tehdarkstar
Member
Finally I got my Z4M and the wait is over. I was so happy when I drove it off the dealership forecourt. :lol:
I got to the dealer very early this morning and my car was sitting outside. It was clean and looking very low and mean parked next to an M5. I couldn’t help but get a big smile on my face. The sales guy, who was VERY good and very helpful throrough the whole buying process smiled at me and asked if I was happy with the car. The answer was obvious. :roll:
We did a 30 minutes long handover procedure in which he showed me how to operate the various controls, satnav, Bluetooth, stereo, iPod and all bits and peaces, as well as showing me the strut brace that I asked them to install and etc. He reminded me a lot of times to keep the engine below the 5500 RPM mark during running in and to be careful and mind the speed limits.
When I finally was good to go I jumped inside the car and I couldn’t help but notice the sense of purpose when you grab that chuncky steering wheel, turn the key and that straight six M engine explodes into life and them sets at a very mean idle. The seats are comfortable, very snug and supportive. The steering very heavy and the sense of responsibility of getting out in a 343bhp RWD car. For me, coming from an 250bhp FWD remapped TT it was a bit frightening.
Got out of the dealership, joined the dual carriageway and gave it some throttle, although keeping the revs under 3000 while warming up the engine. Still the car was very fast and the engine noise when accelerating was intoxicating. That metallic, raspy noise that screams of sports car. I could see people in the sidewalk turning to see what was coming.
When I got to the A1 I had a well warm engine, but I decided to stick to the speed limits, work easy through all the gears and get a bit more familliar with steering feedback, levels of grip and reactions of the car. When I joned the M25 a few miles ahead I was feeling comfortable with the cara and decided to gun it until the allowed 5500 RPM in third gear on the right lane of the slip-road. The acceleration is hard, brutal and effective. The power is delivered with violence and there was nothing around me that could counter the progress I was making. The heavy steering felt precise and the car very composed. I could change lanes at very high speeds very quickly and without any body-roll. :twisted: :twisted:
I then have hit a traffic jam. Although the satnav warned me of the traffic ahead, all the exits off the M25 were probably worse than the M25 itself, so I didn’t get the option to re-route me. I just sat there and used the time to get a bit more familiar with the cabin. I couldn’t help but feel that although the design of the dashboard is quite nice, bloody hell that cabin feels cheap and poorly made. The Audi build quality is just leaps and bounds ahead of BMW and the MK2 TT cabin with its beautiful design, plush materials and superb fit and finish is just in a class above. Even the doors in the Z4 feel cheap compared to the heavy, chucky doors of the MK2 TT and it doesn’t have the same clunck noise that feels solid and well made. My car doesn’t even have wheel-nut covers… :\
I then got to the house of the guy that was going to install VentureShield on my car. Their workshop had a problem during the week (a blown up pipe or something) and it was unusable today, so he offered his garage to do the work on my car. During the 6+ hours it took for him to fit it all (including a custom-made rear bumper protection) I had plenty of time to play with the various gadgets and admire the stunning shape of this car. I love it. It is low and looks the business. The muscular bodywork is invites you to jump in, turn on the key and go for a drive. It screams sportiness.
On my way back home, while in Hammersmith there was a guy out of the window while I waited on the traffic lights. When I got out in second gear and gave it some throttle, passing by his window, he shouted: THAT SOUNDS AWESOME! and gave the thumbs up. I couldn’t agree more. I found myself many times dropping the window just to listen to that engine. I love it
The car is a real head-turner, not only for its looks, but the noise it makes gets a lot of attention. I can’t wait now to finish running-in and take it to Bedford Autodrome. I want to hear that engine screaming at 7500+ RPM in that 1Km long straight!
Now, for my thread to be worthwhile there go some pictures. I know they are poor quality, but I had to take them quick as it was starting to rain. I will take some more as soon as I get the opportunity.
BTW, for Muppet: I will make it shinier as soon as I can.
