Z4m roadster vs vx220 turbo

z4mroadster · Post by **z4mroadster** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 5:25 pm

So after much deliberation of what to do regarding which car to get, between trading my Z4mroadster in for the e92 m3 or getting a vx220 turbo and keeping my Z4mroadster I have decided for the latter option. It was a no brainier really, the Z4mroadster is too much of an awesome car!! The performance difference between the z4m and the e92 m3 was too subtle so it wasn't worth it. So I've bought a vx220 turbo with a stage 2 modification, full miltech exhaust system,updated air box and stage 2 remap. So if I was to compare the two cars;
Cosmetics:
Obviously opinion is subjective but, the vx220 has a more aggressive sporty look,it looks like a genuine sports car, however the Z4m has the best arse!you can't beat the quad exhausts and combined with an aggressive wheel set up gives the Z4m the edge in this department. Internally the Z4m is far more refined and comfortable however the vx220 I have has some extras and mods internally also with full leather,phone connectivity,uprated cd and sound system with keyless start and alacantra dash.
Comfort:
Z4m roadster wins hands down here,the vx220 is not built for comfort and the 3 hour drive back from London when I purchased it was testing to say the least!
Economy:
The vx220 gets around 35mpg with the stage 2 remap providing you keep it off boost so an improvement over the Z4m however a full tank costs 35 quid.
Performance:
Right the most important part for me, I bought the VX because I wanted a toy for summer,the turbo gives a much more aggressive power delivery, the boost you get from the turbo and the extra power from the stage 2 remap is very impressive. When you plant your floor in all gears it pulls extremely well and with the remap I would estimate I am getting around 300lb of torque. The vx220 with stage 2 is running at around 250bhp and when the cars weighs only 920kg the bhp per tonne is decent. But is it faster than the Z4m roadster........I would say 0-60 it has the edge definitely and between 30-70mph the surge of power you get from the turbo is more responsive and will move you up the mph and revs quicker but above 70 the Z4m will pull away. Cornering the VX is like driving a go kart on rails with little under steer or over steer. Going by the top gear track times the Z4m got a respectful time of 1:26 with the standard vx220 turbo getting an average 1:31 however with a stage 2 remap I would estimate the VX would get a similar time to the Z4m. So performance overall is similar just with a much different power delivery giving a different driving experience. In the next month or so once the weather improves I will be having some rolling start races with the Z4m going against the VX for a more definitive performance comparison albeit in a straight line.
In conclusion the VX provokes your senses more with it being much lower, no sound proofing, and the turbo giving you that boost definitely gives the impression of a faster driving experience. However if I had to choose between them I would always pick the Z4m roadster because it's a sexy beast of a car!!

Marlon · Post by **Marlon** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 5:30 pm

Two wonderful toys to play with

Interesting comparisons

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 5:36 pm

lovely car based on the elise chassis, had my lotus for 3 years & as much as I loved it, it was just to uncompromising as a daily driver with the noise/comfort compromises.
You should be ok keeping it as a weekend fun car, be very careful as any slight ding exposes the bodywork as fragile eggshell

Have fun but be careful

Rob

elevensies · Post by **elevensies** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 6:15 pm

i do like that vx

Babw · Post by **Babw** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 7:26 pm

Smartbear wrote: You should be ok keeping it as a weekend fun car, be very careful as any slight ding exposes the bodywork as fragile eggshell
Have fun but be careful
Rob

I would love to own an Elise or a VX as a trackday car but the clamshell fragility would play on my mind if I ran off the track even into gravel. Awesome cars though.

cj10jeeper · Post by **cj10jeeper** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 8:16 pm

Fair comparison.
My buddy ran a highly tuned Vx220 turbo and I had a few runs in it. A to B the performance is way ahead of any Z4, but it lacks any practicality as a daily or distance car. Much the same dilemma I went through choosing between an Alfa 4C and Jaguar F type. Just couldn't live with the former after a 30 minute hoon..

