Is It The Best You Hav Owned So Far?

[alan64]

I have to say, over the years I have owned a lot of cars. Muscle cars, sports cars, trucks, gas sippers, gas guzzlers. Just about every type of vehicle. This one seems to cover the bases of enjoyment more than any other car I have owned. Its fast enough. Its smooth, Its design is outstanding. Its sporty when you want it to be, smooth and quiet, when you dont want it to be. A convertible when the sun comes out, a hardtop when the weather is bad. It is the first car in a long time, that I find I am enjoying more and more the longer I own it. I always saw myself selling cars after a year or two of ownership. I think this one is a keeper. Just my morning commentary.

[Roadstergal]

It is not only the absolute best car that I have ever owned, but it is also better in every way than my last two previous generation Z4's and my first love, my '98 2.8 red Z3. I loved all three of those cars, but....

Alan, for all the reasons you stated, This is it!

[Otago]

I previously owned MX5, MRS and Supra; I have to say the z4 is the best.

[flpnout]

Alan, I tend to go through cars quickly myself after 1 year to 2 years I tend to get bored and want something new. This is why I tend to stick with 2 year leases whenever possible, but even with that the most I keep a car is a little over a year with my track record, then I stick them on Swapalease.com. I have never had an issue getting rid of them through that website. Even though I've only had my E89 for 6 months now, it is hard to tell what I will do. But so far I must be enjoying it since I already invested in Dinan Stage 1. Future plans of Eisenmann Exhaust, and maybe other mods like the differential from Dinan when it becomes available. I don't usually care to mod a car if I don't plan to keep it. Friends and family have commented that the E89 is the most beautiful BMW I have had and the 6 series was second to it.

If I had a chance to do it over again, I would have kept my 2008 BMW 650i cabrio as it is the smoothest coupled with great sporty handling that I have ever driven in the BMW lines up and my E89 would be my second car. The V-8 engine in the 6 series was just so smooth (gas mileage at cruising was about 23 to 24mpg). When I had the 650, the M-roadster was my second and daily driver car. Due to economic conditions, I decided to get rid of both for the E89. Crazy huh?

[s2000jan]

Well, my Z4 is on par with a Honda S2000 i owned about 10 years ago .... it is different though ...

[msimon18]

Wow !! I do not see any compariaon to a Honda S2K. I had a 2002 for about 8 months and found it to be awful in so many ways. The new Z4 E89 is quicker, more stable, roomier, more luxurious and has a phenomenal style AND a RETRACTABLE HARD TOP. I just do not see any reasonable comparison.....

[flpnout]

Originally Posted by msimon18

Wow !! I do not see any compariaon to a Honda S2K. I had a 2002 for about 8 months and found it to be awful in so many ways. The new Z4 E89 is quicker, more stable, roomier, more luxurious and has a phenomenal style AND a RETRACTABLE HARD TOP. I just do not see any reasonable comparison.....

I had one back in 2001 for only 8 months as well. I could not live with it as a daily driver. Way too harsh, but fun on the switchbacks. The back window was plastic. Could not fit anything in the trunk. I picked up a friend at the airport and had to carry his luggage on his lap. Definitely more of a track star kinda car.

[yabbanoname]

well,I had a S2000 for more than 100000 miles and I loved it, but it a totally different car.
Handling at topspeed felt better, but I enjoy the DCT and the low rev torq of the twin turbo and the retractable hardtop, the luxurious interior can't be matched.
It were those things that decided me not to go for the last production S2K or an Exige S. No match for daily driving but the funfactor is probably as high as the E89 or higher.
When a Z4 arrives with valvetronics which will be able to do 9500 rpm this will be my best car ever ;-)

[JDB30]

I have to say, overall, it is probably the best car I've owned. The handling is not as good as my previous car, a Porsche Boxster, but the speed is on par with my 3rd gen RX-7 (my previous favorite car that I owned before the Porsche). The interior is great but what really floats my boat is the 7-speed dual clutch transmission---I LOVE driving it in manual with the traction control off. I almost feel like an F1 driver!

[alan64]

Originally Posted by JDB30

I have to say, overall, it is probably the best car I've owned. The handling is not as good as my previous car, a Porsche Boxster, but the speed is on par with my 3rd gen RX-7 (my previous favorite car that I owned before the Porsche). The interior is great but what really floats my boat is the 7-speed dual clutch transmission---I LOVE driving it in manual with the traction control off. I almost feel like an F1 driver!

when you spend time in manual with the traction control off, do you mostly use the paddles or the shifter back and forth?

