[Joe230xi]

New member long time BMW driver.
And I also like Porsche.
I'm considering getting a car for summers and weekends. The options under consideration are radically different. Two excellent options
1. G29 Z4. Great car; great looking.
2. Porsche 911 Cabriolet (992.1). Also great car not as good looking to my eye

I have driven them both but can't get a sense of which I would prefer to drive maybe 2,500 to 3,500 miles per year in good weather.

Advice?

[RigaTony1982]

Originally Posted by Joe230xi

New member long time BMW driver.
And I also like Porsche.
I'm considering getting a car for summers and weekends. The options under consideration are radically different. Two excellent options
1. G29 Z4. Great car; great looking.
2. Porsche 911 Cabriolet (992.1). Also great car not as good looking to my eye

I have driven them both but can't get a sense of which I would prefer to drive maybe 2,500 to 3,500 miles per year in good weather.

Advice?

I love my Z4, but I'd take a 911 over it any day.

[Horseman]

I dunno if I'd take a Porsche over the Z4... too many around here. Sure it's fancy and is fast.. probably handles alot better, but they're a dime a dozen around here. Love the fact that the Z4 is such an anomaly to see on the road.

[Argo]

The 911 does have the large advantage that it'll likely depreciate significantly less/slower. It'll be more money to get in though, and maintenance might be a bit higher.

Are you looking to buy new? If so, allocation for a 911 might be hard to get in the first place (or might come with ADM), which is something else to consider.

[Bimmerfun82]

I test drove a 911 cab (used) PDK and didn’t like it over the Z. Apart from the $50k price delta, the Z is a true roadster while the 911 felt much larger and not as comfortable. The 911 draws more attention, and not necessarily in a positive way like the Z. On the plus side, there’s a manual option and the Porsche feels faster. Although the Z is plenty quick. Storage in the 911 is less but the back seats are a plus - for storage, not humans. In the 911 you feel on the ground with the back of the car above you, like a bathtub. In the Z the seating position is perfect and visibility is good.

[MisanoblueZ4]

You have said you enjoy BOTH cars but like the looks of the Z4 better. Might as well get the car you enjoy looking at and out for drives more.

[SpeedyATL]

I stopped in one of our local porsche dealers a couple of weeks ago.

8 month wait for a base cab and double the msrp of my Z. Oh and $1500 oil changes.

Intriguing but I'm too cheap to throw $80-90k on top of my keys to get something that might really only be better/more fun on a track, where i expect to spend 0.0% of my remaining days above ground.

Maybe used could make a little more sense, but will have to wait for the pending recession for that.

[Balr14]

I sold my 997.2 cabriolet about 2 years before buying my Z4. I have a fair amount of driving time with a 991.2 as well. The Z4 is easier to live with on a regular basis, more relaxed feeling with a small amount of greater body roll and steering that isn't quite as precise. Performance favors the Porsche. The turbo on the Z4 doesn't have the capacity that the twin turbos on the 992 have. They accelerate in a similar fashion, but the Z4 turbo runs out of breathe sooner. For weekend driving fun, unless you are tracking the car, it's kind of a toss-up. The roads you drive on will make a difference.

I'd take a 991.2 Carrera S or GTS cabriolet over my Z4, with some reservations. I do not like the 992, don't care for the looks or the wheel size. There's a reason most people drive big pickups and SUVs around here and it has a lot to do with the roads.

[AustinPowers007]

The better comparison would be between the Z4 and a Porsche 718 Boxster. I don’t think very many people cross-shop the Z4 with a Porsche 911 Cabriolet.

[CJ421]

These are very different cars. I think the advice in here is solid.

I don't have Porsche experience, but when faced with radically different choices, I make an Excel spreadsheet and rank them on categories I care about, either a 1-10 or a simple +/- scale and then tally the results. It can add clarity.

One other thing to consider besides maintenance is insurance. See what kind of quotes you get.

Charles

[Wynnsiensheng]

The cost difference in terms of initial outlay and maintenance/spare parts to me would mean that the Porsche would need to have significant benefits to justify its purchase.

I owned a 997 for 15 years and only sold it earlier this year, so have nothing against Porsche at all. But I would want something back for the extra cost.

Previously I had young kids so the 997 was useful because of the kid seats in the back. Once they grew bigger, that kind of utility wasn’t needed.

Outside of cost, I think it’s just down to personal preference.

[StanDiego]

Originally Posted by Joe230xi

New member long time BMW driver.
And I also like Porsche.
I'm considering getting a car for summers and weekends. The options under consideration are radically different. Two excellent options
1. G29 Z4. Great car; great looking.
2. Porsche 911 Cabriolet (992.1). Also great car not as good looking to my eye

I have driven them both but can't get a sense of which I would prefer to drive maybe 2,500 to 3,500 miles per year in good weather.

Advice?

Your profile says you drive a 2022 330xi, 2021Tacyan 4s. Assuming you're driving a 330i xDrive and a Taycan 4s, you might consider comparing the general interior comfort and aesthetics of those two and which you prefer. Though the Taycan's may be significantly different than the 992.1, it could give you some clues as to whether you'd prefer the Z4 or the Porsche.

