Help with Z4 buying decision

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by VintageBMW

yes Memphis, but I live in the USA and not in London, England - so I figured pricing would be different and decided not to travel the english web to find it. I could have looked up US pricing as was posted

Memphis does not offend me. He just enjoys being a little direct, which I can appreciate

I do think the e89 is much better looking than the Boxster

+1

[teagueAMX]

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

And in the best Christian tradition () he recommends that you learn how to fish when he gives you a fish...

Not sure what best Christian tradition you're refering to. Maybe Christian traditions are different down under.

[alan64]

Originally Posted by VintageBMW

yes Memphis, but I live in the USA and not in London, England - so I figured pricing would be different and decided not to travel the english web to find it. I could have looked up US pricing as was posted

Memphis does not offend me. He just enjoys being a little direct, which I can appreciate

I do think the e89 is much better looking than the Boxster

i wanted to like the boxster, but to me it looks like an upside down bathtub.

[Vintage]

they are amazing to drive and not much to look at; I am obviously biased but I think the e89 is the best styled car on the road

[teagueAMX]

Originally Posted by alan64

i wanted to like the boxster, but to me it looks like an upside down bathtub.

Originally Posted by VintageBMW

they are amazing to drive and not much to look at; I am obviously biased but I think the e89 is the best styled car on the road

Boxster: It's a shame that one of the best driver's cars on the road isn't that attractive, exterior or interior. Overall the materials used are excellent and very well executed.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by teagueAMX

Boxster: It's a shame that one of the best driver's cars on the road isn't that attractive, exterior or interior. Overall the materials used are excellent and very well executed.

Same goes for the Cayman. If it was nearly as good-looking as the Z4, I would have been tempted to go for it, but it wasn't as nice and of course after options it was quite a huge jump in price (close to ~C$18k more?). Yeah, I feel more confident in the Cayman and its handling prowess, but to pay that much more for it and w/ a relatively hoo-hum design made it an easy decision for me not to get it.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by alan64

i wanted to like the boxster, but to me it looks like an upside down bathtub.

Porsche 911s and Boxsters have never moved me either though I respect the performance and the brand.

[martinredif]

Thanks Rolf, I was awaiting your comment. I will certainly consider your advice

[martinredif]

Boxter/Cayman/Z4.
I considered the alternatives the Cayman (my alternative) would cost gbp 5k (7.5k usd)more to similar spec.

It almost certainly superior in performance and quality but I expect 50-100% uplift on maintenance costs.

But none of this was the point. It was the Z4 design that got to me, and just sitting in it gives me the feeling that I will really get a thrill driving it. I do not feel same sitting in Cayman. Comments?

[flpnout]

martinredif, do you golf? If so you may want to check out that video with Inga and the golf clubs situation....

[Alext]

The Z4 is vastly superior to the Porsche in terms of interior and exterior design. I have never sat in a Porsche Boxster and though wow what a fantastic interior I want one.

It's also easier and cheaper to mod for more power if that is a consideration.

The standard options that are included in the price of the Z4 were ridiculously expensive non-standard ones on the Porsche.

I'm with a lot of people here: if Porsche updated their ageing or 'ageless' - as they like to refer to it - design on the interior and exterior then I would be more interested in them.

[davidmbell]

I'm in the UK and have a 35i with 18" on runflats. It's the runflats that aren't much good on our potholed UK roads.

I can't wait to get rid of the runflats they thump and crash on our roads.

You will love the 35!

Sat nav idrive, I love it, the ConnectedDrive is cool, I check weather forecast every drive, read news etc. Make sure your happy with stereo/speaker package though as standard one is weak. But easy to upgrade.

My car is in the URL in my signature below.

What else will sway your decision?

David

[Vintage]

best advice: ditch the RFTs and put on some real performance tires, then the handling gap between the Boxster and Z4 will be closed significantly. bmw really hurts their cars by equipping them with RFTs, especially when being "compared" to other makes by reviewers

[martinredif]

[QUOTE=davidmbell;8146056]I'm in the UK and have a 35i with 18" on runflats. It's the runflats that aren't much good on our potholed UK roads.

I can't wait to get rid of the runflats they thump and crash on our roads.

You will love the 35!

Sat nav idrive, I love it, the ConnectedDrive is cool, I check weather forecast every drive, read news etc. Make sure your happy with stereo/speaker package though as standard one is weak. But easy to upgrade.

My car is in the URL in my signature below.

What else will sway your decision?

Thank you David, the car decision is made. The decision to buy is January, so I contemplate.

[martinredif]

Question. If I upgrade tyres I assume no spare in case of puncture? Comments?

[BlueZ4AZ]

Originally Posted by martinredif

Question. If I upgrade tyres I assume no spare in case of puncture? Comments?

You take the good with the bad. Life is full of trade-offs

Keep a can of fix a flat in the trunk and avoid glass in the road.

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by martinredif

Question. If I upgrade tyres I assume no spare in case of puncture? Comments?

BMW sells a small tire inflation compressor. On my M3 it was standard equipment (no spare). There are many models out there I will get myself one once I change over to Non-Run-Flat Tires.

here is a example of a tire pressure compressor you keep in your trunk, some come with a self sealing gue to plug small leaks

[tranquility]

OT:

Are tire-sealing kits any good on the tires? When I was living in HK, I used them extensively because the roads were horrible. I heard that it fills up the tire's inside w/ some goo and in the long (or short?) run it affects the tire and one should replace them since it affects the weight or something like that? Can someone pls chime in on this topic?

[Silver-Bolt]

Originally Posted by tranquility

OT:

Are tire-sealing kits any good on the tires? When I was living in HK, I used them extensively because the roads were horrible. I heard that it fills up the tire's inside w/ some goo and in the long (or short?) run it affects the tire and one should replace them since it affects the weight or something like that? Can someone pls chime in on this topic?

Personally I would use the gue to get me to the tire store for a new tire. Any puncture compramises the integrity of the belt structure within the tire. You also lose the speed rating if the tire is plugged or patched.

[martinredif]

Thank you all for the contribution. OK another question, can BMW supply care with regular tyres from day 1?

[Silver-Bolt]

Originally Posted by martinredif

Thank you all for the contribution. OK another question, can BMW supply care with regular tyres from day 1?

If you buy them they will. One way or another you will end up paying for non-RFT's.

[Dr Stig 2]

I know the boxster is more of a track car, but in the real world driving I will go for usable performance and a lot of luxury.
I'm still waiting for a test drive of a Boxster spyder - Porsche customer service leaves a lot to be desired in Queensland. But, its only been four months. I should be more patient.

I'm not keen on the boxster design either or the most of the options that came standard on the Z4.
And little finishes like a cover for the roof when it is retracted seem like an oversight, that make the car look broken or half baked to my eye..
The salesman tried to tell me that Porsche engineers wouldn't ever design an element onto a car that was not essential in order to reduce weight and improve performance.

I just pointed at the Cayanne and Panamera sitting behind us and he had no answer...