Newbie - Z4 or SLK or Cayman ?

[Wyldie85]

Hello Guitarman, welcome!

I think this will turn out to be a very interesting thread. You seem to be well versed and have done your homework in turn of potential issues.

I shall follow this one carefully!

Hope you enjoy the forum....It really is a great place to be! (therefore.....get a Z4, it makes sense)

 

[Stark]

If this helps, I have an SLK and now wish I kept my Z4.....

 

[willc8]

I always preferred the look of the Z to the SLK, the shape just has that modern classic look. If you think the e89 is 6-7 years old now, I personally think the shape has aged incredibly well, compare that with a SLK from 6-7 years ago... the Cayman I agree is a great car, but for a similar age and spec to the Z, you are talking quite a bit more dosh really, so I don't think it's that comparable and of course you don't get the option to enjoy those 2 weeks of summer we get in the UK with the top down, highlight of my summer

 

[techathy]

From my point of view the cayman is the odd-ball in the equation for 2 reasons - First off to me the SLK & Z4 are Sports GT cars the cayman is an out & out performance sports car, but if you're like me that gets all blended together. Secondly, and more importantly to me, the Cayman is a coupe where as the other two are drop-tops

I always preferred the look of the Z to the SLK, the shape just has that modern classic look. If you think the e89 is 6-7 years old now, I personally think the shape has aged incredibly well, compare that with a SLK from 6-7 years ago...

MB seem to have a knack for designing cars which once the new one is released looks very dated rather than car that is of an older design.

I'll now go back to making a cup of tea in my chocolate kettle.

 

[Squiddie]

Are you talking new or used? Makes a big difference in many ways.

The older SLKs with the 4-cylinder so-called "engine" they made with Chrysler are pure and utter garbage.

An e89 z4 is completely different from earlier z4s and z3s. It is more like a nice driving SL. And nothing ever went wrong with my e89.

The Cayman is very tiny and not a convertible, and it doesn't have a long rectangular trunk at all. Try dragging a bass guitar to the post office.

 

[buzyg]

On the Nissan reliability thing. Guy across the road from me has a 350z from new. He"s never ragged it. I know him well and he really never has. Yet for over three months he's been driving a courtesy Micra. and has a 4k bill looming if he ever gets his car back.

 

[Ozie]

Last autumn I had same sort of problem. SLK was out before test drive. Latest SLK was too expensive (2012 200 SLK vs. 2009 Z4 sDrive23i).

Well.. Then I tested 2010 Z4 sDrive35is, 2006 Cayman S, 2007 Cayman and 2010 Z4 sDrive30i.

Cayman is a good car, but I didn't fell in love. More expensive to run, more expensive spare parts, small boot.

...and fell in love with 35is: roof, exhaust, dct, design.

Got bigger smile while driving 35is.

 

[Squiddie]

Yeah. The current SLK is so small my wife ruled it out just sitting in it. And it has a very high waistline. Pretty annoying.

 

[imported]

If you think the e89 is 6-7 years old now, I personally think the shape has aged incredibly well, compare that with a SLK from 6-7 years ago... the Cayman I agree is a great car, but for a similar age and spec to the Z, you are talking quite a bit more dosh really, so I don't think it's that comparable and of course you don't get the option to enjoy those 2 weeks of summer we get in the UK with the top down, highlight of my summer

Finally some real advice, but we parted ways when you mention the 2 weeks summer BS. I drive with the top down 50% of the time for 5 months in the year with my e89, but then again I'm 26 years old :wink: I occasionally drive with the top down in the winter with my coat on.


For starters don't get a Porsche because it's out of your league at £20k unless of course you're the type of guy that doesn't mind dating a woman that's 40 who was once a very attractive model when she was in her 20's.

Same goes for SLK actually. £20k might get you a lower mileage example but it'll be dated and certainly not like the current new shape Mercs. Also I hate to be 'that guy' but SLK really are more suited for older women, I know in the US statistically the most common SLK driver is a woman in her 40's.

