M roadster or coupe
- Thread starter Simon 3.2M
- Start date
I own an MC and a friend has an MR so we have the opportunity to compare. The Coupe has faster steering and twice the torsional stiffness of the convertible chassis. If you aren't into performance driving, that may well not matter to you (you might not even notice it) , but then why own an M at all if you'd be happy with a non-M and could save a bundle on price.
So yes it does matter, but only to those that like driving their cars as they were meant to be driven. If you just putter around, you'd probably never notice any difference between them. Obviously one can't drive either car hard all the time (and hope to stay at liberty), but knowing that it has the goods when you want it makes a difference in how you regard the cars.
So yes it does matter, but only to those that like driving their cars as they were meant to be driven. If you just putter around, you'd probably never notice any difference between them. Obviously one can't drive either car hard all the time (and hope to stay at liberty), but knowing that it has the goods when you want it makes a difference in how you regard the cars.
Simon 3.2M
Senior member
He sold it matejamiez said:Simon - enough chat, now just get that ///MC bought.
Good catching up last week! Let’s go for that drive soon.
wspohn said:
The roadster has more than enough torsional rigidity to handle what the S54 can chuck at it. It is also lighter than the MC and being slightly softer sprung, can dig in better off the line or out of tight corners. Hence, all other things being equal, the roadster is marginally quicker off the line and on tight circuits.
So for many it is the better drivers car. Not that I drive on track these days. Just thought your post could handle a counter point. :wink:
I owned a Z4M roadster for 8 years....loved that car and I used it on street and also on track. Why did I not get a Z4M coupe for track? Because I used the car a lot on the street also and for me the possibility to get the roof down was an extra value for the car. It distinguish the Z4M more form my other (non) sport cars. The Z4M coupe does look nicer then the Z4M roadster, the coupe shape is also more exclusive then the roadster. All true; but for me the Z4M roadster was more fun then the coupe. If I bought the Z4M coupe then I had a small two seater sportcar....and that's it. But with the Z4M roadster; I had the extra benefit of putting the roof down which gave something extra to the whole driving experience. This is of course only if you like topless driving.
I sold my Z4M roadster in 2018 and on a regular basis I still drive my buddy his Z4M coupe. Everytime I drive it; I still think it's a great car (besides the horrible seats)...but for me there is something missing that would make the car more different then my other cars and this would be the ability to take the roof down.
By the way; don't let anyone ever tell you the roadster is less capable on track...we tested bot on track and the difference is so small.
I sold my Z4M roadster in 2018 and on a regular basis I still drive my buddy his Z4M coupe. Everytime I drive it; I still think it's a great car (besides the horrible seats)...but for me there is something missing that would make the car more different then my other cars and this would be the ability to take the roof down.
By the way; don't let anyone ever tell you the roadster is less capable on track...we tested bot on track and the difference is so small.
I’ve had a few decent drives in roadsters but I find them tiring with the roof down for any length of time. Plus, their usable window is only a few months of the year out here so for me at least, they’re just a vulnerable, complicated liability.
Franzino- were you never concerned about crashing the roadster on track? It’s something that’s always in the back of my mind when I drive my girlfriends Z3.
Franzino- were you never concerned about crashing the roadster on track? It’s something that’s always in the back of my mind when I drive my girlfriends Z3.
I disagree with the usable window... especially with you being on the south coast... Plus if you tire of it you put it up, sometimes it gets too hot so put the roof up and putting the aircon on, best of both worlds.
Im up north in Manc and spend a lot of time in Cumbria and my roof is down at every opportunity. With a heater and heated seats the cold isn't really a factor, over 30mph rain doesn't enter the cabin.
Its one of those I was absolutely in your camp until I bought a convertible. The roof is a little bubble until you break out of it and realise the whole experience is hugely accentuated by dropping the roof. I didn't realise how good the S54 sounded until I got a roadster.
Im up north in Manc and spend a lot of time in Cumbria and my roof is down at every opportunity. With a heater and heated seats the cold isn't really a factor, over 30mph rain doesn't enter the cabin.
Its one of those I was absolutely in your camp until I bought a convertible. The roof is a little bubble until you break out of it and realise the whole experience is hugely accentuated by dropping the roof. I didn't realise how good the S54 sounded until I got a roadster.
I’m actually in Italy hence the usable window comment. Summers here often drag on and it’s no fun in 30deg + heat in a roadster-at least for me
All the ac in the world won’t stop the sun when it’s really hot so we’ve found that typically, once June arrives, the roof is up for 90% of the time until mid-late September.
As for the noise, I’ll bet the experience is changed somewhat with a proper engine and not the 2.0l 6 in our Z3. However, I tend to drive with the windows down a lot of the time so I don’t find the coupe lacking-especially if there’s a decent carbon ‘amplifier’ up front!
All the ac in the world won’t stop the sun when it’s really hot so we’ve found that typically, once June arrives, the roof is up for 90% of the time until mid-late September.
As for the noise, I’ll bet the experience is changed somewhat with a proper engine and not the 2.0l 6 in our Z3. However, I tend to drive with the windows down a lot of the time so I don’t find the coupe lacking-especially if there’s a decent carbon ‘amplifier’ up front!
wspohn said:buzyg said:Do people actually drive roadsters on rainy days. :?:wink:
I used to drive roadsters as my only transport, through sun, rain and snow.
This was my runabout for awhile - stuck the windscreen back on and put the top up and drive it to work.
Nice.
What is it?
Love it!! 8)wspohn said:buzyg said:Do people actually drive roadsters on rainy days. :?
I used to drive roadsters as my only transport, through sun, rain and snow.
This was my runabout for awhile - stuck the windscreen back on and put the top up and drive it to work.
