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Tags: BMW, Saturn, Opel

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Face off Friday: Can the Saturn Sky keep up with the BMW Z4?
The Opel GT in Europe, which is the Saturn Sky in the U.S., is a beautiful and inexpensive roadster that costs nearly 11,000 Euros ($14,627) less than the BMW Z4, but delivers almost the same power. In a comparison done by AutoBild, the Opel GT Roadster delivers 264 horsepower with a 0-60 mph time of 6.3 seconds, while the BMW Z4 delivers 265 horsepower with a 0-60 mph of 6.1 seconds. Now remember, this isn’t about who crosses the finish line first, this is about if an unexpectedly powerful underdog can keep up with German engineering.

For the comparison, AutoBild, took the BMW Z4 3.0si and the Opel GT 2.0 turbo, both with rear-wheel drive, and put them through their tests. What they came up with was, despite almost the exact specs between the two cars, the Opel GT 2.0 turbo lags behind the BMW Z4 3.0si due to its bulkiness and weight.

Out of curiosity, we took a look at the American counterparts of both cars and found that the BMW Z4 3.0si in the U.S. comes with a 255 horsepower engine with a 0-60 mph time of 5.6 seconds, while the Saturn Sky Red Line pushes 260 horsepower with a 0-60 mph time of 5.5 seconds. Interesting enough, both U.S. models have almost a whole second in their 0-60 mph timing over their UK counterparts. If you want compare torque, the BMW Z4 3.0si has 220 lb-ft while the Saturn Sky Red Line has 260 lb-ft. We also found that the Saturn Sky Red Line weighs 62 lbs less than the BMW Z4.

So while the Opel GT or the Saturn Sky Red Line can probably keep up with the BMW Z4, we doubt anyone will pick them over the BMW Z4, but with a $13,375 price difference (the BMW Z4 3.0si with an MSRP of $42,400 and the Saturn Sky Red Line with an MSRP of $29,025) it may be worth thinking about for the more frugal buyer. Of course now if you want to turn more heads we recommend you drive away in a BMW Z4. Read Article
Face off Friday: Can the Saturn Sky keep up with the BMW Z4?



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RupertRupert - 3/23/2007 5:19:32 PMView My AgentSpace
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0-62 in Britian! That's why the times are so much slower!
The 3.0si here has 261 hp and does 0-60 in 5.5, 0-62 in 6.1.

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jmrA480jmrA480 - 3/23/2007 9:32:27 PM
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those 2MPH do not add .6 sec to the time. Times vary depending on temp,alt and diff conditions, also drivers. Do you think every time they run 0-60 they get 5.5 on the dot, i think not


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 3/24/2007 1:04:48 AMView My AgentSpace
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In fact, 0-62mph is usually substantially slower than 0-60 is, as hard as that is to believe.


RupertRupert - 3/24/2007 1:16:36 PMView My AgentSpace
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very much slower, and those are the official times I am quoting.


TheSailorTheSailor - 3/23/2007 5:35:41 PMView My AgentSpace
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I don't get why they don't put that 2.0T engine in the Saturn Sky instead of that anemic 2.4! I've heard that the Opel GT is somewhat of a firebreathing monster!

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drew630drew630 - 3/23/2007 5:45:25 PM
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The 2.0L is in the Sky RL, turbo charged of course.


TheSailorTheSailor - 3/23/2007 5:52:00 PMView My AgentSpace
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Ohh... Didn't know that... I just heard that they didn't offer it in the US... Thx for the update ;)


LexusLexus - 3/23/2007 7:21:04 PM
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Between the two, the Saturn Sky handdown, no if...or but. The BMW Z4 cost way more, and performance is about the same.

Plus the Saturn Sky beauty is just stunning, when you compare to the BMW Z4. The BMW Z4 is probably BMW ugliest car and than their 1 Series.

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neutralneutral - 3/23/2007 7:54:19 PM
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Both are gorgeous cars, but I'd rather have the Sky (I dont care, either the 2.4L or the 2.0T). Its such a sexy car (so the is the BMW, but the Sky is so hot). If I had the money, I would buy one.

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r_driver04r_driver04 - 3/26/2007 3:42:41 PM
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You'd say otherwise if you had to live with a Sky. They suck. My friend bought one and traded it back into the dealer for a full refund. The body wiggled and creaked constently and the rear diff was replaced twice in the few weeks he owned it. Bad deal.


no1listensanywayno1listensanyway - 3/23/2007 8:10:04 PMView My AgentSpace
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The Saturn is alot hotter then the Bimmer. Besides I would be able to to replace my jet skis with the extra cash.