I got to the dealer very early this morning and my car was sitting outside. It was clean and looking very low and mean parked next to an M5. I couldn’t help but get a big smile on my face. The sales guy, who was VERY good and very helpful throrough the whole buying process smiled at me and asked if I was happy with the car. The answer was obvious. :roll:
We did a 30 minutes long handover procedure in which he showed me how to operate the various controls, satnav, Bluetooth, stereo, iPod and all bits and peaces, as well as showing me the strut brace that I asked them to install and etc. He reminded me a lot of times to keep the engine below the 5500 RPM mark during running in and to be careful and mind the speed limits.
When I finally was good to go I jumped inside the car and I couldn’t help but notice the sense of purpose when you grab that chuncky steering wheel, turn the key and that straight six M engine explodes into life and them sets at a very mean idle. The seats are comfortable, very snug and supportive. The steering very heavy and the sense of responsibility of getting out in a 343bhp RWD car. For me, coming from an 250bhp FWD remapped TT it was a bit frightening.
Got out of the dealership, joined the dual carriageway and gave it some throttle, although keeping the revs under 3000 while warming up the engine. Still the car was very fast and the engine noise when accelerating was intoxicating. That metallic, raspy noise that screams of sports car. I could see people in the sidewalk turning to see what was coming.
When I got to the A1 I had a well warm engine, but I decided to stick to the speed limits, work easy through all the gears and get a bit more familliar with steering feedback, levels of grip and reactions of the car. When I joned the M25 a few miles ahead I was feeling comfortable with the cara and decided to gun it until the allowed 5500 RPM in third gear on the right lane of the slip-road. The acceleration is hard, brutal and effective. The power is delivered with violence and there was nothing around me that could counter the progress I was making. The heavy steering felt precise and the car very composed. I could change lanes at very high speeds very quickly and without any body-roll. :twisted: :twisted:
I then have hit a traffic jam. Although the satnav warned me of the traffic ahead, all the exits off the M25 were probably worse than the M25 itself, so I didn’t get the option to re-route me. I just sat there and used the time to get a bit more familiar with the cabin. I couldn’t help but feel that although the design of the dashboard is quite nice, bloody hell that cabin feels cheap and poorly made. The Audi build quality is just leaps and bounds ahead of BMW and the MK2 TT cabin with its beautiful design, plush materials and superb fit and finish is just in a class above. Even the doors in the Z4 feel cheap compared to the heavy, chucky doors of the MK2 TT and it doesn’t have the same clunck noise that feels solid and well made. My car doesn’t even have wheel-nut covers… :\
I then got to the house of the guy that was going to install VentureShield on my car. Their workshop had a problem during the week (a blown up pipe or something) and it was unusable today, so he offered his garage to do the work on my car. During the 6+ hours it took for him to fit it all (including a custom-made rear bumper protection) I had plenty of time to play with the various gadgets and admire the stunning shape of this car. I love it. It is low and looks the business. The muscular bodywork is invites you to jump in, turn on the key and go for a drive. It screams sportiness.
On my way back home, while in Hammersmith there was a guy out of the window while I waited on the traffic lights. When I got out in second gear and gave it some throttle, passing by his window, he shouted: THAT SOUNDS AWESOME! and gave the thumbs up. I couldn’t agree more. I found myself many times dropping the window just to listen to that engine. I love it
The car is a real head-turner, not only for its looks, but the noise it makes gets a lot of attention. I can’t wait now to finish running-in and take it to Bedford Autodrome. I want to hear that engine screaming at 7500+ RPM in that 1Km long straight!
Now, for my thread to be worthwhile there go some pictures. I know they are poor quality, but I had to take them quick as it was starting to rain. I will take some more as soon as I get the opportunity.
BTW, for Muppet: I will make it shinier as soon as I can.
A bit of tail sliding, just a quick steering correction, some DSC action and I was back in a straight line...