Is it just me or is there nothing as appealing as the Z4C or Z4MC at their price?

[baege]

I'm promiscuous when it comes to cars.

I've owned 16 since I was 16 and I'm still under 40.

The longest I've kept any car is 3 years.

Before my Z4C, I've never had a problem lusting for a future replacment after a year or so.

But with the Z4C I simply don't see anything out there, or coming, at a similar price point, that even compares.

The cayman, SLK or post 2009 z4 can't compare to the beauty of a Z4C.
the 370Z G37 engine sounds like a coffee grinder
domestic alternatives like the vette simply can't compare in terms of refinement
neither acura nor lexus makes a sexy coupe


there really is nothing out there that compares

I find myself pushing the budget and grasping at cars that really are beyond my means like 911's or the lotus evora

but even the 911 doesn't offer the exclusivity of a Z4C

the evora certainly offers that, but then there's the lack of quality of a BMW

I am going to see the evora this weekend but I doubt it will move me from my Z4C

[Nikki]

I'm with ya, I feel the same way. I haven't had quite as many cars as you have but from age 16-22 I had 4 and from 22-25 I've had 2 (both Z4s) and I can't see myself in anything else. I do want to switch for a roadster but I'm set on a Z4 and nothing else.

[HOG4DNR]

I love mine and totally agree with you that nothing compares.

[biped]

Rumour has it Honda has reopened the NSX project...

Other than that, everything else that I'd find comparable to owning the Z4MC in terms of fun, pride, and rewards, is out of my price range

[BlackMoupe]

There is no substitute....
NSX is the only competitor in my la la land.
Cayman is too....Porschey (not a bad thing). New Z4 Is flabby and most new BMW's are too artificial. RX8 has too much compromise in it's design. TTS/RS isnt "pure" enough.

I've always thought of the Z series as BMW making the best British sports car. Sexy, classic proportions, fun to drive. But without the reliability issues.

[Swashplate]

Hence why I bought one.

[Finnegan]

Couldn't agree more.

I wasn't bad in terms of car turnover (3 cars 16-43) until the past few years where I've owned more than I'd like to admit--among them an 07 Cayman S and E92 M3. My wife had the right idea the first time with the Z4M and nothing else ever gave me the same excitement or fun so I finally gave up and bought one in March. (Well, actually my wife yelled at me and told me to quit stealing hers and buy my own.) Darn thing got a grip on me and wouldn't let go!

I can't see anything on the auto horizon (or currently made) that interests me even up to the 80K level. Current BMWs are too luxury focused and bloated and it's only getting worse. Don't get me started on the whole "turbo" and "efficienty dynamics" thing....

Heck, I don't think a '10+ Carrera S (or any recent P-car) would do it--and I had wanted a 911 since I was about 5 years old. A car that can reframe a boy's childhood dream car is pretty powerful stuff.

[mikeinsf]

Agreed, though I have much less experience to draw on than you. I've had mostly BMWs ...
1984 GTI
1983 528e
1984 528e
1998 Z3
2005 SL500
2007 MCS
2007 MZ4r

I don't ever see myself buying an American car for various reasons, but mostly due to the fact that my coming of age was in the 80's. I don't think I'll ever be able to get over the horrible impression American cars made on me that decade. Horrible is an understatement.

Japanese cars lack distinction and character to me.

German cars seem to be built with the driver most in mind, and the quality and fit&finish is there. At some point I might try a Porsche, but I've loved every BMW I've owned. I think it's likely I'm a BMW-for-lifer at this point. And of the BMWs I want and can afford, the Z4 is at the top of the heap. I had the Z3 for just shy of 10 years, and plan to have the M Roadster for at least that long.

[tekmoe]

I've gone thru a few cars myself and my Z4 is by far my favorite car so far. I just love it.

[marinb]

I agree, there's nothing really out there that offers the exclusivity / performance for the price like the Z4MC. The only other car I'm considering right now is the Aston Martin V8 Vantage; nice ones can be had for about $65k used... but you could buy both a Z4MC and a Z4MR for that kind of money. =)

[jumpthewire]

from a design perspective, there is really only one other modern car that i think rivals the Z....

[VinnieAces]

hey just wondering if you coupe is silver? I seen a z4c at Wasaga beach last year and totally tripped out as it wasnt the M, first time i've ever seen the coupe not being an M and was amazed lol, was it you?

