Opinion from people who know their Z4's
- Thread starter alex85
- Start date
Some extracts from Clarkson's ramblings over the past couple of years.............
On the Z4M Coupe.......
But it won’t. Oh sure, the engine’s a masterpiece but the traction control light flickers constantly, suggesting that the suspension is so stiff the rear wheels are actually airborne half the time. So it lurches and pitches and is generally pretty horrid. Couple this to brakes that are too sharp, a clutch that requires practice and a steering system that’s been toughened up — but not enough — and you’re left with something rather underwhelming.
It’s probably the first disappointing BMW M car I’ve ever driven.
If you want this sort of car, the Porsche Gayman is an obvious rival. It goes harder but is deeply embarrassing to be seen in. So what I’d do is buy the soft-top Z4 M instead. Or if you want something really fun for the weekend, buy a digger.
On the Z4M roadster.....
The thing is, though: it did work with the Z4. This was a car that, quite simply, came too soon. Because now, when I see one, I think it’s a striking crisp and modern effort; much nicer to behold than the Mercedes SLK and a million times better than the push-me-pull-you Porsche Boxster.
So when I heard that BMW was going to let its motor sport division have a fiddle, it sounded like something truly wonderful would result. I love BMW’s M cars, and when I heard the Z4 was going to get the M3’s 3.2 litre straight six I was priapic with anticipation.
The best looking two-seater sports car with the best sporting engine of them all. Theoretically the best combination since someone said: “I wonder what cranberry juice would taste like if you put some vodka in it.”
Well, I’m sorry, but Bangle said that his influence for the Z4 was the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. BMW had plainly had enough, so it booted its American whiz-kid upstairs, where he could do less harm. And that’s a pity, because it was at this exact moment that I realised that the “flame-surfaced” Z4 is just as striking and wonderful as the building that inspired it;
Then one day I arrived at the track to find, sitting in the early morning desert sunshine, a BMW Z4-M.
Oh dear. This was a bit like sending a food critic to the best restaurant in the world and presenting him with a Big Mac. It looked all wrong, parked among the Vipers and the Ferraris and the hyper-tuned Mustangs. It looked boring and grey. A Liberal Democrat in a sea of Monster Raving Loonies.
With a limp heart and not much enthusiasm I eased out onto the track and, with my mind in neutral, set off to slither about for the cameras.
The thing is, though, that after a short while it became screamingly obvious that despite the girl-next-door looks and the miserable 3.2 litres of homo-power, this car was head and shoulders above everything else I’d driven out there.
Where a Viper or a ’Vette shouts and waves its arms about, the little Beemer just gets on with the job of going fast and telegraphing messages to the seat of your pants and your fingertips, instantly and with no ambiguity at all. Out there in the desert, it was a sniper’s rifle in a field of howitzers and mortars.
On the Z4M Coupe.......
But it won’t. Oh sure, the engine’s a masterpiece but the traction control light flickers constantly, suggesting that the suspension is so stiff the rear wheels are actually airborne half the time. So it lurches and pitches and is generally pretty horrid. Couple this to brakes that are too sharp, a clutch that requires practice and a steering system that’s been toughened up — but not enough — and you’re left with something rather underwhelming.
It’s probably the first disappointing BMW M car I’ve ever driven.
If you want this sort of car, the Porsche Gayman is an obvious rival. It goes harder but is deeply embarrassing to be seen in. So what I’d do is buy the soft-top Z4 M instead. Or if you want something really fun for the weekend, buy a digger.
On the Z4M roadster.....
The thing is, though: it did work with the Z4. This was a car that, quite simply, came too soon. Because now, when I see one, I think it’s a striking crisp and modern effort; much nicer to behold than the Mercedes SLK and a million times better than the push-me-pull-you Porsche Boxster.
So when I heard that BMW was going to let its motor sport division have a fiddle, it sounded like something truly wonderful would result. I love BMW’s M cars, and when I heard the Z4 was going to get the M3’s 3.2 litre straight six I was priapic with anticipation.
The best looking two-seater sports car with the best sporting engine of them all. Theoretically the best combination since someone said: “I wonder what cranberry juice would taste like if you put some vodka in it.”
Well, I’m sorry, but Bangle said that his influence for the Z4 was the Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. BMW had plainly had enough, so it booted its American whiz-kid upstairs, where he could do less harm. And that’s a pity, because it was at this exact moment that I realised that the “flame-surfaced” Z4 is just as striking and wonderful as the building that inspired it;
Then one day I arrived at the track to find, sitting in the early morning desert sunshine, a BMW Z4-M.
Oh dear. This was a bit like sending a food critic to the best restaurant in the world and presenting him with a Big Mac. It looked all wrong, parked among the Vipers and the Ferraris and the hyper-tuned Mustangs. It looked boring and grey. A Liberal Democrat in a sea of Monster Raving Loonies.
With a limp heart and not much enthusiasm I eased out onto the track and, with my mind in neutral, set off to slither about for the cameras.
The thing is, though, that after a short while it became screamingly obvious that despite the girl-next-door looks and the miserable 3.2 litres of homo-power, this car was head and shoulders above everything else I’d driven out there.
Where a Viper or a ’Vette shouts and waves its arms about, the little Beemer just gets on with the job of going fast and telegraphing messages to the seat of your pants and your fingertips, instantly and with no ambiguity at all. Out there in the desert, it was a sniper’s rifle in a field of howitzers and mortars.
