[cayenne444]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Ok, but you have to compare it to vehicles at that time. It’s not really fair to compare modern turbocharged engines to Na from 10-30 years ago. Likewise the current B58 is great but not compared to its peers in the M and AMG world. And those classics can be modded as my buddy did with his 1M to put out over 400 hp.

On production it’s an issue of constraining supply as opposed to lack of demand, meaning it may be a clsssic to small group of people but not widely accepted as a classic. A manual transmission can’t be the only thing that makes it special.

Ok but you have to compare the Z4 M40i with Handschalter to other vehicles currently. What are the other modern nearly-400hp manual 2-seat roadsters are there besides the Boxster?

A Z4 M40i can also be modded to put out over 400hp. Are we talking about mods now as to what makes something a classic? Last I checked modding "classics" doesn't help their "classic" status.

Not everything has to be on the level of specific changes to fall into "classic" status. There are levels to "classic" and that certainly drives values. Yes, the Z8 has appreciated a ton. Yet, the E92 GTS has not. That car isn't great against it's peers of it's time, which is something you said is important. The GTS sucked comparatively.

There's no reason this can't fall into a mid-tier rung of a BMW classic with only two years of production and low natural demand for 2 seat manual roadsters in general.

Will it be the end-all-be-all classic BMW? Probably not. Will it be a desirable classic that will be desirable in a future where cars like this don't exist anymore? Absolutely.

Agree to disagree. I think you're wrong. You think we're all wrong. Time will tell. So be it.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by cayenne444

Agree to disagree. I think you're wrong. You think we're all wrong. Time will tell. So be it.

Sure, you can have the final word. It’s more a debate around classic and a guess into the future. Interesting debate and not one worth being emotional over.

[cayenne444]

Originally Posted by Bimmerfun82

Sure, you can have the final word. It’s more a debate around classic and a guess into the future. Interesting debate and not one worth being emotional over.

[jdhiro]

My prediction is that this car is going to be a classic like a vintage Rolex Explorer. Not like a vintage Paul Newman Daytona.

Way cool to a specific set of enthusiasts, but probably not a benchmark collectable.

Anyways, who cares, drive it and enjoy it! The world doesn't need more garage queens IMO.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by jdhiro

My prediction is that this car is going to be a classic like a vintage Rolex Explorer. Not like a vintage Paul Newman Daytona.

Way cool to a specific set of enthusiasts, but probably not a benchmark collectable.

Anyways, who cares, drive it and enjoy it! The world doesn't need more garage queens IMO.

Spot on. I detest the garage queen mentality!

[JustinHEMI]

I'll drive the wheels off mine..., assuming deer don't have other plans like they did with my M2.

[Kevin45E]

Originally Posted by Kevin45E

Nice article but the best part was this statement by Horatiu in the comments section after the article: “We will have a video review next week also.”

Update today from Horatiu on BMWBLOG updated test drive video review: “Long story short. We couldn't drive it since it was a pre production and didn't have clearance for the road. So we ended up shooting it static. Unfortunately we had to push the drive back to next month.”

[Thibs]

Originally Posted by Kevin45E

Update today from Horatiu on BMWBLOG updated test drive video review: “Long story short. We couldn't drive it since it was a pre production and didn't have clearance for the road. So we ended up shooting it static. Unfortunately we had to push the drive back to next month.”

Does that mean we won’t see a review until April?

[Kevin45E]

Originally Posted by Thibs

Does that mean we won’t see a review until April?

That would be my impression. See the comments at the end of this article. https://www.bmwblog.com/2024/03/05/2...united-states/

[dmicah]

Originally Posted by cayenne444

1M had 335hp and weighed 3,296 lbs. That's 9.83 lb/hp.

Z4 M Coupe had 330hp and weighed 3,230 lbs. That's 9.79 lb/hp.

Z8 had 400hp and weighted 3,494 lbs. That's 8.74 lb/hp. It also started at $128,000 in 2000, which is $229,000 in 2024 money.

Z4 M40i Handschalter has 382hp, in the M2, the MT saves about 52 lbs, so the Z4 MT should be ~3,490 lbs. That's 9.14 lb/hp.

So it has a significantly better power to weight than the 1M and the Z4 M Coupe, and is in spitting distance of the Z8 at 1/3rd of the price. All of which I agree are classics.

....

Could definitely see it being a classic. The car has so much power and torque already, sure, bummer it doesn't have more than the automatic, but nobody ever knocked the M40i for being underpowered.

Sorry I'm late to this party, but nice analysis! One thing I might add: not sure how underrated the Z8 was, but the B58 is notoriously so. I bet the Z4 manual will be right up there with the Z8 in terms of performance.

Here's a source on that underrating:
https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/09/19/u...1-whp-on-dyno/