Interesting ghost comparison on Cayman vs. Z4

[Emission]

I threw this together really quickly so I could understand the driving position difference between the Cayman and all-new Z4. These are at the identical scale, with the front wheels aligned.

Note the longer front overhang on the Cayman, and how much further forward the leading edges of the doors are!

- Mike

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=185467&d=1242247904

[cruisingdog]

Wow. Very similar. I guess it's hard to come up with a completely new sports car!

I guess the Z4 has a more of a dragster look since the seating is further back.

[ChampagneKitty]

what? where am i?

[RCK]

Wow. Very similar.

:confused:

Umm, no.

[HW]

cayman - mid engine - seating position moved more forward for space for engine and longer overhang infront on front wheel for better weight distribution
z4 - front engine - seating position moved aft due to long engine and less overhang in the front and more in the back for better weight distribution

:dunno:

[Emission]

cayman - mid engine - seating position moved more forward for space for engine and longer overhang infront on front wheel for better weight distribution
z4 - front engine - seating position moved aft due to long engine and less overhang in the front and more in the back for better weight distribution

:dunno:

Yes, but the new Z4 has the driver sitting much further rearward* than most front engine/rear drive sports cars!

* Styling took precedence over optimal driving position and outward visibility.

- Mike

[HW]

Yes, but the new Z4 has the driver sitting much further rearward* than most front engine/rear drive sports cars!

* Styling took precedence over optimal driving position and outward visibility.

- Mike

http://saladwithsteve.com/agcar.gif

:dunno:

can you superimpose the old z4 ontop of the new one?

[c41006]

Wow. Very similar. I guess it's hard to come up with a completely new sports car!

I guess the Z4 has a more of a dragster look since the seating is further back.

:confused: they don't look that similar to me

[Emission]

http://saladwithsteve.com/agcar.gif

:dunno:

can you superimpose the old z4 ontop of the new one?

Maybe Sunday night... I am packing for the race this weekend so I am scurrying in and out of the garage with tools and crap getting the car ready (hearing the ding when I get new e-mail... so I have to keep looking).

- Mike

[ProRail]

Maybe it's just me, but I like the Bimmer configuration better.

[Emission]

Maybe it's just me, but I like the Bimmer configuration better.

No need to apologize. More people buy the Z4 than the Cayman!

- Mike

[badbee]

I drove a 6 speed 3.0 and a Cayman S back to back yesterday. Each car provides a TOTALLY different driving experience. The Z4 is far more refined, smooth, much quieter interior. The front forward visibility on the Cayman is much better than the Z and the seats/interior were more attractive IMO. I could go on but the only way to compare the cars is with a test drive.
And there is no convertible Cayman unless you want the Boxter. I think both cars look great but I can't emphasize enough how different the driving experience is. Yesterday was my first test drive of a Porche and I expected more. I asked to see the engine and the saleman advised that the best access is from under the car or you can take off a huge trunk lid to access some parts of the motor. This is definitely no a DIY car. The Z definitely gets my vote. :thumbup:

[anE934fun]

I threw this together really quickly so I could understand the driving position difference between the Cayman and all-new Z4. These are at the identical scale, with the front wheels aligned.

Note the longer front overhang on the Cayman, and how much further forward the leading edges of the doors are!
This reminds me of every time I drove my C5 Corvette, how I was grimacing when the front would scrape the road when I would exit the driveway for the road.... After replacing the skids that came with the front subframe, I installed a set of rollers so that the skids would not wear out. I wonder if the Cayman has similar scraping problems?

[Spitfirocks]

Ill take both thank you! Haha, but im not going to lie, I might part with bmw on this one.

[teagueAMX]

Hi new here - nice to meet you all.

. . .and the seats/interior were more attractive IMO.

I think both cars look great but I can't emphasize enough how different the driving experience is. Yesterday was my first test drive of a Porche and I expected more.

The Z definitely gets my vote. :thumbup:

badbee, it sounds like you definitely liked the Z4 better in most respects, but I have a question:

When you say you expected more, what did you expect that the Porsche didn't have that you like better about the Z4?

