Why isn't the Z4MC not as well known as other M cars?

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by The HACK

It's far simpler than we all think.

BMW never marketed the MZ4. There were very little print ads. Almost no TV ADS. Practically zero presence on the major car show circuit.
......

I saw one at the car show in Toronto.
It was a WTF moment.
I had heard nothing about it up to that point & never saw any marketing after.

[Hawkeye]

Honestly, who cares about reviews, unless there are poor reviews. If you care more about what other people think get your 1M and don't lose any sleep about people not knowing that you drive a nice car...

[Geauxkart]

I do like the thread title. Double negative that translates to "Why is the ZMC as well known as ...."

Can't help it, sorry....

[Jumbosock]

Lets also not forget that the down turn in the economy right when these things were selling left people with a bad taste in their mouth about buying a 2 seater car with almost no cargo space. It's not a rational car and was sold at one of the worse times to sell such a car in the last half century. Additionally, even when people were considering such a car, they might have ended up buying a P car. Especially with those awful contis our cars came with!

[KevinM]

Originally Posted by The HACK

It's far simpler than we all think.

BMW never marketed the MZ4. There were very little print ads. Almost no TV ADS. Practically zero presence on the major car show circuit.

The MZ4 was stuck between a rock and a hard place. It was nearly 10 seconds faster around the Ring compared to the M3 and was just as fast around it as the halo car, the M5. BMW had to balance on the fine edge of a sword, and can't afford to have anything take the shine off of the kings of their bread and butter. So the priced it $10,000 more than they really should and made it more expensive than the M3 and gave it no marketing support whatsoever.

This.

BMW did not market the Z4M coupe and they did not sell well at all. When I bought my first one in 2007, BMW was offering about $5K in trunk money and I bought one of two on the lot...in Tucson!

Completely a different story with the 1M coupe. Fewer produced but huge marketing effort. This car was reviewed everywhere and was marketed as "M back to basics" - to silence skeptics who believed that M would not build a lighter-weight, "stripped down", driver-oriented sports coupe. (Never mind that this describes the Z4M coupe even better.) The 1M basically sold out in the US immediately.

(As an aside, the 1M coupe is a phenomenal car. It's difficult to compare to the Z4M coupe as they are such different feeling cars, but each is wonderful in its own way.)

[jophish17]

Originally Posted by Geauxkart

I do like the thread title. Double negative that translates to "Why is the ZMC as well known as ...."

Can't help it, sorry....

Just remember we have posters here from all over the world!

I saw it at a carshow in May 2006 as well, right before launch. It was

[krnnerdboy]

Originally Posted by The HACK

It's far simpler than we all think.

BMW never marketed the MZ4. There were very little print ads. Almost no TV ADS. Practically zero presence on the major car show circuit.

The MZ4 was stuck between a rock and a hard place. It was nearly 10 seconds faster around the Ring compared to the M3 and was just as fast around it as the halo car, the M5. BMW had to balance on the fine edge of a sword, and can't afford to have anything take the shine off of the kings of their bread and butter. So the priced it $10,000 more than they really should and made it more expensive than the M3 and gave it no marketing support whatsoever.

spot on, and to add to that..

bmw's aren't really known for their sports cars, but rather sporty cars such as the m3.m5.m6, and well the z4m was bmw's sports car. And at a price tag of 55k starting upto 60k + many of the potential buyers bought a porsche. 997's started just 7k north of the z4m pricetag.

[l4zy]

Originally Posted by krnnerdboy

spot on, and to add to that..

bmw's aren't really known for their sports cars, but rather sporty cars such as the m3.m5.m6, and well the z4m was bmw's sports car. And at a price tag of 55k starting upto 60k + many of the potential buyers bought a porsche. 997's started just 7k north of the z4m pricetag.

nice to see you are still on here!

[seank]

Most don't know what he z4mc is. The ones that do, can't afford it or need more than 2 seats. When everyone see's it for the first time, there mouths drop.

The ones that know what it is, want only 2 seats, and can afford it, own them!

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by seank

Most don't know what he z4mc is. The ones that do, can't afford it or need more than 2 seats. When everyone see's it for the first time, there mouths drop.

The ones that know what it is, want only 2 seats, and can afford it, own them!

Yup! Exactly!

[Kgolf31]

Honestly, I just don't think people know what they actually go for on the market.

There was this guy in a 370z that was complimenting my on my car at AutoX a couple weeks ago. We were talking and he kept on telling me how he would of got my car if he knew about them more but anyways it was too high of a price anyways.

When I mentioned him that my car was cheaper than his, his mouth almost dropped.

I get random other people that still think it's 50k car.

