fun fact the Z4M Roadster is more rigid than an E46 Coupe.

I recently went from a Z4M roadster to a 987.2 Boxster S. I totally agree about the looks of the Z4M roadster, one of my least favorite things about the car was the way it looked with the top up. The coupe is one of the best looking BMWs of all time. Outside of engine character, I've found the Boxster is better in basically every way. Not a lot better, but a bit better in everything it does. It's also more expensive, for around $20k I don't think you can beat the Z4M roadster.

I've had 2 Z4M coupes - one for 8 years from new in 2007, and another from 2018-2021. I'd still own that one if it hadn't been hit. I dearly miss that car. This was a great comparison review but a coupe would have been a more direct comparison - better rigidity and an even faster steering rack in the coupe. Both great cars.

A Z4 M coupe is in my future. Such a beautiful design, and relatively rare to see one on the road .

@ThatGuy-xd5fs

Ай бұрын

Mins for sale

1st gen Cayman with a manual is driving nirvana. You can push it hard and exploit the engine without breakneck speeds. The 987.1 in particular is truly lightweight, with awesome hydraulic steering, and a buttery short shifter option second to none. I picked one up as a third car and it’s a joy every time actually it’s a keeper. If you find a nice example don’t hesitate to go for a test drive

@shotty.

Ай бұрын

what are your other 2 cars?

@1ROCKY89

Ай бұрын

⁠2011 e90 M3 manual and 2018 Boxster GTS 2.5 pdk

@stu4181

Ай бұрын

Agree with the 987 being awesome own a gen 2, pretty sure the gen 2 has very similar weight and the same hydraulic steering. Do wish they had given it the 3.8 though, looking into some bolt on mods to up the power a little

@1ROCKY89

Ай бұрын

@@stu4181 i hear you. A little more power is good however because it’s not an over powered car you can absolutely mash around when street driving and it’s just simply a lot of fun in that regard. The 0-60 is the only thing my first gen cayman lacks but I’m not looking to race for pink slips anyway. What I’ve learned owning the 718 Boxster is that for all its smooth high performance and acumen at everything while it is absolutely thrilling and the best car I’ve ever owned it doesn’t provide the raw na emotional build up and old school steering my cayman and m3 provide which I would describe as more enjoyable and less thrilling. All great driver cars I appreciate in these distinctive ways. The cayman is as much fun to drive as the others and is quite affordable for what you get

@stu4181

Ай бұрын

@@1ROCKY89 Yeah that’s my issue I like mine so much that nothing else seems Good value, I also have a 1970 built house in the U.K., so the 987.2 platform is the biggest thing that will fit in there ! I’m pretty sure they could have given it the 3.8L with no real extra weight penalty as I would assume the block is the same on the 3.4 just less bored out. As 95% of the car is the same as the 911 For me 395 hp in that car and it’s perfect But Porsche knew this and held it back which seems a shame. As 911 snobbery has always prevailed !

Z4M is bang for bucks Owned it for 5 years Bought it for $32k 15 years ago 👍🏻

I have an 08 Z4M roadster and a 987.2 Cayman S and I really enjoy them both. I describe the Z4M driving experience as being very aware you are a human driving an amazing machine. You're aware of your every action and sensation. But with the Cayman, it just plugs into your brain and the machine melts away. You don't think about what you're doing, it just happens. You don't feel the road through the car, you just feel the road. Very different experiences, but I couldn't trade one for the other.

Good review. I’m a Z4MR owner, I swapped the wheel for a thinner Renown item as well as Bilsteins and a proper alignment (they’re are very conservative stock) and it’s a transformed car!

I have a Z4M roadster, and plan to get a Porsche equivalent, I am leaning towards a Boxter as they are just so much cheaper than a Cayman but even still very hard to find a manual. Thanks for the honest review, this has made me even more focused on where I am going next.

Great video and comparison! My first car was a Z4 2.8i. It was the perfect little entry sports car that started my car journey.

