Noob from Bracknell (UK) - warning, mx5 driver

D

Daddy C

New member
 Bracknell, Berkshire, UK
Hi all,
Ive just joined the forum to learn more about Z4M coupes. Im 35, and for the past 10 years ive had one car – a ’99 Mazda MX5, though for most of that time its been supercharged with an MP62. Its currently making around 185bhp, though ive recently fitted an intercooler, so its ripe for the charger to be spun faster, and an easy 215~ is on the cards. Damn, I love that car – it looks great (with the hardtop on, makes a great coupe) and most of the time is plenty fast enough for the roads I have access too.
Heres a video (slow down laps at Brands)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=my6iV-q0mJQ
And some pics:
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b324/Daddy76/My%20MX5/IMG_1349.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b324/Daddy76/My%20MX5/IMG_2570.jpg

But… theres a world of cars out there that im not owning, and two are at the top of my list – a Porsche Cayman, and a Z4 Coupe. I had a quick drive in a Cayman 2.7, though it didn’t feel significantly faster than the mx5, so I think it would need to be the “S” I aimed for. Never driven a Z4, so I will try to get a test drive over the next few weeks.

While on a national level im an above-average earner, I don’t earn enough to buy a £40k+ car, so im very aware that the running cost of a second hand £15K Z4M could be eye-watering. The running costs on my mx5 are next to nothing, as you can do most servicing yourself, and I pay £350 a year insurance – I would expect Z4 cost to be double that.

Anyway, rambling first post – in short, im trying to talk myself out of a potentially expensive folly!

One other thing – any Z4/Z4M pub meets around Berkshire/Surrey area? Would love to talk to owners of both variants to get an idea of real-world running costs and issues, and maybe get a passenger ride in both!

Cheers
Chris
 
Get yourself a ride in a coupe asap and never look back. As for costs on an ///M - yes the servicing can be significant but if you get one with good history and average miles I think you'll be surprised at how little it will cost you. The engines are bulletproof so if you get an example with the right background then all should be fine.

My advice is dont go for the Coxster unless you plan on and S and fitting a limited slip diff. Bit pointless otherwise and if you think BMW servicing is expensive then wait until you roll in to your local Porsche dealership and get a quote :o

Good luck :thumbsup:
 
hi they arent that bad get a good z4m low miles fbmwsh in cluding running in service. engines are brilliant m3 engine very reliable £347 insurance full comp just the £460 road tax but well worth it for the performance you have :driving: :)
 
Welcome to the forum :thumbsup:

Grab a Z4 roadster 3.0i or ///M for equivalent or more power than your MX5. You won't be disappointed :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I've just come out of a Boxster to a z4 and had an mx5 sport before that. Admittedly mine are at the lower end of the power scale but the 2.7 Boxster was amazing when wound up. It made no sense at all pootling about at under 4000rpm but once the loud pedal was exercised the combination of engine chassis and suspension was fantastic, considerably more capable than I am.

I changed to the z4 because it looks beautiful, is a more composed package at sensible speeds and has much more sympathetic running costs than the Porsche. Time will tell if I have enough power though.

Both and in a different league than the mx5, which although very capable, was tinny and underpowered by comparison.
 
Welcome to the forum Chris - as you'll already have realised from the few posts above, this is not the place to come to talk yourself out of a Z... But then by 'coming out' in the way you have I suspect perhaps your heart's already here :D

Just do the right thing and get a roadster... :poke:
 
Cheers for the replies guys :thumbsup:
If i get a Z4, its got to be a coupe. Open top motoring can be fun, and summer nights are the best, but i find myself looking forward to the winter when the roof can go on, if just for the looks, and im really after the structural rigidity of a coupe
 
Daddy C said:
and im really after the structural rigidity of a coupe
Click to expand...
Let's get you straight then on that part, the Z4 was designed as a Roadster first, then a Coupe came later. Alas, the structural rigidity you are looking for is already there.
 
Im not saying the roadster is like jelly, but any sports car that then has a fixed roof put on will be inherently stiffer, thats just the laws of physics. With the mx5, you can even feel the difference when you have the hardtop on, and i noticed a big difference when i had my roll-over hoops installed.
Of course, i havent driven either z4 variant yet so maybe its not so noticable... i dont doubt BMW's build quality is a touch better than Mazda's :D
 
If you're handy with tools you'll find a lot of things you can do yourself on a Z4M. From an oil service, to replacing brake pads and brake discs. And seeing as you're a fan of supercharging you can throw on an ESS blower and get 460hp easily! :D
 
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