Little joys, and meeting my heroes
I haven’t driven my Z4 since last year!
Ok, jokes aside, it’s been three weeks, I’ve been pretty busy with Xmas and new years, and generally if I’m leaving the house, Mr P is coming with me and he’s not yet old enough to go in the Z4.
I had a short drive to the fancy market in the city to get some things for dinner.
The Z4’s cabin feels special, and I love looking across to see the low curving roofline and no back seats! An old pic from a rainy evening.
It’s not an interesting drive - just suburbs and some motorway - but the magic of the Z4 is that it still manages to make this a special occasion, and a great experience.
Dropping the roof on a warm afternoon when the sun is low and getting the wind in my hair is instantly revitalising.
As I get to the tunnel, I get a well timed red light and put the roof back up, just in time for the green. Cruising through the tunnel now, the car feels like a grand-touring capsule of speed that could cross the country with ease.
I was spotted in the tunnel by a friend who snapped this great pic!
Arriving in the valley, the engine has warmed up. I again drop the roof and with gentle throttle wind it out to the 7,000rpm redline.
It’s silky smooth, and hearing the glorious howl of the twin turbo straight six cylinder N54 bouncing off the walls around me is a delight.
I pick up some chicken, veggies, and fruit, and head home.
As I’ve owned the Z4 for two years now and have been falling more in love with it as time goes on, I start to wonder if it might just be the perfect sports car for me.
I always liked the Z4 - when it was released I thought it was the only convertible I might actually own. However when I did eventually buy, I thought it would be a stepping stone before my real desire - an Aston Martin V12 Vantage.
One of the prettiest cars ever made.
I now ask myself whether an Aston could be so much better to justify the extra $160,000, especially when I would only drive it once a fortnight.
I guess it depends on the value of money. If you have millions, the price difference becomes less relevant, but I’m not there yet and it would be a lot of capital to have invested in a toy car.
My wife T got me a wonderful present for Christmas - a drive day where I get to try five different supercars. Ferrari, Lamborghini, Lotus, McLaren, and Aston.
I’ve been collecting Aston memorabilia for many years.
I’m excited to go and see what they’re like, but a part of me wonders whether it’s better to not meet my heroes, in case I’m disappointed.
The let-down could be a good thing, it would release me from my goal of owning one and let me be happy(ier) with what I have.
Or maybe it would just create a vacuum for me to try to fill with something else to lust after!
I have a number of 1/18 scale models too.
On the other hand, if it is as amazing as I’ve been led to believe, it might sour the experience of owning the Z4. Though I think I’m mature enough to avoid that.
No matter the outcome I’m really excited to go and have an awesome day driving some very special cars.
When I was shopping for my Golf, I tried a GTI and liked it. Then I tried an R and couldn’t go back. Hopefully it won’t be like that 😅
After my experience with my MX-5 I can’t see myself ever owning a soft top again, so the Aston would be a hardtop.
If I am one day financially able to buy one, it would also mean giving up the convertible, which I’ve really come to enjoy.
Maybe the closest I’ll get to owning one, and that’s OK.
Right now, if I had 160k, I’d rather put it toward a holiday home and enjoy the Z4 for the great value fun it provides.
…or maybe upgrade the Macan for a Panamera that I could enjoy every day! 😅