As previous posters mention the e89 is by far the best choice (I'm not being biased, I don't care what you get really) because it still has the same shape as the current 2015 models. £20k can get you a medium mileage example with sat nav from a non-franchise dealer. If I were you I'd stretch to maybe £23k and get a 2013 model with CC, don't neglect CC and you'd be happy with it for a few years and e89 z4 has relatively lower depreciation. Actually you should consider just going to BMW and getting finance for a Z4 either new or no more than a few years old.

It's 2015, so spending £20k on an e85/86 is like dousing a stack of money with gas and lighting it on fire. Actually when I see an old z3 I feel like telling the driver that he should just drive that thing straight into a trash compactor.

 

[Nictrix]

I dont know what Mercs are like now but going back a few years we test drove 2 cars, an E85 Z4 and an SLK.
Both were around 2006 models. The Z4 felt great other than being a bit tatty but it gave us something to go on with how it felt and drove.
At the time we had a Hyundai Coupe that was in extremely good condition and the Z4s we looked at were quite poor.
The SLK for me looks better on the outside than the inside, the inside looked really dated and the thing that really spoiled it was the elasticated door pockets... just looked cheap.
The other thing that put us off the SLK was the terrible fuel consumption, figures seem to be around mid 20's even for the 2.0L.
We decided to hang on until the prices of the E89 dropped to a level we could afford as the hard top was the feature that we liked on the SLK.

 

[willc8]

Finally some real advice, but we parted ways when you mention the 2 weeks summer BS. I drive with the top down 50% of the time for 5 months in the year with my e89, but then again I'm 26 years old I occasionally drive with the top down in the winter with my coat on.

Haha, true, I have been known to put the hood down on crisp winters day with heaters blowing on full and heated seats on max, sunnies on 8)

 

[Ozie]

Finally some real advice, but we parted ways when you mention the 2 weeks summer BS. I drive with the top down 50% of the time for 5 months in the year with my e89, but then again I'm 26 years old I occasionally drive with the top down in the winter with my coat on.

Haha, true, I have been known to put the hood down on crisp winters day with heaters blowing on full and heated seats on max, sunnies on 8)

As too. Winter in Finland is soooo long and dark so

Sun = summer => top down

 

[techathy]

Had a few 0 to -3 mornings. All were top down, AC off, heated steering wheel on, air going to hands & feet, fan setting 2 or 3... toasty warm and no heated seats

 

[Jess]

All are good,

get the newest, biggest engined, fully loaded one of them that you can find for the money and enjoy 8) Those SLK55's are awesome, Cayman S is a cool car, and the Z4M is

 

[Jasey]

£22k will get you a brand new one

https://broadspeed.com/new_cars/BMW/Z4/Choose_Number_Of_Doors/Roadster/

 

[Ewazix]

Funny but I swapped out my SLK for Z4 because the SLK had me on first name terms with the local AA recovery guys, persistent electrical shut-downs that were never fixed. With over 5 years of Z4 ownership and the only no-routine item has been a window lifter.

 

[-Tom-]

Interestingly, I bought a z4 3.0si a few years ago, vs my other option which was a new SLK on lease. I now have a Z4M coupe (E86), with no regrets along the way.

My younger brother however, has a big car history at 26 years old. These include the 350z GT (regrets ever moving from), a brand new SLK 250 cdi AMG spec, and now currently a 370Z.

I've jumped between my own cars, and his frequently. I loved the 350Z, it felt really individual, and lots of nice touches inside the cabin that made it feel special. Howeber, as ricey says - getting on a bit and not what you're after.

The SLK I really liked. It did feel a bit heartless, but it was so fast, and imo felt so refined to drive. It was firm enough to make you remember that you're not in a barge, but damped well enough to soak up the bumps! Handling was ok, but you could really feel the weight. The cabin, personally is stunning to be in, and the tech works pretty well too. (don't pay extra for sat nav, buy the add-on unit online for around £200 and the whole thing works as OEM).

