So, should I buy one of these new fangled M Coupes? :)

M

M@r]{

Senior member
 East Midlands
Hey Guys

First post so hello :)

But straight onto picking your brains. I'm considering buying a Z4M Coupe. My problem is I'm also considering an SLK55 AMG. And can I make my mind up!?!?! So I'm hoping any of you actual owners could help make up my mind :poke:

Some background: I currently drive a 2003 Lotus Elise (with a 20v Turbo Audi S3 engine) What I want is something as fun, but with added comfort. I'm getting too old to have my bones shaken, my ear drums battered and my nads frozen within a mm of infertility everytime I have to journey out the house. Also I want to free up some of the cash tied up in it.

So this is the way I see it. Pros for the Z4MC is its more of a drivers car, fuel economy will be better, it looks 8)

Pros for the AMG Merc is the V8 noise, the roof off option when the weathers nice, I think the interior looks more 'plush' However they only come in Auto and the traction control can't be fully switched off. I'll do one or two track days a year so these last two are a concern.

So persuade me :roll: I'll put up a similar thread over on a Merc forum so I can get biased views from both sides :P Although thats another pro in the Z4 column, this forum looks a lot 'busier' than the Merc one, well at least for these Z4m's anyway.

And any tips on what to look out for? I test drove one the other day, loved it but not sure if the clutch / gearbox has a problem. On tickover it was tough to get into gear, particularly if you tried to engage 4th. Didnt notice it on the road, but same again when we got back (so wasnt a case of needing warming up) Is this normal?
 
Hey! Welcome to the forums, here's hoping this won't be the only post you make, I fully expect another with pics of your new Z4MC ;).

First of all I must point out that I am NOT a mercedes fan. I will say there are a few good things about them, but mainly I don't like the way they look/feel at all.

I think you kinda summed up a lot about the Z4 in your comment when you said "drivers car". Ultimately, isn't that what you're looking for in a car like this...you want to feel connected to the car in every way? Having a proper manual box, and a simple "on" or "off" traction control couldn't put you more in control if you wired your brain to the car itself. Yes the merc may have a V8, and that's never a bad thing, but once you push the 3.2 straight six to the red-line, you'll forget about that other engine completely. I haven't personally taken the Zed on a track, but I'm sure some people on here will tell you, it's awesome. I can only imagine it's a lot more of a blast than the merc, in every way.

If you're wanting a roof-down experience, why not consider the roadster? Any reason?

You want to make sure that it's had it's first 1200 miles "running in" service stamped in the book - very important. Make sure there are no obvious rattles (this car is prone to interior rattles sometimes).

As for the gear box, it is very stiff, sometimes needing more force to change gear than you think, but you get used to it. I'm not sure why the car you drove it just seemed like 4th was the worst though.

Most of all, which one pouts a smile on your face more? :poke:

*edit* I'm sure the boys/girls here will come up with a more educated and technical response ;).
 
In answer to your question........ Yes you should!! although I am a little biased!

I am a fan of the new shape, "F1 nose" SLK, And that V8 will sound great, but I think the ///M edges it :thumbsup:
 
IMO - I didn't like the look of the SLK55 AMG. The looks that I did like for the Merc were well out of my $ range. I felt the BMW MC was and is an absolutely beautiful car. I think in time it will be looked at as one of the best looking cars of the decade.
 
I think my main problem is the Mercs pros and cons, they are all significant:

V8 and roof off is are BIG plus points
But Auto box and rubbish traction control are big negative points

I suppose that should decide it for me, the Z4MC has no BIG negatives :driving: Just those postives for the Merc keep grabbing me :headbang:

(oh and I will feel like I'm being bum raped every year when I have to hand over nearly £500 to drive the thing on the road, especially when the roads are going to pot (holes) )
 
I have a friend who had a 55 amg , he got rid of it in less than a month it was during the colder months , i thought he was crazy as it was black with red leather very nice looking car but he said it was just impossible to drive in anything bar perfect weather the traction just kept kicking in all the time . he recently test drive a members m roadster and was all lined up to buy it but couldn't sell his current car (M3 con) the m roadster he said was just so much more a drivers car and at current prices a absolute bargain.
 
I had an SLK350 for over 3 years (automatic), I loved it. It sounded great, the 55 is obviously much better, and the 'box shifts a bit quicker.

There is a hidden "dyno mode" on the AMG which will turn off the ESP too, I have heard that it shuts off the ABS as well but not 100% on that one.

TBH the one negative on the ///M is the gearbox, and in day-to-day driving the 55 would leave the ///M standing unless the ///M driver was putting in some serious effort. Don't think the interior in the Merc is significantly better than the Z4.

I suppose you need to go and drive a 55 now to find out for sure - you may find it a bit soft.
 
Have you considered the Porsche Gayman/Kokster?

Might be a good compromise between the Z4's handling and the SLK's ride quality.
 
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