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NeverfollowNeverfollow - 3/23/2007 9:45:58 PM
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"this is about if an unexpectedly powerful underdog can keep up with German engineering."

I'm sorry to have to point this out but Opel is a German brand and also has German engineering.

I'm trying not to choke myself by saying this but I'd buy the Saturn Sky....cough..cough...cough over the cough...cough BMW....cough... any day. I thing the Z4 is a lame duck and not too pretty to look at. At least for now the Sky is fresh. It's not as if they are light years apart in performance...but they certainly are on price.

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NCRedLineNCRedLine - 3/23/2007 10:29:26 PM
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I have a Sky RedLine and absolutely love it!! Everywhere I go people stare and I get questions and comments all the time! Everyone always says, "I can't believe thats a Saturn!" I don't think the Z4 would get as much attention as the Sky does.

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huu76huu76 - 3/23/2007 10:31:59 PM
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The Sky is much more distinct. I like how they mention that it's not about who runs over the finish line first (basically saying the Sky is faster), but if one European car can keep up with another (atleast pick a good benchmark).

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LexusLexus - 3/23/2007 11:43:56 PM
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Didn't the Saturn Sky beat the BMW Z4 in the 0-60 time? yes it did by one second. The Saturn Sky is one second faster than BMW Z4 from 0-60.

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S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 3/24/2007 1:06:29 AMView My AgentSpace
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LOL, you rephrased the same sentence three times.


LexusLexus - 3/24/2007 5:24:20 PM
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AmazinBimmer oh please....when the VW improve it realibility and sales more car than Toyota than we talk. Anyway Hyundai want it rear tailight back from the BMW 3 Series.

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RupertRupert - 3/24/2007 7:14:24 PMView My AgentSpace
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VW sells more cars than Toyota in Europe.
Considerable more I seem to remember.


S4cabriofoxoneS4cabriofoxone - 3/24/2007 11:20:28 PMView My AgentSpace
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AB doesn't like "the VW..." on the contrary; he hates anything VW/Audi for some reason.

There's really NO reason. He's just a snob who has no respect for other brands, except Mercedes and Porsche.


TheSailorTheSailor - 3/25/2007 11:53:56 AMView My AgentSpace
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Hahaha... You just did a doo doo! If you think BMW "stole" the tail lights from Hyundai, you should take a GOOOD look at the rear end of the IS and the Hyundai Sonata... Does the word "Carbon copy" ring any bells?! The first BMW to come with the "Bangle butt" was the Z9 concept in 1999... Try looking a Hyundais of 1999!


delandelan - 3/24/2007 7:58:23 PMView My AgentSpace
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and that matters because?

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MunichRobMunichRob - 3/25/2007 1:46:36 AMView My AgentSpace
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The minute you throw these two cars into the corners the Z4's German engineering will obviously outshine the Saturns no question. So to say they have similiar performance is way off the mark.

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scott064scott064 - 3/25/2007 2:12:18 PM
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MunichRob, go cook a Jew, the comparison isn't all about cornering tests.

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RupertRupert - 3/25/2007 3:20:51 PMView My AgentSpace
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Excuse me?
How dare you say something so offensive and rude. Do you really think that was neccesary?


ZackaryZackary - 3/26/2007 1:37:56 AM
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I'd pick the Z4 in a heartbeat but...

I had the opportunity to drive the Saturn Sky and it was way better than what I was expecting it to be. This however still fails to be a valid comparison in my opinion. Nobody seriously considering a Sky can afford the Z4, and nobody seriously considering a Z4 has no interest in the Sky...

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gsh23gsh23 - 3/26/2007 2:25:25 AM
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you would be a fool to not consider the sky redline if you had the money for a Z4. even best motoring of japan thought the solstice was better than the miata. and if you couldnt afford a Z4, one shouldnt feel bad about getting a sky redline instead. i know my friend who has a z4 3.0si still dreams of driving an S2000.


scott064scott064 - 3/28/2007 11:05:29 AM
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Rupert, how dare SNL for half the things they say, it was a joke and I'm sure MunichRob didn't really go do it, let's atleast put comments that comment on the car not how politically correct we speak, as even I did in the previous comment.

I totally agree with gsh23, the Z4 is a good looking car with BMW dynamics, but that Sky could sell itself on looks alone, not to mention a 240 HP engine.

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