Have to say I have a Z4M and my dad has a 997 Cs with everything including chrono pack, 19" Turbo wheels. Looks the balls.
Although there is nothing between them really until you get to about 135 and the Porsche starts to pull away. They are two different cars the Porsches are precise machines you point them and thats where they go, more so the mid engined porsches like the Cayman rather than the 911, but still. The Porsches put you into a false sense of security its not hard to drive them fast. Which is bad it makes bad drivers good, and this has been noted my most of the main car review mags and TV programs.
With the Z4M you have to grab it by the scruff of the neck, wrestle with the car. It has a lardy arse on it, so much more fun to drive in that respect. It depends on your preference, driving both and swapping with my dad we love both of the cars. But both are very different, rear engined, front engined, driving position in the BM you sit a lot further back the porsche has 4 seats.
The Z4M is more in the cayman s/boxster s category of competition rather than the 911. But the Z4M holds its own just a shame thay havent brought out a newer Z4M to compete with the Cayman R. A V8 Z would be amazing.
I have to say I prefer the Porsche simply because of its presence on the road, driving behind it, looks gorgeous. The noise, looks and pedegree is something everyone wants even if you wont admit it. At the time when I was buying my Z4M I wanted a Porka and my budget was 25k and what I wanted was a C4S looking at 996... not exactly the most desirable 911 model but the only car in my budget and good Cayman S with chrono pack a good spec and lower milage is over 25k from a Porsche dealer. The 996 C4S definitely the best all round looker and performance for money (in the 996 range) and great in the snow with winter tyres which is good round where I live, in the sticks. But for 25k I was looking at a 50k 52-53 plate with no warranty. Plus the problems with RMS, and most of these cars are small garage prized possessions... which is a bad thing you have no idea what has been done to them. Most needed work at this price and with no warranty it was a big risk these cars are money pits at the age unless you can get a good one which is expensive. There was a red 53 plate C4s at paragon for £30+ but it has no milage.
So went back to BMW got a much newer Z4M with all the spec under the sun got a 2 year warranty and a much newer car for 7k less!!! Made sense to me, meant I could spend some money on the Z to get it to how I wanted. Plus I love how rare it is, have only seen one other in the 3 months ive had mine. Seen as tho I have access to driving my dads Cs it was a sweet deal for me. Plus I have a lot of time to buy a Porsche because im pretty young. My dad was pretty pissed in the end tho as the Porsche is a year younger and cost twice the amount... and there really isnt a lot in it at all the Z4M is a very capable car! Those Top Gear lap times show this.
http://www.z4-forum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=31238
But like my dad said its what he wanted and he can afford it. So why not! His answer to me was GT3 next :evil:
I will get some pics up of the Porsche and the Z4M as soon as the weather gets better. The Porsche is bright red look incredible, really really love it lol! But I love my M too. In an ideal world have both!
That was pretty much what seemed to me to be missing from my brief drive in a CaymanS. (Fun)
) in front of me, I'd rip the zed's keys out of your hand and you wouldn't see me for dust. Of course I'd then sell it and get a roadster instead :evil:
6ft 4 size 14 feet. & all the extra lenght is in my darn legs. Was handy on a push bike 30 years ago. But a pain trying to dive a kit car.