::.. Z4... 3.0L... what are the opinions of the stalwart e34 owners?

[Qube]

http://www.lonelyprogrammer.com/TCBM...ail.asp?id=615

Summer is around the corner and my z4 dream tempts me. I'm entertaining ideas of leasing this 2005 z4... The residual is good so leasing should be all right... and the pre-owned certified warranty covers up to a whopping SIX years?!

I wouldn't be letting go of the 535i though

[granit_silber]

http://www.lonelyprogrammer.com/TCBM...ail.asp?id=615

Summer is around the corner and my z4 dream tempts me. I'm entertaining ideas of leasing this 2005 z4... The residual is good so leasing should be all right... and the pre-owned certified warranty covers up to a whopping SIX years?!

I wouldn't be letting go of the 535i though

It's a BEAST! I drove one last year at the Ultimate Test Drive and LOVED it!!!
You have to watch out for the long nose though, especially going into parking lots or driveways.

Make sure to lease the "sport" model it's even more fun than the normal 3.0
-ashley

[Jay 535i]

Awesome. I love it.

But I'd rather have a used Boxster S, though. You could OWN a '99-ish Boxster S for cost of a 4-year lease on a new Z4.

See here:

http://www.trader.ca/powerpage/detai...6&adid=4957005

Regardless of which route you take, let me drive it.

[Qube]

Awesome. I love it.

But I'd rather have a used Boxster S, though. You could OWN a '99-ish Boxster S for cost of a 4-year lease on a new Z4.

See here:

http://www.trader.ca/powerpage/detai...6&adid=4957005

Regardless of which route you take, let me drive it.

Not really, once you factor in the insurance premiums

[wingman]

Brilliant motor and chassis. I think leasing is the way to go because IMHO that design will be soooo outdated a few years from now.

[Qube]

Well, possibly outdated. The TT is still the granddaddy and has been for 6 years

[Jay 535i]

Not really, once you factor in the insurance premiums

Are Boxster premiums so much higher than a Z4's?

[Kristuphir]

Well, you'd have to look at it. I guess if you're seriously considering leasing the car, you must like the way it looks, but man, it just pokes my eyes out whenever I see one of those things. I'd take any insurance premiums on owning a Boxster (which I think will never look any less pretty than the day it rolled out of the factory) any day...

[Jay 535i]

Well, you'd have to look at it. I guess if you're seriously considering leasing the car, you must like the way it looks, but man, it just pokes my eyes out whenever I see one of those things. I'd take any insurance premiums on owning a Boxster (which I think will never look any less pretty than the day it rolled out of the factory) any day...

Agree. The Boxster is one of the most beautiful cars ever, and I'm partial to Porsche.

[SRR2]

I had a Z3 M-roadster that burned itself up in my garage. I considered replacing it with a Z4 3.0, but it didn't have the power that the M-roadster had, and it is eye-bleeding ugly outside and in. I ended up buying a new '03 Boxster-S. The Boxster is a MUCH better car than either the Z3 or Z4, particularly the chassis which is as refined as a production automobile could be. The insurance costs of the Boxster were only about 10% higher than the M-roadster, even though the Box was five years newer, so, at least in my case, the notion of higher premiums is a myth. (I was similarly surprised to find that my E39 540 cost about 10% LESS to insure than my '89 E34 535)

In any event if you decide to look for a Box, stay with '03 or newer. There were many technology upgrades in '03 including switching the back window from plastic to glass. The non-S model in '03 is as fast as the Z4 3.0. You should be able to find some low-mile reasonably priced examples of these.