Z4M or 3.0 si?

[enfield]

I think the only smart option would be a 'smart' car

Not so "smart" where I live.... especially in the weather we have today :lol:
..20+cm of snow this a.m. & still coming down

That's GLOBAL WARMING for you

My Infiniti FX45 did a great job today. No worries. Winter tires helped!! Drove over everything

 

[inTgr8r]

My Infiniti FX45 did a great job today. No worries. Winter tires helped!! Drove over everything

Definitely an SUV day today
- my old rwd F-150 made it through OK...
I have 2 tubs of limestone fines in the back for traction.

 

[Elliot]

M all the way, get the top end car.
The 3.0 is a nice engine but IMO screaming out for more power hence the ///M
I know it cant often be used but i just cannot buy lower spec and then wonder what the 'big' one would have been like

 

[gannet]

not having driven the M...

my 3.0 is more than fast enough in 99% of on road situations IMHO. Probably also depends what car you are coming from and what kind of a step up the 2 cars would be for you. If coming from a super quick car anyway, then the 3.0 may seem slow, if coming from a slow small hatch, the 3.0 is quick. Personally I love my 3.0 and would need a big excuse to trade up to the extra required for the M. just my 2p worth...

 

[Jackers42]

Not sure if this has already been mentioned but the later 3.0 engine in the roadster (and all 3.0 coupes) will be more powerful - is it 265 against 231? - although still quite some way short of the M.

 

[Elliot]

I agree too The 3.0 is plenty fast enough......Its just i wanted more power, I actually only tested the M, the Z4 3.0 Coupe came as a loaner when mine was in for a new headlight.
I came from Porsches so i also agree with Gannet re: your route to the Z4, if you drove a big car previously then an M may be the route that would suit you best.
whatever your choice they are all good. 8)

 

[Jas667]

If I am licky, set on cruise control on the bypass I will get mid 20s mpg. Anywhere else it drops way way down, 17/18mpg. Mikedav my 185 to a tank is mostly town driving but it is pretty much what I consistantly get no matter what. Might have something to do with loving the sound the car makes when being pushed

 

[Jas667]

Agree with GP20

 

[scottish69]

Ive got a golf gti at the mo - so would the 3.0 seem faster? Its only got 10% more torque at peak revs.....

 

[Wondermike]

Ive got a golf gti at the mo - so would the 3.0 seem faster? Its only got 10% more torque at peak revs.....

Different league altogether - you're looking at an Si facelift car with 265bhp, then you're about 1.5s faster to 60 and over 3s faster to 100mph, that's a big difference. The GTI engine (assuming it's a 2.0T with 197bhp) gets really breathless above 5000 rpm, it's like a diesel engine. Plus when you floor it in the Z4 you don't get the torque-steering, it just goes.

I like the GTI and had a fairly extended test drive in a DSG car a few years ago, but it isn't in the same league as a Z4. Look at the new prices - 33k against 21k.

 

[dgm]

No offence but I can't seriously believe that people believe a 3.0l comes close to the M in terms of performance. And if you think you can't use that extra performance in day to day driving then you probably have made the right choice in the 3.0l which I'm sure is fast enough in isolation but not in comparison to the M. It's not only in terms of acceleration and power, the handling in the M is in a different league. Again if you don't appreciate that then you haven't even begun pushing your car to anywhere near it's limits.

Sorry if that sounds arrogant but the difference in the 2 cars is much greater than many seem to realise here.

 

[Rama]

The Z4M is a very uncomfortable car to drive, especially on B roads, and the added thrill is cancelled out by the amount of thrill that can be had with the 3.0 along with the better (lesss harsh) ride and the cost of running it.

I've owned both an M54 3.0i and now the Z4M. The Z4M, in stock form and with the extra sidewall thickness, rides more comfortable than my old 3.0i with run-flat tires.

The Z4M will be fantastic for the first two to three months and then you will be thinking, I would have been just as happy with the Z4 3.0, anmd have more money to afford to go out in it more.

