Z Series BMW E89 Z4 Test Drives Thread

[klier]

^ Very strange. Every review I have read so far is quite positive

 

[mike.blueberry]

i'm sure the Z4 will be a blast to drive despite its weight.
it's no porsche boxster, end of story. still a fun roadster.


Mike

 

[ree]

AMS: BMW Z4 - test

 

[Foxfire]

It's not just EVO that was rather disappointed with the new Z4... I think also Drivers Republic, some of the british car mags (don't really remember whether it was Car, AutoCar or AutoExpress, since they are all pretty similar), TopGear online...
I believe some even mentioned that 3er coupe is a sportier, more fun car.

 

[ree]

It's not just EVO that was rather disappointed with the new Z4... I think also Drivers Republic, some of the british car mags (don't really remember whether it was Car, AutoCar or AutoExpress, since they are all pretty similar), TopGear online...
I believe some even mentioned that 3er coupe is a sportier, more fun car.

Yep, AMS wrote that the less heavy old BMW Z4 3.0iS gets nearly the same acceleration data…will search for a old test to check this out and compare the data!!

 

[Centurion]

I seen the new Z4 Roadster and its a beauty and attention grabber, isn't that what Roadsters are about?

Not really. That's the purpose of a coupe. Like the name suggest, roadsters are meant to be read demons. It's the one element that's kept the Mazda MX-5 and Boxster popular amongst enthusiasts.

Money makes the world go around and BMW have figured that they'd be better off making an all-round that can satisfy everyone rather than targeting driving enthusiasts like they did with the predecessor. But it is a bit unfortunate that BMW chicked out and decided to make a SLK competitor, after all the Z4 has been the only true sports car that BMW have during the recent years, and not it's dead. Now BMW is just left with luxury cars, SUVs and MPVs in their lineup. Porsche have been making cash off the Boxster for years and it doesn't seem that they are going to bail out on the formula anytime soon.

Yes the Z2 is on the way but it will be powered by a three pot engine and thus won't be the ultimate driving machine.

 

[klier]

^ I lol'd. Nice story.

 

[ree]

Comparison data: Z4 3.0si vs. Z4 sDrive 35i

Yep, AMS wrote that the less heavy old BMW Z4 3.0iS gets nearly the same acceleration data…will search for a old test to check this out and compare the data!!

The difference is not as big as I expected. Although the 3.0si has 41 hp less…!

BMW Z4 3.0si


BMW Z4 sDrive 35i



But you can clearly see the 400Nm of the 35i by comparing the elasticity! 2 sec (80-120) in 6. gear is a lot!!

 

[Centurion]

^ I lol'd. Nice story.

Typical peculiar Klier remark when anyone puts forward constructive criticism about a Bimmer. Try something different for a change.

 

[mike.blueberry]

The difference is not as big as I expected. Although the 3.0si has 41 hp less…!

for the particular measure of 0-100, 5.6sec and 6.1sec are different leagues of cars.


Mike

 

[bmer]

Not really. That's the purpose of a coupe. Like the name suggest, roadsters are meant to be read demons. It's the one element that's kept the Mazda MX-5 and Boxster popular amongst enthusiasts.

Money makes the world go around and BMW have figured that they'd be better off making an all-round that can satisfy everyone rather than targeting driving enthusiasts like they did with the predecessor. But it is a bit unfortunate that BMW chicked out and decided to make a SLK competitor, after all the Z4 has been the only true sports car that BMW have during the recent years, and not it's dead. Now BMW is just left with luxury cars, SUVs and MPVs in their lineup. Porsche have been making cash off the Boxster for years and it doesn't seem that they are going to bail out on the formula anytime soon.

Yes the Z2 is on the way but it will be powered by a three pot engine and thus won't be the ultimate driving machine.

Uhm, AFAIK coupes are considered the more performance-orientated type of cars. That's why the possible M-version will probably be exclusive to the upcoming Z4 Coupe.

 

[Centurion]

Uhm, AFAIK coupes are considered the more performance-orientated type of cars. That's why the possible M-version will probably be exclusive to the upcoming Z4 Coupe.

Take a step outside the world of BMW and you'll see what the reality is. With the Cayman/Boxster and even the previous Z4 there are small incremental differences in terms of driving capabilities. If you opted for the drop top, you wouldn't miss out on anything because the car is a roadster and is more road focused than the average coupe like the 3er cabrio and Jaguar XK.

The E89 Z4 has changed the pecking order though. We can expect there to be a substantial difference between the coupe and cabrio, and main reason is that the car is now unholy as a roadster because of the hard top folding roof. It's become a heavy car car and regardless of the power increase that would come with an M engine, the car would still be noticeably behind the up coming coupe in the performance department. These are common short comings of a hard top folding configuration and the Mercedes SL is another great example of that. Now BMW will most likely separate the two Z4 models greatly.