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by marinb

I agree, there's nothing really out there that offers the exclusivity / performance for the price like the Z4MC. The only other car I'm considering right now is the Aston Martin V8 Vantage; nice ones can be had for about $65k used... but you could buy both a Z4MC and a Z4MR for that kind of money. =)

Yeah, that's a good contender in a lot of ways. More of a GT though than a sports car--but very sexy and good soundtrack. Know a guy who has one and it's damn nice. The F355 isn't bad either and those have come down into the low to mid 50s--but it's a maintenance nightmare (take out the engine for service every 8K miles) and really beats on the driver/passenger after an hour or two. And I have to say, I really like the ///M better.

[Zoomby_U]

Agreed ... the Z4 Coupe is really a unique car and with the performance you get for the dollar it really can't be beat. That being said ... I still love my Z4M but the Exige is really calling to me these days!

Cheers,
Zoomby_U

[bucko521]

Originally Posted by ONLYZ4COUPE IN GTA

Before my Z4C, I've never had a problem lusting for a future replacment after a year or so.

But with the Z4C I simply don't see anything out there, or coming, at a similar price point, that even compares.

The cayman, SLK or post 2009 z4 can't compare to the beauty of a Z4C.
the 370Z G37 engine sounds like a coffee grinder
domestic alternatives like the vette simply can't compare in terms of refinement
neither acura nor lexus makes a sexy coupe

there really is nothing out there that compares

Amen to your words!

I always wanted a BMW, and in particular after seeing a 1957 BMW 507 Roadster, I just had to have a Z3 or Z4, but when I decided to pull the trigger to buy one.

I tried out the following: TT, 350Z, Miata, SLK, classic mustang/vette/camaro, and S2000, but all had bad points that made me decide to continue the elusive search for a Z3 or Z4 that I could not pass up.

Don't get me wong....any of the above cars if given the right price point/options could have swayed me. But they all did not pass the pros/cons checklist I had myself follow.

The same checklist that made me decide against a ///M versus the 3.0i I bought.

[towski1]

Well, I'm on 3 cars in 4 years. The Z4MC for 1 of the 4 years and I can't imagine getting rid of it. And I love new cars!

[r4gs]

reading through all the responses, can't help but point out tt inherently there will be bias since this is, afterall, zpost. i echo many sentiments here, and the m coupe is my third car and by far my favorite and most cherished (easy pickings considering i had a '95 grand caravan and an '07 335i).

for the price point that the m coupes are going atm, there just isn't anything comparable, brand new or otherwise. if i had the coin, i'd love to get into a tt-rs, but they've been delayed in the north american market for far too long now and it's just embarrassing how expensive they cost.

i too am considering an aston vantage v8 as they've come down to within reasonable prices now, but they aren't the most reliable around and would feel somewhat of a downgrade from the m coupe performance-wise. it's drop dead gorgeous though and definitely luxurious with respectable grunt to boot.

[BTM]

OP has my favorite username of all time

[ZStig]

exige s, 996tt, viper srt-10, F355, caterham 7, ariel atom, noble m400

=)

BUUUTT other than the exige s, you're spending $50k for a good example, and thats almost DOUBLE of what a Z4MR costs now

[papitosabe]

the uniqueness of the z4c/mc is in its own category...20 yrs from now it will still look great and we're lucky that there weren't many made...

[Finnegan]

Originally Posted by Roffle Waffle

exige s, 996tt, viper srt-10, F355, caterham 7, ariel atom, noble m400

=)

BUUUTT other than the exige s, you're spending $50k for a good example, and thats almost DOUBLE of what a Z4MR costs now

^ Nice list! Considered all except the Viper. I'd add the Rossion to the list. But at the end of the day I'd still probably go with what I have. Those are all great cars, but too many checks in the limited use column for the $$$. But if we are being totally impractical, the Caterham.

[baege]

Looks like I’m not alone out there

Finnegan: agreed the 911 was my boyhood dream as well and now when I see one I can’t help but think it can’t compare to the looks or exclusivity of a Z4C or Z4MC

marinB and r4gs: agreed the vantage is the only other car that has really had me thinking lately, but its price point is not even close, used 2007 Vantage v8’s are selling for plus 70K in Toronto Canada where I am from, that’s a lot of money for a 5 year old car out of warranty and a little suspect on reliability and a new one is well beyond my means

Vinnieaces: my coupe is silver, so that very well could have been me, I’ve only seen one other coupe in the GTA, a black one that actually “lives” in my neighbourhood

Zoomby U: have u noticed the lotus evora? strong performance, the looks are a little polarizing and there are questions of quality as well