How many have tried something else "better" only to return to a Z4?

[baege]

In June of 2013 I went from a 2007 Z4C 3.0SI to a 2014 Porsche Cayman S. The driving dynamics of the cayman are what motivated me to do the switch at the time. I had never had that much fun driving a car.

Fast forward 10 months or so later and I find myself toying with the idea of going back into a Z4C, most likely an M this time.

I've gotten used to the cayman. The driving dynamics are undeniably great but they've become the new normal for me and truthfully I don't get to exploit them in the city environment I live in all that much. I also actually like the n52 engine better than the flat 3.4 in my cayman. The n52 was silky smooth and I loved to hear it rev, the 3.4 makes good sounds but there's a
quality to it that isn't quite as endearing. It's also more of a high rpm producer so the car actually doesn't feel all that much quicker than my Z4C around town at lower rpms.

But most importantly, the intangible attachment I had to my Z4C is missing with the cayman. I used to alter my walking route back home from work so I could catch a glimpse of the Z4C. I never do that with the cayman.

So I am seriously considering making the move back into a Z4C. I want to be in a car I feel that little "extra" for and the Z4C is that car for me. Anyone else make the move back to a Z4C from a "better" car on paper?

[dean911]

I always thought that Porsche was IT! Had an older 911 for 15+ years and spent an ungodly amount of money on it. It was a '73 with no expenses spaired. Took 2nd place in the regional German car show and I still drove it every chance I could. Values went up and I cashed in and went car shopping. Loved the looks of the Caymon but there was just something about it that made it boring in the city. It certainly has phnominal handling but I felt removed from it somehow. Bought a 2007 M coupe with only 24k on the clock. My friends and family still ask me if I miss the Porsche and after a year and a half, my answer is still the same. What Porsche?

Don't know if I helped at all. Just my 2 cents.

Greg

[inTgr8r]

.....there just aren't many cars that have that personal attachment and involvement that these Z cars do.

When I got out of my Z4M roady, I knew I would be back one day.
....it didn't take long

[mtownerman]

Just bought a 2006 3.0i. Had what I thought was the ultimate sports car for me - a 3rd Generation RX-7. It was a blast to drive but unreliable, spending a lot of time in the shop getting fixed. Grew tired of things breaking so I sold it. Remembered test driving a Z4M before I got the RX-7 and what fun it was. That's what brought me back to a Z-4. Not as much zip as the Z4M but still plenty fun and built like a tank. No regrets...

[mgoodnight]

I have an 08 Coupe and I've never had a car that I look back on after I park it every time like this. I just can't walk away without looking at it again. I just think the Coupe is about the pretties car to ever hit the road and feel lucky to have one.

[baege]

Originally Posted by dean911

I always thought that Porsche was IT! Had an older 911 for 15+ years and spent an ungodly amount of money on it. It was a '73 with no expenses spaired. Took 2nd place in the regional German car show and I still drove it every chance I could. Values went up and I cashed in and went car shopping. Loved the looks of the Caymon but there was just something about it that made it boring in the city. It certainly has phnominal handling but I felt removed from it somehow. Bought a 2007 M coupe with only 24k on the clock. My friends and family still ask me if I miss the Porsche and after a year and a half, my answer is still the same. What Porsche?

Don't know if I helped at all. Just my 2 cents.

Greg

Thanks for sharing, good to hear about the lack of Porsche remorse going into a Z4MC.

[baege]

Originally Posted by inTgr8r

.....there just aren't many cars that have that personal attachment and involvement that these Z cars do.

When I got out of my Z4M roady, I knew I would be back one day.
....it didn't take long

What did you move into from the roady?

[baege]

Originally Posted by mgoodnight

I have an 08 Coupe and I've never had a car that I look back on after I park it every time like this. I just can't walk away without looking at it again. I just think the Coupe is about the pretties car to ever hit the road and feel lucky to have one.

I feel the same, ever since the concept came out in 2005 I've had a thing for them. First time I saw one was a silver Z4MC in downtown Toronto. I left my girlfriend in the dust and ran ahead to catch a close glimpse of it as it was parked. The driver was a stripper going into the strip club on that street, but I still asked her questions about it. My girlfriend, needless to say, wasn't impressed.

