year so am familiar with the roads lol

i know where you are coming from as the long bonnet does not make it easy to manoeuvre around cones and kerbs in tight situations. i have had mine for 2 years now and that wont change, in tricky/tight situations you have to best guess or plan ahead prior to getting to the obstacle

i guess if i was in your situation, i would get to know a local bodyshop or alloy refurb place as it might get expensive

 

[paulgs1000]

Have you tried raising the seat? Have you tried moving the rear of the seat forward to make you sit more upright? All to give you a better view?

When I first started driving my Zed I found the bonnet long and awkward as you cannot see the front BUT you do get used to it's size and stop driving onto kerbs and the like when you are used to it so give it time and see if things improve and your confidence rises - even on your narrow roads.

 

[dr_john]

The long bonnet is my only problem with the Z4. It's true that narrow lanes cause a problem, I have scraped the front nearside wheel on mine in a particularly tight carpark.

The only solution I have found is to avoid such situations, easier for me than you I guess!

 

[Twin Turbo]

To help on stop kerbing - i purchased some alloygators - already been used in anger - by accident.

They are an plastic strip that go around the rim

]

 

[ThaiZ4]

Those sound great. I'll see if I can pick some up online to get shipped here!

Thanks for all of the replies. I'm hoping I can lift the seat up without actually moving it forward. I don't have the car with me till tomorrow (on an island break) but will check on my return.