It was an offer I couldn't refuse from a local Z8 owner, just a spin around the block and a quick stint on the freeway, but outstanding none-the-less.

First off, it was much, much faster than I was expecting. The Alpina as most of you probably know is an automatic :-( (He said he wife had to be able to drive it) and is down about 19hp from the M5 engine in the normal Z8. The upside, is that the power is there 800rpms sooner since the torque is up 15ft/lbs from the normal Z8. Planting the throttle throws you right into the seat, I was doing nearly double the speed limit and didn't even know it until I found the speedometer about a foot to my right.

The instrument cluster was alittle frustrating being right in the center of the dash, forcing you to look over instead of down. Its also kind of hard to read, perhaps because of how the gauges appear to be lit. A creamy sort of white on a blue background.

The huge hood took some getting used to as well. It felt like a corvette looking over the front of it. That said, it certainly doesn't drive like a vette. Both a V8 roadsters, but the Z8 is clearly more refined and the steering is much more pleasent with an excellent weight and sensitivity to it.

For all its short comings, when you mash the gas the feeling leaves them all in big piles of rubber behind you. An outstanding car.

I am envious!

-Eff

I'll be in Scottsdale in 6 weeks. When can I set up a test drive?:devillook

-Eff

ANyone know why the design placed the cluster in the center of the dash? Isn't the Mini and the 350Z similar to that?

Retro styling.

-Eff

I am envious!

-Eff


Me too. I really like the exterior styling and rarity of the z8s. Very cool cars with performance to boot.

I'll be in Scottsdale in 6 weeks. When can I set up a test drive?:devillook

-Eff
what are you gunna be doing out in scottsdale?

What do those Alpinas run for these days??

ANyone know why the design placed the cluster in the center of the dash? Isn't the Mini and the 350Z similar to that?

I think the 350z has a great design as far as the gauge cluster goes. It moves up and down with the steering column. This way, the top of the steering wheel isnt in your line of sight when you need to see the tach/speedo. This makes you able to see all of the gauges, all the time, no matter how tall/short you are.

Cars like the mini, toyota echo, z8. Why would you do that to the gauges? Thats the dumbest thing ive ever heard of.

What do those Alpinas run for these days??

I believe that they range from $150,000 all the way to $230/240,000. Depends how badly they need to sell it.:D


Cars like the mini, toyota echo, z8. Why would you do that to the gauges? Thats the dumbest thing ive ever heard of.

I agree and disagree. My girlfriend's Scion Xb has them in the middle. It isn't difficult to view. But they are not acctually centered like the Z8. Damn Japanese have no symetry. lol

nice writeup...any pics? :D

what are you gunna be doing out in scottsdale?

Xmas vacation. Planning on doing that car show at that mall (Pavillion?) on Thursday night IIRC.

-Eff

i like the gauges in the middle

i like the gauges in the middle

It's the only thing I dislike about my car. I know it's supposed to be retro and all that, but don't get the point. I assume that if you drive it all the time you'd get used to it; however, when you drive it occasionally as I do, it's just distracting and weird.:dunno

Holy crap! 150g's + mang? I didn't think they were that expensive! Either way it seems like one hell of a car! :)

i've only seen one in my life, i would love to drive one though

Pretty fun to drive...I was lucky enough to drive one on many occasions, even got to take it to my senior prom :) but anyway the torque on the S62 is great down low and the stock shifter was very nice IMO. At first I thought it was pretty damn fast but as time goes on you want more!

you took a z8 to your damn prom?? wtf!? holy crap man! oh you are my idol!

you took a z8 to your damn prom?? wtf!? holy crap man! oh you are my idol!
Haha, that was back in `04...my x-g/f's dad who was a pretty cool guy let us take his black/black Z8 to prom, felt like I was James Bond with the tuxedo and the top down lol. Granted I would've liked to take his Vanquish even more :buttrock Damn, I wouldn't mind reliving that night again, time flies so make the most of it!

FYI: Z8's, be it an auto or manny, do not go for $125k+. Just sold an 01 with less than 4k on it for 91k...at that's dealer pricing. There are actually dealers who still have brand new Z8's in stock that they never sold because they are demanding too much for them.

FYI: Z8's, be it an auto or manny, do not go for $125k+. Just sold an 01 with less than 4k on it for 91k...at that's dealer pricing. There are actually dealers who still have brand new Z8's in stock that they never sold because they are demanding too much for them.
They never came in auto except for the `04 Alpina models.

They never came in auto except for the `04 Alpina models.

All Alpinas were 2003 models. There were no '04 Z8s or Alpina Roadsters (official name) produced.

