Z4m Coupe driven
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,999
Likes: 0
From: Nottinghamshire
Z4m Coupe driven
As well as the XKR I took the above out for a drive, well two actually, a showroom car with 20 miles on the clock and a dealers car with 4k on it. Teh showroom car was in red and looked stunning but just so small. Interior wise the car had leather but the tops of the doors and dash were plastic and looked very cheap. Firing it up it sounded nice but not as raspy as the m3, it has a deeper sound. Pulling away smoothly was near on impossible as was engaging 2nd gear. The gear box and or clutch were appalling. With the s2k or my boxster you can launch into a roundabout heel and toe easily and change into 2nd and power out and it all comes very easily but this car it just was not happening. It eased off slightly when warm but was just so notchy and jerky. This was without the sports button engaged which quite frankly is a waste of time as the throttle is already sharpe. Its supposed to give more weight to the steering but again in normal mode is was fine. The big suprise was the handling, all the critics have slammed it on our roads but I found it very well planted and really good fun to drive, it was firm but it didnt display the kind of traits that my s2k had when hitting say a man hole cover when my car would skip to the left it felt firmer than my boxster with pasm off but slightly softer than pasm on so I would say a good compromise. Room wise I would say there is similar space than is in the s2k but with a far better driving position and the ability to adjust the steering column. The engine was great and there seemed to be plenty of traction even on a slightly damp road. Overal I really enjoyed the car but the jerky gear box would put me off as would the size of the car. I think there is a cure for the jerkiness with a replacement clutch delay valve but I dont know exactly what this does. I was expecting the dealer car to be better as it was well run in with 4k miles on the clock but it was infact worse.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,999
Likes: 0
From: Nottinghamshire
Originally Posted by Lurking Lawyer,Feb 7 2007, 09:39 AM
You changing car AGAIN , Mole? Do you ever hang on to one for more then 6 months....? 
(PS PARAGRAPHS!)
(PS PARAGRAPHS!)
I cant be doing with punctuation on these forums, its not a gramar competition.
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 31,181
Likes: 58
From: Hertford
Interesting review Mole - I hope your gramar wins her competition.
The later S2000s have a dreaded clutch valve too.
It's to protect the driveline from idiots like me who dump the clutch in order to shoot out into a line of moving traffic.
It also f ucks up H&T gearchanges.
Actually, thinking on that, Porsche is the only German manufacturer which knows what pedals are for & places them accordingly.
The later S2000s have a dreaded clutch valve too.
It's to protect the driveline from idiots like me who dump the clutch in order to shoot out into a line of moving traffic.
It also f ucks up H&T gearchanges.
Actually, thinking on that, Porsche is the only German manufacturer which knows what pedals are for & places them accordingly.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 14,723
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by Mole,Feb 7 2007, 09:25 AM
As well as the XKR, I took the BMW Z4M Coupe out for a drive. Well two actually. A showroom car with 20 miles on the clock and a dealer car with 4k on it.
First impressions:
The showroom car was in red and looked stunning, but also looked so small. Firing it up it sounded nice, but not as raspy as the M3, it has a deeper sound.
Oily Bits:
Pulling away smoothly was nearly impossible, as was engaging 2nd gear. The gear box and/or clutch were appalling. With the S2000 or the Boxster you can launch into a roundabout, heel and toe easily and change into 2nd and power out and it all comes very easily. But this car it just was not happening. It eased off slightly when warm but was just so notchy and jerky.
This was without the sports button engaged - which quite frankly is a waste of time as the throttle is already sharp. Sports mode is also supposed to give more weight to the steering, but again in normal mode is was fine.
Handling:
This was the big surprise. All the critics have slammed it on our roads, but I found it very well planted and really good fun to drive. It was firm, but didn't display the kind of traits that the S2000 had when for example, hitting a man hole cover the car would skip to the left. It felt firmer than the Boxster with PASM switched off, but slightly softer than with PASM on. So I would say a good compromise.
Interior:
The car had leather but the tops of the doors and dash were plastic and looked very cheap. I would say there is a similar amount of space as there is in the S2000, but with a far better driving position and the ability to adjust the steering column.
Overall:
I really enjoyed the car, the engine was great and there seemed to be plenty of traction even on a slightly damp road. But the jerky gear box would put me off, as would the size of the car. I think there is a cure for the jerkiness with a replacement clutch delay valve (however, I don't know exactly what this does). I was expecting the dealer car to be better as it was well run in with 4k miles on the clock but it was infact worse.
