German Car Zone

warot · 10-10-2008, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinbo

Yeah. I know what you mean.

I had an SAP project manager that used to lend me the keys to her Z3 3.0i - y'know: the much better put together version. I had a blast in that one.

Then I had numerous weekends with a Z4 loaner and a good mate of mine subsequently bought one. That car just blew me away with the progress it had made over the Z3 and practically every other roadster in its vicinity barring - debatably - the Boxster S which is much more expensive.

I expect this new Z4 to make the same giant strides, particularly in the areas of ride refinement and turbo'd performance. Also, I hope they go straight for the performance benchmark and fit that 245 kW N54 engine immediately as there's really no need to pussyfoot about with the detuned engine - it's not like the car encroaches on an M3 or anything.

Never had the chance to drive a Z3, but compared to the Z4, it doesn't stand a chance. I was lucky enough to drive a few of those bad boys before they stopped production here. I absolutely loved being so low to the ground and the feeling of being part of the car. No other car can do that on the lineup, but that's because the Z4 is such a tiny car.

I must have been out of the loop because I didn't hear anything about de-tuning. You know, a few years ago, I would have never thought I'd love to drive a CONVERTIBLE with a TURBO'ED engine. I must be going through my 1/3 life crisis at the age of 23.

OT: I would absolutely love to be driving with the top down on my way from Pretoria to Rosslyn with the sun coming up. That made my drive to work magical, I miss SA to death. Or driving around the coast in a Z4M roadster. Everyone in their life time deserves to experience that

martinbo · 10-10-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warot

I must have been out of the loop because I didn't hear anything about de-tuning. You know, a few years ago, I would have never thought I'd love to drive a CONVERTIBLE with a TURBO'ED engine. I must be going through my 1/3 life crisis at the age of 23.

I'm merely surmising that
a) BMW will put the N54 engine in the new Z4
b) that the engine will be the "regular" 225 kW, 400 Nm engine a la E90 and not the uprated 245 kW, 440 Nm mill as seen in the F01.

Quote:

Originally Posted by warot

OT: I would absolutely love to be driving with the top down on my way from Pretoria to Rosslyn with the sun coming up. That made my drive to work magical, I miss SA to death. Or driving around the coast in a Z4M roadster. Everyone in their life time deserves to experience that

Ag shame boet. Moenie worry. Soon you'll be back at Rosslyn in a senior plant manager position with a Z4 as your company car.

onehots2k · 10-10-2008, 10:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinbo

Brookside and onehots2k have got some covert lingo going on between them. Cryptic.

That was great! haha

Jim nailed it on the head though. Its a freaking rollercoaster. It really says alot that those across the pond, like yourself, truly understand whats going on.

Anyhow, BRING ME THEEE Z! If BMW can make a 3series romp, a Z4 should be a cake walk.

onehots2k · 10-10-2008, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warot

I must have been out of the loop because I didn't hear anything about de-tuning. You know, a few years ago, I would have never thought I'd love to drive a CONVERTIBLE with a TURBO'ED engine. I must be going through my 1/3 life crisis at the age of 23.

I'll be 23 in two months and I rarely have my top down here in tropical FL. I use to drop it a lot but I forget I have a convertible. I drive with it down maybe 10% of the time now. : /

Brookside, how often do you have the top down in the Z??

bmer · 10-10-2008, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinbo

b) that the engine will be the "regular" 225 kW, 400 Nm engine a la E90 and not the uprated 245 kW, 440 Nm mill as seen in the F01.

240 kW and 450 Nm to be precise, Martin.

I wonder why they didn't go straight up to 250 kW. That would have put it nicely on par with the MB S450 (250 kW / 460 Nm). On the other hand, the effect of extra 10 kW would have probably only been on the psychological side.

martinbo · 10-11-2008, 03:15 AM

^ Thanks bmer... now, where on this site did I see 245 kW and 440 Nm? grrrr...

Shakal · 10-11-2008, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by martinbo

I
b) that the engine will be the "regular" 225 kW, 400 Nm engine a la E90 and not the uprated 245 kW, 440 Nm mill as seen in the F01.

I bet it will be upgraded N54 engine with 240 KW, because competition in this class is strong and it will be even stronger. Z4 with steel roof will be probably heavier than competitors, so 240 KW engine will made Z4 better performer than 225 KW. At a time when Z4 will be available, it will have some direct competitors: TTS (maybe TTRS is available at that time), Nissan 370Z, Cayman S FL . A few days ago I drove friend's remaped TTS and it felt very fast and nice car to drive...

Brookside · 10-11-2008, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onehots2k

I'll be 23 in two months and I rarely have my top down here in tropical FL. I use to drop it a lot but I forget I have a convertible. I drive with it down maybe 10% of the time now. : /

Brookside, how often do you have the top down in the Z??

We often drove the car with the top down...lovely wonderful feeling. At hiway speeds...well, a few times.
This was our car in the thumbnail....my wife was T-boned in March going thru an intersection....the guy had run a red light and basically totaled our car.
My wife was just fine, the new generation airbags deployed swiftly but not violently....and left no scars or burns. Note the Z4 has knee airbags and the structural integrity of the interior was never compromised.
Anyway she hopped out, filled out a police report, had the car towed, and put in a full day's work. Unbelievable.

A few weeks earlier I had the car inspected by our local BMW dealer to see if it qualified for BMW certification and it did but I had decided to hang on to it...and then the accident came along and certainly changed our plans.

The insurance paid out top Blue Book price...no hassles.
Anyway, my sweetie called me on her cell and said, from now on, we only buy BMW's.
We ordered a 328i Coupe with the sports package- mostly because the deal was there and I felt protective and wanted some more steel around her.
btw....at that time, the financing on offer for the 1-er was simply out of the question.

The plan, right now, is to get back in a Z4. We both miss it...tho we'll make up our mind whether we get a new one or maybe go for a used model.
These (Z4) are fabulous cars and suit our lifestyle.

onehots2k · 10-11-2008, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brookside

We often drove the car with the top down...lovely wonderful feeling. At hiway speeds...well, a few times.
This was our car in the thumbnail....my wife was T-boned in March going thru an intersection....the guy had run a red light and basically totaled our car.
My wife was just fine, the new generation airbags deployed swiftly but not violently....and left no scars or burns. Note the Z4 has knee airbags and the structural integrity of the interior was never compromised.
Anyway she hopped out, filled out a police report, had the car towed, and put in a full day's work. Unbelievable.

A few weeks earlier I had the car inspected by our local BMW dealer to see if it qualified for BMW certification and it did but I had decided to hang on to it...and then the accident came along and certainly changed our plans.

The insurance paid out top Blue Book price...no hassles.
Anyway, my sweetie called me on her cell and said, from now on, we only buy BMW's.
We ordered a 328i Coupe with the sports package- mostly because the deal was there and I felt protective and wanted some more steel around her.
btw....at that time, the financing on offer for the 1-er was simply out of the question.

The plan, right now, is to get back in a Z4. We both miss it...tho we'll make up our mind whether we get a new one or maybe go for a used model.
These (Z4) are fabulous cars and suit our lifestyle.

Oh my God man! Thank goodness your wife was okay! That accident looks very very bad. I would have definitely taken the day off. She was a champ. She got a sister???

I'm sure the next-gen Z4 wont dissappoint you guys. It will surely be more safe. I wouldnt be surprised if your 328i got 30mpg. Forget the diesel..lol

epb · 10-25-2008, 01:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SCOTT27

...but there is a good chance this will drop before Nov.5.

Last I heard, it would debut at the LA Auto Show in November.

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German Car Zone

The new Z4 gets less attention than the 7series..