soltino

http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dl.../60123008/1065


tino

Dan V

I'm surprised it'll only do 0-62 .4 sec faster than Cayman. I don't think Porsche has too much to worry about.

Giantviper

I do not know about BMW but i know the Porsche's specs that they advratice are always conservitive from my experiances. So if BMW is not so conservitive with their performance specs the cars may be even closer them we think.

Atlas_Croc

Just about every road test has the Cayman S pegged at a 0-60 of 4.8 to 5.1 seconds......this article posted the "factory" 0-60 number for the Cayman S @ 5.4. I believe the M4 coupe will be the same or maybe a tenth or two quicker in this area......but still fall way behind in overall handling and braking......not to mention looks, but that's truly subjective. The big problem I see is the price......about equal to the Cayman??......what is BMW thinking. About the only thing BMW M versions had going for them against Porsche was better pricing......now that's not there.

Dan V

Z4 (M) will have to be priced below Cayman S -- otherwise only a die-hard Porsche-hater would buy it -- or those who have a very different sense of style than mine.

Cloud964

I think it looks pretty good, one of the better shape from BMW lately.

cgomez

I'm sure the MCoupe accelerates faster than the Cayman S, not just because the S54 engine gives more power but mostly due to gearing (shorter ratios and higher redline at 8K).

However, the Cayman S has little to worry about it at the track IMO b/c the MCoupe weighs 3300lbs!!!!
It's just 150lbs lighter than the 4seater E46 M3.
Real bummer, as I was hoping for some real competition to the Cayman S from BMW, so maybe we could get a better and cheaper product form Porsche (more hp?), but seems there's little need for that....

GrantG

BMW's come with lots of standard equipment. I think the "real" price differential will be close to $10k, once the options are tallied...

cgomez

It's even more, like $16K. I've seen the option list for the BMW and if you compare both cars with the same specs, a loaded MCoupe (SatNav, full leather, etc.) will be $60K while the equivalent Cayman S (same options +PASM +Sportchrono) will be around $76K.

kbonnel

I believe the entry price for the M Coupe will be a little less than the M Roadster, which I believe is going to start at 52k. The non M Coupe will be around 41k. I got most of this info from the numerous BMW forums I read.

Kimo

Mabuhay

The MCoupe (which I think is ugleeeeeeee - at least from the back) will be much faster than the gorgeous Cayman. Can you tell I'm in the market for a Cayman? But my biggest gripe is that after I put in all the features that I want in the Cayman, I'm looking at $70k! OUCH - and the value analysis is not looking good. With the MRoadster (I don't like the MCoupe), I will spend $55k-$60k with everything and have a much faster car/convertible. However, I really really liked the handling of the new Boxster S that I drove and can only imagine it being better in the Cayman.

Thus, I think I'm going to wait and see how the MRoadster feels. They reverted back to the normal vs. electric steering wheel in the regular Z4 and added the M-lock LSD. This made it much heavier than my current Z4 (3100lbs) which I chose over the older Boxster S 986. Admittedly, the new 987 Boxster S handles much better and feels much better.

So, here I am again faced with a similar dilemma... help me get out of BMW! MRoadster or Cayman S???

jbarrow

In addition the BMW will come with "free" maintenance as did your current Z4.

As for getting out of a BMW and into a Porsche, if you've lusted for the Porsche and love the way they drive, feel and sound, then there is really no substitute. Try not to get hung up on specifications. How often are you going to go flat out to 60 or a 100 so that you'll really notice those last few tenths?

With that said I think the Z4 coupe looks good, much better than the roadster, especially in darker colors.

caf

What really surprised me looking at the Autoweek article, was the relative output of the BMW and Porsche engines.

M Coupe: 3.2 liters 343 hp
Cayman S: 3.4 liters 295 hp

And the BMW makes more torque as well.
Really makes you wonder how much better that Porsche engine could be if Porsche wasn't holding it back to not threaten the 911 line-up. If the Cayman had the same hp as the M Coupe, I don't think I could resist ordering one. As it stand now, though, the Cayman is attractive, but not a "must have".

designman

BMW is conservative also.

For me, this choice is a no brainer. The little bimmer is the ugliest car on the face of the earth and Cayman is just about heralded as the best pure driver's car on the face of the earth. BMW has its work cut out with this comparison.

I agree with jbarrow. Don't get hung up on specs.

Mabuhay

Actually, BMW makes much better engines than Porsches - so far as I've seen and driven. They've been able to extract more hp out of the engines and have a much better tq curve. I've noticed that the Porsche engines have a very noticeable "dip" in the torque curve - presumably when it switches cam profiles. On the BMW engines, the tq curve is flat like a table...they feel very consistent throughout the rev range. Porsche engines feel like a dud until you get them past 4k rpms...

Overall, I have an issue with paying more for a car that is slower- although handles better...AND is sexier... I may just say screw it and get the 997S.