Aoshi Shinomori

And as far as I know, the M3 has a chopped version(minus 2 cylinders) of the M5/M6 10 cylinder, but I'm sure someone will clear that up. I'm proposing an idea; how about RX8club sells more advertising and with all that money, they buy cars and let us test drive them(me, mainly). I guess I'll keep dreaming. :p

czr

iTrader: (3)

The rear looks nice but the front and side view has some very awkward lines. I loved the way the M Roadster looked so much better. I think us Americans are too conservative to make this a hit over here.

crimson-rain

Looks nice up to the front fender. I'm sorry, but the Z4 is an UGLY car (blame the front). And a lot of people actually like this car. I wonder how people would view this car if it didn't have that BMW name?

If someone gave me this car ... I'd sell it and get parts for my 8. Either that or call up motorex and slap down the cash as down payment for a Skyline.

Psylence

Exactly.. you could put a BMW badge on a turd and people would buy it.

In fact, they did! It's called the Z4.

I see more BMW's in my area than any other car... and the "type" of person who buys a BMW, I want nothing to do with. Their image is hurtin' here

Cayman > Z4

BlueEyes

That's an interesting attitude, you sound like a dumbass.

Nice of you to generalize though. It's no secret that a lot of people buy BMW for the badge, but enthusiasts also buy the cars because they're damn good drives. I am sure this Z4C will be a great car to drive, and if an M version comes out will really be something special. A closed minded attitude like yours will do nothing but make you miss out.

I am not brand *****, slap a scoda badge on the thing for all I care, it's a good looking car IMO, and will likely have the performance to match.

Aoshi Shinomori

I think I agree with that last part, but this is a damned fine car. Like I suggested before, have RX8club.com buy us(me) these cars and we(I) can test drive them.
:p

globi

What good BMW driving? Let's face it Mazda 6 rules:
http://www.speedarena.com/news/publi...ter_6141.shtml

BlueEyes

Yeah, I guess that settles it. Seeing as how they have so much in common with the road cars. It's too bad mazda played dirty politics to be allowed to use a ultra fast shifting sequntial box whereas everyone else is using stock manual boxes per the rules. Kinda makes them cheaters in my books.

lets not forget the 6 is a brand new platform and the 325 is 6 years old.

globi

The Mazda 6 is also a 4 banger (can't inherently spin that high) with only 2.3l (less torque), has FWD and is larger (higher cg and probably more air resistance) and costs $12k less. (Talking about FWD sucks).
And manual is manual sequential or not. But then again I don't know that race series at all, so what can I say?

Psylence

To be fair, I think that pretty much all of the recent Audi and BMW offerings have been rather horrid looking. I have heard that some euro crash standards have necessitated styling changes to vehicles, but to my eye it seems that Audi and BMW have been hit the hardest. The only recent BMW that looks acceptable to me is the M6.. The creased doors on the Z4 are awful, truly awful. The basic lines and shape of the car aren't bad... very similar to the funky looking yet not ugly M Coupe...
They need to fire the current stylist.

And I'd sooner buy it if it had s Skoda or Honda badge on it.

BlueEyes

The Mazda 6 race engine revs to 8200, has 265 horsepower and 211 lb-ft. Not sure how high the BMWs rev, but IIRC they get 270 hp and 175 lb-ft. Mazda went with the 4 cylinder instead of the 6 because of the restricitions on tuning the 6's. BMW doesn't have that option.

the teams are supposed to run stock gear boxes. Mazda entred the 6 mid way through the season last year and busted a gearbox just about every race (politics, you'll see). Then at the end of season they went to the ruling body and said their gearbox can't handle it can we need to replace it. Then they sneak this race sequential in there. Dirty pool if you ask me.

As well, RWD is not really a benifit in this series, the cars aren't fast/powerful enough.

Speed world challenge is probably my favourite racing series. My freinds and I are looking to get into it in a couple years, possibly...

This is what we're looking to pick up to do some regional racing...
http://www.speedvisionwc.com/news/05press6.html

RX-Hachi

First off, I've never said the car was ugly, but I can see why others might. Second, I'm a long time BMW fan and owner, have owned 4 of them to date. The new styling just isn't quite doing it for me. Doesn't mean they don't drive great. And if I really felt it was HOT, my BMW salesman would surely be happy to see me again.

But moreover, price has absolutely nothing to do with looks as you are trying to imply and that's my point. For me the RX-8's look was an aquired taste, but if the car's price was $10K less or $20K more it would make no difference. I like the way the Mini Cooper looks better than I do the Lotus Elise. Looks is one thing, performance is another.

The STi performs great, but its looks are not for me. My 13 yr old son on the other hand thinks its the bomb. Think of it this way, would STi owners be as happy with the looks of their cars if there was no STi or WRX, and all that was made was the plain jane Impreza? Great performance might enhance the look of an ordinary styled car in some peoples view, but a nice styled car is a nice design regardless of performance or price. And beauty is always in the eye of the beholder.

kw1k

I think it looks great, first thing that came into mind was TVR, Iv always loved the TVR's, I think this is going to be a hot car

Christianv

It's getting the new Valvetronic I6, so power should be north of 260. It's also lighter than its 3000lbs convertible sibling.