Best of luck! But I'm not selling mine.
I like your cars BTW - my kind of car enthusiast. I also still own a 2004 BMW ZHP (MT of course) and absolutely love driving that car. Its a very interesting contrast to the CT 4 V BW. Both are similar in size but quite different in feel and character. In many ways I still enjoy driving the ZHP better (lighter and more raw) but the BW is a hoot as well - particularly when pushed hard. It really moves out. It also is a more precise car, fantastic chassis and much better brakes,
I've always liked the ZHP shifter but it doesn't compare with the outstanding Tremec in the BW. The ZHP is certainly a bit long in the tooth as it were but essentially drives as well as it did new (I keep on on all the suspension stuff).
I would love to hear about your ZHP and also what has drawn you to the 4 V BW (though I imagine its going to be along the lines of why I was interested in this car).
Hi Roadhawk! That's awesome that you also have a ZHP - they really are special cars, and probably the best bang-for-buck in an enthusiast daily driver that I know of. Of course, they have all the usual old-E46 problems like window regulators and suspension bushings that go out all the time, but it sounds like you're similar to me in that you keep up on those things and they don't bother you too much. E46's are pretty easy to work on, and parts are pretty cheap, so for anyone who likes to wrench on their own cars, they're tremendous values.
When I find a CT4BW, it will indeed replace the ZHP. I've had the ZHP for less than 2 years and it meets my needs, but, I'm looking for something that does what it does but lights my hair on fire a little bit more. That's really the simplest way I can put it. The Blackwing seems to fit that bill. I never thought I'd consider a GM product, but here's how I got to desiring a Blackwing:
- Decided to search for something more thrilling than the ZHP.
- Drove an F80 M3, F87 M2, F87 M2C, G87 M2, G80 M3. Of those, the only ones I liked were the F87 "OG" M2 and the G80 M3. Liked the G80 quite a lot, actually. But it's kindof SO capable that it's just a little bit boring. And the shifter is just a regular old BMW shifter, which I've never loved. The F87 was incredible but I think not the right choice for me - too similar to the Miata (always loud and exciting).
- Drove a Mustang Mach 1. Was blown away by the Tremec. Thought about doing one for a while but then decided I want a smaller car than a Mustang.
- Googled what other cars use a Tremec 6-speed, found the Blackwing, went down the youtube review rabbit hole. Reviewers whose opinions I trust all aligned on universal praise.
- Test drove one locally and fell in love. Absolutely so much fun to rip around normal roads, and I imagine it's even better on mountain roads. I'm a mechanical engineer and it was just SO apparent that this car was put together and tuned by engineers who really, really care about an enjoyable car. All the controls just feel coherent.
Really, what I want is a Jekyll/Hyde car. I want something that's quiet and comfortable for my twice-weekly commutes to San Francisco and back (60mi each way), but that also will light my hair on fire and come alive when I'm in the mood. That requirement knocked out my other favorite, the F87 M2, which is just kind of always exciting and loud and stiff and rough, with no option to dial it all down. The Blackwing is the only car i've found that does both ends of the spectrum pretty darn well.
Curious to hear your thoughts on this hypothesis, as a fellow ZHP owner! Do I have it right, or is there something I'm missing? I've only had about 40min of seat time in the Blackwing, after all.
I'll keep an eye out on all the major search sites, and if anyone comes across this thread and thinks they will be selling theirs soon, please reach out!
