Need BMW regulars' information: BMW Z4 Coupe 3.0Si

[centurion]

according to LTA's data: http://www.onemotoring.com.sg/publis...ost_Update.pdf

the cost to distributor is S$147K (61K markup). Some way to go to negotiate. Significantly more than the markup as the Porsche Cayman manual (45K). If no discount, well, the Cayman is definitely the better buy (though I've not seen how much a Cayman manual costs).

[foxfrc5]

First of all, my vote is for the Cayman S, amongst your options.

I've testdriven a Z4 2.5 auto and a Z4M 6-speed and found both to have a really hard ride. The Z4M was also really too overservoed for my tastes... steering, brakes, the whole thing. But I do like the look of the car and think this is a car that could really grow on you.

As a fellow lover of manual cars, I can, from experience, tell you that being able to sell one used locally will really depend on luck. Most local buyers only want autos. And I don't think you will be able to get more for a manual than for an auto since OMV is lower and the pool of potential buyers is much, much smaller. Don't forget that most folks looking to buy a used manual car also know that you will have trouble selling, so they're not about to overpay.

Solution: buy something that you can see yourself still driving 5 years down the road and thoroughly enjoy it.

[centurion]

sheesh, a car to enjoy 5 years down the road, that'll be the Cayman PASM 6-speed manual. It is probably the same answer I'd get from the Porsche forums. Damn and I thought that the BMW forums can sell me the Z4Coupe 3.0 SI better so that I save the cash.

I'll try the Z4M Coupe next week. Then I'll see. They don't have some dynamic suspension like PASM for the Z4 Coupe, huh? I travel to KL often on the 315km road, if too noisy or bumpy, then it'll be intolerable.

[porsche78]

A porsche will always be a porsche. For Cayman S go for the manual one, more fun then the tip. nothing to think which car to buy since porsche is on yr mind already.

[centurion]

Originally Posted by porsche78

A porsche will always be a porsche. For Cayman S go for the manual one, more fun then the tip. nothing to think which car to buy since porsche is on yr mind already.

If I choose to get a Cayman (non-S) manual 6 PASM, because of cost reasons, are there any big bad issues involved?

[kurqa]

if you do not crave absolute power the cayman should be the better buy...people i know who have driven both claim the non-S is better to drive and they say the same for the basic boxster over the S version...why i do not know but that seems to be their general perception...

i am hoping to hear more views on this thread too...interesting discussions

[centurion]

Thanks for your view. I found the Cayman to be - not slow, but the excellent chassis could handle more power. BUT, I'm not a race driver and the Cayman gives me time to tie up things more neatly compared to the S, where I basically have to scramble to keep ahead of the car. I can't do that consistently, after a few corners the car outstripped my capability.

The ability to do things neatly is far more `shiok' to me than the ability to go crazy fast.

[foxfrc5]

Performance aside, I think there's a huge aesthetic difference between the lowfat and full fat Caymans, namely the size of the wheels and colour of the brake calipers, as with the Boxster and 911 as well.

I'd go with the Cayman S on that basis alone. Judging from your posts, I'd say that you'd appreciate the extra grunt too. It will cost more, but you'll get it back if and when you sell.

I think if you're considering a regular Cayman, then also take a good hard look at the Boxster S with the new, larger engine. I know you've said that convertibles don't seem to be real drivers' cars to you, but I think it'd be interesting to see how the Boxster S compares to a Cayman in terms of driving feel and performance.

For the record, I'd buy a Boxster S over a regular Cayman if I was looking for an additional set of wheels (but would only replace my 911 with another 911).

[centurion]

your statement: 'you'll get it back if and when you sell.' is utter evil

The BoxS will be more saleable but it does not make my spine tingle though. I don't know why, but over the years, I've driven the old one more times than I remember and never had any special feeling of a chassis hewn from stone, as I did with the Cayman. There's a cheap previous model 3.2L BoxS available but I'm giving it a miss.

I'm sure that the Box Chassis is better than me, but this is not a rational decision in that aspect. I'll never open the top anyway, and I really need the high speed refinement as I travel very often up north on the boring fast road.

[R33Devil]

Originally Posted by foxfrc5

For the record, I'd buy a Boxster S over a regular Cayman if I was looking for an additional set of wheels (but would only replace my 911 with another 911).

thats like saying you would pick a pair of white leather Gucci over Berluttis....

nuff said....