[Sealobo]

[macroy]

Hm... not quite sure what to make of it - yet. May have to see one in person.

I did see one down in Spartansburg coming out of the plant back in Nov ... but it was all covered with tape and what not. Thought it was just a regular Z coupe until I noticed the quad exhausts.

I've not really been a fan of the Z4 roadster.... hope the coupe looks less "plasticky" in person.

[Doofy]

Is there a legal requirement for all car designers to be blind these days or what? That thing is hideous.

[jebjeb]

I loved the old M Coupe. It was either a love it or hate it car but when I saw my first one in the metal, I thought it rocked.

The new one is not too bad. I would have liked to see a steeper rear screen again as this is more of a fastback rather than the hatch of the old coupe.

[Goldfinger]

This new Z4 coupé really rocks. And it even looks good for a BMW ! Imagine that.
It has the brake system out of a CSL, which is a good thing.

Why do people always write ///M ? It's just "M" without the ///. ///Meh

[cjrivera]

Not liking it much. But maybe it looks better in person?

I'm waiting to see what the next M3 looks like.

[Sijmen]

When is BMW going to make a car with the engine in the back? That would be a real sports car.

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by Sijmen

When is BMW going to make a car with the engine in the back? That would be a real sports car.

Probably never. Not in a road car anyway.

[jebjeb]

Not in the back but mid-engined. I think there is a good chance if they choose to go into the upper end of the market.

However, I car doesn't need to be mid-engined to be a great "sports car".

[wdlove]

That's a nice car, love the color.

[Jerk_circus]

Wow, those are the best pics of the new Z4 M I've seen, and I'm a member on a BMW forum as well! I've always loved the Z4, so his is a no brainer for me...I LOVE IT

[hickey]

I love the older M coupes, but that one looks too much like the z4, which I wasnt crazy about.
On another note, what model is that in the front of this picture:

[Jerk_circus]

That looks like the 1 series, and that is one nice M5

[angelmb]

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

Why do people always write ///M ? It's just "M" without the ///. ///Meh

Because what they really want is ///AMG

[Jerk_circus]

If you look more closely at the "M" Badge, you'll notice there are 3 coloured slashes. I never knew what they represented, but thats why it's ///M

[Leia's Left Bun]

It friggin HOT!

[Monique]

I love the curves in it and I am a girl.

No wonder guys like it, make you think of a woman and since most of the buyers will be men.

[Kerrigan]

The front end looks a bid odd but from the other angles it looks very good. I agree monique, the curves are sexy on that car.

[turtle777]

Not bad.

IBT.

-t

[macroy]

Originally Posted by Sijmen

When is BMW going to make a car with the engine in the back? That would be a real sports car.

Care to elaborate why that would make it a REAL sports car? - especially since BMW's are ALL engineered to be as close to 50/50 weight ratio as possible?

Oh - and they did back in the late 70's - the M1.

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by Jerk_circus

That looks like the 1 series, and that is one nice M5

It IS a 1 series. BMW's most overpriced car, yet. The X3 is a solid second.

Originally Posted by Jerk_circus

If you look more closely at the "M" Badge, you'll notice there are 3 coloured slashes. I never knew what they represented, but thats why it's ///M

Yeah I know that . It's just that those /// mean nothing it's just part of the logo you could say it's the most left "line" of the letter M that is extended. So why write it down ? Just write "M".

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by angelmb

Because what they really want is ///AMG

You mean /////AMG. Five bars.*







*yes I actually looked this up.

[nredman]

looks pretty sweet to me

[jebjeb]

Originally Posted by Goldfinger

You mean /////AMG. Five bars.*







*yes I actually looked this up.

I don't worry about the number of bars, I just drive mine!

[jebjeb]

For those of you who may not have seen the previous model M Coupe.




BMW engineers created this from the Z3 in their own spare time after hours. They made a full working car and then showed it to BMW management who then put it into production.

One of the most practical small sports cars ever. I have seen one with a dog guard installed so the owner could transport his dog.

After comparing these pictures to the OP's Z4 based coupe pictures, the new car is growing on me. If it has the same effect in the metal as the old one, it will be a winner in my book.

I love the rear shoulders in the new car. Very muscular. Makes up for the horrible rear light cluster at least.

Perhaps you would be interested in a video

http://www.leftlanenews.com/2006/01/...mw-z4-m-coupe/

[Cadaver]

I discovered something very disappointing (to me) yesterday... see, my job will pay $600/month (anything over and I pay the difference) for a car lease after the first year of employment. That's 1st week of April for me. So, I've been car shopping. I was actually very keen on the BMW 650i coupe. BUT, as I've discovered, its back seat only holds two passengers. I've got three kids. Damn. As much as I really like that car, it just wont work.

And to make things worse, another top contender, the Mercedes CLS500 "coupe" (the 4-door one) also only has two seats in the back. Damn! The 2007 S-class looks to be a bit bigger than I like to drive, and they're likely going to cost more than I'm willing to spend.

[macroy]

Originally Posted by Cadaver

I discovered something very disappointing (to me) yesterday... see, my job will pay $600/month (anything over and I pay the difference) for a car lease after the first year of employment. That's 1st week of April for me. So, I've been car shopping. I was actually very keen on the BMW 650i coupe. BUT, as I've discovered, its back seat only holds two passengers. I've got three kids. Damn. As much as I really like that car, it just wont work.