Whoops yea, 2003...

nice

not the most attractive car imho

not the most attractive car imho

You can't "please all of the people all of the time," and certainly you are entitled to your opinion, but have you considered that maybe you just have a "bad eye" for design and beauty?

I will respond by quoting myself from a post in another message thread. It appears that you and that poster share the same "bad eye" for design.

Your fellow design critic said, "anyone else besides me think that z8's are ugly"? I said:

"I'm sure you have plenty of illustrious company.

All those that find the Ferrari 275 GTS, 250 GT California Spyder LWB, 55 Mercedes 300 SL, 61 Jaguar XKE roadster, 36 BMW 328, and 57 BMW 507 "ugly" will surely agree with you wholeheartedly."

There's one thing I can't stand about the Z8...center-mounted gauges. There's that and the seven taillights...

My local BMW salesman has one of the Z8's....he used to be a P-Car person exclusively...he says he likes it...but isn't in love with it....if I buy a car from him I will demand a test drive....its his daily driver...

-Nate

sorry

to

be

stupid

but

i need

15 posts

so i

can show

pics

in my FS thread

E36 M3

Byzanz Metallic

GO LOOK =) sorry again, thanks

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?p=6374010#post6374010

All those that find the Ferrari 275 GTS, 250 GT California Spyder LWB, 55 Mercedes 300 SL, 61 Jaguar XKE roadster, 36 BMW 328, and 57 BMW 507 "ugly" will surely agree with you wholeheartedly."

Yeh, the Z8 is not the most good looking BMW, and all those cars are definetly pretty fugly. No doubt they have history, but fugly is fugly. Don't like old cars much.

Yeh, the Z8 is not the most good looking BMW, and all those cars are definetly pretty fugly. No doubt they have history, but fugly is fugly. Don't like old cars much.

I won't bother debating the finer points of Z8's styling, as the previous posts have done that "ad nauseam." However, I will point out that it's funny that someone that drives a nine year old car, whose styling dates back 14 years would say "don't like old cars much." Dude, wake up you own and drive an old car!!!

Ok, maybe I meant to say I don't like retro styling much. Except for the new Mustang and the old GT500 - that's about as far back as I go:D

I sat in a Z8 @ the Chapman BMW showroom a long time ago. Felt pretty good to just sit there =P

Nice

I've never seen one of these out on the roads. The Z8 and any Aston Martin are two relatively well-known cars I have never seen out on the roads. Of course, I haven't seen many Ferrari models, but I've seen a few, and same with Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls, Maserati, Porsche, etc. There's also the fact that I don't exactly live (anymore) in Los Angeles. Living in Northern Virginia, you don't see too many extremely upscale cars like you see in L.A., but the per capita income is much higher; people just don't express their income in extravagant cars. A typical car here is an E-class MB or a 5-series Bimmer, and virtually everything else in that price range. Of course, we have lots of 7ers and S-classes, but not too many Maseratis, Ferraris, etc.

You live in Fairfax and don't see upscale cars? IIRC that isn't a depressed area by any stretch of the imagination.

lol that is funny, yeah i drove a one before, they are ok...

I've never seen one of these out on the roads. The Z8 and any Aston Martin are two relatively well-known cars I have never seen out on the roads. Of course, I haven't seen many Ferrari models, but I've seen a few, and same with Lamborghini, Bentley, Rolls, Maserati, Porsche, etc. There's also the fact that I don't exactly live (anymore) in Los Angeles. Living in Northern Virginia, you don't see too many extremely upscale cars like you see in L.A., but the per capita income is much higher; people just don't express their income in extravagant cars. A typical car here is an E-class MB or a 5-series Bimmer, and virtually everything else in that price range. Of course, we have lots of 7ers and S-classes, but not too many Maseratis, Ferraris, etc.

Take a trip into DC. If you are heading south on Mass Ave toward downtown, make a left on California street. When I was in school in DC 2 years ago, there was one parked right in the driveway a few houses down. Maybe its still there.

I have seen quite a few in DC, and several in LA, though it is one of the rarer cars. Ive been a GM fan as long as I can remember, especially corvettes. Though I do love BMW's too. To my eyes though, I have never seen a more beautiful car than a BMW Z8. Maybe once I finish my MBA program I can buy a nice low mileage black on black 01 or 02. Here is to dreaming :)

A guy who goes to these horse shows in Del Mar and Orange County has one. I won't name him, but he's famous to say the least.

z8's r gorgeous but for some reason, id slam mine in the front if I ever decided to take a 2nd mortgage on my lawn mower.