::.. Z4... 3.0L... what are the opinions of the stalwart e34 owners?

[Qube]

http://www.lonelyprogrammer.com/TCBMWPreowned/thevehicles_detail.asp?id=615

Summer is around the corner and my z4 dream tempts me. I'm entertaining ideas of leasing this 2005 z4... The residual is good so leasing should be all right... and the pre-owned certified warranty covers up to a whopping SIX years?!

I wouldn't be letting go of the 535i though ;)

[granit_silber]

http://www.lonelyprogrammer.com/TCBMWPreowned/thevehicles_detail.asp?id=615

Summer is around the corner and my z4 dream tempts me. I'm entertaining ideas of leasing this 2005 z4... The residual is good so leasing should be all right... and the pre-owned certified warranty covers up to a whopping SIX years?!

I wouldn't be letting go of the 535i though ;)
It's a BEAST! I drove one last year at the Ultimate Test Drive and LOVED it!!!
You have to watch out for the long nose though, especially going into parking lots or driveways.

Make sure to lease the "sport" model it's even more fun than the normal 3.0
-ashley

[Jay 535i]

Awesome. I love it.

But I'd rather have a used Boxster S, though. You could OWN a '99-ish Boxster S for cost of a 4-year lease on a new Z4.

See here:

http://www.trader.ca/powerpage/details.aspx?vlotid=560696&adid=4957005

Regardless of which route you take, let me drive it. :D

[Qube]

Awesome. I love it.

But I'd rather have a used Boxster S, though. You could OWN a '99-ish Boxster S for cost of a 4-year lease on a new Z4.

See here:

http://www.trader.ca/powerpage/details.aspx?vlotid=560696&adid=4957005

Regardless of which route you take, let me drive it. :D

Not really, once you factor in the insurance premiums ;)

[wingman]

Brilliant motor and chassis. I think leasing is the way to go because IMHO that design will be soooo outdated a few years from now.

[Qube]

Well, possibly outdated. The TT is still the granddaddy and has been for 6 years :)

[Jay 535i]

Not really, once you factor in the insurance premiums ;)

Are Boxster premiums so much higher than a Z4's?

[Kristuphir]

Well, you'd have to look at it. I guess if you're seriously considering leasing the car, you must like the way it looks, but man, it just pokes my eyes out whenever I see one of those things. I'd take any insurance premiums on owning a Boxster (which I think will never look any less pretty than the day it rolled out of the factory) any day...

[Jay 535i]

Well, you'd have to look at it. I guess if you're seriously considering leasing the car, you must like the way it looks, but man, it just pokes my eyes out whenever I see one of those things. I'd take any insurance premiums on owning a Boxster (which I think will never look any less pretty than the day it rolled out of the factory) any day...

Agree. The Boxster is one of the most beautiful cars ever, and I'm partial to Porsche.

[SRR2]

I had a Z3 M-roadster that burned itself up in my garage. I considered replacing it with a Z4 3.0, but it didn't have the power that the M-roadster had, and it is eye-bleeding ugly outside and in. I ended up buying a new '03 Boxster-S. The Boxster is a MUCH better car than either the Z3 or Z4, particularly the chassis which is as refined as a production automobile could be. The insurance costs of the Boxster were only about 10% higher than the M-roadster, even though the Box was five years newer, so, at least in my case, the notion of higher premiums is a myth. (I was similarly surprised to find that my E39 540 cost about 10% LESS to insure than my '89 E34 535)

In any event if you decide to look for a Box, stay with '03 or newer. There were many technology upgrades in '03 including switching the back window from plastic to glass. The non-S model in '03 is as fast as the Z4 3.0. You should be able to find some low-mile reasonably priced examples of these.

[Jr ///M5]

A couple years ago, my neighbor bought a 3.0 Z4, 6 speed, with special wheels, (they look like M parallels).

He brought it over after he got it and we went for a drive. He threw the keys at me and said, "let's go".......

What I can remember, the thing handled like a dream, had gobs of power and the brakes were excellent. The best thing, was driving with the top down and sunny, 75 degree afternoon. It reminded me of my old '70 Corvette Roadster, except no rattles...

While I'm not in love with the design of the car, once you're inside, you completely forget about it. He had a special wood steering wheel added to the interior package, and that made a beautiful difference in the look of the interior.

[granit_silber]

How are the synchorizers in your tranny doing? I remember that the sync's in Porsche trannies were similar to their race cars and had about the same lifespan (street miles vs. race miles). Have they gone to a more real-world friendly design?

Personally, I like the Z4 design (don't tell Jeff I said that :)). I like the angles, the long nose and short rump. I loved the feeling of sitting right over the rear wheels and the sound with the top down..whoo-hoo! To me all the Porsche cars (except the carrera) look like watered down 911 wannabe's now. Of course, that doesn't mean I trade it in if someone gave me one. :)

BTW my 2 favorite Porsches are the 1988 928S4 in Mettalic Mountain Mist and the 60's era 356.
-ashley

where's the freakin' spellcheck button??

[Jjcarr]

While it might be off-topic, have you considered a used 330ci? Get one with the performance ZHP package maybe? To my eye those were just about the best looking convertibles BMW ever made. If you've got $45k to drop, how about an M3 convertible?

[SRR2]

It's a Getrag 6-speed that feels just like every other Getrag I've driven, right down to the synchronized reverse. It's a bit notchy cold, but otherwise is perfectly tractable. The major difference in it is that it's a transaxle, of course, but the construction of the gearsets etc. is very similar to what you'd find in a Bimmer.

I have a feeling that many of the complaints of transmission/synchronizer feel are related to the need for a remote location for the shift lever. No matter how tight you make the mechanism, you still have those long Bowden cables between you and the trans.

[granit_silber]

It's a Getrag 6-speed that feels just like every other Getrag I've driven, right down to the synchronized reverse. It's a bit notchy cold, but otherwise is perfectly tractable. The major difference in it is that it's a transaxle, of course, but the construction of the gearsets etc. is very similar to what you'd find in a Bimmer.

I have a feeling that many of the complaints of transmission/synchronizer feel are related to the need for a remote location for the shift lever. No matter how tight you make the mechanism, you still have those long Bowden cables between you and the trans.
Thanks. I didn't realize they were using getrags. I just remeber a bunch of press as a kid about the synchronizers wearing out in what was considered a premature time-frame.
-ashley

[granit_silber]

While it might be off-topic, have you considered a used 330ci? Get one with the performance ZHP package maybe? To my eye those were just about the best looking convertibles BMW ever made. If you've got $45k to drop, how about an M3 convertible?
One of the things I like most about the Z4 is the accessibility of the engine in the compartment. In the e46 the last two cylinders (and their plugs) are underneath the engine compartment cowling. In the Z4 the engine just sits there.
I drove a 330Ci ZHP at that same test drive and loved it. But the Z4 seemed faster, now whether the numbers were there or not, my seat of the pants "Oh, My Gosh!" factor was much higher in the Z4.
-ashley

[KB535i]

One of the guys I work with has a blk/blk Z4and absolutely loves it. My wife and I test drove one for her and WE loved it. It was a little to small for her taste though.
But, Honestly, If I had to choose between a Z4 and Boxster(not that YOU are), I think Id go Boxster. Sorry.
Does that make me a traitor?

[Qube]

Oh I would too in a heartbeat, but it's difficult to justify to your boss you need more money when you drive up in a Boxster. A Z4, though sexy, is still more discreet ;)