What's the best Z4 3.0 model ?

[Redline]

Best of all worlds really mate.

Tony.

Maybe it's just me, (my first auto box) but the manual change on the auto works better when you don't have your foot completely planted. The revs pick up so quickly on the 3.0SI that you get to the point where the box still changes for you.

In a manual box you know which gear you're in so have some ideas of speed. With the auto when keep your foot planted and it keeps on going, changes and goes again, and again, and.... You do have to be careful of your speed.
The flappy paddles in straight auto can get confusing. When you change up/down it puts you in manual mode for 20 seconds. Forget you used it and you either max out the revs or the engine is labouring if your slowing.
Throw the stick over to full manual on the curvy bits it's a hoot using either the stick or the paddles to change.
Auto is fun but makes you lazy and you can easily not realise what speed you're doing.
Conclusion - I need a second 3.0SI but manual

 

[t-tony]

Agree up to a point there Ian, you can make the box change up by slightly lifting the pedal then pressing again. Too true about your speed climbing rapidly though.

Tony.

 

[Redline]

Agree up to a point there Ian, you can make the box change up by slightly lifting the pedal then pressing again. Too true about your speed climbing rapidly though.

Tony.

Lifting off the throttle! Against my religion Tony.

 

[t-tony]

But only an itsy bitsy teeny weeny bit mate.

Tony.

 

[Bozzy]

Maybe it's just me, (my first auto box) but the manual change on the auto works better when you don't have your foot completely planted. The revs pick up so quickly on the 3.0SI that you get to the point where the box still changes for you.

In a manual box you know which gear you're in so have some ideas of speed. With the auto when keep your foot planted and it keeps on going, changes and goes again, and again, and.... You do have to be careful of your speed.
The flappy paddles in straight auto can get confusing. When you change up/down it puts you in manual mode for 20 seconds. Forget you used it and you either max out the revs or the engine is labouring if your slowing.
Throw the stick over to full manual on the curvy bits it's a hoot using either the stick or the paddles to change.
Auto is fun but makes you lazy and you can easily not realise what speed you're doing.
Conclusion - I need a second 3.0SI but manual

Is there a gear indicator on the dash display to tell you what gear you're in ?.

Steve

 

[Redline]

Is there a gear indicator on the dash display to tell you what gear you're in ?.

Steve

If you're in auto and use the paddles it shows M and the gear fit twenty seconds and reverts to D but does not show the gear.
In manual it shows the gear.

 

[Redline]

But only an itsy bitsy teeny weeny bit mate.

Tony.

I'll steel myself and try it.
You're just reducing the torque enough to step it up to the next gear.
Going up the hill into work it's a single track with a 20mph limit - it insists on sticking in second unless you back off the throttle just to nudge into third. There - I did it!

 

[Bazza]

Having only driven Lees coupe 265bhp 3.0si I think that would be my choice frecking brilliant

 

[t-tony]

I've driven a 3.0si Coupe a few times at work, you know road testing a new headlight bulb or whatever, and you're right awesome cars with one huge draw back for me, you can't take the roof off when the sun shines.

Tony.

 

[David]

I've driven a 3.0si Coupe a few times at work, you know road testing a new headlight bulb or whatever, and you're right awesome cars with one huge draw back for me, you can't take the roof off when the sun shines.

Tony.

If only they made a 3.0si Roadster! Oh wait...

 

[Lee]

If only they made a 3.0si Roadster! Oh wait...

It's called the hairdresser edition

 

[David]

It's called the hairdresser edition

It's hair STYLIST to you, Joyce!

 

[Lee]

It's hair STYLIST to you, Joyce!

I heard they gave you a free set of hair tongs and a years subscription to your nearest nail bar.

 

[Redline]

I heard they gave you a free set of hair tongs and a years subscription to your nearest nail bar.

Indeed - but it is the Travis-Perkins Lightside nail bar!

 

[David]

I heard they gave you a free set of hair tongs and a years subscription to your nearest nail bar.

Don't forget the Upper Class Virgin Atlantic tickets!

...I hear quite a few hairdressers have been given those recently

 

[ppavuk]

I drive standard 2.5 manual, 2004, with faultless and bulletproof m54b25. Honestly, i isn't a fastest car I ever driven, but. But makes all of it. It plenty enough for regular driver to feel like king of a road. I can't see a case when there will be not enough power for me. I don't do racedays, and for daily driver z4 2.5 is more than enough. Perhaps newer models with this quirky 2.5 with no oil dipstick and with electric water pump are tad quicker- but i don't really care. I think for one on a budget 2.5 pre-restyle is ideal choice. One will spend, but imho it is better to spend on upgraded suspension or brakes, rather just replace 6000quids water pump for roughly same money.

And, yes, it drives like a hell, real poor man porsche, but honestly, i've tried nineeleven, and must say modern ones nowhere close to e85, but classic ones 10x more expensive.

Z4 can bring 50k sport car driving experience just under 10k. So, get one for 5k, set aside another 3-5k for fixes/upgrades and it is there then!

 

[TaffZee]

Z4 3.0SE.

Likes:
Its a Zed
Its Black
Comfy
Decent Boot
Like my red sports seats
Fuel Consumption (I get a confirmed mpg of 32-36, when driven steady)
Sound System so much better than the Z3
Engine Sound (My Zed sounds awesome) it has an after market system but not sure which.
Head room & room in car a lot better than the Z3
Quicker than my 2.8 Z3, but you soon find out that the 3.00SE is in my opinion underpowered for the size of the engine, Don't challenge the 2.0 jap cars as you will be left wanting.

Dislikes:
Not a Z3
Crappy Electric Steering (far to light when Sports button not pressed)
Not easy to get in and out of.
Stupid poor design of seat belts (sit against your neck and rubs after a long run)
A lot more wind in the cab when roof is down

It is a personal choice but Z4 is a lot and I mean a lot more refined than the Z3 but is this a good thing? Not a drivers car!

 

[Grumps]

It's called the hairdresser edition

Ooh hang on a minute, didn't you own a Z3M roadster @Lee? Erm.......yes you did!!!!

 

[Lee]

Ooh hang on a minute, didn't you own a Z3M roadster @Lee? Erm.......yes you did!!!!

Haha rumbled lol

I actually used to own two zeds

 

[t-tony]

I actually used to own two zeds

That's just plain greedy mate, ..................... oh bugger, so did I.

Tony.