Looking for an E89. Advice needed please - 30i vs 35i

[Resh]

I have had my 3.5is for 10 months, 16k miles, use every day for urban commute, easily get 28mpg.
I would say it's not the 0-60, but more than in gear shove,
Sport, sport plus, takes a great car, to be awesome, gear changes , suspension , steering all change.
I have, numerous occasions on dry mornings, 5 am , gone to fill up at local bp , just so I can have a roof down blast with few other road users about.
Ride on 19" wheels is harsh, but they look great.
Stereo with roof down is waste, even upgrade I have isn't that great, my wife has the upgrade in her x5 and it's great.

I guess, the z4 is more about enthusiast driving, rather than grand tourer I.e 650ci etc

I have had both a 997 c2s (2004), and 997 turbo (2008), I prefer the z ove both, another couple of seats in the boot would have made it perfect!

The exhaust rasp is pretty cool too

 

[Anonymous]

I agree with Resh...but never drive it in Sport....I don't know why! Happy with the normal setup!

 

[Resh]

Ditto, rarely sport, never sport plus. Haven't even tried launch yet...

 

[Resh]

Save sport for those special 5am trips to fuel up

 

[Anonymous]

Get my 326 M Sports wheels tomorrow, can't wait! Unsure it will look as good as 296's though.....think I'm weird if ask dealer if I can Rimwax them before they go on?

 

[jaz4]

Seems most of the 3.5 owners have posted.

Im picking up my 3,0 auto on wed. Going form 3 lots of 2.5 old Z4's all manual.

One pos did mention the new 2.8 turbo (its a 4 pot not 6 but give me 15mpg more i will sell my sole)

For me its price, for the car but also running costs. that 5 mpg soon adds up and im sorry if you only get 200 miles form a tank then i would soon sell. I do 40 miles a day so my old zds did me 310 miles to the tank which I needed to fill 1 week and 2 days currently over £70 at 1.35 per gal. do the maths for the year and then look at the 3.5. At that rate i would never push the car if i did ill watch the petrol gauge drop as fast as I could fill it up.

no denying that 3.5 is faster and wow what joy but if its a day to day car and you pay for the petrol then just think about it.

I am still a bit concerend about the auto part but with the paddles you can have fun i expect and ill be able to comment, and the 0 to 60 speeds, come on any one with a manual unless you are a very trained driver, (I think im competent) I can not seem to get anywhere the book speeds with any of my manual zds, ill test with the new one this week.

the 2.8 is still book slower than the 3.5 or the 3.5s but like them and the 3 any one is kidding themesves on the normal roads that the difference in performance between them is like overtaking astra 1.4. its too close to call and a slight hesitation and its over. even 1 second is nothing unless on a track.

The 2.8 does bring 45 mpg which is a massive change but like all things I bet you wont get this pushing the turbos, like in life you dont get something for nothing, and the mpg will drop to the low 30's.

If you can afford the insurnance, the petrol the higher purchase price the lower trade in price,(like loosing 20K in 2 years and tyres and brakes (which if driving harder will bite) then go for it if you can draw up the 0.5 second difference. If not then opt for a good alternative the 3.0.

My slow 2.5 was fast enough for me, yes some tuned up cars could overtake, even a crappy gti took me the other day, but he did overtake me in a 30 zone, he must have hit over 50 so i let him chance to loose his licence and not mine, or kill a child.

my old 2.5 kept most of the chancers at bay down country roads, only he plane stupid life chancers overtook me, even in a 911 they would have done the same, at 60 into a blind corner they can have it ill slow down in case they hit an oncomeing car or a biker/ runner in the road, dont want to damage my car with whatever they hit or parts of there car dropping infront of me.

did warn off a scoobie again the dime bar tried to take me down a country road, but he knew he could not make it so pulled back behind me. The reverse was with a serocco dick he took me as i pulled right behind the person in front of me but he still dived in due to a oncoming car, what could i do leave him to hit the oncoming car and me or let the dicksplash in. 3.5 would have had no difference in this scenerio.

 

[HillWalker]

Hi jaz4 Looking forward to your appraisal of your new Z when you get it, especially your thoughts on the auto, like you I've been running a 2.2 manual for the last two years and am getting a 3.0 auto in the next few months. Although I do have a few concerns about it been an auto the car is too good to miss as its a private sale and the lady owner lives in the same village as me so I see it on a regular basis,and we've already agreed a provisional deal on it

 

[Zed Five]

Hi jaz4 Looking forward to your appraisal of your new Z when you get it, especially your thoughts on the auto, like you I've been running a 2.2 manual for the last two years and am getting a 3.0 auto in the next few months. Although I do have a few concerns about it been an auto the car is too good to miss as its a private sale and the lady owner lives in the same village as me so I see it on a regular basis,and we've already agreed a provisional deal on it

E89 3.0 Auto is a great allrounder in my option. It's pretty much everything you need. - quick in sport, but relaxing in D. Add cruise and a Sport spec and it's just a great allrounder.

If you want a 'sportscar' buy a E86 M rather than a E89. The E89 is more GT than sportscar, so I just don't see the point of a E89 manual i'm afraid. (runs for cover)...

 

[gannet]

I test drive a 3.0 auto, certainly quick and fun enough

I found the 35i a little heavy in comparison...

 

[Owl wood]

Sensible words

Good post

 

[jaz4]

Thanks Owl

I have been lucky with the cars and you need to stick to your budget and mind when the heart says that one, no that one, hang on thats the one.

24hrs in the 3.0 auto and well what the f. Sorry. I will post on the specifics of old v new.

So many options its amaizing with the auto box. I can now see the light and well its is so more relaxed. slip the gear stick to the left and boy its a diferent beast, even without pressing the sport+ its growling at you as Sport shift and drop down one or 2 in an instant. a manual stick I normally run 2 3 then 6 (yes pulled away in 2nd is so much fun), but I have noticed It stays in 5th a lot even in standard D around country roads below 50 mph.

The 3.0 has so much grunt and I only need to touch the throttle and its going. 80mph is 2.5K RPM not 3K in the 2.5l so is much quieter.

I have had a few comments on the loverly exaust tone from the 3.0 and I must admit it does sound like a proper sports car, and it does behave and it goes.