End of the road(ster)?

I chose a z3 over a z4 because I like the retro looks. I do like the z4 particularly the coupe. The term roadster seems to have become more common, maybe as a result of a large number of mx5s being badged as roadsters. I think the name roadster suits two seater soft tops like z3 and z4s
 
Nodzed said:
Having had a Z3 and Z4 e85 at the same time, so able to have a good comparison, The Z4 always felt BIG. jumping back into the Z3 I always felt I was in a sports car, the Z4 just felt more of a GT, a bit too big and a bit too heavy. The same for the e89 Z4, nice as it is it's a GT not a sports car, again by comparison, I get in the Z3 which I don't drive as often as I once did and as soon as I'm off I just want to keep driving for the pure pleasure of the car, Z4? usually just drive to get where we are going.

To sum up, we did Scotland again this year, been quite a few times before, always in the Z3, took the Z4 this time......REALLY missed the Z3 on the west coast roads. :thumbsup:
Click to expand...
Your obviously spoiled for choice Niall, and no wonder you prefer the M on the west coast road cos isn’t that just what it’s made for/you have it for. A little unfair on Z4 as it’s a all rounder, your M is specially made for one thing and ain’t bad at the other to some degree. Maybe better comparison if the Z4 was the M model. I look at both Z3/Z4 as sports cars,Z3 being a bit old school, Z4 the modern version as BMW intended, pretty sure they didn’t intend us to compare like for like.
Just wondered why all the Z4 owners on here are letting you get away with what sounded like obvious bios you being lucky enough to have and run both. Just admit that the boss twisted your arm to take the more comfy transport this time and you were too frightened to put your foot down, literally.:facepalm:


Roy.;)
 
Compare the Meerkats.

Z4 (E85) | 2002-2006
LengthWidthHeightWheelbaseWeight
Z4 (E85) 2002-2006

4091 mm1781 mm1299 mm2495 mm1365 kg
3007 lbs


Z3 (E36/7) | 1995-2003
LengthWidthHeightWheelbaseWeight
Z3 (E36/7) 1995-2003

4025 mm1692 mm1288 mm2446 mm1160 kg
2555 lbs

Z4 is 66mm longer, 89mm wider, 11mm higher with a 49mm longer wheelbase and yes due to all the Pedestrian safety crap it is 195 Kilos heavier, but it's hardly like comparing Mo Farah and Giant Haystacks is it?

Tony.
 
When the Z3 was released two of the criticisms (mainly in comparison to the MX5 I think) were that the seating position was too high and that the steering was twitchy and prone to tramlining. Personally, I have not experienced tram lining in my Z3 and the steering is a lot less twitchy than the Z4. However, the seating position really changes the feel for me. Up high in the Z3 contributes to the go-cart feeling and I think that is one of the reasons people often say it is a more direct experience and that they feel more confident throwing the Z3 into corners. In the Z4, seated a bit lower down, the front end is more of a mystery. Sometimes I move the Z4 seat up a bit higher than usual...feels quite different when you can look down over the bonnet better.
Jasn
 
Rha said:
Your obviously spoiled for choice Niall, and no wonder you prefer the M on the west coast road cos isn’t that just what it’s made for/you have it for. A little unfair on Z4 as it’s a all rounder, your M is specially made for one thing and ain’t bad at the other to some degree. Maybe better comparison if the Z4 was the M model. I look at both Z3/Z4 as sports cars,Z3 being a bit old school, Z4 the modern version as BMW intended, pretty sure they didn’t intend us to compare like for like.
Just wondered why all the Z4 owners on here are letting you get away with what sounded like obvious bios you being lucky enough to have and run both. Just admit that the boss twisted your arm to take the more comfy transport this time and you were too frightened to put your foot down, literally.:facepalm:


Roy.;)
Click to expand...
You are spot on for the reason for taking the Z4 to Scotland Roy ;) As for the comparison, don't forget the Z4 e85 was a 3.4 Alpina the forerunner to the Z4M, so a very good comparison to the Z3M. Driven normally a Z3M is no different to any other Z3 to be fair.

I have a bias I admit but it's because I believe BMW did not improve on the sports car concept with the e85, I'm not saying its a bad car or worse than a Z3, it is though very different and as said IMHO more of a GT and I'm guessing that's what the buying public wanted, or, what BMW decided they wanted, especially in the USA.

Another reason is for me, I believe the e85 to be a more fragile car than the Z3 especially where the electrics are concerned, just going on the other forums I have followed and my own experience.
 
t-tony said:
Compare the Meerkats.

Z4 (E85) | 2002-2006
LengthWidthHeightWheelbaseWeight
Z4 (E85) 2002-2006
4091 mm1781 mm1299 mm2495 mm1365 kg
3007 lbs


Z3 (E36/7) | 1995-2003
LengthWidthHeightWheelbaseWeight
Z3 (E36/7) 1995-2003
4025 mm1692 mm1288 mm2446 mm1160 kg
2555 lbs

Z4 is 66mm longer, 89mm wider, 11mm higher with a 49mm longer wheelbase and yes due to all the Pedestrian safety crap it is 195 Kilos heavier, but it's hardly like comparing Mo Farah and Giant Haystacks is it?

