Oppopinion: Sky vs Z (Sea) 4

"Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To" (murdersofa)
02/10/2015 at 16:16 • Filed to: None

Saturn Sky vs BMW Z4. Ignoring performance, which of these cars is more reliable and cheaper to run?

DISCUSSION (25)

AM3R shamefully returns > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/10/2015 at 16:19

my choice: z4. N/a bmw i6's are great and the soft top z4 didn't have any MAJOR weak points. Get a Z4 coupe if possible.

mcseanerson > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/10/2015 at 16:20

My opinion on roadsters goes like this: Miata>Sky/Solstice>Z3/4. Mainly just due to the fact the first two are much cheaper for parts and the Miata is already better than both.

Logansteno: Bought a VW? > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/10/2015 at 16:21

I think the Sky will be more reliable, easier and cheaper to tune, looks better, and be more fun.

carcrasher88 > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/10/2015 at 16:28

Not sure on other stuff, but regardless of transmission, comparing a 2007 Z4 to a 2007 Sky, the Z4 is better on gas even though it's has a 6 cylinder instead of an I4.

The only exception is automatic city mileage, where the automatic Sky is better in city driving.

2007 Sky Manual - 17 city, 26 highway - range: 286 miles

2007 Z4 Manual - 18 city, 28 highway - range: 304 miles

2007 Sky Automatic - 19 city, 24 highway - range: 286 miles

2007 Z4 Automatic - 18 city, 28 highway - range: 319 miles

Filling the tank on a Z4 with Premium is $3 more, but you get much better range for that, which helps offset the full tank price difference.

Moves-Like-Senna > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/10/2015 at 16:28

I was in a similar debate a couple years ago. The Z4's are a nightmare from what I read on forums. They're expensive to keep up and they weren't exactly reliable.

The Sky is a pretty parts bin car so parts are cheap and readily available. Moreover, it's actually a collector's car. There was somewhat limited production as well, Saturn went the way of Pontiac, Oldsmobile, Mercury and Lincoln (hint hint ford... do something)

mcseanerson > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/10/2015 at 16:31

Wait a second. What's the storage like on the Z? The storage in the sky/solstice is nonexistent. I don't mean practically nonexistent, I mean there is zero space. The space in the trunk is literally the size and shape of the top.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/10/2015 at 16:31

I'd take the BMW. In fact, before I bought my roadster, my exact conundrum was "Z4 or Sky Red Line or Miata?" (Spoiler: I bought the BMW)

They aren't that obscene to maintain ($100 oil change every 12 months at the dealer, or do it yourself for way less), and it's a bit easier to live with than the Kappa cars, or a Miata (i.e. it actually has a trunk). If you are taller than 6'1", you will have more space in the Z4 over the Miata.

However, if you want to tune and tweak everything, you will be sorely disappointed especially on the N52 powered Z4s. These cars are best left as BMW built them.

The only major weak point on the Z4 is the power top. What causes it to go bad is the drain from the top well on the drivers side gets clogged with leaves, etc. and causes the water to pool and eventually takes the motor out.

However, the BMW can be had with a manual top, which is operable from inside the car with one hand (and has a single release too, unlike most Miatas). The Kappa cars don't have that capability. You have to be outside the car, due to the rear hinged trunk lid (and the little tail on the top).

EDIT: The trunk also doesn't really exist on a Kappa roadster when the top is down. The E85 Z4 has a separate top well, like an NA Miata.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mcseanerson
02/10/2015 at 16:34

My cousins girlfriend had one, and it was broken into all the time, because when she had to bring something, she had to leave it on the seat.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/10/2015 at 16:35

Reliability, they will probably be the same if you get the N52, but the Kappa will be a lot cheaper to fix when it breaks.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > mcseanerson
02/10/2015 at 16:37

The E85 Z4 has a separate top well, so the trunk is almost the same size top up or down. There is a small moveable partition that can pivot up to give a little more trunk space, but that locks the top out.

Most owners leave it in the down position, so effectively you get the same space, top up or down.

KusabiSensei - Captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs > Moves-Like-Senna
02/10/2015 at 16:40

Are you talking about the E89 or the E85? The E85s aren't anything more crazy than any mid 00s BMW.

I've owned an 07 E85 ragtop for almost 3 years. It hasn't had anything go haywire with it other than replacing the original 2007 battery a few months ago.

mcseanerson > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
02/10/2015 at 16:45

Yeah there is no storage space even in the cabin.

Blue 2000 > mcseanerson
02/10/2015 at 16:47

S2000?

mcseanerson > Blue 2000
02/10/2015 at 16:50

I never really think about the S2000. If I'm really looking at all roadsters ever it goes like this.

Jag E-Type>Triumph TR6>Miata>BIG GAP>Everything else.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > Blue 2000
02/10/2015 at 16:52

370z?

Quattro-luvr, Powered by Datsun & Stinger > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/10/2015 at 16:56

Kinja'd!!!

Blue 2000 > nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul
02/10/2015 at 16:58

Citroën 2CV?

Steve in Manhattan > Moves-Like-Senna
02/10/2015 at 16:58

A few days ago someone did a long post about the relative merits of BMW models. I think the Z4 was better than most. That may or may not be saying much.

Jobjoris > Moves-Like-Senna
02/10/2015 at 17:09

Having owned an E85 3.0: Nonsense. One of the best cars I've ever had. A smile every day, decent running costs. If our family hadn't expanded I would still have it. Or traded it in for an Z4M E85.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > mcseanerson
02/10/2015 at 17:18

And that top is super easy to cut through, and they aren't cheap to replace.

mcseanerson > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
02/10/2015 at 17:18

Yeah, Miata guys leave their cars unlocked because they'd rather be robbed than have to replace the top.

Sampsonite24-Earth's Least Likeliest Hero > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/10/2015 at 17:19

sky redline/solstice gxp

Kinja'd!!!

ranwhenparked > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/10/2015 at 17:29

Well, the Sky would definitely be the cheaper one to run and the GM parts bin engineering gives it a better shot at reliability. But, if you have your heart set on a BMW, it won't be a substitute.

CaptDale - is secretly British > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/10/2015 at 20:29

Sky Redline, just super sexy!!

pip bip - choose Corrour > Jake - Has Bad Luck So You Don't Have To
02/11/2015 at 02:35

Saturn because GM.