Z4ms replacement

[Jaw]

Long shot, but just wondering if anyone has had some seat time in one or come across one at the track?

Still struggling to find a replacement worthy after the M, so have all but settled on one of three cars. One of them is an old school RT/10 which can be had for the same price as the M, but being fairly uncommon, I'm struggling with what they'll be like.. I don't want to go blind into a test drive - I'm easily impressed by loud noises and end up buying before thinking about it :lol: Plus I hate going for a test drive if I'm not 80% sure I want the car - I hate wasting people's time!

Pros being the v10, and low weight, as well as the looks (although A GTS would be better, A GTS-kitted cheap RT/10 does the trick for me and is convertible)

cons, faster in a straightline but far less composed than the Z (I'd imagine?), Less comfortable, Less toys (sat nav, cruise control (may have it, can be retrofitted), heated seats, power hood, abs, asm, HID's, Audio, etc etc.

Always like asking here because it's good to get the opinion of people who understand why I love the Z4. It's as close as I've come to the Z4 - old school muscle roadster charm, simplicity, and I suppose just a bit amplified.

I'm struggling to find a genuinely benchmarked review of one as there wasn't the same sort of competition back around then.

Bonus question, does a viper count as 'exotic' compared to a 360 etc? (it has it on the number plate lol)

Wondering if its a case of admire from afar!

 

[simonlpearce]

No idea on how they drive, but they look 8) , and would love to have a go in one myself one day. Vipers were definitely up there as one of my fav's as a kid growing up and have a certain stigma about them that a lot of other cars do not. I do however think it could be somewhat expensive to run/maintain.

Be interested to see how you get on with this

 

[mmm-five]

Here's a Top Gear comparison.

 

[dalecan]

I took one for a day many years ago in Vegas. I had a blast, it was such an occasion to drive. However, the handling is scary, to say the least. I got in the car, pulled out of the parking lot onto the strip and whoahhhhh....the back end came flying around. Luckily I caught it and just drove off like I meant it. My nephew was in the car and he thought I was cool, but I nearly s**t myself. After that we had a nice cruise down to and around Hoover dam.
They're great cars for straight roads. I have heard that you can do a lot with the handling. The engines are bull it proof. I'd own one in a heartbeat.

 

[Jaw]

Will give that a look cheers good find! That's the SRT-10 though - leap years ahead of the RT/10 I'd imagine (2004 onwards vs 1995 for the RT) Will still be an interested comparison Newer vipers are out of the question, you have to convert them to get them on the road here, so the $40k us buy price has an extra $50k AU tacked on to it

No idea on how they drive, but they look 8) , and would love to have a go in one myself one day. Vipers were definitely up there as one of my fav's as a kid growing up and have a certain stigma about them that a lot of other cars do not. I do however think it could be somewhat expensive to run/maintain.

Be interested to see how you get on with this

Yeah that's the thing, trying to figure if the typical yank stigma applies to them or if it's just the stereotype. The hoods on them look like absolute garbage on the down side, and being able to push a button to raise it will be missed.. Running won't be too bad, fuel isn't pricey here, insurance is the same as the Z, dealer prices to maintain the history on the beem will be comparable to maintaining the viper myself / getting a specialist (cheap, parts from the us, euro parts are ridiculous here)

 

[Jaw]

I took one for a day many years ago in Vegas. I had a blast, it was such an occasion to drive. However, the handling is scary, to say the least. I got in the car, pulled out of the parking lot onto the strip and whoahhhhh....the back end came flying around. Luckily I caught it and just drove off like I meant it. My nephew was in the car and he thought I was cool, but I nearly s**t myself. After that we had a nice cruise down to and around Hoover dam.
They're great cars for straight roads. I have heard that you can do a lot with the handling. The engines are bull it proof. I'd own one in a heartbeat.

Ah awesome! How did you find it on the cruise to hover dam? I had a Stingray convertible when I did it (suprisingly a very good car!) and found it was good enough to have a play

was it as huge to drive as I'd imagine? did you find it *too* twitchy? at all planted in the twisties or just plain terrifying?

I can imagine there's a fair bit of aftermarket support in the suspension dept you're right.

What model did you have, how was the general 'feel' of it? The corvette was actually quite livable, typical gm/vauxhall build quality which I could live with. The later vipers by all accounts have stepped up the game but the earlier ones get mixed reviews?

