I dunno how I feel about the reality of someone owning such a glorious masterpiece as the M4, then allowing children to have their wicked way on the interior! I probably just feel jealous that they have a M4 in the first place :roll:AndyJ said:Jasey said:
Both cars are in that bracket of "almost supercar" fast. The M4 especially. However the Z4 35IS with the roof down and the foot floored adds another level of excitement that the M4 can't. More importantly it's a level that can be enjoyed easily on public road, even in the South East. The M4 by comparison feels like it's doing half the speed it actually is and can only be fully utilised on a track. The difference in lap times shows that the Z4 holds it's own very well for a car that's carrying so much luxury and is not an M.
Lets face it, the M4 is an out and out ballistic missile. It's also incredibly luxurious and can be specified with enough toys to make the Starship enterprise blush. It is the full package and potentially the best all-round car money can buy. I think it's that good. The Z4 brings something else to the party, it's smaller, the roof goes in the boot, feels more personal, you are cocooned in the cockpit and the noise of the engine / exhaust is all around you. It's more fun, slightly less serious.
But we are (IMO) comparing two amazing cars, either of which you can't go wrong with. Unless of course you have a family of 4 and need a large boot
How many left...
- Thread starter ncrossy1980
- Start date
The 35is is £46k as standard on the BMW website?Jasey said:Dont forget the cost - £60k for the dct version of the M4 versus £33K for the 35iS before you start adding toys.
Pound for pound i'm not sure the M4 represents VFM
ncrossy1980 said:
We've done this before. You can get about £4/5k off an M4 at the moment, but you can get £13k off a 35IS. So the base prices for both cars are :-
M4 -- £53k approx
35IS -- £33k approx
Both will then need to be loaded up. This pushes the IS near to £40k and the M4 to £60k.
For what it's worth - when I drove the M4, I was properly shocked how much faster it felt compared with my zed. And my zed isn't a slouch by any means, with official 0-62mph stats showing 5.0 seconds.
The M4 actually squirmed on a dry road flat out in 2nd gear from 30mph. You could feel the diff working to lay the power down. My zed felt pedestrian by comparison....
The M4 actually squirmed on a dry road flat out in 2nd gear from 30mph. You could feel the diff working to lay the power down. My zed felt pedestrian by comparison....
Jasey said:http://fastestlaps.com/comparisons/bmw_m4-vs-bmw_z4_sdrive_35is.html
On the track tests it's 4 seconds quicker (for a 1m 40 second lap).
That's not a different league in my books
Or 8 seconds a lap on one of the tracks.
Put it this way you'd be lapped every 24 laps. Are Marussia in the same league as Merc?
Getting back on topic... Just to flash over a couple of opinions and points made in this thread.
One of my points here that stirred debate was that the low numbers of 35is models out there might be, and it is just speculation and opinions, but might a direct reflection on the high cost being a deterrent to buyers. In that a fully loaded 35is is ~2k off the cost price of a base M4.
Granted that's a M4 with no extras, but if I was buying a car in that price bracket... if I could afford and was intending to pay out £50k+, that extra 2k probably wouldn't be too much of a stretch. Stepping up just a couple thousand on top of fifty something thousand to get into a M4 would seriously make me think twice or three times about the 35is. I'm also of the opinion that you don't need to plough thousands into optional extras to make the M4 an attractive alternative to the 35is.
Apologies, I genuinely don't want to offend any 35is drivers by saying that, I could well be alone on that opinion. But I'll say it now that the 35is is a better all-rounder than my M! But to quote a phrase from Pulp Fiction, the M4 isn't in the same league as the Z, hell it ain't even in the same sport! Granted the cost of ownership over time is another factor to consider, but still, maybe a lot of buyers look at the cost upfront and/or monthly payments as the benchmark for comparison.
The counter argument that the 35is can be discounted by upwards of 13k I don't think is valid on this theory, again in my opinion. The quantity statistics are taken from Q3 2014 which is mid to late last year, I don't think the dealers where offering that kind of discount back then and over the previous X years. Even now, if they're willy nilly discounting the top spec Z4 by ~30% across the board, why is this not advertised and broadcast as the steal of the century?! If I knew that 3 weeks ago, I definitely wouldn't have went for a 9 year old M, I would have traded in my 320d and bought the 35is as quick as balls!
