Should I just bite the bullet and go Z4M?

[jimmybell]

IMO unforeseen running costs are people just not prepared for.. the running costs. I don't think they're unforeseen, i just think people see a cheap fast car and jump on it - expecting the running costs line up with the bargain price. Frankly these days they're cheap for what they can do.

I had a nice laugh with a 458 and an R8 today between London and Bicester (B road banter ;D), except my car cost .. well, it barely ranks on the scale of theirs right? I doubt a Z4M service is much cheaper than that of the R8 though, never mind a set of tyres, brakes etcetc.

This is ///M tax. Non-M and you're paying standard BMW rates, for standard parts (performance stuff is mostly optional..).

Don't get me wrong, i'd happily of had the 3.0 coupe if i couldn't afford the M - as an M owner i've had some nice races and consistently i'm surprised by their performance

 

[Adam D]

From what I have read the R8 is cheaper to service those invasive M inspections do open up the wallet somewhat!


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[mjgerrard]

That's what put me off....the road tax, running costs, also the unforeseen problems and expensive parts (anyone mention the paranoia warranty?)

The 3.0ltr was a good in-between for me, by which its quick and exhilarating to drive and returns good mpg. So I'm not worried about emptying the wallet every few days or doing ad-hoc 100 mile hoons when it takes my fancy

This is where I ended up too. The Zed is my daily drive (11,000 miles since February) and the costs would be ruinous in the ///M.

However, i'd also agree with earlier comments that the Coupe feels a lot more special, regardless of being the ///M or not. If it's a roadster you want then the ///M would indeed feel a lot more special. For me, there are just too many roadsters around so having that ///M means standing out from the crowd a bit. Not to mention the noise

 

[aquazi]

funnily enough when i got mine i was set on a 2.5si (i wasnt bothered about the performance)

Then ended up being a tossup between the M and the 3.0si (as price wise they were very similar in 2009)

The one which was the swinging point for me though wasnt cost but practicality! In the roadster i needed all the bootspace i could get... As soon as i saw the MR with the battery in the boot it was out of the equation for me.

 

[Simon_P]

Roadster I'm looking for.

The correct choice. With the current weather we have been enjoying the car has been a great place to be. If you are looking at buying one of these the costs should be apparent. £500 tax is the killer and main stumbling block for most but in reality its £10 per week – a pack of 20 cigarettes! The average of 25mpg for the performance is very good - current hot hatches return that figure. When buying second hand and with a car at £50k new cost care is always going to be inline no matter what the secondhand bought price. If you factor in a £2k fund per year for consumables then you shouldn't go far wrong.

PS I don't think the M service costs are that much at all (you need to shop around or go Indy)

 

[greddyl30pjg]

3.0 is a great compromise- 30mpg, 250 quid tax, cheap insurance, service alot cheaper & 260bhp so its not unbearably slow. I really can appreaciate the M version & ultimatley, if money wasnt an issue i'd of opted for a M Coupe over my 3.0...but, in previous years ive had nippy motors & couldnt enjoy them fully because everytime i took them out for a spin it would cost a bomb where as the 3.0 coupe is the best of both worlds, its got some poke but doesnt leave you feeling guilty with a drained wallet everytime you take it for a spin - esp. as a daily driver. Maybe ive just got the wrong mentality but, youve got to look after the pennies these days!!

 

[Ben Cole]

All interesting points, thanks everyone.

Its possibly going to be the individual car/deal I get or the missus that dictates what I buy/don't buy.

 

[Bing]

3.0 is a great compromise- 30mpg, 250 quid tax, cheap insurance, service alot cheaper & 260bhp so its not unbearably slow. I really can appreaciate the M version & ultimatley, if money wasnt an issue i'd of opted for a M Coupe over my 3.0...but, in previous years ive had nippy motors & couldnt enjoy them fully because everytime i took them out for a spin it would cost a bomb where as the 3.0 coupe is the best of both worlds, its got some poke but doesnt leave you feeling guilty with a drained wallet everytime you take it for a spin - esp. as a daily driver. Maybe ive just got the wrong mentality but, youve got to look after the pennies these days!!

Agree with all of this except a) it has to be a roadster for me, b) I still want an ///M one day :evil:

One other point - tax on my 3.0 was £270 this year... And I am sure I saw it will be £290 next year :?

 

[IK.]

From what I have read the R8 is cheaper to service those invasive M inspections do open up the wallet somewhat!


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Yep, it isn't too bad service-wise, as it happens -for the 4.2 V8 at least.

I know most don't agree, but the R8 is the 'everyday supercar'. Some will claim it's a sports car, but ask the general public what they'd call it...

I'd still probably buy a V8 Vantage though.

 

[yg54sg]

id say get the M and do servicing with a good bmw indy specialist garage, I think a lot of what is on the inspections are unnecessary considering we have MOT.

 

[greddyl30pjg]

Agree with all of this except a) it has to be a roadster for me

This must be a typo??

 

[Bing]

Agree with all of this except a) it has to be a roadster for me

This must be a typo??

Nope. If I ever sound like I am tending toward a coupe then I am confident that my roadster owning friends will either help me recover safely and quickly, or shoot me

 

[Simon_P]

Agree with all of this except a) it has to be a roadster for me

This must be a typo??

Nope. If I ever sound like I am this [ ] close to buying an M then the forum will implode

Corrected

 

[greddyl30pjg]

:lol:

 

[Bing]

Nope. If I ever sound like I am this [ ] close to buying an M then the forum will implode

Corrected

Touché

Don't you worry, The Plan is still on track :wink:

 

[Simon_P]

Nope. If I ever sound like I am this [ ] close to buying an M then the forum will implode

Corrected

Touché

Don't you worry, The Plan is still on track :wink:

Hope it comes to fruition as they are great cars and as I have witnessed over the last couple of sad months life is very short and should be lived! Just in case you need a further push