Cheers for digging that up. Does the Z feature in any of his DVDs?
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Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-O5huaBA4uo
I think this is what you were referring to Sammyz.
I think this is what you were referring to Sammyz.
i have a 2.5 roadster and i love it, good balance between performance and economy.
looks fantastic, drives great, massive smiles, i just enjoy driving it.
not realy fussed about how big the engine is, lets face it, the roads today, cameras, fuel costs, ect ect
it costs enough to drive nice cars, why make it more expensive.
if i want to drive fast i go on a track day in subaru sti, yer its fast but i wouldnt want to drive one everyday.
looks fantastic, drives great, massive smiles, i just enjoy driving it.
not realy fussed about how big the engine is, lets face it, the roads today, cameras, fuel costs, ect ect
it costs enough to drive nice cars, why make it more expensive.
if i want to drive fast i go on a track day in subaru sti, yer its fast but i wouldnt want to drive one everyday.
OK but are you aiming to convince us or yourself ? 
long post. tbh too lazy to read it all
i drive the 3.0l z4 and my input is that doing a run u will feel little difference. The only main difference i feel is that the 3.0l has that extra pull earlier at low end for easier everyday driving whereas the 2.5 sits at a higher rev. 2.5se and 3.0se the gap decreases.
bottom line: it all depends what you are getting the car for. for everyday driving the 2.5 is sufficient, for performance, pay the extra for the z4m as ur getting more in that car then the extra cost. 3.0, for me, is a much better drive than the 2.5 (that i also drive 20% of the time) as i am use to the low end torque.
i drive the 3.0l z4 and my input is that doing a run u will feel little difference. The only main difference i feel is that the 3.0l has that extra pull earlier at low end for easier everyday driving whereas the 2.5 sits at a higher rev. 2.5se and 3.0se the gap decreases.
bottom line: it all depends what you are getting the car for. for everyday driving the 2.5 is sufficient, for performance, pay the extra for the z4m as ur getting more in that car then the extra cost. 3.0, for me, is a much better drive than the 2.5 (that i also drive 20% of the time) as i am use to the low end torque.
This was a good read. Currently trying to persuade the gf to let me get us a Zed and after doing insurance quotes it's looking like we'll be getting a 2.5 - the 3l is 50% more! With me coming from a 318 e46 and her a 1.6 mini I think it'll be enough of a performance jump as it is!
This has been an interesting thread. I'm surprised how many different aspects there are to owning a Z4 - almost all totally valid, too.
I think a good conclusion is that (for a sports car) the Z4 in it's different guises can be just about all things to all men - not too many 2 seaters you can say that about!
My own feeling is that if cost is an issue, then of course one is forced into buying what one can afford.
If it isn't, then (leaving aside the ///M, which is in a different league) the 3.0 litre is the logical choice - it comes with a lot of the useful extras as standard, and you generally find they have more of the desirable options fitted too. And most of all they have that wonderful, torquey motor....
Finally, if money is no object and you want a Z4, then there really is NO other choice than a well-loaded ///M (hope I can afford one one day) :roll:
I think a good conclusion is that (for a sports car) the Z4 in it's different guises can be just about all things to all men - not too many 2 seaters you can say that about!
My own feeling is that if cost is an issue, then of course one is forced into buying what one can afford.
If it isn't, then (leaving aside the ///M, which is in a different league) the 3.0 litre is the logical choice - it comes with a lot of the useful extras as standard, and you generally find they have more of the desirable options fitted too. And most of all they have that wonderful, torquey motor....
Finally, if money is no object and you want a Z4, then there really is NO other choice than a well-loaded ///M (hope I can afford one one day) :roll:
mlester187
Member
cj10jeeper said:
X 2.
My best friend has a 2.5 si. We have both had a drive in each others car. I can honestly say that for 'normal' every-day driving there is very little difference. If, like us, you like to drive fast, there is a bit of a difference....not an amazing difference. We have had a little drag race (traffic lights- traffic lights) and obviously mine won, not by an amazing amount. I will also say that the 3.0 si looks better as a standard car.
jackolive said:
If you don't need the additional seats I'd go for the Z4. I think the ownership experience is a bit more special than the Golf. The big bonus (if you get a proper one) is the benefit of roof down motoring when the sun's out, feels something very special. The Golf is an excellent car, but if you can get the Z4 I don't think you'd regret it... 5 years on and I don't
Also, it's not as impractical as you might think, comfortable on long trips and the boot is surprisingly larger.Do it.
The Golf R32 is a practical car that's very easy to go fast. The Z4 'feels' faster at the same speeds, and is much more entertaining to drive. It's also rear wheel drive should you have a lot of space to really have some fun. The Z4 needs to be 'worked' harder to get the same kind of performance, but that's why it feels so much more rewarding.
If I were choosing between them, the Z4 is a no-brainer if practicality isn't a concern. If you need rear seats, then you'll have to go for the R32. The Z4 is unlikely to depreciate as quickly if that matters.
If I were choosing between them, the Z4 is a no-brainer if practicality isn't a concern. If you need rear seats, then you'll have to go for the R32. The Z4 is unlikely to depreciate as quickly if that matters.
A
Anonymous
Guest
jackolive said:
I didn't think the Golf was more expensive....
He's just a spammer guys so have deleted all his posts and banned him....