Hi all,
Not much point to this post other than to say that despite all of the Gatsos, high fuel prices and petty law enforcement there are still occasional moments of greatness in this country, today I finally got to take my dad's Z4 for a short (third party insured only, hence careful) drive.
Wow.
Amazing.
The exhaust tone was music, the throttle response was quick, the steering and handling were sublime.
As per Jeremy on Top Gear when discussing the Aston Martin, it makes me sad that such moments of motoring greatness will shortly be consigned to the history books.
I want one, now. Too bad that for the foreseeable I will have to make do with polishing it lol.
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Yes, the Audi TT RS is much better. So is the Nissan 350/370Z. So is the Porsche Boxster.
I would not describe the steering of the old Z4 or even the new Z4 SDrive as "sublime", though it is better in the new car than it was in the old Z4.
HJ
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Ah yes, but there's no TT or 350Z on earth that I have personally spent a whole day machine polishing and restoring to a brilliant shine, that I helped buy and deliver to my dad as a surprise in the month it was launched in the UK, believe me, the car was sublime to me. I've waited since 2003 to drive it. :-)
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Had a go in a Z4 tin top last month- Bored one afternoon and I went to tease a salesman at the local BMW palace. Very, very accomplished - TT is used around here by all kinds of despardos and the 350z is too risky a buy since Renault took Nissan over. I'd have a z4 tomorrow.
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Problem with the TT is its terrible image - everytime I see one all I can think of is a slightly camp well-paid hairdresser with a sunglasses collection or a middle aged leather skinned woman who thinks it takes ten years off her but actually just confirms the what we all know. The Nissan has zero class and for that money I dont want to look like I have zero personality and need something so loud that people notice me.
I too covet the new Z4 because Im sure it drives well enough for 99% of people but it has something often missing in cars like this. It has subtle class.
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HJ was referring to the new TT RS which is a very nice car. The original TT ended up with a reputation like the others say but the current TT is a little different.
But I'd want something bigger so an A5 maybe.
Sounds like Blue enjoyed his drive in the Z4.
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I sure did, and one thing that is possibly worth bearing in mind is that I am talking about a 2003 Z4 here, not fair to compare it to a new model TT lol!
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The exhaust tone was music....
Nah!. I'll believe you if you claim that the exhaust note was wonderful, exhilarating, electrifying, thrilling, exciting, breathtaking, rousing, stirring, sonorous, enervating, vibrant....but "music" never. That's just journalistic hype.
I liked the rest of your review though, especially the way you gave the background to how you came to be driving this excellent machine. But when you resorted to cliches it made me as sick as a parrot.
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Be as sick as you like, it was music to my ears :-)
Even compared to the pleasant tone that my Mondeo makes when under load it was a welcome change.
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Nah!. I'll believe you if you claim that the exhaust note was wonderful exhilarating electrifying thrilling exciting breathtaking rousing stirring sonorous enervating vibrant....but "music" never. That's just journalistic hype.
Obviously you've never heard an American V8, then...
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Yes, I have. At the Annual Mustang meet at Waddesdon Manor. I try to go there every year.
I love the car and the sound of the V6 & V8's. I presume that you are a fan as well. If so, then I think that you have excellent taste.
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The Nissan has zero class
I too covet the new Z4 ............. It has subtle class.
Depends on your definition of class. For me, any motor which is viewed by the great unwashed as "classy" (Merc, BMW, Audi........) is anything but. Conversely, I view "nothing" brand motors like Nissans, Kias, Hyundais, FIATs as a far classier purchase than trying to scream "I'm classy" at everyone by driving a blingy blingy Merc/BMW etc.
Different folks, different strokes.
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If it's a six-cylinder Z4 I can see where Blue is coming from. A terrific noise.
It's made me resurrect my thread of last year (Fun car for £6k) which led me to getting a Z3 2.2 (it cost £8k but has held its value rather better than equity shares would have done).
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I've always loved that crisp, gravelly, metallic bark of the BMW straight six. One of the truly distinctive engine notes. I can hear a hard driven BMW streets away and immediately identify it as such. It's not just a straight six noise, but a BMW trademark version. I like it a lot.
Cheers
DP
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A friend of mine has just changed his Z4 for a TTRS soft top. It looks lovely in a metallic blue..on an 08 plate so may be an ex demo. Not as lovely as the original Elise though.
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But that won't be the new TT RS 5-cylinder will it? Was there a TTRS in the one based on the Golf chassis?
Apparently the new TT RS can have power tuned from the standard 335bhp to more like 360bph with relative ease. And with a bit more effort even 400bhp!
But I digress in a Z4 thread.
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I assume it must be the new one...I was not aware of an earlier model TT RS. By coincidence we were on holiday staying at the same hotel earlier this year, and he asked me (jokingly) if I wanted to buy his Z4 then. Apart from the fact I could not afford it, I have never liked its looks...I shall enquire as to why he changed.
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I think it's great that Blue got such a thrill from driving the car even if in a restrained manner.
I don't know about the music aspect of the exhaust note but it can be more entertaining to me than the radio - then again at times that's not hard.
Steve.
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