Really though, people just dont know. The Scion FRS craze has started and people are EATING them up. They go for $25k at base price. I bet if someone who bought a FRS knew they could get a Z4M for practically the same price, they would change their mind.

[inTgr8r]

^ WHS

[z4mcoupe]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

Honestly, I just don't think people know what they actually go for on the market.

There was this guy in a 370z that was complimenting my on my car at AutoX a couple weeks ago. We were talking and he kept on telling me how he would of got my car if he knew about them more but anyways it was too high of a price anyways.

When I mentioned him that my car was cheaper than his, his mouth almost dropped.

I get random other people that still think it's 50k car.

Really though, people just dont know. The Scion FRS craze has started and people are EATING them up. They go for $25k at base price. I bet if someone who bought a FRS knew they could get a Z4M for practically the same price, they would change their mind.

Couldn't have said it better myself. I was checking out a BRZ to see what the fuss was all about. The salesman asked what car I'm driving and Z4 M Coupe was my response. He gave a BS "Nice!" comment and acted like he knew what it is.

When we were on the test drive. He went: "So are you trading your Nissan in?" I ignored him and concluded my test drive shortly thereafter. I might have revved too high leaving the dealership in my M Coupe w/ Rpi exhausts.

[TexasZed4MC]

I personally like the fact hardly anyone knows what the car is. At least once a week I get asked the "what is that car?" question. Then they can't beleive it is 6 years old. It always turns heads and I have gotten compliments from ages 85 to 15 both male and female. So I like the little secret BMW created!

[phoenixbmwlife]

Originally Posted by Kgolf31

Honestly, I just don't think people know what they actually go for on the market.

There was this guy in a 370z that was complimenting my on my car at AutoX a couple weeks ago. We were talking and he kept on telling me how he would of got my car if he knew about them more but anyways it was too high of a price anyways.

When I mentioned him that my car was cheaper than his, his mouth almost dropped.

I get random other people that still think it's 50k car.

Really though, people just dont know. The Scion FRS craze has started and people are EATING them up. They go for $25k at base price. I bet if someone who bought a FRS knew they could get a Z4M for practically the same price, they would change their mind.

When I got my Z4si Coupe earlier this year that is exactly what people said about my car. They thought it was a 50k car and didn't know it was 6 years old. I had a guy arguing with me after he was telling someone in front of me oh yes that's the new 2012 model with the top up. He then said they also have the version with the carbon fiber roof its a bad ass car.

You are absolutely right, we gotta realize most people are not gear heads/motor heads (whatever you call it) like we are. Average people you talk to about cars, they don't know about the specific models. For BMW they may know of the M3 and maybe the M5/M6 and that's pretty much it. Most people do not know what a 1M is and if you ask them the difference between M1 and 1M they will say its the same thing. They don't know what a 458 is but if you say Ferrari then they shake their head and acknowledge you. AMG? Yeah right they don't know what that is. Say Mercedes or Benz then they know.

Sometimes the M name is known around the general public but more so is just BMW not the series names.

[RADRACR]

Originally Posted by ongnoi

I might have revved too high leaving the dealership in my M Coupe w/ Rpi exhausts.

As you should have. As you should have.

[inTgr8r]

[ZStig]

Its fun when someone tries to race you on the street 0-60. They think they know cars, and theyre against a 215hp z4. Even a recent e46 m3 driver was surprised. Imagine the look on the face of a 350z vert driver when he asked to race.... I left him by a buslength in first gear. Being debadged, stock mufflers, and supercharger helps

[phoenixbmwlife]

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

Its fun when someone tries to race you on the street 0-60. They think they know cars, and theyre against a 215hp z4. Even a recent e46 m3 driver was surprised. Imagine the look on the face of a 350z vert driver when he asked to race.... I left him by a buslength in first gear. Being debadged, stock mufflers, and supercharger helps

[RichardTS]

Originally Posted by zubydafa

lol somebody at a meet i went to (a bmw meet no less) insisted my car was a z4 with M emblems and an S54 swap.

recent dyno experience. one of the workers at the shop goes...sick M3Z.

others just can't believe it's an '07.

i love when i see other Z owners...it's like they understand

Next time they do that, open the driver's door and tell to read the plate and recite who manufactured it...

[RADRACR]

Originally Posted by zubydafa

lol somebody at a meet i went to (a bmw meet no less) insisted my car was a z4 with M emblems and an S54 swap.

recent dyno experience. one of the workers at the shop goes...sick M3Z.

M3Z... that's a new one I think I'll use that when the next person asks me what it is... just to F with them.

[krnnerdboy]

Originally Posted by l4zy

nice to see you are still on here!

indeed! time to take that m3z of yours to the track! we're heading out 8/19 buttonwillow