That's only really a second. Count to one-is this much time worth the extra money and lower gas mileage? I love my 3.0Si and for me, at this time in my life, it was the best. The //M was several thousand more and came with a $1000 gas guzzler tax (not to mention lower gas mileage and higher insurance cost). If you can afford 'em, drive 'em.
What real world difference is there between engines?
- Thread starter Breaker
- Start date
I notice you say "take away" on the M time and "add" on the 3.0si's time!GP20 said:
Official figures on the M are based on 0-62 in 5 sec in the UK. On the USA site it's 0-60 time of 4.9.
Even on the BMW site they claim: "2. BMW AG test results. Actual acceleration results may vary, depending on specification of vehicle, road and environmental conditions, testing procedures, and driving style. These results should be used for comparison only".
On the road and in the real world 1 second can be lost on a fluffed gear change or slow take-off. I had a JCW tuned MINI S with a 0-62 time of 6.2 but I'd like to see any Z4 leave one of those on any road other than a straight one! :wink:
Since starting this thread and getting into "interesting" debate about the M, I have driven a few Z4M's (I almost bought one, mainly because of the price and it only had 350 miles on the clock so it was basically a brand new Z4M for £26,000!, but the deal for me wasn't worth it) and a couple of M3's (the 6 cylinder model) and I now have answered my own question so I don't need advice any more. :wink:
If you don't own an M you may agree, if you do own an M you won't agree, but I am happy with my conclusion.
Breaker said:I notice you say "take away" on the M time and "add" on the 3.0si's time!GP20 said:
So you mean, I should've said - if you take away 1 sec from the Si's 0-60mph time you're looking at the...uhhmm...well......Z4M? :wink: Well obviously I used examples at the opposite ends of the spectrum to show the perspectives.
BMW always under-rates the 0-60, 0-62 time.
Seriously though. I'm not sure what else I can add to this thread. It's just beating the dead horse all over again. Those of you Si owners will always be convinced that 1 sec from 0-60 is barely any quicker. And you will say the Z4M isn't worth the extra money for daily driving. By the same logic, people shouldn't be buying any 997 or Ferrari or Lambo unless they track those cars. Heck a Prius owner would argue a 2.5i is over-kill for daily driving.
But at the very least I can respect the fact that Si owners defend your cars and are proud of your cars' performances. At least you're not putting fake ///M badges on your cars.
A friend of mine has recently bought a 2.0i Roadster. Now driving that on the road I can feel enough of a difference to have convinced me to go for the 3.0si. Seeing as people take 0-62 times as gospel, you can see a big difference there between performance. Nice car all the same though. (I still prefer the coupe mind)>
But I would say that because I own a 3.0si!!
I haven't driven a 2.5 so can't comment there. At the end of the day they all look similar so you take what's good for your budget and what your using it for and at the end of the day we all sit in the same traffic jams and are restricted (sometimes) by the same speed limits!!
But I would say that because I own a 3.0si!!
I haven't driven a 2.5 so can't comment there. At the end of the day they all look similar so you take what's good for your budget and what your using it for and at the end of the day we all sit in the same traffic jams and are restricted (sometimes) by the same speed limits!!
alex85, I think you should really get out and try them both to see, you'll find the used prices extremely close together, and the 3.0 was better kitted out as standard, but you might find an optioned-up 2.5 that is equally as nice.
Pre-facelift, the only real significant mechanical difference is the 5 speed 'box on the 2.5 as opposed to the 6 speed on the 3.0
Pre-facelift, the only real significant mechanical difference is the 5 speed 'box on the 2.5 as opposed to the 6 speed on the 3.0
Why would we want to advertise to the world we had money to burn? :lol:GP20 said:But at the very least I can respect the fact that Si owners defend your cars and are proud of your cars' performances. At least you're not putting fake ///M badges on your cars.
oke: :fuelfire:Anyhow, I have an M badge on mine as standard.
alex85 said:OK then, get off the M vs 3.0 debate and onto the 3.0 vs 2.5 debate... just for me
For those that have driven both, which did you go for in the end, why, and was there THAT much difference?
Cheers
I had had a 2.5i for about a year back in '04 and had no plan to change cars, took one test-drive in a 3.0i and bought a 3.0i SMG (at another dealer) literally 3 days later. :rofl: Of course it also made a lot more sense for me to do the upgrade since the 3.0i was equipped with the sport packge (particularly sport button) & had SMG whereas my 2.5i was non-sport & had steptronic.
GP20 said:
I think thats an excellent way of explaining it.
There is a 2 second gap between the 0-60 on a Ferrari F430 and a Golf GTI 2.0T...that could be a fluffed gear change too...
