Old Z4 vs New Z4

[a11y]

it simply demolished the kinds of speeds I can make in my Z4 down country roads... but that was 90% of the reason I sold it, too competent at going quickly with little effort.

Glad there's others like me

My previous car was a 160bhp TDI hatch and it was effortless to punt down a backroad, but it was too dull at doing it and you'd have to push into illegal speeds to find some enjoyment. The Z4 is completely different and was part of the reason I went for a soft-top: enjoyment at lower/legal speeds. My Civic Type R was even worse in that regard because it was only fun when you were at high revs which of course meant high speed...

In all honestly there's more chance of me looking at something like a Monaro next time instead of the new Z4 - completely unrefined and much more basic in comparison, but you can't beat the sound of a bloody great LS2 V8 lump with a wortec exhaust! I've yet to sort out a drive in one (scared to!) but I guess they'll be an absolute hoot to drive even at low speeds.

 

[Breaker]

My take on it? for what its worth...

I don't really altogether like the styling of the new one. And I think it is very colour sensitive, the ones in white are however stunning if they have red leather.

I do however think it is a grower. Much like the 5-series.

Its all a bit confusing really...

I completely agree with you! I went to the launch of the new Z4 at my dealers and they had one silver and one champaign coloured one. Didn't actually like it to be honest! Liked the front end and the interior, but couldn't get on with the back end!

I had written the new Z4 off as a "won't buy" and started looking at other cars (almost bought a Nissan 370Z, and if they had been available before Christmas, I probably would have!).

Then one day I saw the one I bought at the dealers. Looked a different car in Black to me! I still had to have 2 test drives to see if I liked it.

Glad I did now though!

If I had the money, I would have probably kept my Z4 Coupe as well though as that was a good looking car!

 

[Breaker]

In all honestly there's more chance of me looking at something like a Monaro next time instead of the new Z4 - completely unrefined and much more basic in comparison, but you can't beat the sound of a bloody great LS2 V8 lump with a wortec exhaust! I've yet to sort out a drive in one (scared to!) but I guess they'll be an absolute hoot to drive even at low speeds.

I like those Manaros to! Try driving one! :wink:

 

[Breaker]

well~ I guess I have to go put my headers and exhaust back to my car and wait about couple more months until new owners of z4 get used to the car and find them on the street/canyon and see what happens....Mmmm most likely eat my dust ^^

Make sure you video it if you do! :wink:

 

[Beancounter1980]

Breaker.....your car is stunning. Like I said, its colour sensitive.

I remember when the new 5-series came out. i was like WTH have they done as the E39 was a great looking car with the M-Sport kit. But i have come to think of the 5-series as a fantastic looking car. Its a timeless design, a bit like the old Z4.

The new Z4 will no doubt be timeless also..

 

[Breaker]

Thanks. White is also a stunning colour, but also the grey is!

Not sure myself about the car in red, silver or the champaign colour though! :?

 

[zeddy]

Did any of the people who prefer the new z4 actually drive an e85 M first? I'd be interested in how they compared.

I've driven a 335i (loan car while the zed was being worked on) and found the turbo lag quite frustrating. It would get up and go after waiting for the power to kick in, but I'm used to the M which delivers power anytime anywhere. (the turbo engine doesn't have the roar of the M engine either)

The 335i was a really nice car, but its not the full on sports performance car that the zed is. I suspect the new z4 is the same.

 

[hapoom50]

Make sure you video it if you do! After owning both I would be interested if you could! :wink:

well~
are we talking about street driving or canyon driving?
ofc twin turbo (you know you can chip it to get 390 hp easily?) will burn me at straight road
maybe you haven't pushed your car to the max limit, well don't go over the limit, I almost died couple of times
cornerig and overall driving is what I'm talking about
I've been canyoning/tracking for past 12 years and....
new z4 is like....eh....ok I'm gonna say it.....sorry guys but...MB SLK...oh no I said it!!
I'm not gonna burn more $$$$ if I buy new Z4 to make it feel & drive like older car
If I want to go fast on straight road, I'll go buy...hmmm...what choice do I have....Corvette? Camero? or maybe just supercharge my car

hope we meet someday brother~

 

[hapoom50]

Did any of the people who prefer the new z4 actually drive an e85 M first? I'd be interested in how they compared.

I've driven a 335i (loan car while the zed was being worked on) and found the turbo lag quite frustrating. It would get up and go after waiting for the power to kick in, but I'm used to the M which delivers power anytime anywhere. (the turbo engine doesn't have the roar of the M engine either)

The 335i was a really nice car, but its not the full on sports performance car that the zed is. I suspect the new z4 is the same.

