Test Drove sDrive23i

srhutch said:
I'm looking for an ///M to keep forever so as much as I want the roof down experience I also want to ensure I buy the right car, no point buy a car to keep for future classic if it isnt going to be one.
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The right car is one you'll get the most pleasure from owning, especially going long-term - if you really enjoy top-down driving, I'd say get the roadster. I went with an Z4 M knowing it would be a long-term purchase and I picked the coupe because the fixed roof has fewer compromises or worries over time, but another factor was the realization that I simply didn't put the top down on my first Z4 all that much. If the coupe had never been built, I'd be just as happy with the roadster and optional hardtop.
 
I've been thinking exactly the same thing, well not so much a coupe but an M Roadster in 12 to 18 months (work permitting), however the other half has her eyes set firmly on the new Z, that being the case it'll have to be the Sdrive35 with as many toys as possible, then the cost may put her off and I'll get my M. :evil:
 
I am thinking M Roadster in about 12 months, prices of reasonable used cars willing and available.
 
srhutch said:
The E30 ///M has to be a classic, not so sure of the E36 though.

andy sixspeed said the same about his exhaust, in that he cant hear it being a coupe :( and exhaust noise has to be part of the appeal.
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Yeah... the exhaust note on the MC is conservative for an M. That said, though, I'd take that exhaust note over an E89 exhaust note anyday.

For the M, it's nice to know that there are aftermarket options for those looking for a greater aural experience. :thumbsup:
 
I also took the sDrive23i out last week. My wife and I were out in the Coupe when I spotted the new Z outside our local dealers. Naturally I couldn’t drive past without asking for a test drive. They only had the 23i available at the time (the 35i was pre sold). After sitting through all the sales patter and the salesman giving mine the once over and saying ‘I'd be very happy to sell your Coupe'. So he should it's a minter, fully loaded (minus satnav) and only 15k miles.

Anyhow, I loved the quality ride and feel of the new model. The seats were in another league, from the 3 series M according to the sales man with adjustable bolsters. This one also had the adjustable suspension with the hardest setting being just shy of my Coupe 'sports' setup, the other 2 lower setting being progressively more 'plush'. The hardest actually lowers the ride a few mm apparently. With 197bhp on tap it was quite a bit down on grunt, but it still gave a spirited drive with that flat 6 sound track. The roof was great making the car actually quieter then my Coupe on the motorway, whilst having the roof down generated less wind intrusion then the Roadster that I'd previously tested. This all added to the slightly detached feeling of the new Z over the old. Some would like this (I did) others would prefer the 'drivers appeal' of our models. My particular test car had the most horrendous rattle from the roof tray in the boot, which the salesman was mortified about. It was quite humorous the way as soon as the roof went up and the rattle started the salesman started talking louder and faster to drown out the noise :D .

Apparently, there will be no 'M' version of this new model. That position is being filled by the sDrive35i. Talking of which, do you know how much the demonstrator will be up for with all the toys? A few pounds short of 50k!! :o Way too much! The salesman has left a message on my answer phone saying he has 'some exciting news about the arrival of the s35i'. It will be interesting to see how much they offer me for mine. However, I shan't be rushing for a test in the 35i as I don't want to fall in love with it when my wife much prefers our current Coupe and I simply can’t justify that kind of money on a 2 seater sports car.
 
Not sure how much extra the real costs are, say a few thousand for the lsd, another few for the suspension components + the rarity premium. Yes, I guess 10k would be about it then.

Don't think many people would buy a sDrive35 if you could get an M for "only" 5k more ...
 
srhutch said:
my head says coupe as this seems the more likely future classic :cry:
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It won't be like the old Z3 Coupe where the only models were the M's this time though... if that were the case, then yes, but being so common in normal flavours the Coupe really won't hold any kind of future classic status over the Roadster on the Z4 I don't think.

I think the only reason the old Z3 Coupe is so popular/well regarded is because it is rare, that doesn't seem to be the case with the new ones, so I doubt people will regard it anywhere near as highly next to the Roadster. Ie, both are damn good, and will both be as classic as each other in years to come, so get the one YOU like :D

As per new Z4, it is about as interesting to me as an SLK, so not on my radar at all (not saying either are bad of course :) )

I'm surprised that keeping it called a Z4 has attracted so much attention from current Z4 owners, when it's clearly a very different car! Ie, I'm not keen on where it has gone, but am surprised current Z4 owners owned a Z4 before if that is the kinda car they preferred (ie, why didn't they have an SLK or something!?) Hmmmm :)

Dave
 
Zed_Steve said:
pvr said:
As I said in my review, the new Z is a great upgrade if you come from a 2.5 or 3.0 model. Everything is the same, just a bit better.

You are right about upgrading to an M though as that is in a different league altogether again.
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Cue Breaker :rofl:
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I was just going to say............... :rofl:
 
Mr Whippy said:
It won't be like the old Z3 Coupe where the only models were the M's this time though...
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You guys didn't get the non-M Z3 coupe over there? I never knew that. This time around Canada only got the M, but I didn't know that had happened before.
 
epbrown said:
Mr Whippy said:
It won't be like the old Z3 Coupe where the only models were the M's this time though...
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You guys didn't get the non-M Z3 coupe over there? I never knew that. This time around Canada only got the M, but I didn't know that had happened before.
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Anything Coupe was an M over here, so they were, and are, uber rare, and almost command double the money of a Roadster!

Not to say the E86 isn't rare, but it's less rare with the Z4 over here anyway :)
 
Thinking of the Z4M in terms of becoming a 'classic'..

What are you really talking about in terms of money? If the coupes command an eventual premium over the roadsters of £3-£5,000 it really wouldn't be a major consideration if you want the full roof down experience now.

Buy a good roadster this Summer and enjoy the full roadster experience if that's what you want. If it's the coupe you want it's undeniably pretty and rarer but it wasn't what the Z4 was created to be- a roadster! :poke:
 
sammyz said:
Thinking of the Z4M in terms of becoming a 'classic'..

What are you really talking about in terms of money? If the coupes command an eventual premium over the roadsters of £3-£5,000 it really wouldn't be a major consideration if you want the full roof down experience now.

Buy a good roadster this Summer and enjoy the full roadster experience if that's what you want. If it's the coupe you want it's undeniably pretty and rarer but it wasn't what the Z4 was created to be- a roadster! :poke:
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I thnk you will find the coupe was actually desined at the same time as the roadster so not sure your last comment stands up. :poke:
 
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