Having owned both a regular Z4 and a Z4M, I'm re-assured that I could simply never go back to a regular Z4. I don't think I would ever bother with a non-M BMW sports car either.

You also need to think about the actual time you will be able to spend with the car using that extra performance, which is not very often, unless you are wanting to take it on the track which I suspect you don't.

Sorry I disagree. If that's true, we might as well all be driving Miatas.

I agree 100%, especially with point #1. I had a 2003 3.0, and I had decided that I didn't want an M based on the fact that the 3.0 was so difficult to keep on the road on rough roads, I simply could not imagine how difficult the M would be with so much more power. However, I drove the M over those same roads on my test drive, and bought the car on the spot. For me the ride and handling are what sold me on the M, not necessarily the power (although that's a pretty nice bonus. ).

 

[dgm]

I second that, the roads in my area are in shocking condition just now and the M handles them at speed without becoming unsettled and with surprising comfort for a car set up so firmly.

 

[scottish69]

I test drove the first gen 350Z and found it to be "*king quick". Just didnt buy it based on the aweful interior. Seems the interior has improved and its got more power than before. Might go and test drive the new one now against the 3.0si coupe z4.

I guess ill be happy as long as the Z4 is torquey and an improvement over my GTI (dsg). Residuals on the Z4 do worry me though - im looking at 25/26k for a black one with red leather. Cant find one near me though! Seems the Z4 will like 7k in my first year of ownership - thats not even from new!

 

[Breaker]

I test drove the first gen 350Z and found it to be "*king quick". Just didnt buy it based on the aweful interior. Seems the interior has improved and its got more power than before. Might go and test drive the new one now against the 3.0si coupe z4.

The 350Z and the Z4 3.0si were the 2 cars I narrowed down as my next model. The Z4 won mainly on the interior finish. The 350Z just looked like a 1980's Ford interior to me!

I also had a choice of an Z4 M, but decided on the 3.0. Was it my imagination, or does the 3.0si sound better than the M? The M just sounded a bit quiet? :|

 

[fire-n-ice]

Well to tell the truth when I bought my 2003 3.0i there were no M Z available on the market. And by the time the M was on the market my car was depreciated over 40% so I couldn't afford one. Instead of upgarading the car to an M I bought an American Muscle car from the 60s for the straight line perfromace ...

For me, between 3.0 and M, the major difference is the LSD which you can now get from several suppliers. Other than that I am not after the power. 231hp is already enough for me in a roadster.

HOWEVER, if I would not have my 3.0, I would definately go for the M...

There ya go! I grew up helping my brother and dad build muscle cars. Now that's some adrenaline-dumping speed there....whew!!! :heat: . My brother still builds them, but all his own and my Chevy p.u. is in perpetual rebuilding mode, I just love the sound of raw power
Comparing these types of cars to the M is laughable, so it just depends on what you want and what your wallet can dish out. I still love straight-line performance, but of course, when it comes to curves the BMW's have it down nicely, M or no M

 

[scottish69]

So the 350z's and Z4 3.0si coupe is similar in performance then? If so then im sold on the 3.0 - your right the 350z interior is like a taxi thats why i didnt buy one.

Anyone here compared the gti to the 3.0si?

S>

 

[gannet]

My Father in law has a 350z and when I drove it I could tell little difference in speed etc to the Z4, certainly didnt make me feel as though I made the wrong decision with the Z4.

In comparison it felt big and heavy...

 

[Jas667]

The 350z is very similar to the 3.0l performance wise...not interior wise though!
If you are stepping out of a gti then u will notice a massive difference with the 3.0l, you will love it!

 

[Jackers42]

I test drove a 350z before getting the Z4C and loved every minute! I floored it in every gear and generally drove like an idiot...as you do on a test. I didn't care about the interior as the exterior view was a permanent blur!

But it wasn't for me. What about when you're driving responsibly? Or in traffic? Was it a nice place to be in? Only when it's being caned...which for me is some 10% of the time.

So I went for the mature choice - the best looking car around, beautifully put together, distinctive, smooth and silent around town or cruising... but with just enough of an edge for when you get the urge!