I'll tell you shortly chaps. I have full Autocar road test info for both cars.
Where would you/did you go from an M?
- Thread starter JayEmm
- Start date
I had a small run with a Bentley Conti last year. Heading out of a 50 motorway zone up to, ahem, 75mph, neck and neck. I let him continue on once we'd hit 75 of course.
Stevo
Stevo
Am I the only one who thinks the costs to the Z4M are reasonable? I never worried about the cost of parts and servicing had discs insII oil tyres etc thought it was a cheap mini super car... Compare it to a amv8 people are like Ye they are cheap... Try bloody running one it will never be out the garage bleeding you dry that's why they are so cheap. Crap performance for the calibre, redic expensive to run, time bombs would be the last thing I would look at.
Also it's hard to find a car now with manual options, the autos are incredible but half the fun for me is driving it, Rev match heel and toe an auto that does it all for you removes you from the experience IMO makes you think your a good driver when the car is doing it for you. Yes they are quicker but it's not all about that for me. I like the older naturally aspirated cars too, hard to find any NA cars at all. The BM 6s are some of the best ever made.
Maybe in the world of the average car driver but any petrol head knows how good the E46 M3 is, yes they are bought ragged and written off by stupid idiots and have a slightly chavvy association. Wouldn't stop me buying one, had multiple M cars and think that is up there with the very best just got to make sure you get a good one. Makes a very reasonable to run cheap rocket daily imo.
Also it's hard to find a car now with manual options, the autos are incredible but half the fun for me is driving it, Rev match heel and toe an auto that does it all for you removes you from the experience IMO makes you think your a good driver when the car is doing it for you. Yes they are quicker but it's not all about that for me. I like the older naturally aspirated cars too, hard to find any NA cars at all. The BM 6s are some of the best ever made.
Maybe in the world of the average car driver but any petrol head knows how good the E46 M3 is, yes they are bought ragged and written off by stupid idiots and have a slightly chavvy association. Wouldn't stop me buying one, had multiple M cars and think that is up there with the very best just got to make sure you get a good one. Makes a very reasonable to run cheap rocket daily imo.
tomscott said:
I had the Z4 M precisely because it was almost like an M3, without being an M3.
I had a 330Ci and the M3 just never seemed special *enough* for me. I went to a 645 rather than the E46 M3 and although it is a totally different car, was the right decision for me at the time. I had a V8 itch to scratch, but couldn't afford an E92 M3.
original guvnor said:
Right chaps here you go (just call me Statto). All of these are Autocar road tests with proper timing gear, tested 2-up with a full tank of fuel. I've shown 0-60, 0-100, 0-130, 1/4 mile and 50-70. I've thrown a few other interesting examples in as well so you can see some context.
As I said, the Bentley is no quicker than a Z4M......
0-60/0-100/0-130/quarter mile/50-70
Z4M 5.1/11.9/20.0/13.6/2.7
Bentley GTC 552hp 5.0/11.9/20.3/13.6/2.8
S-Drive 35i 5.1/12.3/22.3/13.7/2.5
1M Coupe 4.6/11.3/20.5/13.3/2.5
RS3 4.5/11.2/20.4/13.4/2.6
TTRS 4.7/11.4/20.1/13.3/2.6
M4 4.1/8.8/14.5/12.3/1.9
M5 4.3/9.0/14.5/12.4/1.7
RS4 4.4/10.3/18.2/12.8/2.8
RS5 4.6/10.7/18.5/13.0/2.9
F-Type V6S Coupe 4.9/12.1/22.3/13.6/2.6
991 Carrera 4.8/10.8/17.6/13.2/2.2
981 Boxster S PDK 4.7/11.4/21.1/13.2/2.5
Golf R DSG 4.8/12.0/23.5/13.4/2.7
M4 :sweetheart:
The M5's weight counts against it. Yes they are 5 seconds quicker. I've driven an M4 - they are ballistic. Way, way faster than my Z4MC.
Beedub said:
The auto boxes blunt them and they are nowhere near as "special" as an S54, but they are not engines to be sniffed at.
Don't forget they are torquier than an E92 M3 in a package that actually weighs a similar amount. What they are missing is the top-end rush of an M motor, and the soundtrack.
Edit: BMW 650i = 367hp @ 6300rpm, 360ft lb @ 3400 rpm, weight approx 1700 KG in coupe form
E92 M3 = 414bhp @ 8300 rpm, 295 ft lb @ 3900 rpm, weight approx 1600kg in coupe form
That's 20% more torque for about 5% more weight
I would love a CSL shame they are smg tho 
wish they had stuck a manual in one.
Try finding a good one for less than 45k tho for a 12 year old car. Amazing cars and beautiful very unique but the GT3 is and always will be a better car.
For me I want something I can seat a few more people in and a bigger boot and the S54. In different circumstances tho your looking at cars 3x the value of the max e46 M3. I'm swanning around SA unemployed haha! So want something that is effective get back into an M car and won't break the bank when I get home!
Then eventually another Z4M coupe for the weekend
wish they had stuck a manual in one.Try finding a good one for less than 45k tho for a 12 year old car. Amazing cars and beautiful very unique but the GT3 is and always will be a better car.
For me I want something I can seat a few more people in and a bigger boot and the S54. In different circumstances tho your looking at cars 3x the value of the max e46 M3. I'm swanning around SA unemployed haha! So want something that is effective get back into an M car and won't break the bank when I get home!
Then eventually another Z4M coupe for the weekend
tomscott said:I would love a CSL shame they are smg tho
Try finding a good one for less than 45k tho for a 12 year old car. Amazing cars and beautiful very unique but the GT3 is and always will be a better car.
For me I want something I can seat a few more people in and a bigger boot and the S54. In different circumstances tho your looking at cars 3x the value of the max e46 M3. I'm swanning around SA unemployed haha! So want something that is effective get back into an M car and won't break the bank when I get home!
Then eventually another Z4M coupe for the weekend
http://www.pistonheads.com/classifieds/used-cars/bmw/e46-m3-00-06/bmw-m3-m3-csl-2dr-smg-auto-e46-csl-low-mileage/2132092
£45k is really low mileage Hexagon / Munich Legends pricing.
You could get a decent CSL for £35k....even closer to £30k if you are willing to go higher mileage (>65k). But I take your point, a CSL is maybe not the most sensible choice upon your return. A decent E46 M3 is undoubtedly great value for money, but for me it's just not special enough. I have the manual S54, so a CSL (or maybe a 1M) is next on my list.
The CSL is a lovely beast but I just couldn't fork out that amount of money for something when I'm nowhere near a good enough driver to appreciate the difference. I'd rather have the regular car with manual and a CSL airbox.... or a Z4 M 
But the regular car is no slouch, so there's that and there's lots of 'em
But the regular car is no slouch, so there's that and there's lots of 'em
