330i asking, How practical is Z4 as a daily driver?

[lux.sh]

BMW 3 series sedan's rear seat is pretty useless too, especially for bigger folks.

I can't leave my clubs at the club house, cause I always go to different golf courses.

I do have a dog. A mini schnauzer. He will rarely go on it though, as I hate driving with him. He doesn't want to sit by himself, always come on to my lap.

I don't have a family, so seating isn't an issue. I thought of Z4 as it might be a perfect car for a single male who lives with his dog with a job, and nothing holding his back. I plan on moving to California, where convertible might not be an option, but a must. I love coupes, but roof is not so fun. I wouldn't mind M3 convertible, but I hate the looks of 4 seater convertibles.

damn. I wish I can borrow a Z4 for a week. It'll help me decide. Any dealer would do this? I know some other car manufacturers let a potential customer to have the car for couple days...

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by Alter Peter

To this end I like to take a nap here and then at a dedicated rest stop. Unfortunately not much room in a Z4 to swing the seats back

OH GOD, didn't think about this. I love taking naps in the car. Yes, this is what a true car enthusiasts do.

Whoa this changes everything........ I'm dead serious. Laugh all you want, this is very serious...

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

damn. I wish I can borrow a Z4 for a week. It'll help me decide. Any dealer would do this? I know some other car manufacturers let a potential customer to have the car for couple days...

Well you can rent one for a day or a week, perhaps you should. I have no idea where you live, however in Toronto Canada it will set you back a good $400 to $500 /Day with insurance then there is the deposit of $5000-

I saw them also fro rent in Los Vegas NV

Good Luck

PS1 ... I only could fit one golf bag, mind you my golf bag is fairly large so size here matters.

PS2 ... If you do get a Z4 (great car btw) make sure the wheels are NOT Style 296 (they look nice and have 10 spokes) they do crack. Search the forum on that subject. All other wheels are fine ... just a heads up here. And do change the tires to performance tires. Get rid of the RFT they ride very hard.

[Michael5155]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

I don't have a family

Get the Z4. End of discussion.

[ChuckB]

It has been my daily driver since 2009, and given it to do over would not change my decision to buy again.

Originally Posted by Alter Peter

?..To this end I like to take a nap here and then at a dedicated rest ...

I have no problem grabbing a nap at a rest stop, I use the ski bag in the pass through, keeps my shoes from messing up the trunk and is actually fairly warm. Make sure to carry a small pillow as the iDrive knob leaves a really strange looking mark in your face, and scrolling will cause you to lock in the Sport+ mode until the console dries out.

[juhap]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

I don't have a family, so seating isn't an issue. I thought of Z4 as it might be a perfect car for a single male who lives with his dog with a job, and nothing holding his back. I plan on moving to California, where convertible might not be an option, but a must.

You're a perfect match, now go buy it. If your golf bag is too big, buy a smaller one. If you can't fit two bags in the trunk, tell your friend to take a taxi. Buy it now before you have kids and your life is over. I've driven Z4s almost 5 years now as daily drivers, and there's no other car (that I can afford) I'd rather have.

Out of curiosity, what kind of job does your dog have?

[lux.sh]

Originally Posted by juhap

Out of curiosity, what kind of job does your dog have?

HAHAHA he majored in barking and currently working as eating my f**king money assistent.

[Michael5155]

Originally Posted by juhap

now go buy it.

I love that feeling of being in the market for a car: doing the research, walking into the show room, sitting in it then taking it for a test drive, thinking about colors and options. Yummy! I think there's some kind of "high" I get when I'm shopping for a car. Sometimes I think I sell perfectly good cars just so I can get that "high" again and go through the process of buying a car. Even when I was helping mu kid by his first beater car, I got all excited.

Enjoy and drag out the process as long as you can. It's kind of like trying to make that orgasm last as long as possible.

Whatever you end up buying (Z4-subliminally said)... savor the process!

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by Michael5155

I love that feeling of being in the market for a car: doing the research, walking into the show room, sitting in it then taking it for a test drive, thinking about colors and options. Yummy! I think there's some kind of "high" I get when I'm shopping for a car. Sometimes I think I sell perfectly good cars just so I can get that "high" again and go through the process of buying a car. Even when I was helping mu kid by his first beater car, I got all excited.

Enjoy and drag out the process as long as you can. It's kind of like trying to make that orgasm last as long as possible.

Whatever you end up buying (Z4-subliminally said)... savor the process!

So, when you finally get your car, do you have a little "private time" with it?

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

Simply put, I'm used to coupes and sedans. Never had a 2-seater sports car. How practical is Z4 35i as a daily driver? Few areas of concern,

Ride Quality: With 18~19" wheels and possibly RFTs (setup I will have if I buy this car), I assume this will be a horrific car for long commutes?
Trunk: I have no idea how trunk space of convertible car works. I heard you pretty much can't have anything but 1~2 grocery bags with the top down. With the top up, I heard a full size golf bag can fit. (not two, eh?) For me, trunk will be mainly used for golf clubs, some shopping bags.
Reliability: I will keep this car for 3 years. Any known problems? HPFP at all? major or minor problem that commonly pops up?
Others: Anything else that I should know about when buying a 2 seater car as a daily driver?

