mtjohnson
Well-Known Member
- First Name
- Michael
- Joined
- Jan 21, 2023
- Threads
- 1
- Messages
- 50
- Reaction score
- 128
- Location
- Madison, AL
- Car(s)
- 2024 BMW M240i, 2019 Alfa Romeo Giulia
- Thread starter
- #1
I made the decision it was time to move on from the Z after nearly a year and under 5K miles. I loved the style, the nostalgia, the raw power. I loved forums like this one where fellow enthusiasts could share their passion.
I felt like a teenager the day I got my Z. That initial feeling lasted for quite some time. It masked the vehicles shortcomings, which became more and more apparent over time…. The lunging/imprecise transmission….the decent but nothing special handling…..the exhaust drone at 50 mph…..the lurches when coming to a stop at a traffic light…. the odd technology glitches like the parking sensors going off when just rolling up to a red light. I know some of these can be addressed with some tweaks and mods, but also, the dealer experience (you get treated the same if you have a Z or a Versa).
I took a weekend and drove several cars. I wanted to see if it was me or the car. Each car I drove as unbiased as I possibly could and compared it to what I had. Each car was a better experience and it made me a bit sad honestly.
The Supra - Did everything “Sporty” the Z did better. Crisper handling. Quicker off the line. Better Steering Feel. I just do not like how they look and it was hard to drive the Supra “softly” or as a day to day. Also, damn near impossible to see out of it. If it’s purely about a Sports Car, the Supra was just better.
Mustang Mach 1 - “felt“ more powerful with quicker throttle response. Handled better overall than the Z. Interior about on par. - Im just not a “Mustang guy” but could admit I thought it was a better car.
BMW M240i and M2 - The M240i was an absolute blast to drive. A revelation if you will. TONS of power, significantly better interior, fit finish, and technology. In its most comfortable settings - STILL plenty of power. In its most aggressive Sport+ setting - every bit the Sports Car the Z was and then some. While the M2 was just “more” for lack of a better way to put it. Gobs of power - stuck like glue on hard turns - BEGS to be driven hard.
At the end of the day - I wound up with the M240i. I thought I would be sad to see the Z go…but if Im being honest with myself, I was just sad it wasnt what I wanted. The M240i has been fantastic - and being treated at the BMW dealership vs the Nissan dealership is a definite improvement, not to mention the included maintenance.
The Z is still a great looking car. (The M240i looks better in person than in pics - but is not nearly as beautiful as the Z). But that is where the comparison stops. In every other metric I could find it was not even close.
This post is not to bash anyone here, or the Z car (everyone has different tastes and what they want out of the car) but just to share with someone else out there, who may be feeling the same way I felt after the honeymoon phase. You owe it to yourself to drive some of the comparable options.
Edit* Drove the top car, ultimately bought the second pic (identical spec’s but I liked the red calipers more)
Thanks for all the feedback, and love this forum has shown me. Keep mashing the gas!
I felt like a teenager the day I got my Z. That initial feeling lasted for quite some time. It masked the vehicles shortcomings, which became more and more apparent over time…. The lunging/imprecise transmission….the decent but nothing special handling…..the exhaust drone at 50 mph…..the lurches when coming to a stop at a traffic light…. the odd technology glitches like the parking sensors going off when just rolling up to a red light. I know some of these can be addressed with some tweaks and mods, but also, the dealer experience (you get treated the same if you have a Z or a Versa).
I took a weekend and drove several cars. I wanted to see if it was me or the car. Each car I drove as unbiased as I possibly could and compared it to what I had. Each car was a better experience and it made me a bit sad honestly.
The Supra - Did everything “Sporty” the Z did better. Crisper handling. Quicker off the line. Better Steering Feel. I just do not like how they look and it was hard to drive the Supra “softly” or as a day to day. Also, damn near impossible to see out of it. If it’s purely about a Sports Car, the Supra was just better.
Mustang Mach 1 - “felt“ more powerful with quicker throttle response. Handled better overall than the Z. Interior about on par. - Im just not a “Mustang guy” but could admit I thought it was a better car.
BMW M240i and M2 - The M240i was an absolute blast to drive. A revelation if you will. TONS of power, significantly better interior, fit finish, and technology. In its most comfortable settings - STILL plenty of power. In its most aggressive Sport+ setting - every bit the Sports Car the Z was and then some. While the M2 was just “more” for lack of a better way to put it. Gobs of power - stuck like glue on hard turns - BEGS to be driven hard.
At the end of the day - I wound up with the M240i. I thought I would be sad to see the Z go…but if Im being honest with myself, I was just sad it wasnt what I wanted. The M240i has been fantastic - and being treated at the BMW dealership vs the Nissan dealership is a definite improvement, not to mention the included maintenance.
The Z is still a great looking car. (The M240i looks better in person than in pics - but is not nearly as beautiful as the Z). But that is where the comparison stops. In every other metric I could find it was not even close.
This post is not to bash anyone here, or the Z car (everyone has different tastes and what they want out of the car) but just to share with someone else out there, who may be feeling the same way I felt after the honeymoon phase. You owe it to yourself to drive some of the comparable options.
Edit* Drove the top car, ultimately bought the second pic (identical spec’s but I liked the red calipers more)
Thanks for all the feedback, and love this forum has shown me. Keep mashing the gas!
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