First impressions:
The showroom car was in red and looked stunning, but also looked so small. Firing it up it sounded nice, but not as raspy as the M3, it has a deeper sound.
Oily Bits:
Pulling away smoothly was nearly impossible, as was engaging 2nd gear. The gear box and/or clutch were appalling. With the S2000 or the Boxster you can launch into a roundabout, heel and toe easily and change into 2nd and power out and it all comes very easily. But this car it just was not happening. It eased off slightly when warm but was just so notchy and jerky.
This was without the sports button engaged - which quite frankly is a waste of time as the throttle is already sharp. Sports mode is also supposed to give more weight to the steering, but again in normal mode is was fine.
Handling:
This was the big surprise. All the critics have slammed it on our roads, but I found it very well planted and really good fun to drive. It was firm, but didn't display the kind of traits that the S2000 had when for example, hitting a man hole cover the car would skip to the left. It felt firmer than the Boxster with PASM switched off, but slightly softer than with PASM on. So I would say a good compromise.
Interior:
The car had leather but the tops of the doors and dash were plastic and looked very cheap. I would say there is a similar amount of space as there is in the S2000, but with a far better driving position and the ability to adjust the steering column.
Overall:
I really enjoyed the car, the engine was great and there seemed to be plenty of traction even on a slightly damp road. But the jerky gear box would put me off, as would the size of the car. I think there is a cure for the jerkiness with a replacement clutch delay valve (however, I don't know exactly what this does). I was expecting the dealer car to be better as it was well run in with 4k miles on the clock but it was infact worse.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,104
Likes: 0
From: Notts & Bristol wanderer
Good review Mole, surprised you didn't like the 'box, I've always thought the big six-speeder Getrag was OK, and I managed to heel and toe it fine round Bedford Autodrome. Also surprised you didn't get the understeer/numbness from those sh1te Continental tyres...
But anyway, are you going to get one? Go on go on go on go on!
CSL rims, strut brace, Pilot Sports... you know the car I'm talking about!
But anyway, are you going to get one? Go on go on go on go on!
CSL rims, strut brace, Pilot Sports... you know the car I'm talking about!
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,999
Likes: 0
From: Nottinghamshire
Originally Posted by GSi,Feb 7 2007, 10:23 AM
The production version
My initial reaction was going to be "you sad muppet did you really spend time correcting my bad grama" But its very good and now I only feel that you should perhaps get out slightly more than you are doing.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 1,999
Likes: 0
From: Nottinghamshire
Originally Posted by matthehat17,Feb 7 2007, 10:57 AM
Good review Mole, surprised you didn't like the 'box, I've always thought the big six-speeder Getrag was OK, and I managed to heel and toe it fine round Bedford Autodrome. Also surprised you didn't get the understeer/numbness from those sh1te Continental tyres...
But anyway, are you going to get one? Go on go on go on go on!
CSL rims, strut brace, Pilot Sports... you know the car I'm talking about!
But anyway, are you going to get one? Go on go on go on go on!
CSL rims, strut brace, Pilot Sports... you know the car I'm talking about!
As a package the boxster is better. If I were changing from say a 350z and was looking at a cayman and z4mcoupe then it would be hard to ignore the coupe because of the fact that you can instantly get 10% off the list price with no difficulty. I could of had a 46k car for 41k and the same cars with 300 miles on the clock are selling for 38/39k on the used car website which would bring it into play.
If I had a coupe it would have to have csl alloys on and you are looking at 2-2.5k to supply the wheels and fit tyres. The biggest negative is without a doubt the gearbox and all you s2000 boys who are used to such a fantastic box would be left wanting.
Registered User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,104
Likes: 0
From: Notts & Bristol wanderer
Hmm, fair enough!
Like the M6, the Z4M Coupe probably makes much more sens when it has depreciated by half, when it will still look fantastic and go like stink, but will be cheap enough to mod. Give it three years and weigh in there with one as a track-orientated toy!
Like the M6, the Z4M Coupe probably makes much more sens when it has depreciated by half, when it will still look fantastic and go like stink, but will be cheap enough to mod. Give it three years and weigh in there with one as a track-orientated toy!