Thanks for your input.

I think that I fit a good profile for having the Z4 as a DD since I'm married but no kids. Like another member, I dislike large cars and like sporty ones; 2-seater is no prb and preferable for me. I have no prbs getting in and out of the car. I live in Toronto and this car can handle the winters no sweat (w/ winter tires, of course).

Ride quality is great: I travel A LOT and the ride is always comfy *and* sporty (18" RFTs).

Trunk: it is surprisingly spacious, but you'll do better w/ 'soft' luggage so that it can fit better. I've had no prbs doing errands, groceries for 2 ppl, trips to IKEA, etc.

Reliability: I have a 2011 35i and no real prbs. I've had one electrical glitch, i.e. passenger airbag would go offline if the seat heater was on (fixed). No HPFP issues for me. There was a slight hum coming from the rear (LPFP?) and I had it for a long time but when I switched gas brands it finally disappeared.

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

Best thing I ever did was ditch the run flats (19" 326M wheels).
The Bridgestone RFT lasted 15000km before shredding.
The new Goodyear Assymetric F1 are still fantastic after another 10,000km.

How come your RFTs shredded? One too many burnouts, Stiggy?

[Jayda]

Originally Posted by ChuckB

It has been my daily driver since 2009, and given it to do over would not change my decision to buy again.



I have no problem grabbing a nap at a rest stop, I use the ski bag in the pass through, keeps my shoes from messing up the trunk and is actually fairly warm. Make sure to carry a small pillow as the iDrive knob leaves a really strange looking mark in your face, and scrolling will cause you to lock in the Sport+ mode until the console dries out.

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by ChuckB

It has been my daily driver since 2009, and given it to do over would not change my decision to buy again.



I have no problem grabbing a nap at a rest stop, I use the ski bag in the pass through, keeps my shoes from messing up the trunk and is actually fairly warm. Make sure to carry a small pillow as the iDrive knob leaves a really strange looking mark in your face, and scrolling will cause you to lock in the Sport+ mode until the console dries out.

I think he meant to say "drooling"

[Stupenal]

2 golf bags in the trunk will only be possible with the pass through loading system. Even then, it will be pretty tough imo. If you want to go top down, you can fit only 1 bag through the pass through loading system.

FYI, I found that even with a smaller golf bag, it was still a real pain to use get it to fit with the pass through loading. I have the Callaway Hyper Lite 4.0 bag which isn't that big of a bag. Still had trouble getting the clubs in the trunk with the pass through.

[Dr Stig 2]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

So, when you finally get your car, do you have a little "private time" with it?

Either that or he rolls over and falls asleep...

Originally Posted by tranquility

How come your RFTs shredded? One too many burnouts, Stiggy?

Yep.
Canvas came out and started whipping the exhaust with every wheel revolution.
Couldn't believe they were trashed soo soon.
Same driving style, and these Goodyears are lasting way longer...

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by lux.sh

HAHAHA he majored in barking and currently working as eating my f**king money assistent.

Funny, may I enquire what kind of dog it is? Perhaps a picture is worth 1000 words Of course no room at all for this size on your lap

[rfx45]

Originally Posted by Alter Peter

Funny, may I enquire what kind of dog it is? Perhaps a picture is worth 1000 words Of course no room at all for this size on your lap

I think it'll be more fun to ride that dog to work.

[Jayda]

I'd venture to say that dog weighs more than I do!

[Mr. ///M3 RD]

Originally Posted by rfx45

I think it'll be more fun to ride that dog to work.

Originally Posted by Jayda

I'd venture to say that dog weighs more than I do!

I guess you are both right ... if his dog is that size then he needs a truck

I think it might qualify as the worlds largest dog.

All joking aside, I think the OP said his dog likes to slip onto his lap so no worries I think he be fine in the worlds sexiest car the Z4

[Michael5155]

Originally Posted by jparnes1

So, when you finally get your car, do you have a little "private time" with it?

I'd like to think I have BIG 'private time" with it. She's never said no and doesn't have the monthly curse.

[jparnes1]

Originally Posted by Michael5155

I'd like to think I have BIG 'private time" with it. She's never said no and doesn't have the monthly curse.

Haha!

[Torn]

I daily drive mine. I bought it may of 2010.... And I currently have 33k miles. I use it in rain, snow, sun. I go to restaurant depot often for my business and I haul plenty of the merchandise in it. Overall it's a great DD

[Conflagrare]

Do what I did:

Pretend your current car is a Z4.

Make a note every time you carry more than 1 passenger, and have more than small bags in the trunk.

I counted about 2-3 occasions that this happened in the past year. So I sprang for the Z4.