I'd keep the Z4M over it any day but both would be fun

buzyg · Post by **buzyg** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 8:41 pm

I can still remember sitting in the passenger seat of a press car around Castle Combe, when the Vx220T first came out. It was all over the BoxsterS of the day in the corners, but not quite able to stay in touch on the straights. Then the guy spun it twice, had me laughing like a drain. Good decision to go for the two car Garbage over an E92. What's the Tax on those?

z4mroadster · Post by **z4mroadster** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 9:07 pm

Marlon wrote:Two wonderful toys to play with
Interesting comparisons

They definatley are, going on a driving holiday this year around the black mountains in wales,not sure which to take yet.

z4mroadster · Post by **z4mroadster** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 9:11 pm

Smartbear wrote:lovely car based on the elise chassis, had my lotus for 3 years & as much as I loved it, it was just to uncompromising as a daily driver with the noise/comfort compromises.
You should be ok keeping it as a weekend fun car, be very careful as any slight ding exposes the bodywork as fragile eggshell
Have fun but be careful
Rob

Yes the bodys of these cars are a nightmare, ill only be taking it out when there is hardly any traffic on the roads.Tempting as a track day car but i dont want to take the risk

z4mroadster · Post by **z4mroadster** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 9:12 pm

elevensies wrote:i do like that vx

Thank you, its a handsome car.

z4mroadster · Post by **z4mroadster** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 9:15 pm

cj10jeeper wrote:Fair comparison.
My buddy ran a highly tuned Vx220 turbo and I had a few runs in it. A to B the performance is way ahead of any Z4, but it lacks any practicality as a daily or distance car. Much the same dilemma I went through choosing between an Alfa 4C and Jaguar F type. Just couldn't live with the former after a 30 minute hoon..

I'd keep the Z4M over it any day but both would be fun

Nice car choices there, never seen an Alpha 4c before, just looked one up and it has some impressive figure. The jag f type is a monster of a car, they can go upto 500bhp cant they?

z4mroadster · Post by **z4mroadster** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 9:20 pm

buzyg wrote:I can still remember sitting in the passenger seat of a press car around Castle Combe, when the Vx220T first came out. It was all over the BoxsterS of the day in the corners, but not quite able to stay in touch on the straights. Then the guy spun it twice, had me laughing like a drain. Good decision to go for the two car Garbage over an E92. What's the Tax on those?

I pay monthly tax with the VX at 25 quid per month. Managed to insure both cars via admiral multi-car for 75 quid per month. Yeah the standard VXT isnt that impressive in straight line grunt,definately needs a stage 1 remap to get rid of its terrible flat spot at 4k revs. I would say stage 2 is just right although some are at stage 3 and 4 running at 300bhp plus.

cj10jeeper · Post by **cj10jeeper** » Sun Mar 19, 2017 10:29 pm

z4mroadster wrote:
cj10jeeper wrote:Fair comparison.
My buddy ran a highly tuned Vx220 turbo and I had a few runs in it. A to B the performance is way ahead of any Z4, but it lacks any practicality as a daily or distance car. Much the same dilemma I went through choosing between an Alfa 4C and Jaguar F type. Just couldn't live with the former after a 30 minute hoon..

I'd keep the Z4M over it any day but both would be fun
Nice car choices there, never seen an Alpha 4c before, just looked one up and it has some impressive figure. The jag f type is a monster of a car, they can go upto 500bhp cant they?

Alfa is incredibly quick but impossible to live with and £40k+
I've opted for the V6 'S' which is 380 out the box, overdrive on the supercharger and remap gets close to 500
V8 gets that as stock ...
Should collect next weekend

z4mroadster · Post by **z4mroadster** » Mon Mar 20, 2017 1:44 am

cj10jeeper wrote:
z4mroadster wrote:
cj10jeeper wrote:Fair comparison.
My buddy ran a highly tuned Vx220 turbo and I had a few runs in it. A to B the performance is way ahead of any Z4, but it lacks any practicality as a daily or distance car. Much the same dilemma I went through choosing between an Alfa 4C and Jaguar F type. Just couldn't live with the former after a 30 minute hoon..

I'd keep the Z4M over it any day but both would be fun
Nice car choices there, never seen an Alpha 4c before, just looked one up and it has some impressive figure. The jag f type is a monster of a car, they can go upto 500bhp cant they?
Alfa is incredibly quick but impossible to live with and £40k+
I've opted for the V6 'S' which is 380 out the box, overdrive on the supercharger and remap gets close to 500
V8 gets that as stock ...
Should collect next weekend

Nothing better than picking a new car up. Enjoy.

D4dawg · Post by **D4dawg** » Wed Mar 22, 2017 12:10 am

Nice.
I loved the vx220t
Took one out years ago for a test drive and I scared the sales guy haha.
Bought a new tt225
Ps a cheap mod is to take ceramic restrictor ring from catt,)

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