Z4M Coupe or Roadster? How to choose?

[mikeinsf]

Originally Posted by gferil

mikeinsf, hope to see you around the city, so far I've only ever seen one black M roadster and one red M coupe in SF.

Where in the city are you? I'm in Corona Heights.

Originally Posted by mdrobc13

So when time came to invest in another vehicle for my son when he starts to drive in about 3yrs...why not a nice used Z4M roadster. Now I have something that can go topless and also can break in for him over the next 3-4 yrs until he gets his license!

That is one LUCKY kid!! Personally though I think that should remain dad's car with occasional borrowing privileges, and he should get an old 3-series for a first. He can make all of his mistakes on something that matters less, and with a Z4M he's starting at or near the top of the ladder... no place up to go.

Originally Posted by tekmoe

I'll take top down motoring over a hardtop any day of the week...except if it's raining.

Amen.

[gferil]

^ I live near Fisherman's Wharf area, work in SOMA.

And +1 to getting the son an old 3 series with borrowing privileges, I started out on an old E21 320is and loved it, that car taught me a lot...

[krnnerdboy]

you guys are funny, and yes I wish I could have both, but with a 2nd kid on the way that looks pretty grim. I thought the roadster looked hideous stock to be honest, but w/ just an upgraded stance the lines become more evident and the chopped roof becomes aggressive...

as for track, I'm trying to track regularly and aside from bmwcca most organizations allow top down tracking...that is truly an experience, everytime as for the argument in handling/torsional rigidity, did you know one of the best handling cars to date (s2000) has only 7k to our 16k and the e86's 32k? but yes I'd rather have some metal over my head going down the back straight at 150mph, but nothing a roll bar can't fix or improve upon.

top up


top down


how's that for a rear end?


either way, have fun enjoying either one, I consider them to be an upgrade from my base 997.1

[bhoch]

I purchased the Roadster for one simple reason. I can put the top down when I want and put it back up when I want. Roadster, coupe.. Get the one you like and anyone that disagrees can just f-off.

[mfanatic325]

I got a coupe because I'm slightly ugly

just kidding

I like both verts and coupes, but prefer coupes just because they suit my personal needs/preferences better.
Needs:
- higher torsional rigidity for track use
- rooftop to keep out the Cali sun (I'm tan enough as is since I used to play competitive tennis, and was out in the sun all day everyday; enough for an entire lifetime's worth )

Preferences:
- I personally feel the coupe design is way more aesthetically pleasing than the roadster design
- I really like that the coupes are a lot more rare (they'll most likely retain much better value in the future)
- I do enjoy the slight extra cargo/trunk space provided by the coupe (in case I ever do need to stow anything in the car)
- I've owned a Z3 roadster before, and did not feel that I personally could put the top-down feature to really good use
- I enjoy as sturdy and quiet a cabin as possible, from the factory
- I feel that putting down the windows is plenty enough air for me

All in all, as was stated before, we should not be putting each other's cars/choices down. Not here, on this forum. We obviously are a special--and perhaps lucky--market niche. We are enthusiasts whom enjoy two-seater sports cars when others don't even have the luxury/privilege (for whatever circumstances/reasons). Let's just all be adults and get along as a community, yeah?

[Endless619]

I would have to say the M Coupe. I had an S2000 back in the day with a Mugen hardtop and never went top down. Just not my thing plus in rainy/snowy states a softop is worthless... lol

Car just looks more aggressive as a coupe IMO. But like the other poster said its not who's car is better. Everyone has their own tastes.