[Memphis1]

i've only had four cars, a beater that my dad bought me for highschool, a CLK320, an E90 and the E89. so from that perspective yes it is, but maybe when i'm like 80 i'll be a better judge.

[Jay Zone]

Absolutely the most Fun car I've ever owned. 1998 330ci, 2001 M3, 2004 IS350, 2007 335i

Top down is a blast. World class looks. This ones a keeper.

I just wish everybody would stop staring at me. You'd think I was a celebrity.



JZ

[Z4Andy]

I thought long and hard a looked at a lot of cars and in the end an absolute cracking deal from a dealer and someone asking to buy my old car on the same day meant it was to be.

Today I did 100 miles just for the hell of it By far the best car I have ever owned and so much so I am now tempted just to blow an extra few pounds and go for an is.

[richard in NC]

The Z4 is the 14th car I've owned, and 6th BMW. Early on I owned sport coupes (Daytona, 3000GT, etc). With BMW it has mostly been sport sedans. It is hard to top a 2002 E39 M5 as the best car ever but I bought the Z4 on a whim and it's been truly enjoyable. Its great for the daily commute, twisty roads, long trips, or any nice day you can just drop the top and cruise. The DCT is for sure the best transmission I've ever owned.

[s2000jan]

Originally Posted by yabbanoname

well,I had a S2000 for more than 100000 miles and I loved it, but it a totally different car.
Handling at topspeed felt better, but I enjoy the DCT and the low rev torq of the twin turbo and the retractable hardtop, the luxurious interior can't be matched.
It were those things that decided me not to go for the last production S2K or an Exige S. No match for daily driving but the funfactor is probably as high as the E89 or higher.When a Z4 arrives with valvetronics which will be able to do 9500 rpm this will be my best car ever ;-)

+1

I used it as a daily ride and yes, there is a tremendous difference between the S2000 and the Z4 (not in the least in price) but the S2K is definitely a car that will stay in my mind. If I find a second hand, reasonably priced, it might well be that I buy it

going 9000rpm is fun fun fun !

just before I bought my Z4 I had the opportunity to buy a second hand S2K, but someone was just a bit quicker and I missed it... if not, I would still have my E92 335i AND an S2K on the driveway

[Otago]

Off topic discussion; what's the fun of getting 9000rpm? High rpm creates excessive wear and tear of the engine and shorten engine life. Besdies z4 has max. torque at very low rpm (2000 - 3000 rpm) which is best for quick acceleration.

[cdmulders]

I've had just about all possible combinations except SUVs and minivans, and without question, my wife's Z4 is the most enjoyable driving experience to date. I've had cars with more grunt, trucks with more torque, classic american beauties, british 'love-em / hate-em' sports cars, and even a Ford/Mazda Probe GT, but nothing beats the seat of your pants feel, the top down/top up stunning looks, the incredible attention to detail, and the sound (oh, the sound!) of our Z4. It's a keeper.

For those bored with looking at lists of cars, read no further. Here's what I've driven over the past 32 years:
- 72 Ford Pinto (parents car, learned on it, didn't become a BBQ)
- 67 Mustang (coupe, 250 ci, 3 sp, my first car, got it when I was 16)
- 69 Cougar XR7 (351, auto)
- 74 Mustang II (ouch!)
- 68 Firebird (350, 4 sp)
- 67 Buick Skylark (got it in 83, kept it until 2005, 340 (yes, 340), 2 sp auto, 2 door hardtop)
- 69 Mustang (coupe, 250, 3 sp)
- 78 Landcruiser FJ 40? pick-up (not the jeep style, 4 litre, 4 sp)
- 74 Chevy Vega (2nd ouch, kept it for 1 month, couldn't keep oil in it)
- 67 Buick Skylark ragtop (340, 2sp auto)
- 67 Triumph GT6 (2.5 litre, very similar in lines to the Z4, 4 sp, fun when it ran)
- 78 Mercury Capri (3rd ouch, but practical)
- 72 Chevy K10 Pickup (350, 3sp auto)
- 91 Ford Probe (2 litre?, 5 sp)
- 89 Probe GT (2 litre?, turbo, 5 sp)
- 94 Probe GT (2.5 litre, 5 sp, fun)
- 94 Lincoln Mark VIII (4.2 litre, 4 sp auto, very fast and comfortable)
- 89 Ford 250 pick-up (7.3l diesel (non turbo), pulled the boat with no issues)
- 2000 E39 528i (auto, still have it and love it, getting it repainted as we speak)
- 2010 Z4 35i (6 sp, crimson, wow)

