|
|
SUPPORT ZPOST BY DOING YOUR TIRERACK SHOPPING FROM THIS BANNER, THANKS! |
Post Reply |
|
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
04-29-2007, 06:54 AM | #1 |
New Member
3
Rep 7
Posts |
Z4 handling
lets be honest, do you people like the way the z4 handles? I know all about the legendary bmw handling and steering feel, but after owning the z for a while whats everyone take on it? i heard its a little different from other bmws because the body is odly shaped with the long front end. i also heard the car tramlines ALOT, I can deal with that and its usually tire related, but still, this car is expensive and I would expect it to realyl handle out of the box..
opinions? |
04-29-2007, 07:31 AM | #2 | |
Second Lieutenant
92
Rep 242
Posts |
Quote:
Trammlining is there, those stock Z tires need to be one of the first things changed for a ton of reasons, and that will also get rid of your tramlining as well. Look into a set of Goodyear F1s which are fairly soft and dont squirm on the pavement much |
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-29-2007, 10:50 AM | #3 |
Major General
155
Rep 6,158
Posts |
I've tracked my Z4 and a few other cars
handling on the Z4 is really very good steering feel on the other hand leaves much to be desired. I've found that my Z4 on the track is usually one of the faster cars around the corners and that I can hold my own against cars with much more HP due to the cornering advantage I have. My Z4 is light years ahead of the old E36 M3 in terms of handling the MZ4 on the other hand, that motor is too much weight on the nose... screws the balance all up |
Appreciate
0
|
04-29-2007, 08:15 PM | #4 | |
My favorite sign.
169
Rep 4,333
Posts |
Quote:
You obviously don't have an M Coupe or have driven one long enough...the weight balance is absolutely perfect. Tonight for example...I took off from a stop light and a mustang appeared behind me after is settled down...apparently he wanted to race a little, so we both went into a 270 degree onramp turn, and I thought I should see how he corners and took it at about 55-60 and had both left hand tires losing traction about the same time with only slight corrections i kept the nose tracking well along the turn. Long story short, the mustang was WAAAAAYYYY behind me when we came out on the highway...poor guy... So as far as the stock contis inducing understeer...never happens to me... |
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-30-2007, 01:26 AM | #5 | |
Major
450
Rep 1,035
Posts |
Quote:
To the OP, I do think the Z4 is excellent handling, maybee not the best out there say compared to the Boxster. But I will say compared to other roadsters out there like the S2K, SLK, Miata it is a good head and shoulders ahead. With one comment, I think the S2k feels the absolute sharpest in its steering response. Probably because of its size/weight. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-30-2007, 12:35 PM | #6 |
Lieutenant
20
Rep 506
Posts |
I'm no racecar driver, but from a layperson's perspective, I'd say it handles very well. Driving is never boring, and curves always make me smile. It is a two-handed vehicle, and steering is sensitive. I've never taken my Z on a long state-to-state drive so I can't comment on personal experience there. My primary vehicle is a truck and my Z is for fun.
And it IS fun! |
Appreciate
0
|
04-30-2007, 06:26 PM | #7 | |
Major General
155
Rep 6,158
Posts |
Quote:
I do see how the extra HP of the M would allow you to make the car rotate on throttle where a lower HP car wouldn't be able to do that. In skilled hands the M roadster/coupe have proven to be a match for a boxster/cayman S take out the skilled driver part, and then the handling's not as good.... if you have great car control skills though, you can be really fast in an M coupe/roadster. I personally found the extra weight on the nose to be a big negative on handling compared to my 3.0, but I certainly appreciated the power that M has. beating a mustang around a corner is no big achievment, heck an X3 could probably hang with a mustang |
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-30-2007, 07:58 PM | #8 | |
My favorite sign.
169
Rep 4,333
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
04-30-2007, 10:14 PM | #9 |
Major General
155
Rep 6,158
Posts |
the M version weighs more, and has the same amount of rubber under it as the standard Z4... the M is at a handling disadvantage based on that alone.
the E46 M was a capable car, but still... it's a big heavy sedan and not the pinnacle of handling at all. The electric steering isn't very good (you can note I said that in the 3rd post in this thread, but the hydro version in the M cars still leaves much to be desired. Try out a Mini Cooper, or any Porsche (non SUV) if you're curious what good steering feels like. the M versions are "twitchy" compared to the standard Z4 (and the Boxter/Cayman) and harder to drive close to the limit. I'm not alone in that, if you read any of the multitude of reviews of the M coupe/roadster vs the Porsches you'll see that many more agree with me. After test driving the M roady, (with no salesperson mind you, so I had my way with her) I didn't like the handling at all. A good friend (boxster owner) mirrored my comments. |
Appreciate
0
|
05-01-2007, 03:34 AM | #10 | |
Second Lieutenant
92
Rep 242
Posts |
Quote:
Most people say, and I agree, that the M Roadster/coupe aren't meant to handle like a GT car and so they may feel more twitchy, etc... I think the idea in the design of both these two cars was to provide for a fun drive above all else, this is a complete weekend car and it should act like one. The boxster wins universal praise for its handling abilities, but thats mostly because porsche figured out how to make a smaller midengine roadster drive like a GT car, its very cool minded and methodical, no fireworks at all to anything it oes. It almost feels like you are driving a 3-series with more road feedback, not a true roadster which needs to be absolutly tossed. The Z Roadster/coupe are close to that end of the margin. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
05-01-2007, 11:29 AM | #11 |
My favorite sign.
169
Rep 4,333
Posts |
I think what i boils down to is the simple fact that the M cars will be faster on the track than the standard Zs and the even the cayman and boxster. But as daily drivers, most people would enjoy the other cars since they are more refined...to each his own
|
Appreciate
0
|
05-01-2007, 07:11 PM | #12 |
Major General
155
Rep 6,158
Posts |
I'd be the first to agree that the M versions should be faster on the track, a lot of that is due to HP though. The porsche verisons are nice but are they 10-20 grand better.. that's a personal decision.
I bet many would say the twitchyness makes the M a more fun car to drive. |
Appreciate
0
|
05-01-2007, 07:26 PM | #13 |
Lieutenant
20
Rep 506
Posts |
I like the sensitivity of my Z, and the bumpiness the rfts's give. Ya'll are right, to each his own. Everyone has their 'highs' and things they get off on. I like bumpy rides and sensitive steering - go figure.
|
Appreciate
0
|
05-01-2007, 08:11 PM | #14 | |
Major
450
Rep 1,035
Posts |
Quote:
agreed with ward tho, that the porsche for another 10-20 more (especially a cayman!) is just not worth the small difference/improvement in the drive |
|
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|