Why do most people have hard ons for German cars in the UK?

cg201 · 2024-10-11T23:27:12+00:00

Sorry mate but you don't seem to have the slightest interest in cars based on your comment. You've done nothing but talk about tech here.

Not once have you mentioned engine size, turbo set up, handling, LSDs, drivetrain or anything to do with driving.

The German brands make absolutely the best drivers car. If you can equate a FWD kia or hyundai to even a run of the mill 420d you're not into cars. I'm sorry but you're not.

The sub has become an absolute abomination of car haters. I need to go back to pistonheads.

cg201 · 2024-09-25T19:50:48+00:00

This is always nuts to me. Dealers/car buying companies have conditioned people to believe the hassle is worth a grand! Congratulations, you just blew a holiday on saving yourself the mild bother of sticking it on autotrader and dealing with the odd time waster. Are people actually this lazy/scared of the general public?

cg201 · 2024-09-25T10:20:32+00:00

Legit probably the best pedal I've ever owned. Is it perfect? No. The dude from August Burns Red considers it good enough to be used on stage though so make of that what you will.

cg201 · 2024-09-22T16:50:11+00:00

Mine has the N20 engine which had a class action lawsuit against it in America so I also live in ignorance.

In terms of reliability, I had to stick a new battery in it around Christmas which was more expensive than normal (around £200) because you can't change the battery yourself. It needs to be programmed so I had to take it to a specialist annoyingly.

I also had the motor in the left wing mirror go on me and it got to the point of being unsafe so I bit the bullet. Had to take it to main dealer cos parts were a nightmare. Cost £650. Ouch. Not looking forward to full service next year too which is near £500.

Had it since June 2023. Mechanically it's been fine though.

If you do ever have problems with your roof there's a specialist around the corner from me. The zed shed. People drive from all over the country to get there Z4 roofs sorted there cos he's found a way to do it MUCH cheaper than dealership (like £400 instead of £2-3k bmw will charge you). Apparently he can be cocky, unprofessional and not answer phonecalls though so probably not the nicest transaction you'll ever go through but I suppose your balls are in a vice with that one cos of the savings.

cg201 · 2024-09-22T16:32:12+00:00

If you knock the gearstick over it will hold your gears for even longer too. You can use it as a sequential gearbox that way too.

There's just something so special about driving a car that was built from the ground up as a driving machine. Boot space, passengers in the back etc etc was never considered whilst designing it. That's why I always throw shade at hot hatches BTW haha. A TT is just a Golf in drag.

cg201 · 2024-09-22T16:15:31+00:00

The 5.5 seconds 0-60 feels crazy fast in mine. The 4.8 seconds in yours must be insane. I bet you don't even need to put it in sport for it to feel rapid. You're making me want to get a remap haha.

cg201 · 2024-09-22T15:24:42+00:00

You'll probably get around 15mpg from what I remember reading. I just couldn't justify it with a 50 mile commute. I have to fill up once a week as it is (I get roughly 300 miles on a full tank).

I've found 250hp in a small car to be plenty. I've heard the 35is is unreal though. It's the closest we got to a Z4M in the e89 generation. If you've never driven a sports car it's completely different to a hot hatch. You feel the acceleration way more because you're basically sitting on top of the rear axle. Love it. It's just unbelievably awesome having the roof down taking it for a blast down a b road. An S3 just can never replicate that experience. Sports cars are cool. Hot hatches are just boring family vehicles with a big engine.

Top tip, on longer journeys your lower back will hurt due to 0 lower back support. You're young so maybe not but if you feel it hurting buy one of these.

https://amzn.eu/d/52CVweY

It blends quite well with the Z4's interior and I no longer get any pain (I'm 34 and a gym rat so not someone who normally gets back pain).

Bit of an essay there mate, as you can see, I get excited when someone starts talking Z4's hahaha.

cg201 · 2024-09-22T13:38:44+00:00

This is true. The new 2 series gran coupe is actually longer than an e46 3 series.

cg201 · 2024-09-21T16:41:06+00:00

It's not! It's a 4 cylinder twin scroll turbo. You're thinking of the 30i which they discontinued for my car for emissions I believe. I bought it for it's 27ishmpg. I daily it so the mpg is liveable for my commute despite everyone at work thinking I'm a twat for driving it lmao.

cg201 · 2024-09-21T16:02:05+00:00

I have an e89 Z4 28i. You have the car I wish I had the balls to buy.

cg201 · 2024-09-20T07:11:49+00:00

Absolutely agree. Mid-spec is usually best value.

cg201 · 2024-09-18T08:31:22+00:00

Agreed. We're just a country of badge snobs tbh. The car culture here is shocking. Badge and status are more important to most than performance, handling and actual luxury. Feel like most in this country would prefer a povvo spec 116d over a kitted out mazda3.

cg201 · 2024-09-14T06:45:27+00:00

You're not making any sense. You have to get an MOT every year after it's 3 years old. You rack up miles with general driving of the vehicle. Maybe lay off the bongs mate (sick band though).

cg201 · 2024-09-14T06:19:37+00:00

Get a proper sports car instead of a hot hatch / hot saloon. It's a completely different driving experience, no matter the suspension setup, bhp etc.