[pmlnnrt]

had many cars - one of the best is my Z-4 - next time would go for the DCT - as I skip gears with the stick shift - Phil

[richard in NC]

@ cdmulders, that is an interesting assortment of cars. Here are mine:
1968 Dodge Monaco - 383 V8, auto, thru high school, college, and kept a few years after as a beater.
1975 Chrysler Cordoba - 360 V8 auto, sorry, no Rich Corinthian Leather. Oldtimers may remember those Recardo Montalban (Fantasy Island, Star Trek II) commercials.
1985 Dodge Daytona Turbo - 2.2 I4 turbo 5 spd, first brand new car
1987 Dodge Daytona Shelby Z - 2.2 I4 turbo 5 spd
1990 Ford Tbird Super Coupe - 3.8 V6 SC auto, least reliable car I've owned
1991 Mitsubishi 3000GT VR-4 - 3.0 V6 TT 5 spd AWD, best handling car I've owned, magical in the twisties, irregardless of the weather
1995 Mitsi 3000GT VR-4 - 3.0 V6 TT 6 speed, improved on the '91 but not as good handling and problematic
1999 BMW 540i sport - 4.4 V8 auto, first BMW
1998 Dodge Neon R/T - 2.0 I4 5spd, winter beater
2002 BMW M5 - 5.0 V8 6 speed, has to be the best car ever
2006 BMW X3 - 3.0 I6 auto, replaced the Neon
2006 BMW 650i - 4.8 V8 6 speed, surprisingly harsh ride, the Z4 is MUCH smoother
2008 BMW 550i - 4.8 V8 sport auto
2009 BMW Z4 35i - 3.0 I6 TT DCT, replaced the X3
Note I'm a sucker for black cars as the 85, 87, 95, 98 Neon, X3, 650i, and now the Z4 were all black.

[cdmulders]

Thanks Richard - nice pics of your cars. Yep - Z4 is the sweetest, although I really like your 650i too. My brother had an '91 850i (beautiful & red) - he finally sold it last year as he had to wrangle too many toys. Surprisingly, I have next to no digital photos of any of my cars. Dang! I'll dig up some old photo albums and see if I can scan a few. Here's a pic of my brother's car before he upgraded the wheels to 18" mesh.

[yabbanoname]

Originally Posted by Otago

Off topic discussion; what's the fun of getting 9000rpm? High rpm creates excessive wear and tear of the engine and shorten engine life. Besdies z4 has max. torque at very low rpm (2000 - 3000 rpm) which is best for quick acceleration.

Try it, and you'll enjoy it for sure.
"shorten engine life" , probably, but my S2000 didn't use as much oil after 100.000 miles as my Z4 today (had to add a quarter after 10.000 miles).
It will get better they say (typical Beamer ?).
Did I say that the S2000 did cost me almost half of the costs (operational) of the Z4 ?

Okee, I'll stop about the S2000, the Z4 is better if you forget the costs, and the oil and the fun of high revs (Z4M was pretty capable of high revs too).

[yabbanoname]

Originally Posted by s2000jan

+1

I used it as a daily ride and yes, there is a tremendous difference between the S2000 and the Z4 (not in the least in price) but the S2K is definitely a car that will stay in my mind. If I find a second hand, reasonably priced, it might well be that I buy it

going 9000rpm is fun fun fun !

just before I bought my Z4 I had the opportunity to buy a second hand S2K, but someone was just a bit quicker and I missed it... if not, I would still have my E92 335i AND an S2K on the driveway

sometimes it is good to remember the good old days and enjoy the present.
My dad enjoyed his Austin Healey 3000 MK IV 45 years ago a lot, but he prefers remembering the MK IV and driving the Z4 now instead of the other way around ;-) (he also prefers to remember his BMW 327 (1946) and NOT driving it now ).