Tony.
Click to expand...
Fair point. But Tony it feels and looks a lot bigger than it actually is.
 
It does Niall, personally I think it is the bonnet which makes you feel the car is bigger than it really is.

Tony.
 
The Z4 was never a replacement for the Z3, if it was it would have been called the new Z3. The Z4 was targeting a different market. Quite a few of us have swopped from the 3 to the 4 personally i didn't intend parting with my 3 the aim was to sell the Z4. Having driven the car and getting the nod from SWMBO the 4 had to stay. I loved my Z3 even if it was only the so called weedy one (1.9 16v). Had lots of fun trying to keep up with the big boys on many a cruise.
The main thing the Z4 does very well is transporting me and the other half in much more comfort and sense of security but still a great fun car with the top down driving great roads and enjoying fresh air motoring.
 
Mine has it on the 3rd stop light on the boot and the wind blocker.;)

Tony.
 
Z3, Z4... in my mind they are both roadsters. Two seater convertible = roadster in my view. And I can’t see why there wouldn’t be electric roadsters - surely
22F85964-2E54-486D-B07A-11A9E4548E19.webp
just stick two seats on one of these things that go around Milton Keynes and you have a roadster 😂
 
Paul Rice said:
The Z4 was never a replacement for the Z3, if it was it would have been called the new Z3. The Z4 was targeting a different market. Quite a few of us have swopped from the 3 to the 4 personally i didn't intend parting with my 3 the aim was to sell the Z4. Having driven the car and getting the nod from SWMBO the 4 had to stay. I loved my Z3 even if it was only the so called weedy one (1.9 16v). Had lots of fun trying to keep up with the big boys on many a cruise.
The main thing the Z4 does very well is transporting me and the other half in much more comfort and sense of security but still a great fun car with the top down driving great roads and enjoying fresh air motoring.
Click to expand...
They are different cars. My step son has a Z4 and I love it. He’s not an enthusiast- it’s just his flashy car and I enjoy cleaning it when he comes round. I bought my Z3 as a compromise between an older “classic” and a modern, more reliable car. Pretty happy with my choice and am lucky to have a daily car too so the Z3 is for fun only 👍
 
Must agree with you @Michael Burridge , I bought my first Z3 because I love the retro look. Didn't want an old British sportscar, bin there and I wanted better reliability plus performance. If I could justify running two 'toy' cars I'd have a Z3 as well as my Z4, but sadly can't. Must say, I'm not really a fan of the 'roadster' term as it seems too vague. To me the z series cars are 'sportscars' like the older two seater sports MG, Triumph, Austin Healeys etc. Essentially low, with sporty relatively harsh suspension and decent performance, not just two seat convertibles. So perhaps the thread should be 'End of the sportscar' .
 
Wow!!!! That’s more like a response we’ve come to expect among the Z community Z3 verses Z4. Say what you like but BMW were defo aiming at the open top sport car brigade with the new Z4. Japs had beaten em to it price wise. They defo weren’t aiming at the likes of us as we’d already fallen in love with the Z3. They were hoping the new drivers would look on it more favourable than the likes of us older ones. Still is a good sports car just took too long to come out. OK I admit to not ever owning a Z4 roadster but have driven a couple and changed my mind about them immediately. Wish I could own both but just can’t afford to and it’s just not up to me. To keep my coupe last year cost £9000 with the purchase of the bosses second Fiat 500C. How could I say “No” when she said yes to the coupe before I’d even sold the Z3. Grass is not always greener on the other side.:slaphead:. Would have a Z4 roadster tomorrow if my finances allowed me to have 3 cars.

Forgot it was the 3.4Alpina Niall, now that one can hold its own. Z3M owners don’t drive them normally,
do they Niall.????=))

Roy.;)
 
Jasn said:
When the Z3 was released two of the criticisms (mainly in comparison to the MX5 I think) were that the seating position was too high and that the steering was twitchy and prone to tramlining. Personally, I have not experienced tram lining in my Z3 and the steering is a lot less twitchy than the Z4. However, the seating position really changes the feel for me. Up high in the Z3 contributes to the go-cart feeling and I think that is one of the reasons people often say it is a more direct experience and that they feel more confident throwing the Z3 into corners. In the Z4, seated a bit lower down, the front end is more of a mystery. Sometimes I move the Z4 seat up a bit higher than usual...feels quite different when you can look down over the bonnet better.
Jasn
Click to expand...
I’m not sure the Z3 seating position is any higher than the Z4’s myself. In both cars you’re basically sat on the floor. But the top of a Z4’s bonnet and doors are a fair bit higher compared to a Z3. I think this gives the perception of the Z4 being more cocooned/lower and the Z3 being more exposed/higher.
 
Thinking about the definition of a roadster got me thinking about the definition of a coupe. Anyone gonna bite? =))
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top