Hate to be too picky, but I used to be a Porsche fan, but frankly they don't do a whole lot for me anymore so I've been looking at a couple of bimmers - the Z4 and the X6.

[el indiano]

:confused: they don't look that similar to me

one looks like a bmw, the other looks like a flatten volkswagen beetle.

i hate porshe's. just a personal thing

[Emission]

one looks like a bmw, the other looks like a flatten volkswagen beetle.

i hate porshe's. just a personal thing

Have you ever driven one? In anger?

[RCK]

Have you ever driven one? In anger?

He obviously hasn't.

Interesting note, while I was driving yesterday for some reason it dawned on my how amazing the viewing angle of my 997 is compared to previous bimmers. And it reminded me of this thread.

All I see is the p-car hump on the driver side and the ENTIRE road as if it were starting at my toes. No hood obstructing my view and it truly feels like I am a part of the road. One of the many perks of these amazing cars. :thumbup:

[135eye]

The Z4 is a roadster, so the driver is supposed to be in the back, by design

[teagueAMX]

Interesting note, while I was driving yesterday for some reason it dawned on my how amazing the viewing angle of my 997 is compared to previous bimmers. And it reminded me of this thread.

All I see is the p-car hump on the driver side and the ENTIRE road as if it were starting at my toes. No hood obstructing my view and it truly feels like I am a part of the road. One of the many perks of these amazing cars. :thumbup:

Certainly, your 997 is far from being a VW, and we're glad you like it. Many of us like them, too, and we also like or have a preference for the Z4. On the other hand it doesn't negate the positive or negative aspects of either design. Personnaly, I see the Z4 as somewhat retrospective of the original British roadsters.

The Z4 is a roadster, so the driver is supposed to be in the back, by design

+1

[wildag]

Not that this would really affect many people's purchasing habits, but I like the idea of the engine being in front of me. If I ran into something, it'd be nice of the engine compartment and all its mass to take the brunt of the blow.

I guess the same could be said about being rear ended in a Cayman.

[Emission]

Not that this would really affect many people's purchasing habits, but I like the idea of the engine being in front of me. If I ran into something, it'd be nice of the engine compartment and all its mass to take the brunt of the blow.

I guess the same could be said about being rear ended in a Cayman.

I don't think they have been able to prove an increased "death rate" for mid- or rear-engined vehicles due to engine location. :dunno: But, I see the logic.

Mid-engine placement is preferred for handling balance, regardless of crash safety. Take a look at the Lotus Elise, Carrera GT, McLaren F1, Bugatti Veyron... even the 70's-era BMW M1. :thumbup:

- Mike

[RCK]

Not that this would really affect many people's purchasing habits, but I like the idea of the engine being in front of me. If I ran into something, it'd be nice of the engine compartment and all its mass to take the brunt of the blow.

I guess the same could be said about being rear ended in a Cayman.

If you run into something, it's your fault :p

However, you cannot control who rear ends you. Therefore, rear and mid-engine cars are safer in that respect :thumbup:

[teagueAMX]

Therefore, rear and mid-engine cars are safer in that respect :thumbup:

That's not an accurate comparison.

In a collision, the engine represents a mass with force and velocity that doesn't really care if it's behind you or in front of you when it starts moving.

The correct comparison is one that looks at how the body of the car deflects/absorbs those forces and protects the driver/passengers.

Computer models provide some idea of how a car's body would react from a design standpoint, but only crash tests tell the whole story. I don't know if there any crash test data released for the Z4 yet. I'm sure there's a lot out there for the Porsche.

[Emission]

That's not an accurate comparison.

In a collision, the engine represents a mass with force and velocity that doesn't really care if it's behind you or in front of you when it starts moving.

The correct comparison is one that looks at how the body of the car deflects/absorbs those forces and protects the driver/passengers.

Computer models provide some idea of how a car's body would react from a design standpoint, but only crash tests tell the whole story. I don't know if there any crash test data released for the Z4 yet. I'm sure there's a lot out there for the Porsche.

I'd rather hit the crash barrier in the Z4. ;)

- Mike

[teagueAMX]

i'd rather hit the crash barrier in the z4. ;)

- mike

+1