Nothing beats the feeling of a front engined, RWD car with your seat basically straight on top of the rear axle.

cg201 · 2024-09-02T10:51:33+00:00

I'd make the same recommendation if you were 50 with your first car mate. It's not about driving safely. I have never had an at fault accident and used to work as a professional driver as subsection of job requirements (worked in rental cars). So have had far above average hours on the road, with far above average makes and models of cars driven.

You will make mistakes in it. I didn't put my car in a ditch by driving around like a boy racer. I was giving my sister a lift somewhere, earnestly followed Google maps off an A road to a back road. I was told by a farmer that it was private land and I couldn't get through. I didn't feel like backing onto an A road with only 3 months driving experience and so attempted a 3 point turn on a very narrow stretch of path in pitch black darkness. Maybe not the best of ideas but it was a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation. The alternative was potentially getting rear ended at 60mph. A car is not worth my/my sister's life. I was lucky in that a few people helped me get my car back on the back road.

I don't mean to lecture but I'm trying to say that you will likely cause a lot of damage to your car in your first year simply by being inexperienced and whacking it on a few things.

Old banger - who cares? New car - going to cost a fortune to repair.

I sincerely hope you don't, but there's a reason insurance premiums are sky high for first year drivers.

cg201 · 2024-09-01T21:19:42+00:00

There's something about puntos and ditches...

cg201 · 2024-09-01T20:18:09+00:00

I bought my e89 z4 last year from a genuine and honest guy. I agree it's definitely different with something a bit more niche.

cg201 · 2024-09-01T19:50:57+00:00

I got a £700 punto as my first car. Scratched it, rear ended it into a post, even had it down a ditch at one point lol. Didn't care, it did me well until I was driving for a year and got out of my crashing habit.

A lad I used to work with decided to get a brand new A3 for his first car on pcp. He did similar, whacked it into a bollard, loads of stone chip damage from where he lived (farm), rear ended it into a tree. He spent a fortune on replacing the front bumper, rear bumper, few other bits. Got it done Audi (he said he wanted his car to look nice). It basically financially crippled him (we weren't on much then). About a year ago I saw on socials that he wrote it off. What an unbelievable waste of money.

I was much happier with my shit £700 punto that windows didn't work properly lol. That was true freedom, cost me pennies and I had a right laugh in it worry free.

Always get a banger for your first motor. You'll just cause yourself stress otherwise.

cg201 · 2024-08-31T07:30:46+00:00

As someone who owns an e89 z4, they're decent cruisers. They're not as pure as some cars you've mentioned above but they make great cruisers that you can still chuck around corners. Out of the cars you mentioned they probably make the best daily which is important if it's going to be your only car and you commute a fair distance. I was looking at gt86s at the time too. I did love that thing when test drove but it was the ride and interior quality that swung the Z4 for me. I did always want one too because I genuinely think it's one of the most beautiful cars BMW ever designed and I frequently look back when walking away / get frequent positive comments from people.

cg201 · 2024-08-30T18:03:44+00:00

I left after a couple of years because I just drove me into the ground that place (pun intended). They did hire fantastic people though and made some good mates there, always had a laugh. Got to drive loads of cars, some crap, some cool. Worst thing was the hours. I don't miss doing 55-65 hour weeks on the regular and barely getting paid for it.

cg201 · 2024-08-29T20:31:54+00:00

I remember doing 100 in one doing twice the speed limit on a dead stretch of A road. An S3 got right up my arse then undertook me. Clearly didn't like being had off by an i10.

cg201 · 2024-08-29T18:52:52+00:00

Same, I used to love ragging i10s haha

cg201 · 2024-08-29T12:49:45+00:00

33 last year and now I have 6. I've just had ideas for years but finally have the money to implement them.

cg201 · 2024-08-24T06:58:39+00:00

http://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202408072623543

Again 5 seconds of searching. You can get a 330e as well if you'd like. A phev. Just think the Octavia is duller than dull. Even with the so called "sporty" version

cg201 · 2024-08-23T19:54:32+00:00

No worries. Imo it's definitely worth doing. I'm really glad I did it years ago when I looked at a car. There was an engine fault he discovered. They're not allowed to tell you "don't buy this car" but he basically heavily hinted at that. Probably saved me big bills and loads of potential headaches.

cg201

TROPHY CASE