I love this car

[crfine88]

Originally Posted by Nikki

Update on this! I was just approved for financing and I'm looking at a 2006 M Coupe this weekend in Imola Red. If all goes well, I'll be driving back from Vegas in a shiny new M! Wish me luck!

Good luck! I picked mine up from Vegas too.

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by crfine88

Good luck! I picked mine up from Vegas too.

Seems like a fitting place to pick up the sinfully red coupe. lol

[inTgr8r]

Sounds great Nikki!!!

[RBull]

Congrats Nikki and welcome to the IR Z4M club.

[Dutch Isles]

Nikki -
I used to live in Morro Bay right next to Highway 1. You probably already have, but take a drive north to Nepenthe. It is a spectacular drive and known as one of the best in the world. Curvy roads, incredible scenery and with the top down, there is nothng like it.
For those of you who haven't it is worth a vacation in and of itself. Highly recommended. http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2301/

[mhughett]

Originally Posted by Nikki

So, I guess that settles it for now. I should either hold onto my car or trade it in for the M. I'm just thinking logistically and financially that the M doesn't really make much sense. My car is worth between $21k-$25k depending on if I try and sell it private party or trade it in and the M would be around $26k-$29k. If I could get the gap in price to be ~$3k I think it may be worth it but I doubt that will happen unless I sell it private party and then the logistics get to be difficult with trying to sell my car as I'm looking for a new one.

I'm trying to go through pros and cons and I go back and forth every day.

Pros:
Faster
More fun
Will retain its value

Cons:
$$
Logistics
Less MPG
Smaller trunk


I'm thinking that the cons are outweighing the pros...especially because I can easily throw away the pros by saying my car is fast enough, fun enough, and will still retain its value.

I consider myself a very rational and analytical person and I went through the same exercise you've done trying to justify going from the 3.0si coupe to the M. I very much liked the 3.0si for the better fuel economy and bigger trunk space I needed for my golf equipment. And the 3.0si is still pretty darn quick. But then those are rational thoughts and as discussed here, this becomes a somewhat impulsive and irrational decision. Don't feel bad, we all succumb to the temptation to get the beast. You know what--I don't regret it for a second. I've put 4k miles on it in 3.5 months and love having it as my DD. Also, welcome to the Imola Red club.

[Huz-Z]

Originally Posted by mhughett

I consider myself a very rational and analytical person and I went through the same exercise you've done trying to justify going from the 3.0si coupe to the M. I very much liked the 3.0si for the better fuel economy and bigger trunk space I needed for my golf equipment. And the 3.0si is still pretty darn quick. But then those are rational thoughts and as discussed here, this becomes a somewhat impulsive and irrational decision. Don't feel bad, we all succumb to the temptation to get the beast. You know what--I don't regret it for a second. I've put 4k miles on it in 3.5 months and love having it as my DD. Also, welcome to the Imola Red club.

I've got a 3.0si and being rational and analytical was only part of the equation. The prime motivator for buying a car like a Z4, whether or not is an M, is entirely a matter of the heart. Forget the spreadsheets - just enjoy!

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by Dutch Isles

Nikki -
I used to live in Morro Bay right next to Highway 1. You probably already have, but take a drive north to Nepenthe. It is a spectacular drive and known as one of the best in the world. Curvy roads, incredible scenery and with the top down, there is nothng like it.
For those of you who haven't it is worth a vacation in and of itself. Highly recommended. http://www.byways.org/explore/byways/2301/

Yes you're right! I drove down from Monterrey to Morro Bay following PCH the entire time and it was a blast!

Originally Posted by mhughett

I consider myself a very rational and analytical person and I went through the same exercise you've done trying to justify going from the 3.0si coupe to the M. I very much liked the 3.0si for the better fuel economy and bigger trunk space I needed for my golf equipment. And the 3.0si is still pretty darn quick. But then those are rational thoughts and as discussed here, this becomes a somewhat impulsive and irrational decision. Don't feel bad, we all succumb to the temptation to get the beast. You know what--I don't regret it for a second. I've put 4k miles on it in 3.5 months and love having it as my DD. Also, welcome to the Imola Red club.

So can you fit your clubs in the trunk? Even in my 3.0si I have to put them in diagonally and I have to take the driver out and put that on top.

[Swashplate]

Originally Posted by Rick Hunter

+1. The M is an irrational purchase decision, and it's not supposed to make any sense. So on that day I jumped in, I became an irrational person and could not have felt any better with the decision.

With respect, the E89 is an absolutely capable car but is in no league close to the E86 as far as a connected drive is concerned. It's too bad BMW went in the wrong direction by making it a boulevard cruiser.

Rick Hunter's review

Ahh but that is if you are not..MAAAD.

