Z4.... One of the 10 worst designs !!!

Newbers · Post by **Newbers** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 6:36 pm

Interesting. The nature of this feature would actually appear to be the worst designs of each of those designers. I have to say on that basis I would be inclined to disagree. Wouldn't the Z4 be the design that made him a household name? (in some households at least!)
Certainly the Z4 is the car that set the tone for BMW 's new model range and whilst at the time is was difficult to appreciate it has subsequently become normal. I just stumbled across this by Chris Harris where he basically says looking back Chris Bangle was right and we were wrong: http://jalopnik.com/we-were-all-wrong-c ... 1664079107
Specifically of the Z4

Go and look at a first generation Bangle-BMW Z4, then spy the previous Z3 and tell me how the hell he managed to get that past the suits. He must have spiked a few drinks. Like so many Bangle shapes, it's looking really quite good now.

Beedub · Post by **Beedub** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 7:10 pm

newbers....... maybe i read it wrong but jeezzzz..... still a very odd view, however, after reading that other article.. i guess just an opinion.

The bangle era at bmw produced imo some of their best designs , the z4 to me still looks utterly ace, especially with a few cosmetic enhancements.

Newbers · Post by **Newbers** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 7:25 pm

Beedub. We're on the same page. I know we're all biased and would I'm sure acknowledge that not every aspect of the Z4 styling is perfect but when you look at the 9 monsters on that page it really doesn't belong there.

Chris Bangle was very brave and created a design that was hard for many to appreciate for a while but you can't deny that it's a very complete design with consistent styling that sits together very well as a car. It also became the cornerstone styling wise for the whole range.

Admittedly some of the designers of the other cars were very constrained (Cayenne - take this VW and make it look different) but there are lines that have absolutely nothing appealing about them.

dhobbs · Post by **dhobbs** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 9:07 pm

Funny opinion, considering the VW beetle still sells, and the Porsche Cayenne is also a good seller. I heard the Cayenne got Porsche out of financial crap back when it was first released, so can't be that bad!

As for the Z4, it does show it's age, but it is 13/14 years old. Not bad.

DMC63 · Post by **DMC63** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 9:26 pm

No accounting for taste.

Colour has a lot to do with how a cars shape is perceived.

A car in a certain colour can look cheap, yet in another colour look stylish and expensive.

Lots of clinical research on the effect colour has on our psyche.

Then again I wasn't that bowled over with the Z4 when I first saw it. After a while the original 2003 model grew on me. It has it all there.
Others prefer the following models for their aesthetics.

Some people simply hate z4 like I loath range rovers.

Paulr · Post by **Paulr** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 10:23 pm

I thought it was ugly, particularly at the rear, when it came out. Reminded me of the Marcos with that too-high boot line and that too tall spoiler sticking up and out of proportion to the boot.

However, time has allowed me to appreciate the classic shape more and I now think it is a lovely, classic big bonneted rear wheel drive sports car. Boot still a bit ugly, but it makes the car very usable!

I hate these 'ugly' lists anyway. Pointless, as beauty is in the eye of beholder.

blackabbot · Post by **blackabbot** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:10 pm

Paulr wrote: ↑Mon Jul 10, 2017 10:23 pm I thought it was ugly, particularly at the rear, when it came out. Reminded me of the Marcos with that too-high boot line and that too tall spoiler sticking up and out of proportion to the boot.

However, time has allowed me to appreciate the classic shape more and I now think it is a lovely, classic big bonneted rear wheel drive sports car. Boot still a bit ugly, but it makes the car very usable!

I hate these 'ugly' lists anyway. Pointless, as beauty is in the eye of beholder.

your right beauty is in the eye of beholder, I think the boot is bloody gorgeous along with the rest of the car

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:17 pm

I like the 166 too.

Mr Tidy · Post by **Mr Tidy** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:30 pm

Thanks for putting up the article Beedub.

I'm a bit happier now seeing as they list the E85 - so the E86 and E98 aren't on it!

But I still don't see the E85 as fitting in that list of mingers, or the Alfa 166 to be fair!

How did they miss the SsangYong Rhodius, first generation Citroen Picasso, Megane Scenic, and similar horrors? Or are they what Car journos drive these days?

D4dawg · Post by **D4dawg** » Mon Jul 10, 2017 11:49 pm

Nope still don't see it being a bad car especially with that list, but to be fair, they're just reporters not track users, designers, engineers nor style gurus just gimps that like top gear guys know sod all about cars yet pretend to, but people buy into it

GuidoK · Post by **GuidoK** » Tue Jul 11, 2017 2:01 am

Looks to me like the wanted to write a piece with the intent to filter out the worst design of 10 top designers and they could only come up with 10 names (bangle included).
I dont think Bangle ever made a really bad design tbh, so its all a bit forced journalism. More entertainment than informative, the trait of a bad reporter.
Good journalism never begins with 'we're gonna write such and such piece.....'
Good journalism begins with research.

enzed4 · Post by **enzed4** » Tue Jul 11, 2017 6:59 am

D4dawg wrote: ↑Sun Jul 09, 2017 5:53 pm That Philio is off the card list hahhah

Tbh looks wise side by side with no mods etc
Coupe is a prettier car, that is said of most softops in general I'd say myself

But I always having tt225s mazzer 420, alfa 159, and a load more in coupe guise, I found my only way to enjoy them was to rag them to hear and have the thrills

I then bought my mazzer spyder some 14 years ago and still love it.
The softop offers panoramic views, wind in hair, noise of engine/intake and exhaust more so than a coupe
But an option to become a coupe in 7 seconds
To me it's 2 cars in one and you can do 10 mph roof down and love it
Hence have 2 softops
But each enjoy what have
Ref hood up/down
It's a tricky one, I feel with my hood being redond windows tinted, it looks cooler up than Down?
See pic

Bottom photo (profile) - beautiful
top photo (from behind) - porky pig.
gotta say, like the E89, there are definitely some unflattering views depending on where you stand....

D4dawg · Post by **D4dawg** » Tue Jul 11, 2017 8:52 am

Haha porky pig as in low n fat?

As if so I love that part
As it's low and wide

J Lo would be proud haha

Marlon · Post by **Marlon** » Tue Jul 11, 2017 9:25 am

Can't take that review seriously.
Sure, most of us here are biased, but way before the Z4 was even on my radar as a car I could own I liked its shape. When I first saw it I found it striking, what struck me was the side view with its combination of straight crease lines and swooping curves and that long hood - it was certainly a bold design, which took a little getting used to.
With car design its success to a large part is down to how quickly it dates and for me the Z4 is standing the test of time - it manages to look both contemporary and classical, I get a buzz from having one of the last E85s off the production line and love the attention it gets.
In a way its a throwback to the classical 2 seater sports car and yet at the same time it manages to stands up against the modern offerings in looks and performance

Paulr · Post by **Paulr** » Tue Jul 11, 2017 11:59 am

Call me a cynic, but perhaps someone wrote it to antagonise and provoke discussions on forums that could go on for 3 or 4 pages.

Think I'll start another one and call it 'list of celeb mingers', starting with Kylie & her sister, (oh, no hang on, that was a dream I had).

Z4-forum.com

Z4-forum.com