Honest first reaction to owning a Zed

[Paulr]

After about 500 miles and a few weeks I thought I would just write my initial thoughts down on ownership of my 2003 2.5 auto

Good
Love the look of it from any angle, and always get a little thrill when I park up and glance back at it.
Magnificent smooth straight six
Glorious sound
Seriously smooth and seamless gearbox
Doing over 30mpg around town and country driving
Feels good to be in
Reaction of others, usually 'wow, that's nice!'
Nice, quick roof

Not so good
Seats not as comfy as I thought they would be. My Smart Roadster had more support and made you so much more involved in driving it.
No flappy paddles! Not the cars fault, but I miss them.
Seems to have terrible build quality on a lot of trim bits, and really good on others. The plastics are cheap, the hood is beautifully trimmed and built.
Rattles far too much for a premium car. Feels like a fairly cheap interior if I an honest.
Bit crashy on the suspension but may require some bushes.
Was expecting a better quality ride, perhaps connected to the above comment though.
Run flats make it feel decidedly twitchy on the road, and not in a good way.
Ground clearance is minimal, got to watch the pothole in the Kent roads!

So, got a few things I need to sort, and learn to live with those I can't change. Looking forward to those long summer days with the hood down, but my initial impression is not overwhelming joy, but the potential of it.

 

[buzyg]

Sounds like you need an E89. I'm afraid the E85 is more sports car than comfy run about. :wink:

 

[Smartbear]

Although the z4 is a roadster its a lot different to the smart, they both have their own good points (smart-quirkiness & chuckability)
(zed-engine sound/smoothness & tutonic engineering) That's how I see them anyway
Rob

 

[Paulr]

Not worried about the sports car bit, my Smart Roadster was a pretty comfy but mad sporty car, just too small and 'toy' like. Don't get me wrong, I like the Zed, it looks beautiful, but don't 'love' all, yet.

A few more miles with the hood down will cure that I suspect!

 

[Maniac]

Plus your car is 13 years old. Things have moved on a bit, premium or no.

 

[Paulr]

True. Not saying it is bad, far from it, but I am always very honest with myself about my cars until they prove themselves to me!

 

[Ewazix]

Top forum tips that should VASTLY improve your issues,

Ride - Ditch the runflats
Twitching - Ditch the runflats (and check bushes and alignment)
Rattles - Ditch the runflats (and tighten the strut brace)

It certainly worked for me

 

[paulgs1000]

The non runflats will change your driving experience and also more time will help. Took me time to appreciate and then enjoy the ride and steering of my Zeds (the M is a different experience). Go for new tyres and give it more time - you may begin to enjoy the more involved ride.

 

[mr wilks]

I'm afraid the E85 is more sports car than comfy run about. :wink:

Succinctly summed up mr b + as Maniac points out some are well on to 13 yrs old & even average brand cars have totally different build methods & quality's that supersede the E85 & E86
They can be made more tolerant with tyres & suspension tweaks but cabin build will always be from a previous era :wink:
Gotta enjoy them for what they are OP

 

[Steve84N]

I agree, the interior buzzes are a key annoyance and age is no excuse. I've had other older cars with no such problems.

The other is the electric steering which is woeful.

Engine and gearbox are good though and it feels special in its overall form.

 

[Paulr]

So, ditch the run flats, eh? That is what I expected to hear from reading about them.

Love to, but previous owner fitted them not long ago and they are almost new! Soon as I have a bit of spare cash I will do, but as I have just bitten the bullet & gone self employed, I am being a bit careful at the moment!

 

[csquire4]

I'm quite sensitive to a hard crashy ride, I traded down to 17" alloys with normal tyres and it's so much nicer even with sports suspension - however getting rid of runflats has a bigger impact on improving the ride than reducing alloys size - RFT's are that bad!.

I agree on the seats as well, I have SE seats and they aren't very good.

 

[MarcBMWZ4]

I must say, I think the cabin of E85/86 is exceptionally well put together. My car is 9 years old and doesn't have a rattle. If I compare it to the equivalent age SLK, the interior quality of the Z4 is far better.
My fiancé has a much newer Audi with half the mileage and doesnt feel as well put together as my Z4.

I'm pretty sure the Z4 won a JD Power award for its build quality back in the day.

Just my impressions...

 

[barneybear]

I agree completely on the seats, no where near as comfy as the ones in my 320d m sport, can't drive the Z4 for more than 100 miles.
But, its not designed for distance or communiting, its about nailing it down some fast a and b roads, for that I love my '03 2.5 Z4!