[ZStig]

Originally Posted by mfanatic325

I got a coupe because I'm slightly ugly

just kidding

I like both verts and coupes, but prefer coupes just because they suit my personal needs/preferences better.
Needs:
- higher torsional rigidity for track use
- rooftop to keep out the Cali sun (I'm tan enough as is since I used to play competitive tennis, and was out in the sun all day everyday; enough for an entire lifetime's worth )

Preferences:
- I personally feel the coupe design is way more aesthetically pleasing than the roadster design
- I really like that the coupes are a lot more rare (they'll most likely retain much better value in the future)
- I do enjoy the slight extra cargo/trunk space provided by the coupe (in case I ever do need to stow anything in the car)
- I've owned a Z3 roadster before, and did not feel that I personally could put the top-down feature to really good use
- I enjoy as sturdy and quiet a cabin as possible, from the factory
- I feel that putting down the windows is plenty enough air for me

All in all, as was stated before, we should not be putting each other's cars/choices down. Not here, on this forum. We obviously are a special--and perhaps lucky--market niche. We are enthusiasts whom enjoy two-seater sports cars when others don't even have the luxury/privilege (for whatever circumstances/reasons). Let's just all be adults and get along as a community, yeah?

all very valid reasons to choose the coupe! but...

[shitbrownMcoupe]

got the coupe because it feels like you're in a cockpit. roadsters with a hard top just look kinda funny to me. the hard top peice just doesn't fit good enough to hide the edges.

you get enough people following you to parking lots and windows down asking questions during a red light stop.... a coupe, you can just pretend you can't hear or see them

[mfanatic325]

Originally Posted by EndlessZ4M

I would have to say the M Coupe. I had an S2000 back in the day with a Mugen hardtop and never went top down. Just not my thing plus in rainy/snowy states a softop is worthless... lol

Car just looks more aggressive as a coupe IMO. But like the other poster said its not who's car is better. Everyone has their own tastes.

omg, I love the Mugen hardtop S2Ks If I had an S2K, that'd be the way to go

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

all very valid reasons to choose the coupe! but...

haha there, there....everyone's different after all. Individuality is important, as long as it's not by an exceeding amount
At least we can all agree on riced-out/over-the-top cars, eh?

[bucko521]

Originally Posted by Huz-Z

I am in Canada (and not in the warmest part of it by far, let me tell you) and I love my roadster.

100% agree... live in Canada myself.... started to drive my roadster top down in late March....yes it was just above freezing....loved it!

[bucko521]

Originally Posted by Rick Hunter

Bottom line: buy one and then come back to this thread to piss on the "other" camp.

You'll be happy either way.

That is one very honest statement...

[tikamak]

I would go for the Roady because of the following points: Track works, looks, functionality, price.

* I personally think that the difference at the limits between the Coupé/Roadster is due the roll bar difference not to the body's rigidity and the experience of "being more planted" is due to the steering rack difference. Personally, any suspension less than a hardcore track ready suspension does not benefit from the difference in torsional rigidity (Roady 14.5K/ Coupé 32K) to the point that there's a difference to choose between the two. If you really want to make a Track-only car, you should choose the coupé because at this point, the chassis will be part of the suspension (as in the suspension is so hard that it ain't that far theoretically from chassis flex aka "the chassis is part of the suspension") and the Roadster will not allow you to benefit from a super stiff suspension like the coupé does.

EDIT: [add] Some of the best thrilling cars ever made are as rigid if not less rigid than the Roadster.
McLaren F1 13,500 Nm/deg
BMW Z4 Roadster: 14,500 Nm/deg
http://www.**************.com/test-d...-rigidity.html

* my second point would be looks: The coupé's back does look better to me vs a top up Roadster. However, when the top is down, a coupé is not even comparable in terms of beautiful-ness, the roadster is just some exotic looking piece of motoring nirvana, It just looks sooo good.

* Functionality: in a Roadster you can put the top down and enjoy the weather (optional). In the coupe this is not even possible. If it's irrelevant to you, choose the coupé. But let me tell you that some of the best moments that i spent in my life was cruising top down in my Roadster on a sunny day listening to the sound of this thing i am operating at high speeds. It's just something you can never experience in a coupé. read this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Directional_sound
In a Roadster, you will hear the straight sound coming from the exhaust, a lot crisper and detailed than a coupé, it really is a different sound, i have experienced both, in a Roadster you feel a howl that says balls. in the coupé, it's a little muted down.