VISHNU solves the problem
google it~

 

[cj_eds]

As the comments about going quicker in stuff like Mini's or 306's, I'm fairly sure I'd back that up by saying out my most recent cars on the same B-road I use to commute to work I could destroy either the Zed or my Mondeo ST with the 1.7 Puma my missus used to have. And the Puma was on Pirelli P6000 Ditch finders too. Never got a chance to get decent tyres on it to see what it could really do.

 

[Breaker]

Yes. Had quite a few test in Z4Ms.

Owning a 3.0si already I never ventured into buying one (looong thread there !!). At the end of the day I couldn't see the point of selling one car for another that basically looked the same parked up!

The thing I really liked about the M was the handling compared to the 3.0si I had. A lot more positive with way more feel. A bit of a stiffer feel to the 35i as far as suspension, but I don't think there would be much in it on a run between the two, especially with that twin turbo engine's torque curve! Never really felt any lag to be honest, but I know on some 335i's they had a software fix because some were experiencing lag low down in the rev range.
I only found any real difference in the M when the revs were high.

You are right though, the M would feel more sports car.

If for some reason I had to sell the 35i because of finances, I would probably look at a Z4M as they are a bargain sports car now! Mind you, it would cost more to run for similar performance than the 35i!

These are the points that led me to buy a 35i over say a second hand Z4M. Your points of view may be different.

The 35i running costs come out about the same as my old 3.0si, with only £20 a year more insurance costs (around £100 more for the M), the same road tax costs (double that for the M) and only 1mpg less on fuel (not far off. About 3 MPG less on the M)! Servicing intervals and costs are again about the same as my 3.0si, where the M would be more. Boot space isn't far off in the M coupe, but worse in the roadster M compared to the new Z4. And you have that folding alloy roof so you have a coupe and a roadster!! :wink:

At the end of the day, sports car or GT car. The 35i is a very nice place to sit, roof up or down but does lack that TVR feel the M coupe has!

 

[Breaker]

hope we meet someday brother~

Love to do the canyon runs with you! I don't mean race, I mean just out driving!!

Track I would agree, but it would be close because of that engine!

 

[Mr Whippy]

Better than the old comparing RFT old vs RFT new?

Much much much better

Thats fine, but then you'd be mad running an old one on OE RFT anyway... going back and forth between them you really start to notice how poo they are!

New one will probably be better still without em then

Dave

 

[gannet]

Better than the old comparing RFT old vs RFT new?

Much much much better

Thats fine, but then you'd be mad running an old one on OE RFT anyway... going back and forth between them you really start to notice how poo they are!

New one will probably be better still without em then

Dave

Ill correct you there... OEM Bridgestone run flat.... Michelins are fine

the car I tested had 19" rims as well. ride was still firm, just alot more controlled

 

[Breaker]

19". Interesting.

 

[Breaker]

Better than the old comparing RFT old vs RFT new?

Much much much better

Thats fine, but then you'd be mad running an old one on OE RFT anyway... going back and forth between them you really start to notice how poo they are!

New one will probably be better still without em then

Dave

I can't really comment on non-RFT's on my old Coupe as I stayed with the run flats. May have made it better I guess?

 

[gannet]

19". Interesting.

yes I was genuinely shocked at the difference

Certainly wouldn't put me off buying the new zed with 19" wheels... Just need some money :roll:

On the way to the dealer I drove my car along roads I know well. The dealer then gave me a hour or so to play on my own so I figured I would go back over those same roads. I was astonished to see me carrying 20-30 mph more than was comfortable in my car without issue

Car I drove was an sDrive30i Auto on 296 wheels

 

[aquazi]

I really like E89, was tempted by an 23i before i got mine - but the real decider for me was the lack of boot space when the roof is down.

That and i would have regretted not getting the 35i instead (which was well outside my budget)

 

[sammyz]

These are two quite different cars in many ways but between them there's a great choice to be had whether you want a 2 seater sports car thats' fun and reasonably economical, a closed coupe, smart GT convertible or a balls out 'M' car.
£8,000 to £50,000 you pays your money and you get a great car!

 

[KimAkins]

I have to laugh- the roads are so bad here in my city that I have to dodge the holes in the road- cars have stickers on their cars that say “not drunk, ditching pot holes”
I get new struts and springs Monday!