But all this doesn't really mean anything either way. The 35is is a stunning car. If you have one now, I envy you :lol: If you got it with a ~30% discount, I hate you
Just to flash over a couple of opinions and points made in this thread.One of my points here that stirred debate was that the low numbers of 35is models out there might be, and it is just speculation and opinions, but might a direct reflection on the high cost being a deterrent to buyers. In that a fully loaded 35is is ~2k off the cost price of a base M4.
Granted that's a M4 with no extras, but if I was buying a car in that price bracket... if I could afford and was intending to pay out £50k+, that extra 2k probably wouldn't be too much of a stretch. Stepping up just a couple thousand on top of fifty something thousand to get into a M4 would seriously make me think twice or three times about the 35is. I'm also of the opinion that you don't need to plough thousands into optional extras to make the M4 an attractive alternative to the 35is.
Apologies, I genuinely don't want to offend any 35is drivers by saying that, I could well be alone on that opinion. But I'll say it now that the 35is is a better all-rounder than my M! But to quote a phrase from Pulp Fiction, the M4 isn't in the same league as the Z, hell it ain't even in the same sport! Granted the cost of ownership over time is another factor to consider, but still, maybe a lot of buyers look at the cost upfront and/or monthly payments as the benchmark for comparison. The counter argument that the 35is can be discounted by upwards of 13k I don't think is valid on this theory, again in my opinion. The quantity statistics are taken from Q3 2014 which is mid to late last year, I don't think the dealers where offering that kind of discount back then and over the previous X years. Even now, if they're willy nilly discounting the top spec Z4 by ~30% across the board, why is this not advertised and broadcast as the steal of the century?! If I knew that 3 weeks ago, I definitely wouldn't have went for a 9 year old M, I would have traded in my 320d and bought the 35is as quick as balls!
But all this doesn't really mean anything either way. The 35is is a stunning car. If you have one now, I envy you :lol: If you got it with a ~30% discount, I hate you
@ncrossy- I first saw the discounts directly on the BMW UK website under the current offers section. However it doesn't go all the way to the top models, so I called the dealer and asked what the contribution from BMW would be to 35IS. The answer was £9,000.
But that's only part of the story because then the dealer makes a contribution too and that adds another £3-5,000 on to the discount. I agree that this is all not well enough publicised on BMWs website, I have no idea why.
I was almost buying an M4, had a few other ideas, but when I found out about the above discounts (also discussed on these forums) the decision was made. A fully loaded IS for less than £40k, no brainer.
But that's only part of the story because then the dealer makes a contribution too and that adds another £3-5,000 on to the discount. I agree that this is all not well enough publicised on BMWs website, I have no idea why.
I was almost buying an M4, had a few other ideas, but when I found out about the above discounts (also discussed on these forums) the decision was made. A fully loaded IS for less than £40k, no brainer.
I'll bow out of this thread now. I wasn't intending to have a dig at the 35iS. It's a great car (especially at £33k). I was just commenting that the performance of the M4 is in another league. If you haven't driven it you won't know what I mean. Try it!! I've driven both, and obviously my Z4M (which has more or less the same hp as a 35iS from a 100kg less weight but also a lot fewer torques) so I reckon I know what I'm on about.
Re some of the comments made, the discounting of the Z'ds along with many other cars in the BMW range started around may time last year and went until September where this continued. So the discounts have been avalible for most of the year, been many a topic on it but if your not looking for that car then you'll not notice the discounts.
However the E89 35is launched 2010 when the M4 wasn't an option and the other option then was M6 vert or M3 vert. Not many people were too thrilled with the last gen M3 V8 compared to the current versions. I personally wouldn't have bought the previous M3 as I didn't love the looks of the car, I drive a E46 M3 vert on occasion and for me that is a great car both to drive and looks wise. So comparing buying an M4 vs 35is now is kinda irrelevant to the figurers as people wouldn't have got such deals on the M4 or it didn't exsist when they bought their car.
