Remember Summer?
- Thread starter Dewi
- Start date
Fantastic I really enjoyed that, perfect roads for roof down cruising. 
It makes me feel so sad that we have had to curtail our plans (due to time constraints). Because of our Daughters June wedding , we will only get a couple of of long weekends away in England this year in the Z4.
Next year 2016 we WILL get a France road trip with the Z4
It makes me feel so sad that we have had to curtail our plans (due to time constraints). Because of our Daughters June wedding , we will only get a couple of of long weekends away in England this year in the Z4.
Next year 2016 we WILL get a France road trip with the Z4
France has some wonderful roads Mr. Owl, get over there if you can in the Z you'll not regret it. The ethos of last years trip was that we use no motorways on the 3,700 mile trip and we didn't apart from a few miles coming from and getting back to the Eurotunnel.
Wedding you say? Good luck with that. Why do people always want to get married in summer? It doesn't half bugger up plans for trips away, it's very thoughtless of them. Summer weddngs should be banned
Wedding you say? Good luck with that. Why do people always want to get married in summer? It doesn't half bugger up plans for trips away, it's very thoughtless of them. Summer weddngs should be banned
Dewi said:France has some wonderful roads Mr. Owl, get over there if you can in the Z you'll not regret it. The ethos of last years trip was that we use no motorways on the 3,700 mile trip and we didn't apart from a few miles coming from and getting back to the Eurotunnel.
Wedding you say? Good luck with that. Why do people always want to get married in summer? It doesn't half bugger up plans for trips away, it's very thoughtless of them. Summer weddngs should be banned
They've lived together for almost 6 years. no kids yet, so not sure why the expense is necessary.
Don't tell the wife I said that :evil:
What's your view re MX5 compared to the Z4 ?
Grumpyowl said:Dewi said:France has some wonderful roads Mr. Owl, get over there if you can in the Z you'll not regret it. The ethos of last years trip was that we use no motorways on the 3,700 mile trip and we didn't apart from a few miles coming from and getting back to the Eurotunnel.
Wedding you say? Good luck with that. Why do people always want to get married in summer? It doesn't half bugger up plans for trips away, it's very thoughtless of them. Summer weddngs should be banned
They've lived together for almost 6 years. no kids yet, so not sure why the expense is necessary.
Don't tell the wife I said that :evil:
What's your view re MX5 compared to the Z4 ?
Mate of mine has a daughter who was married last year, cost him over £30k. My daughter is yet to marry, but she emigrated to Canada 10 years ago and is a bit of a tree hugger so any wedding she has will be quite Bohemian, i.e quiet, private and cheap!
The 2.0 litre limited edition Sport Black in the video was my 3rd MX5 and the intention was to keep to keep it for a while. Despite the "55" reg plate it was actually a 2011 car with just 7k miles on it when it was sold. Last September. I had a 2010 1.8 with standard suspension (just lowered) before it which was a much nicer car to drive, the handling was sublime in comparison to the Sport Black with it's Bilstein Sports suspension set up.
I was intending to put it on coilovers but the electric roof started to make expensive noises when we got home from France, it was ready for packing in completely when I took it into the dealership with a months warranty still left on the car. They refused to do anything about it until it failed completely, by which time it wouid have been out of warranty and cost me circa £1400 to have repaired - defintely not a DIY job. I ended up getting rid immediately through one of those "we buy your car" websites who offered me a lot more than I'd have got in part ex for it.
I spent a while looking for the Z4 replacement, I'd fancied one for ages but still liked my MX5s so stuck with them until the roof thing. After that I vowed never to touch another Mazda - the build quality of the later cars is awful. The rust under the Sport Black was disgusting, nothing under there is painted properly. In comparison, the Zed is obviously a lot more powerful and much much smoother, I find it more addictive to drive too. The steering feels a little dead compared to the MX5 - not as much road feedback and less direct, the MX5s are like a go-kart and very flickable through the twisties in comparison but now I'm used to the Zed's steering I find it ok. The other thing with the Zed is I'm forever aware of how expensive they can get when things go wrong, apart from the electric roof the MX5 is a very simple car that can be repaired cheaply and easily.