[inTgr8r]

Originally Posted by baege

What did you move into from the roady?

Nothing special.
With a down turn in business, I had to get back to basics.

[ZStig]

03 z4 3.0
to '99 Viper GTS
to 06 M roadster

[Finnegan]

As most here know I went from a E92 M3 to Cayman S to a Z4M. Never looked back, except to catch a view of the Z4M. The Cayman "should" have been the better car, and in some aspects was (handling, flattering the driver, etc.). But in the long run it didn't stir the emotions visually or viscerally like the Z4M does.

[msh441]

I didn't OWN either one... but the three cars that were on my super-short-list were:

Cayman
Boxter S
E46 M3

I drove a few of each, and the first one I could find that ticked the option boxes I was looking for, I was going to buy...

...until I drove an M Coupe. It was all over after that.

[dschultz]

Originally Posted by mgoodnight

I have an 08 Coupe and I've never had a car that I look back on after I park it every time like this. I just can't walk away without looking at it again. I just think the Coupe is about the pretties car to ever hit the road and feel lucky to have one.

Amen!

[krusty]

Originally Posted by mgoodnight

I just think the Coupe is about the prettiest car to ever hit the road and feel lucky to have one.

I washed mine last night ... and was admiring her lines the whole night.

[nekky]

We've been through this all before that the Z4M is probably the most visceral, raw feeling sports car for the money, period. It might not be the absolute best, but it's damn good at pretty much everything and it's very rare.

I went from an '07 MC to an '03 M3 vert in Phoenix Yellow (I still love that colour..) and then back into a supercharged '06 MR. Short of a 997.2 S, I don't think I'd get rid of it.. And ideally, I'd have both.

[beta]

Originally Posted by baege

I used to alter my walking route back home from work so I could catch a glimpse of the Z4C.

Originally Posted by krusty

I washed mine last night ... and was admiring her lines the whole night.

I'm glad I'm not the only one. Every time I park I have to look back at it! The design really is something special.

We're so used to comparing things based on feature lists and specs, when what we really care about is the experience.

[elerner61]

I wasn't in love with the looks of my roadie when I decided to buy it. The looks have grown on me though and I really do like that it is a very unique looking design. However I don't think it is a truly beautiful car, it has too many cut lines across too many of the surfaces. It's like a woman that has had a good amount of successful reconstructive surgery...you stand back and say "not bad, not bad at all."

It aint no E-Type.

[baege]

Originally Posted by Finnegan

As most here know I went from a E92 M3 to Cayman S to a Z4M. Never looked back, except to catch a view of the Z4M. The Cayman "should" have been the better car, and in some aspects was (handling, flattering the driver, etc.). But in the long run it didn't stir the emotions visually or viscerally like the Z4M does.

I think I'm on a similar path (minus the m3), for the same reasons.

[VitaminT]

Next week I will have had my Z4M for 5 years. It is the longest I have every owned a car and while I have looked for a replacement for about a year I just can't seem to let it go.

[Finnegan]

If you're thinking of maybe an M there's no better example and low miles than this one. http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=962215

[krusty]

Don't like those wheels. Don't like the dark tints either. And I am guessing I would not like the internal change to LED lightning either ... LED lighting is usually too harsh compared to the nice subtle original internal lighting. [ I spent $900 on LED lightning for the pool and it was the ugliest lightning everrrrrrrrr -- had to pull it out, and go back to halogens. ]

[ShakyDog]

Not an M owner, just the lowly bottom of the line 3.0i. I love this car, my brother had a Boxter and we both compared cars and I still like the 3.0i better. It has less horse power, but is much more fun to drive. I had the chance to look at a used 2007 Caymen when I purchased my Z4, did not even look at it as I wanted a roadster. Every time I look at my car I am amazed at how good it looks. Every time I take her out someone will go out of their way to let me know how nice she looks. The Boxter and the MR2 both have the same lines and both are rather odd looking. I have wanted to own both, but I would have only purchased a Miata or Z4 for that classic roadster look.

My dilemma now is there is nothing out there that I like that will replace her. I will end up keeping her forever the way it looks now.

Steve