And to make things worse, another top contender, the Mercedes CLS500 "coupe" (the 4-door one) also only has two seats in the back. Damn! The 2007 S-class looks to be a bit bigger than I like to drive, and they're likely going to cost more than I'm willing to spend.

I dunno why that would dissappoint you... since this is more of a "icing on the cake" type of thing. In a way, you get do have something that you wouldn't normally have.... so I say go for the 650.. have you actually seen it? I can't imagine it being less space than a M3... and I've squeezed 3 full sized adults in one (but not on a long trip or anything). But if it is an issue (or if you have potential NBA players there)... check out the M5... Just your 'average' 4 door sedan

[cjrivera]

Originally Posted by macroy

I dunno why that would dissappoint you... since this is more of a "icing on the cake" type of thing. In a way, you get do have something that you wouldn't normally have.... so I say go for the 650.. have you actually seen it? I can't imagine it being less space than a M3... and I've squeezed 3 full sized adults in one (but not on a long trip or anything). But if it is an issue (or if you have potential NBA players there)... check out the M5... Just your 'average' 4 door sedan

The problem with the backseats of the BMW's is that the middle seat is usually in the form of a bump, instead of flat (I think that's true all the way up the line even to the 7 series, but I may be wrong on that). While it may be ok to transport 3 adults on a short trip that way (I don't know how you did it in an M3 unless they were really small adults.), transporting small kids usually requires a child safety seat, which won't fit with that bump. I know the M3 doesn't even have a 3rd (middle) seat belt so you couldn't even belt in 3 kids who didn't need car seats. Not sure about the M5...

[Cadaver]

Originally Posted by cjrivera

The problem with the backseats of the BMW's is that the middle seat is usually in the form of a bump, instead of flat (I think that's true all the way up the line even to the 7 series, but I may be wrong on that). While it may be ok to transport 3 adults on a short trip that way (I don't know how you did it in an M3 unless they were really small adults.), transporting small kids usually requires a child safety seat, which won't fit with that bump. I know the M3 doesn't even have a 3rd (middle) seat belt so you couldn't even belt in 3 kids who didn't need car seats. Not sure about the M5...

Exactly. There's a hump in both the 650i and the MB CLS500 where the middle seat would be. No seatbelt, either.

May need to look at a BMW 5 series (the 550 looks nice, but well equipped may be more expensive than a standard 650i), Audi A6 4.2 or that Jaguar S-class w/ the big engine. Boring. All these cars look like a rectangle with a smaller box on top of it - standard 4-door yuckiness.

[hickey]

see if you can get your hands on the Audi RS4, Top Gear segment on it

[jebjeb]

Cadaver - I thought that with the CLS (which I love BTW - especially the CLS55) was available with an optional three place rear seat. I will see what I can find out. I think a CLS55 maybe my next car after get tired of the C32.

How old are your kids?

Some other suggestions (I am not sure of the lease price on these but they may be a bit too expensive):

- M5 - already been suggested but probably too much plus I would guess availability would keep you waiting until 2007 for one
- Merc E55 - the not as good-a-looking brother to the CLS

Thinking of price though, I would probably go with a 550i (without Active steering). I take it you don't like SUV's? Otherwise I would suggest a Porsche Cayenne S or a VW Tourage V10 diesel. I find both of those are around the same size as 5 series but obviously a little taller.

I am not a huge fan of the standard saloon shape which is why I like estates/station wagons. Have you looked at a 5 series wagon or even a C55 wagon?

[Goldfinger]

Originally Posted by Cadaver

I discovered something very disappointing (to me) yesterday... see, my job will pay $600/month (anything over and I pay the difference) for a car lease after the first year of employment. That's 1st week of April for me. So, I've been car shopping. I was actually very keen on the BMW 650i coupe. BUT, as I've discovered, its back seat only holds two passengers. I've got three kids. Damn. As much as I really like that car, it just wont work.

And to make things worse, another top contender, the Mercedes CLS500 "coupe" (the 4-door one) also only has two seats in the back. Damn! The 2007 S-class looks to be a bit bigger than I like to drive, and they're likely going to cost more than I'm willing to spend.

How much are you going to add to that 600$ a month ? Those cars are quite a bit more per month in leasing.

But seriously get something sensible and practical for the kids. Get yourself a coupé when they're out of the house.

[angelmb]

Originally Posted by jebjeb

I take it you don't like SUV's? Otherwise I would suggest a Porsche Cayenne S or a VW Tourage V10 diesel. I find both of those are around the same size as 5 series but obviously a little taller.

I am not a huge fan of the standard saloon shape which is why I like estates/station wagons. Have you looked at a 5 series wagon or even a C55 wagon?

With all my respect… instead of thinking about a cayenne or touareg, think about the Mercedes-Benz R Class.

[angelmb]

dp sorry…

[cjrivera]

Originally Posted by Cadaver

I've got three kids. Damn. As much as I really like that car, it just wont work.

I'm in the same boat. What usually happens is that if we (me, the wife and 3 kids) need to go somewhere we take her car. If it's just the 2 adults and the 2 older kids then we take my car.

How old are the kids? That could make a difference. How often do all of you go in one car? If not very often, maybe you could still get away with the 6 series.

If that doesn't work, tell them the one who doesn't behave that day (including the wife) doesn't get to go along or has to ride in the trunk.

[IceEnclosure]

I saw a new M5 and an M3 (looked like guy-friend/girl-friend) cruising today in Ft. Lauderdale.. The M5 looked so good. Sounded ridiculous too.