Z4 roadster: For boulevards.
Z4 coupe: For twisty mountain roads.

Much of the press material tell the tale, champagne coloured exterior, light interior leather and wood inserts. Quite a contrasting difference from the E92 M3 press material which was bare and hardcore. Z4 Coupe is bound to enthusiasts.

 

[bmer]

Take a step outside the world of BMW and you'll see what the reality is. With the Cayman/Boxster and even the previous Z4 there are small incremental differences in terms of driving capabilities. If you opted for the drop top, you wouldn't miss out on anything because the car is a roadster and is more road focused than the average coupe like the 3er cabrio and Jaguar XK.

OK, let's take the Boxster and Cayman then.

This is what evo says about Boxster S:

The Boxster’s fine chassis seems unfazed by the extra urge. Certainly you can sense that it’s not as structurally solid as the Cayman, though the physical evidence is mostly the occasional bout of rear-view mirror tremors on a ruckled road rather than any wooliness and wobbliness felt through the steering wheel.

Evo on the Cayman S:

If any car deserves a great road to play on, it’s the Cayman. Dismissed by some as an aesthetically challenged Boxster with a tin top and by others as being chronically testosterone-lite, the Cayman is the purest and, in many respects, best car Porsche makes.

This just underlines the fact that the Boxster is slightly compromised in terms of sportiness compared to the Cayman. And that's how it has always been. Drop-tops sacrifice some of the structural rigidity for the delights of open air driving.

 

[Mr Robert]

Uhm, AFAIK coupes are considered the more performance-orientated type of cars. That's why the possible M-version will probably be exclusive to the upcoming Z4 Coupe.

Yes, coupes are all about performance and giving the most the brand can muster. Much like BMW did with the E92 M3. A roadster should always be light, imble and in its toes. Performance is not that important, as it has no roof it is a failure per se when it comes to basic design.

A roadster should be fun to drive and with excellent noice design. The open-top version of the Z4 is probably best with the 272 hp six.

And Cent, this has nothing to do with BMW.

 

[mike.blueberry]

aren't you guys stretching it a bit? of course roadsters are compromised because their roofs are butchered, but i've rarely seen a magazine say a big non-M coupe is sportier than a small roadster. I mean if it was a 6 series roadster, or some jaguar or aston martin, then ok..

The Boxster is the primary example of a good roadster. Its sporty suspension was never a problem. Yes the Cayman is the track tool and the difference can be felt, but people track boxsters all the time with big wheels, strong suspension and everything.

The Carrera GT is a roadster. There's a whole generation of Formula 1 cars that were roadsters..

Mike

 

[alistar26]

A Z4 Coupe? Have I missed something? Where does this great info comes from?

I love the new car and "stripped down" Z30 or Z35 with manual certainly aren't no slowpokes. But I do have to admit that such cars wouldn't quite fit with the intended market positionning.

By the way, for those of you who live in Paris, the new BMW/Mini Center will open next week in Vélizy. Think of it as a "small" BMW Welt.

I guess there will be a fleet of cars ready for test drives.

 

[Mr Robert]

BMW have figured that they'd be better off making an all-round that can satisfy everyone rather than targeting driving enthusiasts like they did with the predecessor.

Truth spoken, but then again. If BMW is not interested in my money, I'm not interested in them. MINI is the only truly sporty brand in the BMW portfolio.

Yes the Z2 is on the way but it will be powered by a three pot engine and thus won't be the ultimate driving machine.

V6 engines, I3 engines. They are truly loosing all the premium feel. V6 are worse than I3 engines, though...

V6 is the engine configuration with the least premium feel of all.

 

[klier]

Mini is the only sporty brand?? LOL!!!!!
Dunkel, sometimes I really think you're a MB fan in disguise You really do like taking sides with the haters all the time

 

[Mr Robert]

Mini is the only sporty brand?? LOL!!!!!
Dunkel, sometimes I really think you're a MB fan in disguise You really do like taking sides with the haters all the time

Hehe, it is quite an exaggreation, but in a sence, it is only MINI that has stayed true in other ways than just marketing and image.

The sporty cars from BMW are losing everything that used to make them special. There are cars from BMW that have sporty intentions, no doubt. But the future is far from bright. All sporty things are either cancelled or underachieving (the Z4, for instance).

When I'm buying a car, decisions are made 90% with the heart, based on emotions. BMW used to push all the right buttons. Not so anymore.

-AWD instead of RWD.
-Thirsty trucks instead of efficient sportscars.
-Heavyweight versions instead of lightweight versions.

The list goes on.

 

[klier]

That list doesn't count for the 'core' models 1er, 3er, 5er and 7er. They become lighter, will always have RWD, and become increasingly efficient