* price: the Roadster simply is cheaper with the same driving experience if not better.
The coupé holds value better, you will be able to sell a coupé much faster than a Roadster.


my final advice is to get to drive both: it's really a pain in the ass if you don't, you will keep wondering what would have happened if you've gone on the different path.

[tikamak]

I feel like my opinion was a little biased, but hey i can't be subjective when i own the M Roady :P

[tikamak]

I forgot to mention one very important point on why to choose the Roadster.
It's the chick magnet effect. Most girls think that Roadsters are higher cars in the scale of car coolness.

I once asked a girl: "what kind of car do you drive" and the answer was: "a black one"
I was struggling with my internal organs to prevent myself bursting into tears from laughing.
so in the food chain, black cars are the normal ones and convertibles are next in line, then there are porsches which are superior (don't understand how they recognize a GT3RS and not recognize a Z4M) then ferraris and lamborghinis then hummers :P

Apologies to all the females, i don't think like that about women, just trying to make yall laugh a bit.

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by krnnerdboy

you guys are funny, and yes I wish I could have both, but with a 2nd kid on the way that looks pretty grim. I thought the roadster looked hideous stock to be honest, but w/ just an upgraded stance the lines become more evident and the chopped roof becomes aggressive...

as for track, I'm trying to track regularly and aside from bmwcca most organizations allow top down tracking...that is truly an experience, everytime as for the argument in handling/torsional rigidity, did you know one of the best handling cars to date (s2000) has only 7k to our 16k and the e86's 32k? but yes I'd rather have some metal over my head going down the back straight at 150mph, but nothing a roll bar can't fix or improve upon.

top up


top down


how's that for a rear end?


either way, have fun enjoying either one, I consider them to be an upgrade from my base 997.1

your answer pretty much affirms my fealings, just look at that car top down.......... imo the coupe simply isnt as good looking, throw the roadie on the track and wow, the experience is something else... now throw a blower on top and honestly its about as fun as a car can get!!!!!!!

[tikamak]

Beedub, you're insanely in love with your VT2 Supercharged M.
Makes me impatient till I supercharge mine

[Beedub]

Originally Posted by tikamak

Beedub, you're insanely in love with your VT2 Supercharged M.
Makes me impatient till I supercharge mine

i am honestly, its taken this car to a whole new stratophere...... its quite simply a event every single time i drive it!!! i honestly think it'll be in my garage till im 6 ft under..... @ which point ill be passing it on to my first son :-)

[tikamak]

I don't think i will ever be able to sell my Z4M Roadster ever.
I have great plans for it. great plans i tell you :P

No seriously, i want to mod the shit out of it, especially the VT2.

[Beedub]

wait till you see my new varis carbon cooling bonnet.........;-) painted in ti with the vents left Carbon.......

[mikeinsf]

Originally Posted by krnnerdboy

I will resist the urge to fawn over those wheels again... other than to say I LOVE THOSE WHEELS!

[mdrobc13]

Originally Posted by mikeinsf

That is one LUCKY kid!! Personally though I think that should remain dad's car with occasional borrowing privileges, and he should get an old 3-series for a first. He can make all of his mistakes on something that matters less, and with a Z4M he's starting at or near the top of the ladder... no place up to go.
Amen.

I agree but I had to tell his mom something to get it okay'd to add to the garage collection! He'll likely see a used Mini Cooper or Mitsubishi Outlander Sport of Ford Focus or something when the time comes for his own ride when he goes off to college and will have limited borrowing privledges on the rest of the fleet including my 997S which he's been eyeing lately also! LOL

[mikeinsf]

Originally Posted by mdrobc13

I agree but I had to tell his mom something to get it okay'd to add to the garage collection! He'll likely see a used Mini Cooper or Mitsubishi Outlander Sport of Ford Focus or something when the time comes for his own ride when he goes off to college and will have limited borrowing privledges on the rest of the fleet including my 997S which he's been eyeing lately also! LOL

Ok, I literally got a chill on that last sentence. I should not be jealous of 13 year olds.