Love your videos man, keep 'em coming! 🔥

You make awesome companions 👍🏼

Thank you for always pronouncing Bilstein correctly, and for putting out relevant and interesting content with a balanced pov

would still love to see a z4 coupe from you, either a 3.0si or a swapped/ lightly modded example. So many combinations & comparisons, really no wrong answers gere

A note about the Z4, the upkeep on it will be much greater than the Cayman. This era of BMWs are known for sensor failures very frequently. If you don’t want a light on the dash it’ll cost ya💰

Awesome review. I was torn between M coupe and cayman but went M coupe, have had it a couple years. I replaced entire suspension and put monoballs in the rear trailing arm, made a huge difference in handling precision. Also, the karbonius intake is incredible on mine. I would say that out of the box the M coupe has a number of flaws, but with the right OEM+ mods it transforms into BMWs most compelling sports car. I liken driving the m coupe to skiing on edge, in that it punishes sloppy driving and isn’t as easy to drive, but when you get it “right” in terms of braking, turn in, etc it is one of the most rewarding driving experiences I’ve ever had

The 2001/2 E36 S54 M Roadster is the way to go (check the subframe though).

I owned both and i prefer the z4. Its just more fun. Mine has coil overs with 400lb springs which makes it a joy to drive. All that shaking i see in ur video is because that bilstein kit is ass. It needs an intake also. I also track my z4 and its very good there as well

I had written off these cars when I learned more about M97 reliability and saw the 987.2 prices (redesigned engine but $15-20k more for many of these cars), but a 2012 cayman S for $33k is starting to tempt me again....

Would love to see you review an original M Roadster S54, 2001-2002

Love this comparison, I learned to drive manual on my dad's Z4M right after getting my license, and somehow stayed out of trouble despite him letting me drive it all the time. When we were looking into cars to buy before we bought it back in 2010, we were comparing these exact two cars so it's great to see that they're still comparable today. We ended up picking up the Z4M rather than the Porsche mainly due to the car being FR (easier to work on the engine) and it being a convertible! Totally agree with your opinions on both, as a Porsche owner now the Z4M is much more of a GT car. It fills the role of a convertible perfectly and was so much fun to drive. Brings back memories :)

You can’t trick us, @Zygrene. We all know exactly what you mean when you prefer low and long hood high revving roadster with great induction noise

All your videos are great man. I hope it isn't too crazy, but could you compare say a 08 S2K and a 2011 Porsche Boxster Spyder? I've never driven a Porsche and would love to know if it'd be worth the purchase. Please and thank you!

I sold my Cayman S in a year, as I found it too tame. I'm considering the Z4M coupe just to give it a try. Thanks for the comparison!

Great video! Your summary was especially insightful. I think if price is equal the cayman is more special being mid engined. But I’d be hard pressed to pick one over the other it really depends on which example of each comes up when shopping. There is no wrong choice here 👍

I love that you actually describe what is better or worse in each car compared to each other. So may reviewers just speak in generalities "this is great, this is great", which is worthless to the lay viewer

A+, continental extreme contact tires . 2nd gear {with T/C off} doesn't break the wheels on my 2019 mustang GT 6 speed

Are you going to review a new Z4 manual? They are starting to hit dealerships now

@Zygrene

Ай бұрын

Very curious about that car. Hopefully I can find one to review.

Get a GT3 master cylinder for brake feel

I’d really love to see you compare a 996 and 997(.1). They’re both starting to overlap pricing wise so would be interested to hear your opinion on which would get your money.

Both sound great, just personal preference on what flavour you want.

great cars last forever no mitigations to affect your driving

Zeperfs is clear: 60kg of weight difference (clear dipends on optionals), talking about M roadster and boxster 295hp, and all the engine performances in favor of BMW (but EU version), also and above all in reprise, despite the decidedly too long gears on M.

Love the Z4 manual (coupe).

I’m stuck between buying a Z4M roadster, or an E92 M3 Coupe(not the convertible), I also consider a 996 911 Would love to see a comparison of those two.