Seeing the potential buy next Friday all being well

 

[Jaw]

having a dilemma.

The offer from the dealer as trade in is remarkably low for the Z. But I can make it happen. I've pretty much got my heart set on it. It has that x-factor that the Z is missing. That supercar feel. Which an extra 4.8 litres and 4 cylinders is bound to do I suppose. It's got that 'special' something which as amazing as the Z is, it's a bit too.. polished?

I think about what I fell or in the z and theyre remarkably simillar

Long bonnet, short arse. Check.
Two seats. Check.
Awesome engine? Check (less advanced than the m6 but possibly a good thing)
Roadster

What I'll miss? The quick fold roof, handling until I tweak it, anymsort of fuel economy. Sat nav and the awesome sojnd system. Build quality.

I accept what the dealer is offering, I loose a fortune and it's a fraction what I know the car is worth. Seeing them sell it for what I want to sell it for will do my head in. However the low price of the RT compared to the next available one is almost as much as the knockdown on the dealers offer. So if I sell for full price I will only have to spend the same to get the same car - except a dealer won't make a massive markup..

The RT is raw muscle, lazy yet brutal, simple, no complicated electronics and luxuries, hell the roof doesnt even stay attached when you take it off. But I get a bigger wow factor looking at it than I do a gallardo - and that was my other 'dream car'.

Getting excited to sort the deal out on friday - I've wanted a viper since I was about 7 years old playing with my toy model version. Hopefuly will have some photos to share when it's final..

 

[simonlpearce]

Subscribed!

You only live once my friend, and you can't take you money with you!

 

[Jaw]

Subscribed!

You only live once my friend, and you can't take you money with you!

...And with that, contract to buy signed, M valued and accepted and the waiting game to collect begins!!

 

[simonlpearce]

Nicely done. Look forward to the pics/updates.

 

[buzyg]

You have done the right thing, my friend. Reading this thread it's so clear you had to buy the Viper. They are awsome cars. 8) :evil: Just stay out of small villages on bank holidays. They are also very wide. :wink:

When do you pick her up?

 

[Jaw]

You have done the right thing, my friend. Reading this thread it's so clear you had to buy the Viper. They are awsome cars. 8) :evil: Just stay out of small villages on bank holidays. They are also very wide. :wink:

When do you pick her up?

argh. wrote a post and it got deleted.

Time for some pics!


I remembered that I want the next car to exceed the Z4M in the ways I love it. The sound, the drama, the looks (I still find it stunning to look at, especially with the RPI, and the little touches such as the AFE and the brace, bigger wheels with sticky rubber etc all makes it drive just as I love

anyway enough rambling, here she is:

Hoping to collect Monday, had to transfer some cash from a savings account so just waiting for that to go through and I'll be down there like a shot

I've dreamt about a viper since I was 8 (and a supra) And randomly am about to have both so to same I'm ecstatic is an understatement!

 

[Marky Mark]

Superb you wanted a monster you got one.... congrats ..............

 

[A320_phill]

:wub:

 

[Beedub]

supercharged z4m is more special imo..... and you'll have a far better platform for actually going fast! These ar ACE mile cars, but for actually driver enjoyment, just No... imo of course.

 

[Jaw]

supercharged z4m is more special imo..... and you'll have a far better platform for actually going fast! These ar ACE mile cars, but for actually driver enjoyment, just No... imo of course.

I'd agree with that in a way, which is why it's been such a hard choice! I look at the M and after 3 years it still excites me and there's very little that I feel I *need* to change with it - Plus after adding the RPI, playing with the geometry, renewing a few bits of trim etc, she's nearly perfect (the next step was going to be a kw kit) whereas straight off the bat the Viper will be getting Brembos, a retrimmed dash, new seats and sat nav retrofitted, and later the suspension will need sorting.. Thing is I guess the Beem is starting to feel like it lacks that 'x' factor that you'd get in say a 360/lambo/viper/aston/even a porsche which is the one of those things no amount of mods would cure even though supercharging was on the cards

Funnily enough a guy who came to buy my ducati fell in love with it and I took him for a spin - and he could see why I said I'd actually be upset seeing it go, but when he asked why I was selling, all I had to say was 'well, I'm not sure. It's the perfect car for me but..' and he interjected with 'it feels a bit too refined?' and he got it straight off the bat.

