BMW Z4 Coupe M / Nissan 350Z ?

[Wendy 0]

Does anyone own either of these and able to pass on their experiences of ownership ?

 

Things like ;-Running Costs and problems, what to particuarly watch for when purchasing.

 

I am interested only in Coupe versions myself and hope to go car viewing next weekend. :)

 

Also, I would like to know if you have owned a Corrado VR6 and how you think it compares.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Wendy

[Dude VR6 0]

Wendy

Your not thinking of turning to the dark side ?

[dinkus 10]

Haha, I'm selling my Corrado and already thinking about a 350Z... great minds and all that :lol:

 

I know the 350Zs look cool and sound pretty - does that help? :D

[dukest 0]

was thinking about the 350z new when i bought the Corrado but 2nd hand i'd definitely want the z4 for the long term, i've always really liked them. I followed one home the other day and they just have a really classic coupe shape, if you leave the actual styling aside (which personally i also like), and obviously they're very much drivers cars..

 

aside from that i have absolutely no experience to share with you Wendy :)

[A1 VR6 0]

Does anyone own either of these and able to pass on their experiences of ownership ?

 

Things like ;-Running Costs and problems, what to particuarly watch for when purchasing.

 

I am interested only in Coupe versions myself and hope to go car viewing next weekend. :)

 

Also, I would like to know if you have owned a Corrado VR6 and how you think it compares.

 

Thanks in advance.

 

Wendy

 

Neither Wendy, got to be one of Stuttgart's finest :)

[Sonicriot13 0]

Strong is the rice side of the force. Especially when it comes to 350zs. I'd have one but I'm obsessed with VWs. In case you hadn't noticed.

 

For the money you can pick a used one up for these days it's an awful lot of car. Running expense is pretty high as it's insurance group 18 IIRC and they are quite thirsty. Well, most things are when I drive them. :roll: :lol: Official figure is 25mpg average so in the real world I reckon you'd get about 20. Ahem.... which is more than I get out of my G60.... ahem....

 

Neither Wendy, got to be one of Stuttgart's finest :)

 

Porsche? Even better idea. :D

[yeti 0]

my mate had a z4 3.0 coupe before getting an exige and the one thing that is crap is the cost of servicing and servicable items - the 18" run flats are a fortune!

 

Z car all the way, although you can see why they're a cheaper car inside, the trim/seats are nowhere near as good quality as the kraut mobile. Engines are great, try and get the gt pack, avoid the orange alezean (spelt it wrong probably) leather as it dosent last as well as the black leather and see if the gt pack doesnt include the additional sound system upgrade try and find one with that as its awesome 8)

[Jim 2]

Agree with Bill! If you've had your heart set on a Porsche all these years, why do a U turn now! Get a 911! There's a very good Porsche specialist in Coventry.. dead easy to get to.. happy to toddle up there one day with you if you want me to show you where it is! I'll drive tho... :tongue:

[Toad 0]

Agree with Bill! If you've had your heart set on a Porsche all these years, why do a U turn now! Get a 911! There's a very good Porsche specialist in Coventry.. dead easy to get to.. happy to toddle up there one day with you if you want me to show you where it is! I'll drive tho... :tongue:

 

I agree. Thought you had your heart set on a Porsche??? Get one bought and take me out for a ride. :wave:

[Phil K 0]

Wendy, we seem to have very similar cars tastes... I've been looking longingly at both the Z4 Coupe and the Z... I don't have any experience of either though so I can't offer much help other than to say I'll probably own one of them before I get my porsche :lol:

[Wendy 0]

Guys, thanks for all your comments.

 

As some rightly comment, I really do want a 911.

 

The Z4 and 350Z are 2nd best choices, of which I have to try and convince myself are suitable. !!!

I am very nervous of running costs of the 911, I would go for a 996 I think.

I have even found a local Porsche specialist, Francis Tuthill in Wardington, who comes recommended.

Of course, I will need to take a trip there and do more homework.

 

Its just that I will be spending sooooooooooo much money, I really have to get this right.

I think if the Cayman was only Boxter prices, I would have the answer.

 

So, I am right at the initial stages..............

 

Took a friend's 3 lit Z4 Roadster out this morning... in the wet.

Although, I would be interested in the coupe not a Roadster.

I did not get out of it buzzing, leg tremble or anything, but I think some of this was related to I could not get comfortable, the seats are huge, and I was sliding from side to side, so basically the car and I were not as one - if you know what I mean. :(

I found for sale a Z4 Coupe, 3litre with M seats, M steering and Suspension (apparently the car is much better with these )- so I guess I need to try that.