M4 didn't exsist when I bought mines but after seen the vert the other night it's defo a consideration for the next car. However this
How? The M4 is also avalible as a convertible so what does the Z4 with a roof off offer over a M4 with the roof off or are we forgetting that the M4 comes in two versions? Actually the M4 vert seats are amazing!
Inevitably the M4 is a much more practical car for most people so has wider appeal. I've always done 4 seater convertibles until the Z'd. I love my car but I do sometimes miss the extra space and convenience I had with a 4 seater convertible and my dads constantly trying to get me to take his M3 if I need extra room on a trip but I manage
However the E89 35is launched 2010 when the M4 wasn't an option and the other option then was M6 vert or M3 vert. Not many people were too thrilled with the last gen M3 V8 compared to the current versions. I personally wouldn't have bought the previous M3 as I didn't love the looks of the car, I drive a E46 M3 vert on occasion and for me that is a great car both to drive and looks wise. So comparing buying an M4 vs 35is now is kinda irrelevant to the figurers as people wouldn't have got such deals on the M4 or it didn't exsist when they bought their car.
M4 didn't exsist when I bought mines but after seen the vert the other night it's defo a consideration for the next car. However this
AndyJ said:
How? The M4 is also avalible as a convertible so what does the Z4 with a roof off offer over a M4 with the roof off or are we forgetting that the M4 comes in two versions? Actually the M4 vert seats are amazing!
Inevitably the M4 is a much more practical car for most people so has wider appeal. I've always done 4 seater convertibles until the Z'd. I love my car but I do sometimes miss the extra space and convenience I had with a 4 seater convertible and my dads constantly trying to get me to take his M3 if I need extra room on a trip but I manage
Hi Angie. I'm afraid I really don't like 4 seater convertibles and therefore I didn't consider it in my comments above. Although I worship the M4, I personally wouldn't touch the drop top version. That and it adds another substantial amount to the price, making the difference between IS and M4 even greater.
Many people looking at a £40k (loaded) car will not have the cash to pay almost £70k for a loaded M4 convertible. And that price gulf also makes comparison almost pointless.
Many people looking at a £40k (loaded) car will not have the cash to pay almost £70k for a loaded M4 convertible. And that price gulf also makes comparison almost pointless.
Jasey said:The gulf in price is greater than the gulf in performance
It really isn't. As stated above, there is a lot more to performance that straight line speed. Having driven the M4 and 35is......I'd be saving my coppers
For me the 35is isn't a step up from the E85/6 Z4M.....yes the 35is is faster, but the LSD, hydraulic steering, general M division trickery and engine in the Z4M makes it a much more engaging drive. The M4, however, is a step up and one I hope to be in before too long, would I consider the 35is, no.
It's worth pointing out too that M4 prices are dropping fairly quickly, you can pick up a fairly well specc'd delivery miles M4 for £52-55k now, give it another 6-9 months and you'll be getting them in the £40k's.
EDIT: Unless you live in Singapore......where a Mini One is more expensive that a UK M4
The fact remains that most people considering a £40k loaded convertible will not have the money for a £70k one.
We weren't considering used cars, or comparing the IS to a Z4M (which I've also owned for years). There's noone disputing how good the M4 is either, I've test driven 3 and came within the closest of margins to buying it. It's very very good.
But the 35IS is also an outstanding car, not long to be made and incredible value. And it comes in Orange :wink:
We weren't considering used cars, or comparing the IS to a Z4M (which I've also owned for years). There's noone disputing how good the M4 is either, I've test driven 3 and came within the closest of margins to buying it. It's very very good.
But the 35IS is also an outstanding car, not long to be made and incredible value. And it comes in Orange :wink:
Seeing as we've digressed a little and this came up in an earlier question, BMW are chucking money at the Z4 right now. The 28i has £11k off and the 35is has over £13k off list. Both are (I believe) tied to taking out the finance package but that only has to be a one day thing, just pay it off the day after you drive off.
These deals suggest to me that the vehicle is approaching run-out status very soon.
These deals suggest to me that the vehicle is approaching run-out status very soon.
