[Cloud9...68]

Well, all I can say is the one I raced (still can't believe I did that on the street - definitely not something I do on a regular basis) appeared to have about 200 hp on me - he was just GONE. Maybe his engine was supercharged. Or maybe it had dual EVERYTHING <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.png" class="smilie" alt="" />



As I recall, the average 0-60 time for the E46 M3 was in the 4.6 - 4.8 sec range - definitely under 5.0 sec. According to the owner's manual, the 968 did it in 6.1, which seems about right. No way a chip, air box mod, and cat back makes up that difference.



Now, on the other hand, you're talking about a different regime of acceleration than my experience, so maybe if I had thrown all caution and sanity to the wind (we were on a street in town, not on the freeway), maybe I could have closed the gap some, but I still find it hard to imagine.



But after reading about Pablo Crespo's latest track conquest (truly incredible!), I suppose it isn't a good idea to underestimate these cars! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.png" class="smilie" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.png" class="smilie" alt="" />



Back to the Z4, I think they are very sharp looking cars, and the turbo 4 is for the most part getting positive reviews. This is the wave of the future, although many will mourn the eventual phasing out of the silky smooth BMW straight 6's.

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[ds968]

I'm on the fence about the new Z4 , I don't dislike like the way it looks ( how's that for an enthusiastic endorsement ?! Lol ) and I hear it's a blast to drive, but I just can't bring myself to really find any BMW appealing because I measure everything they make by the high pedestal holding the Z 8 ..over which I drool ..even if it is only in convertible form.

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[flash]

get behind the wheel and mash the pedal. they really did a phenomenal job on the twin turbos.



i highly recommend only the manual version though. the automatic is not nearly as fun.



we almost bought that car, but at the time, we were getting out of the M3 and went to the SL550 because we thought we needed an automatic for traffic. if we had it to do over again, i think we would have gotten the Z4. still might

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[Cloud9...68]

[quote name='ds968' timestamp='1335966906' post='126376']

...I measure everything they make by the high pedestal holding the Z 8 ..over which I drool ..even if it is only in convertible form.

[/quote]

Totally with you there. What a gorgeous piece of automotive artistry. It would be a cool project for someone with deep pockets to buy one of these cars, and modify it (suspension overhaul, cut some of the weightt out of it) to get its handling to match its looks.



One the other hand, nah, just buy one and stare at it all day...

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[Cloud9...68]

Flash,



If I recall correctly, you test drove a Z4 awhile back with the twin turbo straight six (a phenomenal engine) - rxter is talking about the new one with the turbo four, which is a replacement for the normally aspirated straight six in the new 3-Series and Z4 (and I think also the 5 Series). It has a bit more torque than the NA six, so is actually a little faster (the lighter weight also helps some), but of course you lose some of that legendary smoothness of the inline six.

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[flash]

don't think i haven't thought about it. i love the outside. it's the interior that i can't stand, and that would be really tough. i just don't like the instrument panel in the middle, and i hate the flat face dash

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[Cloud9...68]

[quote name='flash' timestamp='1335969523' post='126383']

don't think i haven't thought about it. i love the outside. it's the interior that i can't stand, and that would be really tough. i just don't like the instrument panel in the middle, and i hate the flat face dash

[/quote]

Actually, I have to agree with you. As gorgeous as the Z8 is on the outside, the inside is a bit of an abomination - they were trying to get all cutesy retro, but it just doesn't work. But as pretty as the car is on the outside, I think I could live with the dopey interior... maybe.

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[rxter]

Agree that the Z8 is quite fetching (how's that for polite). I like the long hood, short deck of the Z4. I've always liked those dimensions - roadster. The 968 has it as do a few other cars along the way. SLs - old ones and the last 2, yep.

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[ds968]

Never saw the inside of a Z8, but just pulled up the images after reading the above posts. Crap, now the car just fell of that pedestal I had it on...did not fall too far, still way above any other recent BMW in my book, but yeah, what the hell were they thinking ?

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