my god that engine.
I'm in two minds. I've been trying to find a replacement for the Z as of late. I still love it, but I think it's time for a change as I constantly find myself wanting more power, more torque, more face peely action. Aston Vantage, Ferrari 360, M6 and T350's have made the short list. I ruled the TVR out as it's too much like the z4m truth be told - not a bad thing, but I'm a bit over the inconvenience of a two seater at the moment. I've owned a vantage and they are beautiful things - but they're no quicker than the Z4M. That said they are beautiful and sound good. The 360 is a car that's forever been on my wish list but is a 30k premium over the M6 so maybe one for next year.
So I went to drive a 6 today. First impressions, visually they really do it for me. Carbon Black. Carbon roof, Carbon spoiler, carbon grilles, carbon dash. I love carbon. It needs more carbon. I was nursing a semi before I even opened the door.
Sat inside, the V10 on start up is suspiciously discrete. a low rumble on tickover is mostly drowned out with the windows up. 'Box into drive, pulled off and started to notice a few things. The SMG box is quite responsive. Not so much so as the GTR I test drove a couple of years back but nastily quick. You can adjust the brutality of it too. When you engage a gear, there's none of the typical lurch to acknowledge it's in that I've become accustom to driving a 1998 VW Transporter for the track bike. I actually questioned if it was working in fact. The 'brains' behind the cogware impressed too, drive more spritely and it will hold off shifting gear - ie accelerate from the lights with gusto and it will stay in third when you ease off, in acknowledgement that you've been going balls out. drive easy and it applies a gentleman's shift logic. The sound of that v10 isn't as prominent as I thought until you give it beans but can imagine with an akro pipe setup it will be brutal, as well as some sort of breathing mods.. It drove so.. sturdily.. too. smooth to the finish but flat around a corner. Looks wise, to me it isn't far off the vantage. A different kind of pretty. Controversial I know but I like it's brutish good looks rather than the elegance. Performance wise it will blow the vantage out of the park at least in the straights. Toys wise, the satnav was better to use, integrated bluetooth etc gives it plus points over the Z too. It felt nice and tight, but with a few little things that I could improve - which is another appeal to me.
So it appears I'm in love. But the reason I'm writing all of this is that I wanted to know if anyone's made the switch full time?
It has to be a coupe for me - I don't care for the cabrio M6's and that carbon roof. oh my god. As much as I will truly miss top down cruising and the poser factor. But what do they handle like when things get properly twisty? My Z with time is full of overrun burbles, a great roar from the AFE and puts a smile on my face everytime I go out in it partially because I've finally learned the sweet spots. I get the feeling that the v10 novelty might wear off and it seemed to lack a sense of occasion? Plus there are many, MANY more M6s on the road here.
I don't know I can't help but feel that the M6 might bore me after awhile, it felt very 'sensible' ie easier to drive than the Z4M (oweing mostly to the proportions of the bonnet on the Z4), soft suspension etc. Anyone made the switch and loved or regretted it?? The Z4M is the first car out of at least 25 that I've kept for longer than 9 months so I'm wary that there's obviously a reason and due to how uncommon they are here, I won't be able to go back.
Dilemma..
I'm in two minds. I've been trying to find a replacement for the Z as of late. I still love it, but I think it's time for a change as I constantly find myself wanting more power, more torque, more face peely action. Aston Vantage, Ferrari 360, M6 and T350's have made the short list. I ruled the TVR out as it's too much like the z4m truth be told - not a bad thing, but I'm a bit over the inconvenience of a two seater at the moment. I've owned a vantage and they are beautiful things - but they're no quicker than the Z4M. That said they are beautiful and sound good. The 360 is a car that's forever been on my wish list but is a 30k premium over the M6 so maybe one for next year.
So I went to drive a 6 today. First impressions, visually they really do it for me. Carbon Black. Carbon roof, Carbon spoiler, carbon grilles, carbon dash. I love carbon. It needs more carbon. I was nursing a semi before I even opened the door.
Sat inside, the V10 on start up is suspiciously discrete. a low rumble on tickover is mostly drowned out with the windows up. 'Box into drive, pulled off and started to notice a few things. The SMG box is quite responsive. Not so much so as the GTR I test drove a couple of years back but nastily quick. You can adjust the brutality of it too. When you engage a gear, there's none of the typical lurch to acknowledge it's in that I've become accustom to driving a 1998 VW Transporter for the track bike. I actually questioned if it was working in fact. The 'brains' behind the cogware impressed too, drive more spritely and it will hold off shifting gear - ie accelerate from the lights with gusto and it will stay in third when you ease off, in acknowledgement that you've been going balls out. drive easy and it applies a gentleman's shift logic. The sound of that v10 isn't as prominent as I thought until you give it beans but can imagine with an akro pipe setup it will be brutal, as well as some sort of breathing mods.. It drove so.. sturdily.. too. smooth to the finish but flat around a corner. Looks wise, to me it isn't far off the vantage. A different kind of pretty. Controversial I know but I like it's brutish good looks rather than the elegance. Performance wise it will blow the vantage out of the park at least in the straights. Toys wise, the satnav was better to use, integrated bluetooth etc gives it plus points over the Z too. It felt nice and tight, but with a few little things that I could improve - which is another appeal to me.
So it appears I'm in love. But the reason I'm writing all of this is that I wanted to know if anyone's made the switch full time?
It has to be a coupe for me - I don't care for the cabrio M6's and that carbon roof. oh my god. As much as I will truly miss top down cruising and the poser factor. But what do they handle like when things get properly twisty? My Z with time is full of overrun burbles, a great roar from the AFE and puts a smile on my face everytime I go out in it partially because I've finally learned the sweet spots. I get the feeling that the v10 novelty might wear off and it seemed to lack a sense of occasion? Plus there are many, MANY more M6s on the road here.
I don't know I can't help but feel that the M6 might bore me after awhile, it felt very 'sensible' ie easier to drive than the Z4M (oweing mostly to the proportions of the bonnet on the Z4), soft suspension etc. Anyone made the switch and loved or regretted it?? The Z4M is the first car out of at least 25 that I've kept for longer than 9 months so I'm wary that there's obviously a reason and due to how uncommon they are here, I won't be able to go back.
Dilemma..
Liverpool
:lol:
