Silvafox

iTrader: (1)

Anyone got any experiences of them, ie owning, driving them? Was surprised last night after having a go in a friends. Didn't 'feel' as quick as my STI but was powerful and smooth. Had a quick race on my private road and the Z4 was sticking with me up to 80'ish then started closing the gap up to 100 quite convincingly. Didn't realise they were that quick?! Was impressed. Time to get to TSL me thinks and get that 333........

JDM

Haven't driven one but have been out accelerated by one at 90mph+. The 3.0 and Alpinas are fast little cars. I like them, if I was bent or a female and had the money I'd buy one.

Silvafox

iTrader: (1)

LOL. I was impressed top end.....no surprise there though against an MY02 STI.

Dapster

I have a 2.7 Boxster and my mate was selling his 325 Coupe. I was trying to get him into a Box S but he was determined to get something brand spanking new and so got a 3.0 Z4. Its a lovely car and such a brilliant engine. The cabin architecture is lovely and its bolted together really well.

He went for the 18" alloys and yes, the ride is very hard and the handling is compromised by this as well - it kind of jiggles around bumpy bends making you have to back off a bit. All in all a very very tasty bit of kit....

......BUT.... no surprise about the next bit....

It's not on the same planet as the Boxster. To my mind, the Porsche has a nicer sounding engine, handles much better, has a better chassis, is more rewarding to drive quickly, has a better box and nicer steering (by a county mile) and is the more complete sports car.

The interior of the Boxster is a joke and Porsche's have a worse image than Beemers if that's possible, but leave the "not a proper Porsche" and "hairdresser" jokes to those people that know nothing about cars and enjoy an amazing motor.

Silvafox

iTrader: (1)

If I had a choice I'd have the Boxster S anyday over a Z4. Another friend of mine recently took delivery of a limited edition Boxster S. Haven't been in it yet but looks very nice. 18" Carrera wheels and what looks like a 'carrera' style front on it in Carrara GT silver/grey. Think it cost him about £42,000.

Dapster

Thats the limited edition 550 Boxster S - 42k sounds a lot but it has every toy on the list. Now for 42 gees I'd be tempted with a used 996 but thats another story....

Silvafox

iTrader: (1)

Yeh thats the one. It was something like 40k. Best looking Boxster I've seen, only trouble is he drives like a granny, so it'll be as tight as a nuns chuff when its run in!

Brendan Hughes

*cough* RUF 3600 S *cough*

Silvafox

iTrader: (1)

Fair point......

Diablo

Its a BMW therefore is ****

Diablo

Right, thats that prejudiced view aired and we can now continue with sensible debate

Never been in one, but have heard (from real people, not magazines) nothing but good reports. Personally I think the current boxter looks poor with the extended front.

And looks are important in cars like these. To me the Z4 can look stunning in the right colour.

Brendan Hughes

Diablo, have you both been treated for schizophrenia recently?

Tiggs

Z4 is superb.

first of all its not in the same price bracket as a similar spec Box S so thats pointless to compare.

its very roomy inside which is a nice change from the Z3....tiny convertibles forced me into a TVR but my next will be a Z4.....only thing nearly as roomy is a TT.

inside is very cool and 3.0 is plenty quick enough for a soft top.

best £30k convertible around when yo look at the others.

and EVERY "look at me car" has its critics. scoobs are for poor chavs, boxters are gay wannabe 911 owners, etc, etc

bottom line......turn up to take a girl on a date in a Z4 are your laughin'

MJW

... but turn up in a Boxter and she'll be foaming at the gash !!

Tiggs

until she spots its not a 911 and that shes on a date with a gay haydresser!

also our Z4 has £10k left after his switch from buying a boxter to a Beemer so they are dinning in style.......gay hairdress is at a beefeater!

Diablo

LOL, no - Thought I'd post it to avoid all the anti BMW stuff that usualy follows

Dapster

Are all Beemer drivers this insecure?

MJW

Wouldn't you be if your drove a chewed-up Nik-Nak ?

PPPMAT

Hi Simon

I liked my Z4 (when it worked properly) wasn't as quick as the STI but not far off. Handling was excellent and felt very planted. 3.0l a gem of an engine and build quality generally good.

Funny you say that it was quicker at the top end as thats where mine started to run out of puff.

Nice car though - the alpina one is properly fast

Silvafox

iTrader: (1)

Matt, hows it going?! I remember you saying that it wasn't as quic kas you STI which is why I was surprsed last night at this one gaining quite quickly around the 100 mark. My STI doesn't feel quite as sharp at the minute after swapping the exhausts again though.....

PPPMAT

There would be nothing in it on the road - the STI felt faster but thats down to the power delivery. The STI is deceiving as you get the power in one great rush (if I recall). 3.0l is very smooth and torquey - lovely engine and gearbox. I suspect aerodynamics play a part at higher speeds

0-60 times are largely irrelevant these days I find - the 0-100 times are more of a comparison and in this regard the STI is quicker (but not by much)

I could tackle local roads at broadly the same speeds from memory (apart from when it was wet)

take care

Matt

Gubbins

if it was a PPP STI you drove, then I think your recall is incorrect. The STI felt faster cos it is faster.

Z4 3.0
0-60 mph: 5.7 sec
0-100 mph: 14.9 sec

STIPPP considerably quicker (0-100 around 2 seconds quicker, which is anyone's books is much quicker). I've driven a z4 3.0 (and owned a 330ci) - engine is great, but NO MATCH for an STI I'm afraid, even over 100mph.

Someone out there will have the performance figs. from Autocar???

30-70 thu gears;
80-100 - fastest gear.

Gubbins

...oh, and the c.o.drag for a z4 is 0.34, whereas an STI saloon is 0.33 Cd - so the STI is more slippy and aerodynamics not an advantage for the Z4.

Silvafox

iTrader: (1)

I think Matts STI wasn't PPP. But as I said in the first thread, the Z4 gained on me about 3 car lengths towards a 100. My STI's standard with full decat and I was going to around 6500 in each gear.

Silvafox

iTrader: (1)

That is very surprising!

Gubbins

...well here's my 2p's worth - played with one (and he was SERIOUSLY trying!) on an open straight road, slight incline. Car in front of him pulled in, he went for it. Kept up and then went by - not in a ****-all-over you sort of way, but fast enough - and it aint easy taking someone when they're on full bore.

I then slowed up a mile or so ahead, he came charging up my ****...so I booted it again, this time me in front. Left him panting - just drew away nicely....it was the 3l model. Pretty much as you'd expect anyway, as they have 231bhp.

Anyway, I love the look of them and would be happy to own one if I didn't have kids!

Edit: Oh, forgot to say, MY03 STI Type UK PPP.

PPPMAT

My STI was standard - the power to weight ratio of a standard sti and a 3.0l z4 is very similar. I agree a PPP'd version would no doubt be quicker.

You wouldn't buy a 3.0l z4 for acceleration and speed anyway - you'd buy an Alpina for that - they're about 230 bhp per ton and usefully faster than the 3.0l

Tiggs

saying a car was quicker than a Z4 is missing the point of such a car. i can run faster in my trainers than my smart shoes....but im not wearing trainers out and about.

T

ps (if anyone is thinking "whats he on about...i always wear my trainers out and about" then you feel free to not by a Z4!)