Z4 as a commuter?

T

tashdown

Member
Hi Gentlemen,

I have been looking at Z4's for about a month or two just waiting for the right one to purchase. For the last 9 years, I have been driving a (please no laughing) 1999 VW Jetta. I have about 160k miles on it, but it runs fantastic. Ive had a hard time convincing myself to buy something else because it runs so well and gets great gas mileage. I already married a hot girl, so driving a beater isn't a huge deal :D. I know the Jetta is going to crap out on me at some point and will need to be replaced. Until then, Ive been coveting a Z4 to keep in the garage and do weekend driving and date nights with the wife. But when the Jetta dies, I'll probably have to start driving the Z4 to work. I still hope to get another 40k miles out of the Jetta, but in case that doesn't happen, how happy am I going to be with the Z4 as a commuter? I drive 70 miles round trip, so gas and durability is a huge consideration. I know the Z4 gets pretty good mpg, but I dont know anything about how durable it is. Assuming I maintain it well, how many miles do you think it will last me before it gets too expensive to maintain? Im looking at a 2005-2007 3.0 (i or si) roadster with no more than 45k miles on it. Please let me know your thoughts or experiences with early repairs or whatever.

Also. . . with the roadster, what are the chances of getting a set of golf clubs in the back? Two sets? I'm assuming Im dreaming thinking about two, but give it to me straight.

Thanks!

-Travis
 
Welcome to the forum :thumbsup:

I was running my zed as a commuter. No issues. The car is very durable/reliable - one forum member saw over 200,000 miles.

Think you'll be able to fit a set of clubs in the boot, I havent tried, but I'm pretty sure they would fit :) Someone will correct me if I'm wrong
 
I have an '03 Z4 that I use daily to commute to work. My trip is 39 miles round trip on the highway, but w/ the added weekend leisure rides, I average 25mpg. Might not sound that good, but it's much better than the 18mpg that my Ridgeline gets. My only complaint is the flimsy cup holder. :thumbsup:
 
I've managed to get two pencil bags in the boot no problem!

Two standard bags should be fine. Might need to put drivers at an angle.

Touring bags, no chance.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
bertfull said:
I have an '03 Z4 that I use daily to commute to work. My trip is 39 miles round trip on the highway, but w/ the added weekend leisure rides, I average 25mpg. Might not sound that good, but it's much better than the 18mpg that my Ridgeline gets. My only complaint is the flimsy cup holder. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum :thumbsup: - 1 post in 3 years. You've done well to hold back :o
 
Adamski said:
Think you'll be able to fit a set of clubs in the boot, I havent tried, but I'm pretty sure they would fit :)
Click to expand...

You need to take the drivers (golf clubs) out of the bag but they will fit - the drivers will, just not while in the bag. As long as the golf bag's not too big you'll get two in the boot easily, with the roof down :thumbsup:
EDIT: as spearman said, really.

As for the other stuff, have a look at the Forum FAQ sticky on the General Discussion page - I'd go facelift Si if you can for slightly nicer trim as standard and less of a worry about the roof motor.

tashdown and bertfull, welcome to the forum.
 
bertfull said:
I have an '03 Z4 that I use daily to commute to work. My trip is 39 miles round trip on the highway, but w/ the added weekend leisure rides, I average 25mpg. Might not sound that good, but it's much better than the 18mpg that my Ridgeline gets. My only complaint is the flimsy cup holder. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Same here...about 36 miles round trip and love every minute of it. But every morning my Starbucks spills from rattling in that dang cupholder.


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=26.346247,-80.158491
 
tashdown said:
how happy am I going to be with the Z4 as a commuter?
Click to expand...

Travis, I drive mine to work everyday. In the interest of full disclosure, I live 3 miles from the office. But, I do go far out of my way to get home on evenings with nice weather (like today) to enjoy the top down experience. It's relaxing! The sun setting over the water makes it a lovely time of day for a drive in a covertible down the beachfront road.

tashdown said:
Assuming I maintain it well, how many miles do you think it will last me before it gets too expensive to maintain? Im looking at a 2005-2007 3.0 (i or si) roadster with no more than 45k miles on it.
Click to expand...

Mine is an '07 with 54000 miles on the clock. I can't tell you what it will be like at 100,000 miles, but so far I've only had basic things to replace-1 xenon headlight, 1 headlast ballast, 3rd brake lense, oil, brake pads/wear sensors/rotors. Since you only change the synthetic oil every 15,000 miles, I actually spend less on oil changes for the Beamer ($90 every 1-1.5 years) than I do on standard oil changes for my SUV ($35 every 3 months).

tashdown said:
Also. . . with the roadster, what are the chances of getting a set of golf clubs in the back? Two sets? I'm assuming Im dreaming thinking about two, but give it to me straight.
Click to expand...

z4trunkspace.jpg


All but the biggest driver just made it past the trunk threshold while still in the bag. I don't see you getting two club bags in the trunk. If I had taken out the pictured suitcase and battery jumper/air compressor, another golf bag would not have fit in there.