Breaker said:
Sure it was a bargain to buy, but it costs more to run, service and insurer....if there was no real difference, why would you even consider it?
Surely you would just be 'burning money' like the rest of us, blinded by the badge?
GP20 said:
Me too LOL. Had a 330 Sport, test drove an M3 because I was bored one afternoon...I had always convinced myself the difference was marginal (look at the stats). Difference, of course, is bloody massive and makes you laugh out loud for the first 10 miles. Bought an M3 within days. Same happened when I test drove the 3.0 and Z4M back to back...power is an addiction!
Have to say I agree with Mikedav and GP20. The difference is quite large. There is no point taking the 0-60 times (I am wondering why car manufacturers arent moving up to 0-100 now, what with so many cars in the low 3s and some in the 2s where it is all about grip and not power to that speed). However I also agree with Breaker, in the twisties it is really all about the driver. I have kept up with a 360 Ferrari and a Porker Turbo (not 997, old one, 996 or whatever it was called, the variations confuse my simple mind!) whilst I was driving my Civic Type-R. At the next set of lights neither driver would aknowledge me and if I had started in front I am positive they would have done the old 'slow down cos Im so not interested in this race' :wink:
I considered it because there was so much passion on this thread about the M being sooo much better than the 3.0si I just had to look at one because surely all these people can't be mad?mikedav said:
When one came up for that price I chanced it (I could have sold the next day for more than I bought it for to another dealer at that price!!). Deal wasn't right, not a big enough difference to warrant the change. Concluded that maybe those people were mad!! :fuelfire:
Yep, which is why I still have my 3.0si!!mikedav said:Surely you would just be 'burning money' like the rest of us, blinded by the badge?
OK, I'll stop M-baiting now! :slappy:
By the way (being serious for once!) how big is that box-in-the-boot!! :| I was surprised how much space that took up in the M coupe's, never mind the roadster's! :?
Well last weekend I had a couple of large training bags in the boot along with some smaller bags, called to a shopping centre on the way home and if I had of bought the M version, I wouldn't have got the PS3 game Rock Band (bought the band-in-a-box with the drums, guitar and mic!) in the boot so couldn't have got it home!!
Ok, the testosterone is getting to be just too much in here. Last word of advice from me: drive the damn thing. If YOU can feel the difference and you can afford all the other stuff (not just purchase price) then go for it. But don't ANY of you //M drivers look down on any of us "other" Z drivers. Ever. :x :x
To be fair I don't think anyone is looking down on anyone. :wink:
The M drivers are more likely to look up to us when they meet a 3.0si on the road and can't loose it! :stir:
Now, that would settle a few things but I certainly am not suggesting or condoning any form of street racing!! :innocent:
Ooops, I'm off again!! :headbang: :rofl:
The M drivers are more likely to look up to us when they meet a 3.0si on the road and can't loose it!
:stir: Now, that would settle a few things but I certainly am not suggesting or condoning any form of street racing!! :innocent:
Ooops, I'm off again!! :headbang: :rofl:
Smokin said:
Not sure where that is coming from. Bottom line - buy and drive what you like.
BTW I "drive the damn thing" every day. :driving:
If you are all stuck in traffic like I read in this thread, I pity you. You don't even need any Z4 then. For me, I wind it up every day at least in one direction to/from work. I guess one advantage in living in a large, sparsley populated country.
Cheers, Al
I had to visit a rural location for business on Wednesday - hit 160km 5 to 6 times at full throttle through third gear. Om my daily commute I average two full redline third gear runs. For sitting in traffic days (home office) I take the Saturn - BTW, I think the Saturn can take a 2.5 Z! Better on gas too and only cost $14,000.Rama said:Smokin said:
Not sure where that is coming from. Bottom line - buy and drive what you like.
BTW I "drive the damn thing" every day. :driving:
If you are all stuck in traffic like I read in this thread, I pity you. You don't even need any Z4 then. For me, I wind it up every day at least in one direction to/from work. I guess one advantage in living in a large, sparsley populated country.
Cheers, Al
You Canadians want to see my drive to work!! :|
I bought a 50cc Aprilia scooter to get to work as it's the quickest form of transport the roads are that busy as I can get on the outside of stationary traffic and use bus lanes!!!! :wink:
UK has very different roads to the USA and Canada!!
Maybe I should have called this thread "What real world difference is there between engines on UK roads?".
I bought a 50cc Aprilia scooter to get to work as it's the quickest form of transport the roads are that busy as I can get on the outside of stationary traffic and use bus lanes!!!! :wink:
UK has very different roads to the USA and Canada!!
Maybe I should have called this thread "What real world difference is there between engines on UK roads?".
