Test Drove 2011 E89- Comparison

[2L8ULUZ]

I test drove a 2011 base model 3.0i with 75k miles for 30 quick mins..two days ago... Here are my thoughts, if anyone cares to add...

Body Roll- Much more than my M Sport suspension 03
More interior room- more of a fan of the 03 in the go-kart feel
Hardtop- A great option... Love this feature but the road noise was still louder than expected. I'm ok with the longer retract time
Very little entertainment options- not much different than my 03
Body Style- I love it... However, the rear end of the 03 looks more aggressive and is more my taste
6 speed automatic- not much of a driving experience... although I didn't take it on a road trip.
Seats- Base model obviously- I prefer my 03 seats
Radio- Much better in the 03 with 10 speakers set up
H.P and Speed- about the same...

These E89 versions are getting cheaper and cheaper, I will upgrade... but waiting a year will result in a much $$$ purchase.

In the end... They kept the convertible feel which is the main point in buying a Z4- But the fun factor goes to the 03... Smaller interior and side views make it feel like you’re part of the car... The 5- Speed auto in the E85, being one less gear still again makes you feel part of the car as its seamless and geared perfectly...

Again, I will be upgrading- but most likely into a 35si- turbo car... The JB4 piggy back will make this a much more sporty and fun vehicle... I have the JB4 on a 335I in the past and it becomes a whole new car...


Any thought or Adds??

 

[Smartbear]

Hi, you really need to drive an M-sport e89 so you’re comparing eggs with eggs, the seats are a lot better than the ones fitted to the se as well
Rob

 

[buzyg]

Interesting read.

 

[Mr Tidy]

In the end... They kept the convertible feel which is the main point in buying a Z4- But the fun factor goes to the 03...

Interesting comparison OP, but I'm not sure the convertible feel is necessarily the "main point" of buying a Z4 - that is what the E86 was for! :lol:

 

[2L8ULUZ]

The convertible feel is the whole reason that I own an E85.... The whole car was designed to be convertible, which is the best part of the car IMO... Unlike cars with the convertible option...

On a side note, I test drove the new Fiat Spider a few week ago and the "convertible feel" was a terrible experience, it felt like you were driving a "T-Top" automobile.... complete waste of an open top car... Not to mention that the rest of the car was complete JUNK!! The body roll will make you feel as if you are driving off the side of the road..

 

[firebobby]

I prefer the rear end look of the E85, the E89 looks larger, the early cars just look right. The ROADSTER (they are not convertibles) is the a good all rounder, you get roof down fun as well as the roof up cocoon feeling. The hatchback does look nice but it's like any hatchback really...Focus, Fiesta. You don't get the open sky drive oke:
A convertible is a conversion of a car, like the Escort or Saab Convertible. The Z4 was created as a Roadster so was not converted, some had the coupee conversion though :wink: .

 

[RustyZ4]

I prefer the rear end look of the E85, the E89 looks larger, the early cars just look right. The ROADSTER (they are not convertibles) is the a good all rounder, you get roof down fun as well as the roof up cocoon feeling. The hatchback does look nice but it's like any hatchback really...Focus, Fiesta. You don't get the open sky drive oke:
A convertible is a conversion of a car, like the Escort or Saab Convertible. The Z4 was created as a Roadster so was not converted, some had the coupee conversion though :wink: .

What`s a
Cabriolet then? :rofl: and I thought the term Roadster was for a two seater car with no protection, and all Zeds have a roof,

Edit - Just seen this -
1.A cabriolet is a soft top or drop head coupe with roll up windows.
2.A roadster does not have roll up windows. It has an optional soft top and clear side curtains for windows.
3.A convertible is a four door sedan with a fold away top which may be soft or hard. It has all the attributes of a normal sedan including wind up windows etc.
4.A spyder is a two door two seated sports roadster or convertible with no weather protection.

 

[Marlon]

I prefer the rear end look of the E85, the E89 looks larger, the early cars just look right. The ROADSTER (they are not convertibles) is the a good all rounder, you get roof down fun as well as the roof up cocoon feeling. The hatchback does look nice but it's like any hatchback really...Focus, Fiesta. You don't get the open sky drive oke:
A convertible is a conversion of a car, like the Escort or Saab Convertible. The Z4 was created as a Roadster so was not converted, some had the coupee conversion though :wink: .

What`s a
Cabriolet then? :rofl: and I thought the term Roadster was for a two seater car with no protection, and all Zeds have a roof,

Edit - Just seen this -
1.A cabriolet is a soft top or drop head coupe with roll up windows.
2.A roadster does not have roll up windows. It has an optional soft top and clear side curtains for windows.
3.A convertible is a four door sedan with a fold away top which may be soft or hard. It has all the attributes of a normal sedan including wind up windows etc.
4.A spyder is a two door two seated sports roadster or convertible with no weather protection.

Well that's cleared that up then :?

 

[GBZ4]

I prefer the rear end look of the E85, the E89 looks larger, the early cars just look right. The ROADSTER (they are not convertibles) is the a good all rounder, you get roof down fun as well as the roof up cocoon feeling. The hatchback does look nice but it's like any hatchback really...Focus, Fiesta. You don't get the open sky drive oke:
A convertible is a conversion of a car, like the Escort or Saab Convertible. The Z4 was created as a Roadster so was not converted, some had the coupee conversion though :wink: .

What`s a
Cabriolet then? :rofl: and I thought the term Roadster was for a two seater car with no protection, and all Zeds have a roof,

Edit - Just seen this -
1.A cabriolet is a soft top or drop head coupe with roll up windows.
2.A roadster does not have roll up windows. It has an optional soft top and clear side curtains for windows.
3.A convertible is a four door sedan with a fold away top which may be soft or hard. It has all the attributes of a normal sedan including wind up windows etc.
4.A spyder is a two door two seated sports roadster or convertible with no weather protection.

Just to add a little more clarity,

‘A roadster (spider or spyder) is an open two-seat car with emphasis on sporting appearance or character. Initially an American term for a two-seat car with no weather protection, usage has spread internationally and has evolved to include two-seat convertibles’. Wikipedia :fuelfire:

 

[enzed4]

The convertible feel is the whole reason that I own an E85.... The whole car was designed to be convertible, which is the best part of the car IMO... Unlike cars with the convertible option...

On a side note, I test drove the new Fiat Spider a few week ago and the "convertible feel" was a terrible experience, it felt like you were driving a "T-Top" automobile.... complete waste of an open top car... Not to mention that the rest of the car was complete JUNK!! The body roll will make you feel as if you are driving off the side of the road..

Thanks for the comparison, and sorry to hear about the Fiat 124 (was it the Abarth?) as I've been looking at the Abarth 124 but waiting for prices to head further south (still silly money).

 

[2L8ULUZ]

Well.... My insurance cards, title says "Roadster" so I guess BMW got it wrong?? Every part store I go to also label our cars as this...

Does anyone remember the Arcade Game- "Race Driving"? or Test?... The roadster was an open top... Still the best driving simulator I have ever played.... It was originally designed as a Police Training unit... But contracts got cancelled due $$$$ constraints... I bought one a few years ago for $500.... Childhood memories

 

[RustyZ4]

Sorry didn't mean to hijack the thread,, now started a new thread concerning what is a convertible,,

Back on topic - A friend of mine has just bought a Fiat Spyder, obviously I wont pass on your comments, but Smartbear is right, you need to drive a 2.0 msport to get a direct comparison, when I was looking I drove several across the range,, 1.8 to 3.5, and they are all different