These coupes are what I call "Stupid Cars". Stupid due to lack of functionality and practical..blah blah blah.

and I quote:

"There's something intrinsically cool about a small, hatchback sports car. It's reminiscent of an era when a serious sports car dude might have a car like this as his only ride." - Automobile Mag.


Love is not a practical or reasonable emotion.

So is it an irrational purchase decision, I think not.

Hell I nearly got married to a Madwoman and instead buy a Z4M Coupe. I guess you could call that a lateral adjustment...

[mhughett]

Originally Posted by Nikki

Yes you're right! I drove down from Monterrey to Morro Bay following PCH the entire time and it was a blast!



So can you fit your clubs in the trunk? Even in my 3.0si I have to put them in diagonally and I have to take the driver out and put that on top.

Here is the sacrifice I had to make with the M. If I take my driver and 3-wood out of the bag and lay them down first, I can then fit the rest of the clubs straight across the back of the car (not diagonal). However, most of the time I walk and have a sun-mountain speed cart with me to put my clubs on. With the 3.0si, I could fit both in the back. However with the M and the battery/air compressor unit in the trunk area, I cannot fit the cart and the clubs in back. Therefore I put the cart in the back and let the clubs ride shotgun to the course. It wasn't my preference but hey, it still works for me

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by mhughett

Here is the sacrifice I had to make with the M. If I take my driver and 3-wood out of the bag and lay them down first, I can then fit the rest of the clubs straight across the back of the car (not diagonal). However, most of the time I walk and have a sun-mountain speed cart with me to put my clubs on. With the 3.0si, I could fit both in the back. However with the M and the battery/air compressor unit in the trunk area, I cannot fit the cart and the clubs in back. Therefore I put the cart in the back and let the clubs ride shotgun to the course. It wasn't my preference but hey, it still works for me

Haha thanks for the tip! I don't have a cart since my bag is small enough to carry so I should be all set.

[Tonybest]

Originally Posted by Nikki

Yes you're right! I drove down from Monterrey to Morro Bay following PCH the entire time and it was a blast!



So can you fit your clubs in the trunk? Even in my 3.0si I have to put them in diagonally and I have to take the driver out and put that on top.

I put my big golf bag in the back, albeit I have to take the driver out. Now I haven't put skis in the car yet.

Hey Nikki, your opening post was an awesome read. Now on to the M.
Hope you get one. Imola Red is a great color. I got mine in March of 2009 and I can't think of a time I will ever want to change. The car is so much win, especially when you drive it.

Hopefully you get one.

[Rick Hunter]

Good Luck with your Search, Nikki. You'll definitely miss your 3.0si... but only for a split second.

And nice choice in colour too

[dekaliber]

Originally Posted by Rick Hunter

Good Luck with your Search, Nikki. You'll definitely miss your 3.0si... but only for a split second.

And nice choice in colour too

I bought my 3.0si coupe brand new (my first new car purchase), loved it for 2 1/2 years, took care of it practically better than I take care of myself, and traded it without a second thought. You won't miss the 3.0si.

In fact, you'll wonder why you didn't get the M sooner.

Good luck!

[Nikki]

Update here: Picked up a Sepang Bronze M Coupe in Illinois and drove it back last weekend. Sooooo ridiculous!!! I love it.

Better pics to come, all I have are crappy cell phone pics so I need to load the better ones.

And, the Z4 3.0si is for sale, so if anyone is interested PM me.

For sale thread: http://www.zpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=445143

[inTgr8r]

congrats!!!!

[r4gs]

^gorgeous! have only ever seen a sepang bronze m roadster in person, a very unique color! interior trim?

i could've sworn u were going to pick up an imola red though....

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by r4gs

^gorgeous! have only ever seen a sepang bronze m roadster in person, a very unique color! interior trim?

i could've sworn u were going to pick up an imola red though....

Thanks! Yeah i was planning on Imola but it was sold before I could go see it and the Sepang one came out of nowhere.

It's got Sepang Brown Leather/Carbon Fiber Leather Trim

[MakoBimmer1]

Great write up! Congrats on the Sepang Bronze...a unique color for a unique car and must be seen in person to truly appreciate!

[onebluemcm]

Great find! Jealous of you for the cross country drive. Had to be a great trip this time of year.

I've got the Sepang Brown too - really nice isn't it. Not a common BMW interior color in general, but soooo nice.

Have a blast!

[dekaliber]

Oh man, so classy. Nice find! Where in IL?

[Nikki]

Originally Posted by dekaliber

Oh man, so classy. Nice find! Where in IL?

Moline...middle of nowhere lol. Everyone in that town was staring at us because they knew we weren't from around there and they kept asking us what we were doing in "the armpit of America" and things of that sort lol.