Confused about torque and BMW's

[crisdoc66]

I have a 330 CI which I absolutely love. The thing I love most about my car is the fact that assuming I am in the right gear and above 2500 RPM any touch of the accelerator results in an almost instantaneous surge of power. I had the same feeling in my miata way ack when. Am I to understand that what I am describing is torque. On the other hand when I test drove a Honda S2000 I was dissapointed to feel that I only got that feeling with revs over 4500 RPM.

The question I have is that I am looking at getting into a roadster and was looking at t he specs for the Z4 3.0i with max torque of 185 at 2750. What does that mean as far as driving fun and the feeling that at all ranges of revs above 2500 that I will get that same "shoot back in your seat" feeling when touching the accelerator. I see that the 0-60 time for the z4 3i (215hp and max torque of 185 at 2750) is 6.2 secs and for my 33oci is 6.4 secs (hp 225 and max torque 214 at 3500)

Further more although it has less horsepower and less torque?? the z4 is still capable of decent acceleration (possibly because it is 300lbs lighter)

Please help - Thanks

Chris

[SilverBeam]

225hp is the reading for the ZHP, are you sure that is what you have? it added 10hp to the 330. If you don't have the ZHP then you are dealing with the same engine in a car with less weight ie: more throw you in your seat torque-tastic fun. If you do have the ZHP, due to the reduced weight, I think you will STILL have more fun in a Z4, they are so much fun to drive.

[e harmon]

I have a 330 CI which I absolutely love. The thing I love most about my car is the fact that assuming I am in the right gear and above 2500 RPM any touch of the accelerator results in an almost instantaneous surge of power. I had the same feeling in my miata way ack when. Am I to understand that what I am describing is torque. On the other hand when I test drove a Honda S2000 I was dissapointed to feel that I only got that feeling with revs over 4500 RPM.

The question I have is that I am looking at getting into a roadster and was looking at t he specs for the Z4 3.0i with max torque of 185 at 2750. What does that mean as far as driving fun and the feeling that at all ranges of revs above 2500 that I will get that same "shoot back in your seat" feeling when touching the accelerator. I see that the 0-60 time for the z4 3i (215hp and max torque of 185 at 2750) is 6.2 secs and for my 33oci is 6.4 secs (hp 225 and max torque 214 at 3500)

Further more although it has less horsepower and less torque?? the z4 is still capable of decent acceleration (possibly because it is 300lbs lighter)

Please help - Thanks

Chris

In my humble opinion, if you are looking at cars of this caliber, I would not worry too much about the "on paper" specifications. Any of them are going to be more than sufficient to entertain the discerning driver (and get them safely where they are going).

The fact of the matter is, instrumented testing doesn't tell anywhere near the whole story when it comes to real world driving. (Not to mention, that 260hp FWD family sedan that just got the jump on you for that hole in traffic is not going to want a rematch just because you were in the wrong gear.)

If you're shopping for a car based on how it feels, I wouldn't let the numbers be a distraction. My $.02.

Regards,

e harmon

[xatlas0]

You need to read a dyno chart, it will tell you about the motor's output far better than peak numbers.

[maffoo]

The main reason for this will be that the BMW has two more cylinders than the honda. A 6-cylinder of comparable size will -usually- give you more torque, due to the added two combustions per cycle. Smaller motors need higher revs to maintain that pulling power. This is why the best motors for towing & other high torque apps is a v8.

[DaveE30]

In my humble opinion, if you are looking at cars of this caliber, I would not worry too much about the "on paper" specifications. Any of them are going to be more than sufficient to entertain the discerning driver (and get them safely where they are going).

+1

Roadsters aren't really about strong acceleration, IMO. They're about driving at comfortable speeds through empty highways or mountain roads with the top down, and occasionally going WOT. I'd actually prefer one that you had to really rev (ie, Honda) than one that had a lot of low-end grunt.

[m3fuz]

I think the OP is asking if he will experience the same torquey feeling lower in the RPM band, and I believe you will.

[ZHP]

225hp is the reading for the ZHP, are you sure that is what you have? it added 10hp to the 330.
No, the OP was correct about his 330i being 225/214. The ZHP is rated at 235/222.

[SilverBeam]

Ops, I was wrong. Okay, this is the correct explaination:

the new 3.0i Z4 has the N54 engine that is in he E90 325. It is still a 6 cylender, but it has a different manifold (?) which brings it down from the 255hp from the 3.0is.

The N54 is a wonderful engine, and I don't think you will feel the loss of 10hp. However, if you don't want to take that loss, pre 2006 3.0 Z4s have the M54 engine. This also means that you could get one used, probably lease return with low interest rate and 100,000 mile warranty, and not lose that 10hp.

OR, you COULD spend the extra money and get the Z4 3.0is, which honestly is the best new car I have ever driven. It is wonderful. Far more connected then the normal Z4, shorter clutch, tigher steering, and if that doesn't put you into the back of your seat, I don't know what will. However, they are more expensive, around 50,000. And the downside to the 3.0is is that a fully loaded 3.0is is about 3 grand unded the starting price of the M54. If you give a mouse a cookie...

But seriously: just go drive one. And the S2K and the Boxter and decide which is best for you. I think that the Z4 is the best of both worlds. More reliable than the Prosche, but easier on the road than a S2k.

[crisdoc66]

Thanks to all for your help. I feel comfortable about my choice and will look for a z4 3.0i. I am hoping to get about 2K under MSRP - I hope that is realistic

[Spargo]

either way you look at it its a bmw, european cars are usually designed towards power throughout the band, while asian cars are usually more revvy and peaky, and its all really about feel. I had a similar debate when testing the vw gti against the honda civic si recently, the si must be high in the revs for power while the gti could pull anywhere in the power band. I however perfered the honda, because I enjoyed jogging through the 6 speed and the feeling I was really in a racecar. Its all about what feels best for you. Overall however you can expect the same from any bmw, thats just how they design them.

Of course, as a last note, as I've said before, its all about the feel, on paper the gti was somewhat a better car in quite a few aspects, but when i got in the drivers seat and felt it out, the si is just the right car for me right now.

-Spargo