I love BMWs though, this is my 3rd car and I'm on my 4th motorbike. Most have given trouble of some kind but they have been - and are - fantastic to drive / ride. To be honest I love German cars in general, the intention is to keep the Zed for another 12 / 18 months then sell it and go back to my roots and buy a Classic VW Beetle. I want something with no electronic gismos that I can fettle away with into my old age.
Excellent films (watched your other ones too) thanks for sharing. Seeing the Loire made me feel very home-sick though 
We are taking #308 to France in August, driving down eastern France to the Morvan region in Burgundy for a few days then across to the Jura - can't wait. May have to ask you for some tips on packing. Wish we could go in June but we are tied to the school hols.
We are taking #308 to France in August, driving down eastern France to the Morvan region in Burgundy for a few days then across to the Jura - can't wait. May have to ask you for some tips on packing. Wish we could go in June but we are tied to the school hols.
Big Red Cat said:
Marry a woman who accepts she can't take much!
We got used to living out of travel bags for 3 or 4 weeks as we've done a lot of bike tours, so if an item wasn't absolutely necessary it didn't come with us. For the first ime in years we can take what we want this year as we're heading down to the South of France again to see some friends but going in the Focus estate - all my camera gear will be getting packed this time that's for sure.I know what you mean about school hols, my missus was a teacher before we retired so we never went on hols out of the school break times for 40 years. It's great being able to go whenever we want now
I know we're allowed to now but as I'm a woman I'm not going to be getting into any of that funny stuff :wink:Dewi said:Marry a woman who accepts she can't take much!
It's me & my sister going & we want to bring back booze
Interesting comparison between MX5 and Z4 Dewi
Big Red Cat,
Have a look at this site. I have bought the vacation sized Boot Bag in preparation for any trips.
Main reason, is I've bought a space saver spare wheel to carry on longer trips (belt and braces back up).
It was Reccomended by a member on here who used it without problems on a European trip.
http://www.boot-bag.com
Big Red Cat,
Have a look at this site. I have bought the vacation sized Boot Bag in preparation for any trips.
Main reason, is I've bought a space saver spare wheel to carry on longer trips (belt and braces back up).
It was Reccomended by a member on here who used it without problems on a European trip.
http://www.boot-bag.com
Big Red Cat said:I know we're allowed to now but as I'm a woman I'm not going to be getting into any of that funny stuff :wink:Dewi said:Marry a woman who accepts she can't take much!
It's me & my sister going & we want to bring back booze
Oooooops!!
Profound apologies BRCRickRob said:
The size of the mat is 44cm deep x 90cm wide. or in real money 17.5" deep x 35.5"wide
This is for the bigger 75Ltr Vacation bag.
The Original 50Ltr bag may have a slightly smaller footprint, you'd have to email the manufactures if you need that info.
Jim.
Grumpyowl said:Interesting comparison between MX5 and Z4 Dewi
Big Red Cat,
Have a look at this site. I have bought the vacation sized Boot Bag in preparation for any trips.
Main reason, is I've bought a space saver spare wheel to carry on longer trips (belt and braces back up).
It was Reccomended by a member on here who used it without problems on a European trip.
http://www.boot-bag.com
Thanks Grumpy owl
that looks really interesting, have you used it yet?
Might take one with us to bring back all the clothes we are going to buy :roll:
Big Red Cat said:Grumpyowl said:Interesting comparison between MX5 and Z4 Dewi
Big Red Cat,
Have a look at this site. I have bought the vacation sized Boot Bag in preparation for any trips.
Main reason, is I've bought a space saver spare wheel to carry on longer trips (belt and braces back up).
It was Reccomended by a member on here who used it without problems on a European trip.
http://www.boot-bag.com
Thanks Grumpy owl
that looks really interesting, have you used it yet?
Might take one with us to bring back all the clothes we are going to buy :roll:
No not used it yet BRC.
There is a member on here who had a successful European trip, (I think it might have been Le Mon iirc)
last summer with the 75 Ltr bag.he said it never moved position on the car.
it's not too unlike a set up I had for my motorbike (I had a 60ltr waterproof Overboard holdall).
We got the larger size (no intention of filling going out) but it allows my better half a bit of room to bring extra back