I hope this helps. I've never regretted buying a Z4.
 
SouthFloridaZ said:
bertfull said:
I have an '03 Z4 that I use daily to commute to work. My trip is 39 miles round trip on the highway, but w/ the added weekend leisure rides, I average 25mpg. Might not sound that good, but it's much better than the 18mpg that my Ridgeline gets. My only complaint is the flimsy cup holder. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Same here...about 36 miles round trip and love every minute of it. But every morning my Starbucks spills from rattling in that dang cupholder.
Click to expand...

Guys, y'all really need to consider the Ultimate Cupholders. http://www.ultimatecupholders.com/ I can't remember the last time I used the factory cupholders, and have never had a spill when using the UCs.
 
I use it as a commuter between work and school. The car is SO easy to work on... I replaced the valve cover gasket this morning and it took less then an hour. Parts are a little bit more pricer then my chevys', but I buy everything now off ebay which helps. I found it uncomfortable to sit in at first-- I drive 300 miles a week on average, but with adjustment to the seat its no big deal now.

golf clubs-- as seen above the drivers have to be taken out of the bag, but they'll fit. I've on occasion have laid them across the passenger seat.
 
I'm retired so I don;t commute but I do play golf. I put my folding cart in the boot because the wheels get so dirty and I place the bag into the passenger foot-well and resting on the seat. I leave the wife at home....works out just fine that way. :D
 
SouthFloridaZ said:
Same here...about 36 miles round trip and love every minute of it. But every morning my Starbucks spills from rattling in that dang cupholder.
Click to expand...

There's a trick to using the holders. Put the cup in and close the clasp, take the cup out and close the clasp by one notch, put the cup back in - now a tight fit.
 
Thanks for the responses guys! It's so nice to start in a new forum and get great, helpful responses. The info about the clubs is particularly helpful. The Jetta is a 99GLS (1999.5). As soon as I find the right one and get it, Ill post some pictures.

Last week I had found the one I had been looking for at a Toyota dealership. It was a recent 1 owner, 2006 3.0si with 41k miles on it. Black with beige interior. Looked really flawless. I had been speaking with the salesman for about a week negotiating on price and finally got down to a number that I liked. $19,500! We came to the agreement on Friday night, and told him Id be in to buy it on Saturday. So Saturday I call up, talk to him to make sure the car is still available and that they work with my credit union on weekends. He said all was good so I told him I was on my way. The dealership was about 90 miles away from my house. An hour and twenty minutes into the drive, 10 minutes away, he calls me up and told me he sold the car. Boy was I fuming!! After blowing my top with him and his manager, they could have cared less. The said the other guy got there first and I was SOL. Is that lame or what!
 
Re: golf clubs in the boot. I put a Titleist carry bag in the boot with the driver included without a problem. When its in, if you twist the bag to lay on its side (as opposed to the stand) you can get another one in but have to take the Big Dog out and lay it loose on top. When I'm feeling lazy, the boot can take my 10.5" tour bag and trolley battery (electric trolley in a bag on the passenger seat/footwell) but the Chief is laid loose on top.

Re: fuel consumption - don't you guys get it for like a $ a gallon anyway (even with the recent increase) :poke:
 
The Z4 is just about the most durable car BMW have made for 20 years IMO. Sure you could be unlucky but generally the engine, gearbox, suspension, electronics etc are solid.

I've used my manual Z4 with sport suspension as a daily driver for over 3 years and it's been great despite the traffic and speed bumps. I can only imagine how luxurious an automatic with regular suspension would be.

Also the Z is the most economical car in it's class, very good MPG for what it is.
 
tashdown said:
Thanks for the responses guys! It's so nice to start in a new forum and get great, helpful responses. The info about the clubs is particularly helpful. The Jetta is a 99GLS (1999.5). As soon as I find the right one and get it, Ill post some pictures.

Last week I had found the one I had been looking for at a Toyota dealership. It was a recent 1 owner, 2006 3.0si with 41k miles on it. Black with beige interior. Looked really flawless. I had been speaking with the salesman for about a week negotiating on price and finally got down to a number that I liked. $19,500! We came to the agreement on Friday night, and told him Id be in to buy it on Saturday. So Saturday I call up, talk to him to make sure the car is still available and that they work with my credit union on weekends. He said all was good so I told him I was on my way. The dealership was about 90 miles away from my house. An hour and twenty minutes into the drive, 10 minutes away, he calls me up and told me he sold the car. Boy was I fuming!! After blowing my top with him and his manager, they could have cared less. The said the other guy got there first and I was SOL. Is that lame or what!
Click to expand...

I had the same thing happen to me with a dealership far away and I was on the way to buy a car. They called me on my way and said the car sold. A few months later I found a much nicer car, newer with only 15,000 miles on it and all service records. Now I'm glad the other car sold before I could get there. :D :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom