Zed 4 test drive!

[Bret]

Well I finally got to drive my sisters Zed 4 over the Christmas holiday and have to admit that while I like it – I found a few things that kind of annoyed me.

First and foremost – I know I’ve said it before but I feel I must say it again – it’s a chick car. Maybe if it was black or some other color a little more masculine I wouldn’t have a problem. But I feel that even in black – it’s still in dire need of some testosterone injections.

Ok now my real grips:
Performance was Ok. But I think the software is a bit too nannyish for my tastes. Traction control and up shifting seemed to take over way too early when really getting into it and wouldn't let me hang it out on the hairy edge. Truthfully except for a strait line – I think my 78 MGB is way more fun to drive and get tail happy easier than the Bimmer. Example - I’d be winding it out in first or second and the dang thing would up shift way too early. Trying to anticipate it (the shift) was even more of a pain and it seemed to be totally unpredictable. Engine seemed to have a lot of grunt - but I feel that the auto just didn't allow it to achieve it's full potential.

Second issue – the paddle shifters where more trouble than they were worth. Great if your going in a strait line but totally unusable when you’re in the twisties. More annoying still was that both paddles controlled up & down shifts. Up shifting – pull back. Down shift – push forward. Would’ve preferred that a dedicated - one side would be for down shifts and the other for up shifts. In fact I got so frustrated that I gave up all together on the paddles and stuck with the sequential shifter on the center console.

Guess that’s why I prefer a manual.

Anyway the car seemed pretty balanced but I thought the seating position was chore to get set right. Just when I thought I had the driving position where I wanted it I ran out of room. I ended up having the seat fully retracted against the rear bulkhead and even then I thought the leg room was a joke – and at 5’ 11” I’m not really that tall.

Good stuff:
Suspension & ride was ok – But I was never really able to test it because the dang software wouldn’t let me drive the way "I" wanted too. Anyway I liked the firmness but if it was my car - the first thing I'd get rid of would be those crappy run-flat tires & maybe change the entire wheel & tire combo. Likewise while it was firm in the turns - I’d bet hard money that a lot of gains could be made with lowering the ride height a bit too. But that’s just me.

All & all it’s a good little car, but without a manual – its just not my cup of Joe.

 

[Steve]

Interesting report there, Bret. I too think that the manual tranny would be a better fit for the car. Let's face it, if you order a sports car with a slushbox, you are buying it for the imaage and not its capabilities, and so you probably aren't too concerned with getting the thing sideways, and they configure the setup accordingly.

If you ever get the chance to drive one with a stick shift I would be interested in reading your impressions of that car........I think it would be a different animal entirely.

 

[Randy Forbes]

I've got a soft spot (and a couple of garage slots) for the Z4's hotrod predecessor; the M Roadster.

The black one is a 1999 supercharged (now 350 bhp), TC Kline suspension & SuperSprint exhaust.

The gray one is a 2001 (315 bhp) TCK suspension & Eisenmann exhaust.

It's widely believed that the Z3 versions were a little more raw than the current models. Besides, what did you expect from a sportscar with an automatic? /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

BTW, I've had more than a dozen (>12) MGBs, starting with a brand new '73 model and finishing with a BGT/3.8 ltr V6.

 

[Bret]

Hey Randy,

I think you kind of nailed it on the head for me.

But looking at the base models I have to say that even from the start – I always liked the Z3’s flowing styling. But while the Z4 is still an attractive car, the Z3 seems more organic or raw (as you put it) compared to the somewhat chiseled & homogenized looking Z4. The same thing can apparently be said of the performance - when talking about an Auto vs. a Manual.

Kind of like comparing a Viper to a Corvette. While the Vette might win for its overall packaging, silky smooth styling and it's daily usability & even its predictable conduct when in performance mode. The Viper other hand wins for it’s in your face persona (both behind the wheel and not) and the feeling you get that your holding a tiger by the tail whenever you decide to get crazy with it.

As for me? I guess I prefer my vehicles alfresco. So that would tend to explain why I wasn’t impressed with the Zed Four with a slush box. But because I loved that engine I’ll be welcome to hold my final say until I try one with a manual.

 

[JPSmit]

Of course this is all relative - as someone currently driving a 2000 Intrepid through the snow in Canada, the prospect of driving a soft top Bimmer - any Bimmer in California.... well I'd better stop typing right now or I'm going to cry /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cryin.gif Oops too late

 

[Bret]

Of course this is all relative - as someone currently driving a 2000 Intrepid through the snow in Canada, the prospect of driving a soft top Bimmer - any Bimmer in California.... well I'd better stop typing right now or I'm going to cry /bcforum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cryin.gif Oops too late

I hear ya. But cheer up the Intrepid ain’t such a bad car. I used to own a 2000 Intrepid and for what it was it was a pretty good vehicle. But folks that know me know that I don’t leave things alone. I tossed a better wheel & tire package on, then put an N&N FIPK cold air kit on along with a freer flowing exhaust and let me tell you it made a big difference. In fact I won't (can’t actually) tell you "why" but I was driving to Yuma on old Hwy 98 between Calexico & Grays Wells late one night when I had it up to about 120+. I even mixed it up with a brand new 2002 Mazda Miata once and we where pretty much nose to nose with me having a slight edge when we hit the twisties and I had to back off. Still no disgrace there as I’m sure that the Little Miata owner was going WTF?!?!?.

Plus as you folks know up there in Canuckistan - Front wheel vehicles are great in the white stuff. Weather like that would leave other cute little cars like the Z4 above parked in the garage for safe keeping until spring time.