On to the 370Z... It looks nice, but as said previously the cabin is pretty noise. This is in part because they hjave almost got rid of the bulkhead, the sub-speakers are no longer behind the seats and the bootspace is practically at one with the cabin. The auto box is nice, and in sport adds some nice blips on the down change. They've made the box slightly aggressive on purpose so that the gear changes dont just smudge into each other. The steering is nice, but the car is way too quiet from the exhausts, especially compared to the 350Z.

So i have rambled, about not very much,. But basically - SLK over a non-M E85/86. SLK vs an M E85/86 would be a tough one for me, purely because of how refined and modern the merc is in comparison. 370Z - you just need to drive one to work that out, as I can't make my mind up and my brother has itchy feet with his already!! Oh, I forgot to say - they really have just raided the parts bin with the 370. The 350 had a lot of really nice bespoke parts, and cost them too much to produce. Jump into the 370Z and my brother was quick to point out that it has the same steering wheel as our mum's Duke, bar the airbag cover! :| :|

e89 - I haven't driven one, but looks alone and the interior

Oh... cayman. Well my friend has a 57 reg Boxter. He's had it for 4-5 years. He's had nothing of the engine failure, but a LOT of niggles from it, ranging from electrics to coolant issues. I've driven it, and of course it is lovely. But, i much much prefer the z4M for cabin quality, design, driving experience, noise etc etc.

 

[Guitarman]

£22k will get you a brand new one

https://broadspeed.com/new_cars/BMW/Z4/Choose_Number_Of_Doors/Roadster/

Hey, thanks for that link! Jeez could get a brand new 20i for £22,999, no idea those deals were around, that's really got me thinking!!!

 

[Guitarman]

If you think the e89 is 6-7 years old now, I personally think the shape has aged incredibly well, compare that with a SLK from 6-7 years ago... the Cayman I agree is a great car, but for a similar age and spec to the Z, you are talking quite a bit more dosh really, so I don't think it's that comparable and of course you don't get the option to enjoy those 2 weeks of summer we get in the UK with the top down, highlight of my summer

Finally some real advice, but we parted ways when you mention the 2 weeks summer BS. I drive with the top down 50% of the time for 5 months in the year with my e89, but then again I'm 26 years old :wink: I occasionally drive with the top down in the winter with my coat on.


For starters don't get a Porsche because it's out of your league at £20k unless of course you're the type of guy that doesn't mind dating a woman that's 40 who was once a very attractive model when she was in her 20's.

Same goes for SLK actually. £20k might get you a lower mileage example but it'll be dated and certainly not like the current new shape Mercs. Also I hate to be 'that guy' but SLK really are more suited for older women, I know in the US statistically the most common SLK driver is a woman in her 40's.

As previous posters mention the e89 is by far the best choice (I'm not being biased, I don't care what you get really) because it still has the same shape as the current 2015 models. £20k can get you a medium mileage example with sat nav from a non-franchise dealer. If I were you I'd stretch to maybe £23k and get a 2013 model with CC, don't neglect CC and you'd be happy with it for a few years and e89 z4 has relatively lower depreciation. Actually you should consider just going to BMW and getting finance for a Z4 either new or no more than a few years old.

It's 2015, so spending £20k on an e85/86 is like dousing a stack of money with gas and lighting it on fire. Actually when I see an old z3 I feel like telling the driver that he should just drive that thing straight into a trash compactor.

Hey, how did you guess I had a thing for older attractive women!!!
Must admit that it did cross my mind that you hardly ever see a guy driving an slk, always a middle aged blonde in designer sunglasses!

 

[Dryce]

Must admit that it did cross my mind that you hardly ever see a guy driving an slk, always a middle aged blonde in designer sunglasses!

I reckon the majority of R172s I see are driven by men.

And while I can recollect only occasionally seeing an E85 driven by a woman - it's very common with the E89.

I suspect that the marketing and design departments at both MB and BMW have been tasked with moving their respective products across the gender divide when the current models were being brought to life.