Why are road trips so alluring?

[Jobbo]

We’ve bumped into the same Dutch couple who were cycling the Hebridean Way three times: beginning, middle and end. So the speed at which you do it is not down to your vehicle

[MikeHunt]

Just back from weekend road trip to Spa with a group of equally car-obsessed friends. Good roads, good cars and plenty of miles, getting out on track and stretching the Zs legs on the Autobahn confirming that the speed limiter does work as expected.

I’ve watched F1 at Spa since I was at school, but seeing the place in person is something else, tv really doesn’t show just how much elevation there is or the sheer scale of the circuit. The vibe is brilliant too, wandering around the paddock, spotting cars and chatting to people who are there for exactly the same reason.

Around 1,000 miles in 48 hours also highlighted the Z4’s compromises. I have spoiled by my last car and it’s noisier, busier and harder work over distance, especially with six manual gears rather than an eight-speed auto. I definitely missed the radar cruise and comfier seats of the M550i. Then again, I’d never bother taking a big saloon on track, and when the road gets interesting, I know which one I’d rather be driving.

[mik]

Nice. I'd love to do a Spa trackday.

[speedingfine]

Excellent work. Never been to Spa, despite going within a few miles of it several times on the way to the Nurburgring.

[KiwiDave]

That's very fucking cool.

[duncs500]

Around 1,000 miles in 48 hours also highlighted the Z4’s compromises. I have spoiled by my last car and it’s noisier, busier and harder work over distance, especially with six manual gears rather than an eight-speed auto.

You should try it in a Caterham! A Z4 is positively luxurious.

Trip sounds ace, I wish I had more time.

[Jobbo]

Love that photo - the colours, angle, everything. A nice thing to have of you in your car.

[unzippy]

and stretching the Zs legs on the Autobahn confirming that the speed limiter does work as expected.

In 5th too?

[MikeHunt]

Thanks Simon, that photo gives the illusion of a half decent line too

Top speed was 253 in 6th, it deffo has more if the restrictor was removed.

[Jobbo]

Is that GPS verified? I probably ought to check whether mine works. Saw 160 in the Audi and backed off without feeling a limiter so I don't know if it was relaxed in that. I think M-cars historically had quite soft limiters but now you can pay extra to raise the limit, surely they must work if you haven't paid.

[dinny_g]

I've never hit the limiter...

I've hit just shy of 145mph in an Audi A8 on the "private road" that is the Newport Pagnell Bypass but chickened out...

[MikeHunt]

Waze GPS and the BMW speedo seem to be pretty n=much spot on, must admit I was looking a loooong way ahead above 200k and not at Waze so cannot confirm 100%

[Jobbo]

I've hit the limiter in my M5, but only the one for EV mode. And I've managed to get a couple of mph past that.

Don't think I've ever felt the 155mph limiter in anything, despite having achieved or exceeded that speed in cars which should have had it.

[MikeHunt]

I wanted to do the trip with the car mainly standard, but the limiter won't be there for long