Some may say if you're going to be driving 3500 miles per year or less, it doesn't matter much but I would strongly disagree. I average less than 5K miles per year on my fun car (currently the Z4) but I want maximum joy out of every moment of it. For me that joy comes from a combination of performance, comfort, and aesthetics that the Z4 nails. However, that balance is likely different for you. For you, the Z4 may be closer to your 330i but with better performance (MUCH better if a M40i), better handling, and a convertible top. I suspect already owning both a BMW and a Porsche should make it easier for you to decide.

[BEAR-AvHistory]

Had both a 911 & 718.

Don't really see them & the Z4M40i as direct competitors. The Porsches are harder edged pure sports cars while the Z4 is a more laid back GT car.

Fixed:

Think when you sit in the Z4 you are sitting in a M440, (without ventilated seats), with the back seat cut off. Nice with all the creature comforts. Porsche is much more Spartan & business like inside.

The pricing also takes them out of the direct competitor category. Best to just go with what you like the best and are the most comfortable with.

[RigaTony1982]

Originally Posted by BEAR-AvHistory

Had both a 911 & 718.

Don't really see them & the Z4M40i as direct competitors. The Porsches are harder edged pure sports cars while the Z4 is a more laid back GT car.

Think when you sit in the Z4 you are sitting in a M440 with the back seat cut off. Nice with all the creature comforts. Porsche is much more Spartan & business like inside.

The pricing also takes them out of the direct competitor category. Best to just go with what you like the best and are the most comfortable with.

The M440i has ventilated seats available

[Bimmerfun82]

Z4 is a more of a GT unless you drive it like I do - ACS springs and PSS* help a lot. Much more bang for your buck (excluding depreciation).

[Horseman]

Originally Posted by MisanoblueZ4

You have said you enjoy BOTH cars but like the looks of the Z4 better. Might as well get the car you enjoy looking at and out for drives more.

Yes! What makes you wanna look over your shoulder more when you walk away from it? :P

[Balr14]

I drive 2500 - 3000 miles a year. Trust me, you won't get tired of driving either of those choices 3000 miles a year, for at least 4 or 5 years. Then it will probably come down to which one has the best ride.

[alvitdk]

Sold my Porsche 981S for the Z which is a better comparison (718). As much as I like the Z, I do miss the Porsche at times but not for any reason other than sentimental memories. They both have pros and cons as any car. However, I do not think the Z will grow on me as the Porsche did for the 5 years I had it. Either way, just recently put an order in again for the Lotus Emira which "might" arrive in 18 months, that's the car I was looking at before canceling the order due to extended delivery times and me needing a replacement for the 981 (pdk blew). Not in a rush this time around and plenty of time to enjoy the Z.
Anyway, back to your question, try a 718 instead of a 991 as they compare much better in drive and feel I think.

[Bimmerfun82]

Congrats on the Emira order! I was looking at Evora’s with very low miles yesterday. Not for me but for a friend because my back couldn’t handle it… but very cool cars!

[Living Dead]

Z4 for me, I live on Long Island and go out to the Hamptons and Montauk in the summer and if I see 1 other Z (Z3-Z4-Z8) it's a lot but 911s are so prevalent as you couldn't count them all, even Ferraris Lambos and Maseratis abound Merc SLs are everywhere but Z4s are very rare.

[ebirotedu]

Congrats on the Emira! Thought they were pretty interesting when I was reading the pre-reviews in 2022. Looking forward to seeing one on the road soon!

Originally Posted by alvitdk

Sold my Porsche 981S for the Z which is a better comparison (718). As much as I like the Z, I do miss the Porsche at times but not for any reason other than sentimental memories. They both have pros and cons as any car. However, I do not think the Z will grow on me as the Porsche did for the 5 years I had it. Either way, just recently put an order in again for the Lotus Emira which "might" arrive in 18 months, that's the car I was looking at before canceling the order due to extended delivery times and me needing a replacement for the 981 (pdk blew). Not in a rush this time around and plenty of time to enjoy the Z.
Anyway, back to your question, try a 781 instead of a 991 as they compare much better in drive and feel I think.

[Horseman]

Originally Posted by alvitdk

Sold my Porsche 981S for the Z which is a better comparison (718). As much as I like the Z, I do miss the Porsche at times but not for any reason other than sentimental memories. They both have pros and cons as any car. However, I do not think the Z will grow on me as the Porsche did for the 5 years I had it. Either way, just recently put an order in again for the Lotus Emira which "might" arrive in 18 months, that's the car I was looking at before canceling the order due to extended delivery times and me needing a replacement for the 981 (pdk blew). Not in a rush this time around and plenty of time to enjoy the Z.
Anyway, back to your question, try a 781 instead of a 991 as they compare much better in drive and feel I think.

HOLY CRAP! Hope that you bring that Emira to C&C one time!!!