BMW Z4si roadster vs G37

[evaine45]

Flame helmet on!

After the second deal I had for a BMW Z4si roadster got back burnered by a dealership, I got pretty fed up with the arrogance I'm getting (could be my problem for insisting on $1K over dealer cost--I've been slammed for this being too skinny of a deal) so I decided to check out the competition. I drove a G37 and really liked the handling, power, PLUSH interior and up to date electronics. It also seems a little more practical than the Z4--whichever car I buy will be my only car, and I live in the Philly area (read--cold winters and a little snow).

The G37 has poorer gas mileage (real life I'd guess I can count on 17-20 mpg from the posts I've read here) vs 22-30 for the Z4. I probably could get away with the stock tires because they are all season; I know for the Z4 I'd be replacing the tires this fall.

It's guaranteed convenience for service with valet pickup/dropoff, free loaner, and the dealership is less than 5 miles from my house. For the Z4 the closest dealership is one that really jerked me around badly and I'm not sure about using their service dept--next closest is 10 miles away through heavy traffic. The one I would buy from is 90+ miles away and not practical for service because of the distance.

Having said all that, I love both cars. If the G37 got better gas mileage and was a convertible, I'd already be driving it!. On the Z4 what I like is the exterior, the convertible top, the handling (although that's also great on the G37), the road feel, the much better gas mileage (do the math--20 - 50% better mileage, and that's ignoring the several posters who are in the 12-14 mpg range on the G37), and the intangible COOL element.

IF the Z4 deal I was working on goes through (sales guy called me yesterday after leaving me to stew for 2 weeks, I haven't returned his call yet) I'll have $1K over dealer cost and MF/acquisition at buy rates. I would hold off till May regardless of which car I was buying so I could take advantage of May incentives. On the Z4 there is $3K trunk money which expires at monthend, and I would be ordering so I wouldn't get that, but for purposes of this decision I'm assuming it would be extended into May/June, when I would be picking up the car. BMW also offers the Performance Center pickup, which from all accounts is a GREAT experience. On the G37 I qualify for VPP (which I learned about HERE--isn't this board GREAT?!) so I assume I'd pay invoice or very close to it--I haven't talked price yet with my local dealership and don't really want to unless I'm leaning towards the G37.

anyone on this board try out the Z4 and have an opinion on how the two cars compare? It might be a little stupid to go to an Infiniti board and ask about a competitive car, but I figure there is a reason why everyone here has a G37 rather than bimmer and I'd like to know what it is--ESPECIALLY if you actually tried out the Z4 before deciding. If you went the other way and are shy about posting, please PM me if you prefer.

It's a tough decision between the two cars and I need all the help I can get!

[Meltdownblitz]

Well make sure you look at another thing too... the price difference maybe? Also the power difference? And not to mention, I don't see how people can get 12-14 mpg unless your obviously hitting the gas quite a bit because I get 17-18 on average, (keeping the rpms less then 3) normal driving.. if your flooring it off the start you probably are whipping the back around into another lane and also wasting gas. I used to do that when I first got the car. And of course everyone wants to use the power the G37 has, which I then get maybe 15 mpg but its cool. To drive a luxury powerful car you gotta have the money to feed it too is the way I look at it.

And also just in my opinion, don't take it offensively. But I would not buy a BMW, honestly they break down so much and are very high matience cars. If you want something more practical, Infiniti is a better brand to go with. I've just heard way to many situations with bimmers and how they always break down (or have problems left and right).

For instance not saying anything about the Z4 (never seen the interior, never drove one) But the dealership manager from Infiniti was my sales man and I brought a friend to him to buy a used G35 and he was driving us to a different Infiniti store and we took a 5 series BMW and it was the most confusing vehicle you could imagine when it came to simple things such as turning the A/C on. And also the manager was telling me how he has had a BMW in the past and he was always waiting in the shop to where he knew the people that worked there, he thought it was the car possibly and loved BMWs so he bought another BMW, guess what, same thing he was always having it serviced so he traded it in and bought an Infiniti and his now has 200k miles on it, still running fine. One of the few stories I've heard, I've been in some too so I know they don't lie.

Not trying to change your mind at all about the Z4, could be different.

Not to mention I love my G37! I was actually deciding when I was buying between a 335i, Lexus GS 350 , and then the G37. When I put everything together, Lexus and Infiniti were standing just by looking because (the 335i runs in the 50k range with the features I need) Plus my dad has a BMW and told me do not buy one because he has one now and he can hardly drive it, (he has a 3 series.)

Well I'm not bagging on BMW at all I LOVE the cars they make but if you want something PRACTICAL go with Infiniti.

Good luck on your decision

[Magellan]

And also just in my opinion, don't take it offensively. But I would not buy a BMW, honestly they break down so much and are very high matience cars. If you want something more practical, Infiniti is a better brand to go with. I've just heard way to many situations with bimmers and how they always break down (or have problems left and right).

I certainly agree with that. Looking at my April new car issue of Road & Track, predicted reliability (defined as a percentage of better or worse than the average of all cars) is +3 for BMW, but +31 for Infiniti. The used car reliability charts also bear that out. For the record, the best score was Honda (+38) and the worst was Land Rover (-153).

Having said that, some people seem to have the BMW logo tattooed on their foreheads. My bother who is now driving an older Lexus GS is looking for a new car. I’m trying to talk him into an Infiniti M35 or 45, but he’s somehow drawn toward BMW’s.

[Kendahl]

The G37 and Z4 are quite different cars completely aside from the fact that one is a coupe while the other is a convertible. I would expect the Z4 to be rougher, noisier and less luxurious than a G37. There is nothing wrong with this; it just comes down to which one best suits you. The Nissan 350Z is more of a competitor to the Z4 than is the G37. Before making a decision, test drive a 350Z. It might be the best of both.

Don't obsess over gas mileage. It's far more important to get a car you enjoy driving, even if its fuel consumption isn't the best. The Z4 is 5% more economical than the G37 or 350Z, not 20% to 50%.

How long do you plan to keep your next car? Maintenance and repair costs are important only if you keep it past the end of the warranty.