I guess it's because it's a car I stumbled upon rather than aspired to.. I can tell I'll be gutted to trade over, more so than any car I've ever owned - but it's the only car I've looked at and thought 'but I'll get over it!' But with the same kerb weight as the Z4M, with more power in a lazy v10 it satisfies the part of me that wanted an m6, the part of me that wanted a ferrari or something exotic to a degree, and the part of me that has kept the Z for so long that loves the traditional roadster format.

Plus with a KW setup and polybrushed, it will handle much more compliantly than it has the right to. Headers, cat delete and exhaust, and breather mods will smack up an extra 35 rwhp + I'm told and that's before I start looking at the possibility of supercharging etc.

It's very strange, I can't really explain why the viper does it for me over the Z4M. The thought of 430 RWHP / 490 Torque at the wheels with a bolt on zorst is an exciting prospect.

Although I did find it hilarious when a trainee bmw salesperson asked me last week. ''is it a diesel? auto or manual?'' after telling me that they would have gotten me a better deal on a trade in.

 

[beanie]

Wow! great choice. 8)

I dreamt of these as a kid too and even though I remember the interior to be shockingly plasticky, nothing could take away from the looks and the drama of it.

Can't say I agree with you on a charged z4m being more special beedub. No doubt it's an incredible car you have and I'm sure it would run rings around the viper, even as standard! In fact I'm positive a z4m is better in almost every measurable way, but for me at least, the viper is in another league. It's ridiculous, OTT, and proper poster car stuff. I love them!

how are the boring things though, like parts availability and specialists?

 

[Jaw]

Wow! great choice. 8)

I dreamt of these as a kid too and even though I remember the interior to be shockingly plasticky, nothing could take away from the looks and the drama of it.

Can't say I agree with you on a charged z4m being more special beedub. No doubt it's an incredible car you have and I'm sure it would run rings around the viper, even as standard! In fact I'm positive a z4m is better in almost every measurable way, but for me at least, the viper is in another league. It's ridiculous, OTT, and proper poster car stuff. I love them!

how are the boring things though, like parts availability and specialists?

Yeah that sums it up nicely! I know the Z4M would be the better car, it's the ridiculous unnecesarryness of it that the purposeful, luxury Z4 doesn't pull rank.

Servicing wise? Generally planning to DIY. the car has limited history with it at the moment but then has very low milage too. That with the age of it will mean a folder full of receipts should suffice and the new house will have a hoist eventually.. Plus the engine is very accessible with the whole front lifting off. Parts are cheap ex USA compared to BMW parts and I won't need to maintain the books a la Z4M so no more expensive dealer trips.

Being used in the dodge pickup trucks means that the parts are cheaper than they might be otherwise. Specialists wise, not many, but then I couldn't find many that I trusted for the BM either. I think that's part of the problem, I was holding off serious mods partially for harming residuals but because I didn't find many trustworthy places to do the work either - and couldnt diy for the same reason

May be a slight hicup in pickup but hopefully finding out more on monday

 

[Herminator]

Awesome car, looks great in black.
If I was where you are in the world I might think along the same lines, in the UK though the Z4M just makes more sense in all aspects.
I probably fell in love with the Viper in my teenage years of playing Gran Turismo, whilst most people lusted after Skylines.

The most recent one really took me by surprise when I sat in one. A good step up in quality for american cars, much like the Corvette. But the early Vipers still have a simplistic charm.

Looking forward to more pics.

 

[Jaw]

Need for speed was what sold the vipers to me but GT definatley enforced it, bolt on turbo, 1001 bhp, awesome!

Yeah I'm genuinely impressed with the american sportscars of today and wish the budget could have stretched to an SRT or something from this decade. I had a stingray on hire earlier in the year, and in one respect they're made of cheaper materials but the general comfort, toy spec, and drivability is a far cry from the old stereotypes of a muscle car. I'd even go as far as to say it handled well, sounded great and for $50k they're undeniable value. It even had a function where you tap in a pin into the screen to enable a valet mode where the car is limited to 30mph and the boot is inaccessible. Then unlock it, put your foot down and let the onboard computer measure you going 0-60 in 3.9 seconds but alas the only 04 for sale here is $150k..