Benn looking on the Internet and I can't afford the M Sport they are still silly money.

Run flat tyres cost £750 for 4 - so I was told. Frankly they sound S...T , as sad as the Corrado spare.

AS for economy, the guy who owned it, said on average he got 28mph - well that's ok.

Anyway, unless I find a Z4 that holds me in the seat, so i can properly drive it - they will be ruled out before we get started.

 

Been looking at 350Z's on the web most of the afternoon and will fix up some Test drives for next weekend.

 

Is is me, or have 2nd hand car prices gone up ?

Surely this is people being a tad too optmistic - current state of the country and all that. Ok, so the government is offering the 2k scrappage, but surely this should barely effect 2nd hand cars over 10K ?!

 

Then - just for a further complication - what to do with the Corrado - I will keep it for a while no matter what - but then, as I am interested in a Track/Race car, do I buy one or prep the Corrado for this? This is related to the first dilemma in terms of available cash. Something tells me it would be better to buy a Track/Race car already prepared - as it would probably cost considerably less than getting one preped myself, or in my case, probably paying someone to do it.

 

Has anyone's mates that have owned either of these had a Corrado VR6 also. I am interested in their thoughts of comparrision.

[Toad 0]

I did not get out of it buzzing, leg tremble or anything

 

You could stick the picture of Nick and myself with Chris's car in Germany on your sunvisor. That might sort the leg trembling out....

 

:tongue:

[_leon_ 0]

z4m coupe is a superb car - been out in a roadster and i loved it. if you are in a position to buy one - go for it - doubt you'll look back.

[_leon_ 0]

just read your last post - i'd try the M engine not the 3.0L.

 

and if you've got 25k aside, I'd seriously consider an E46 M3 CSL. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BMW_M3#M3_CSL_.28E46.29

[dinkus 10]

If you want a proper track car, the Corrado is not it, nor is it a good starting point for one.

 

If you're not worried about looks, you'd be better off getting a track stripped and prepped Golf or 205.

 

If you've got a bit more cash to throw at a track car, get a Westie or Caterham or somesuch - uber bang for your buck, especially if you buy one second hand. The only problem is you'd need to get your hands dirty on it a lot as they're all hand built.

 

I still very much like the idea of an Elise or Exige for track weaponry. They look mean enough to eat your children, they are absolutely wonderful to drive and (relatively) cheap to run. Especially if you buy a newer one with the Toyota engine.

 

Of course if you're looking at that kind of wedge to spend on a "second" car - why not get a Cayman and use it for both jobs? You know you want to ;)

 

I've also not driven a 350Z... or 370Z either, so I'd be interested to hear what you think...

 

And on the second hand price front - I've heard a few people saying the prices are going up. Nobody's buying new cars these days, so the demand for second hand ones has gone up, thus the price has too.

[dukest 0]

If you want a proper track car, the Corrado is not it, nor is it a good starting point for one.

 

Why in particular Dom? Just too heavy? Or anything else?

[dinkus 10]

Well it depends on what you want really.

 

If you want something that's fun on the road and decent to throw around a track every now and then, a Corrado is ok. But it's a road car. They're relatively fairly heavy, rare, expensive for parts and there's not a huge amount of track-specific off-the-shelf mods you can get for them.

 

If you're going to be buying a second car just to be a track nail, then you want a track car that's barely road legal. My favourite for this would be an Exige for the reasons I mentioned in my last post. You can still (sort of) use it as a daily driver too.

 

On a low-budget front - Golfs are cheap as chips, light once you've stripped them and there's a ton of track gear you can get for them. Same with 205 GTIs, although they're getting a bit rare now. They will also be very much nails. Aesthetics don't come into it much.

 

If you've got a bit more money, any kind of Caterham/Westie/Dax - particularly the bike engined Dax Rush's are mental fun and you can still drive them to/from the track. If you've never been in one, I can whole heartedly recommend having a go just to appreciate the complete and utter madness of them. Even moderately powerful ones make a heavily modded Corrado feel very tame by comparison. The properly insane Hybusa turbo will ones leave black 11s on the tarmac with a brown streak down the middle :lol: They are truly, truly enormous fun :D

 

Now if you're really going for a proper track car, that's in no way shape or form road-legal - how about a bike engined Radical? Proper silly and they have their own race series' too. But then you need a trailer and something to tow it...

 

It's all about what you really want - whatever you do, as soon as you get into doing regular track days, your wallet will empty very quickly :lol:

[Toad 0]

I must admit, i was thinking about a mk2 VR track toy today....