The Z4 M has the special engine and any Porsche Cayman have the special chassis set up, the Z4 is a flawed car from the chassis perspective. The Porsche is the better car but the Z4M is more fun to drive but scary as hell on the limit as things become unpredictable with handling.

@ziofrenko

18 күн бұрын

Never felt my M unpredictable

Better steering feel, more midrange grunt, and mid-engine dynamics seem more attractive on the surface. You never really know till you drive them, though

Z4 coupe because maintenance will be more easy 😂

@clu4u

20 күн бұрын

Because it needs more maintenance 😂

00:05/Coyly sliding in the 'V" hand sign.....some of us "outsiders" are fully cognizant as to its various connotations.

Lol give me a c6 corvette over either of these cars with a 6spd and z51 package

Cayman S 987.1 ....every day for the drivers joy. Drove the BMW and it is OK...when I will get retired by age. No probs.

How do these two cars compare to a Honda S2000 AP2?

@z32luvr

Ай бұрын

I’d also love to know his opinion.

I have 5 Porsches and my Cayman S out handles them all.

its a real shame you didnt drive this review with the roof down, where the z4mr just looks beautiful and you really feel that sense of connection.... slightly unfair here as the z4mr you had is basically stock compared to the more modded cayman and still was a neck and neck really.... drive a z4mr with the same level of mods and im convinced it would be a very different outcome.

I recently rented a Z4M and I have to say, I honestly hated it. Rode terrible. Felt every pound of the weight. Horrible seats. Rubbery shifter. The S54 made cool noises but it didn’t feel special enough to overcome the shortcomings. Rattled like crazy (being 20 years old isn’t an excuse, my S2000 and NC didn’t rattle). Such a weird mix of being meh in the canyons and really bad in daily driving. It excels at nothing. It felt like a German C6 Corvette but significantly slower. As a former 981 Cayman owner, absolutely no comparison. Put about 1000 hard miles on it and could not give it back fast enough.

I just bought a 2007 Z4M . Very rigid chassis. Not as common as porsches around here. And a lot less expensive

Semislick tyre with ohlins coilover and camber plates vs standard tyre and b12 kit... No, no correct way

I think we cannot compare a mid engine car with a front engineone. So so different

@flat6croc

Ай бұрын

Of course you can compare them. And when you do, you'll find they're different.

@lucianolucidi8624

Ай бұрын

@@flat6croc 🤣

@gregs8685

Ай бұрын

They are competitors in the used market, that just happen to have different engine placement.

@BboySlashGNR

Ай бұрын

@@flat6croc Bruh….. hahahaha😂😂

Z4 is too heavy. Any two seat compact sport over 3000lb is too heavy.

@ziofrenko

18 күн бұрын

Is simple to down 100kg from that... Seats brake and wheels and battery and you are down to 50kg in a minute. Remeber that the real difference is about 50kg

Why wouldn’t you compare against a boxster? But I guess you’re comparing modified cars anyway, so it’s all kinda meaningless, isn’t it? (Except for the two specific cars)

Rwb !!!

man bmws are just so boring

@Eastcoastcarclub

Ай бұрын

Absolutely nothing boring about a Z4 M

@SatoshiCommentorto

Ай бұрын

@@Eastcoastcarclub doesn't sound good, interior is boring, shifting feels like rubber mush, steering is bmw numb. its like i guess they are sorta fine, just nothing super special. any miata would be more of a fun time even though less power. there's actual drivers cars out there for those who like to feel every crack on the road up through their seat, the wheel and the shifter like the Cayman S.

@Eastcoastcarclub

Ай бұрын

@@SatoshiCommentortoeh. It’s a driver focused simple interior that I think has aged well, as noted in the video the shifter is good and direct, and the car has very direct steering with good feel. S54s can sound great with the right setup. With that being said I acknowledge the cayman is the better car and I’m in the market for one currently.

@ziofrenko

18 күн бұрын

​@@SatoshiCommentortos54 don't sound good... Ahahahah good ones ahahaha. For interior design, are preference, but from design point of view Z4 interior is so modern nowadays: straight lines, clean and simple, no time.