[Joe M 0]

350z was my first choice for a corrado replacement. i couldnt live with only 2 seats though so have a deposit down for the better looking Mazda RX-8 which I should be picking up on saturday. :D

[Jim 2]

Then - just for a further complication - what to do with the Corrado - I will keep it for a while no matter what - but then, as I am interested in a Track/Race car, do I buy one or prep the Corrado for this? This is related to the first dilemma in terms of available cash. Something tells me it would be better to buy a Track/Race car already prepared - as it would probably cost considerably less than getting one preped myself, or in my case, probably paying someone to do it.

 

Thought you were gonna let me buy it off you? :)

[Leonard 0]

Both cars I would consider and have been recently....

 

Driven the 350Z and I think they are a cracking car for circa £11-12k apart from the rubbish boot space I cannot fault it one little bit.

 

Im really drawn to the Z4 coupe as well mind. You say you should have the M sport package, however pretty much every review I have read says the std 3.0 car with std suspension is the best all round car and mostly preferred to the Z4M version.

 

If you fancy a Porsche though :norty: the prices of 993's have dropped considerably recently. You are looking at £20k now for a really nice low mileage example. Yes ok running costs and initial purchase price is high. However its still going to be worth £20k plus in 5 years time. Maybe more if the economy picks up a little.

 

If you just fancy a change and are not sure what you really want at the moment, then I would defo go and take a Mazda RX8 for a spin. You can pick up a really nice one for £6k and despite the engine noise being a little 'milk float' they are an awesome drivers car. Perfect for the track, RWD, high revving, sublime steering feel, cheap servicing/running costs. Downside is the mpg, but hey its £6k!

 

Enjoy your search, it sounds like a good one :grin:

[Walesy 0]

Id love a blast in a 350z, i've fancied one for a few years now but they're out of my budget and are too small for me now! Maybe in a few years though! :lol:

 

I cant offer any decent input having not driven either the 350Z or Z4, but I think based on what i've read and by looks alone i'd edge towards the Nissan!

 

The new Z4 looks really smart, im sure most people have seen the new advert on TV - advert - not sure how good it'd be to drive though!

 

As for Corrados as track cars, I agree with Dinkus, they're not the best suited cars (although also not the worst!) either way though it seems a shame to turn a goodun into a track beast!

 

Finding a car that's suited to the track as well as being easy to live with daily is difficult! I think as far as an all rounder goes i'd be looking at a Lotus, they are AMAZING around a track, I would imagine they're not so great as dailies but certainly liveable! Might be worth considering as they've become quite affordable now. VAG 20VT lumps seem to be quite popular in them too!

 

I thought of these pics when I read this thread, so i'll post them up :)

[Leonard 0]

Those pics are brilliant! :lol:

[Wendy 0]

Thanks for all the comments.

 

The BMW Z4M is out of my price range. Hence the 3L being the one I would have to look at with M seating in particular.

Has anyone ever tried to reverse one of these things ?? There is xero visibilty !!!

RX8's not my thing - don't like them very much.

 

Having spent hours researching, I can find loads of Track prepared cars for reasonable prices, Mk 11 Golfs, 16v and 8v. 2k to 6k.

With the various comments made this does confirm my belief about the Corrado - besides it would probably break my heart to treat it so hard.

Ideally of course the Exige would probabaly be my choice. Sadly i don't have the funds for both a good road car and Track Car - rubbish parents did not push me enough through schooling, so my earning potential was better !! :lol:

Not entertaining any soft tops. even though I know Caterhams, Westfields are excellent Track Cars - if you recall, the accident was in one of these - so completly put off, not stable enough in adverse conditions. Besides did a Track Day at Mallory 2 weeks ago in a Honda Civic Type R and by the time I got half way through the 2nd session, there were only a few Caterhams that managed to pass me !!! I was having an excellent day - two cars MR2 and a 320 BMW went off straight infront of me !!! :lol: Not that I was pushing them or anything !! :lol: Hoping to take my Race Licence very soon, so might even want to take up some form of Racing Series. :D

 

Found some nice 996's for around 18k.

 

Next few weeks of test driving could be interesting.

 

Toad - forget it - many items I could put on a visor - you and Nick somehow does not appeal - especially in 'that' pose. !!!

 

Jim - when I come to sell it, I will let you know.

Would a buy back deal be suitable ??!! :lol:

Might take you up on that offer re the Porsche garage in Coventry.

 

Gosh - this is so hard. :scratch:

[Leonard 0]

What sort of track car would you like then Wendy, fast, fun, or cheap to run?