The Perfect Weekend Car for the Performance Enthusiast
Likes:
- Potent turbocharged 6-cylinder engine
- Superb 7-speed double clutch transmission
- Capable handling and impressive levels of grip
- Easy to use retractable hard top
Dislikes:
- Steering feel is somewhat vague and disconnected
- Hard top makes for a hefty curb weight
- Trunk space is practically nonexistent
It’s summer in California and nothing beats driving around with the top down, especially on a long weekend or late summer night. BMW provides a host of convertible models, from the small 1 series to the 6 series coupe, and it’s no surprise that you see many of them cruising around the golden state. For performance enthusiasts, BMW offers the Z4 roadster, a 2-seater that combines the fun of a convertible with the performance of an all-out sports car.
Now in its 3rd generation, the Z4 features a trick folding hardtop that makes for easy top-down motoring, although it does add some weight. With its long hood and shark-like nose, the Z4 remains a stylish and visually distinctive design.
The Z4 comes in three performance flavors, from the relatively mild sDrive28i to the spicy sDrive35is. Our sDrive35is test car featured BMW’s 3.0 L TwinPower turbocharged 6-cylinder engine, which cranks out 335 hp. An even more impressive 369 lb-ft torque is also available for limited durations courtesy of an overboost function.
Drive Impressions
Although this Z4 doesn’t carry an M badge, acceleration is quite potent. BMW quotes a 4.8 second 0-60 time, but we wouldn’t be surprised if that figure is conservative and actual acceleration is much closer to the 4 second mark. Put your foot down and you’ll be rewarded with a surge of torque, and the kind of acceleration that will leave anything but serious sports cars in the dust.
The Z4 sDrive35is only comes with a 7-speed dual clutch transmission; purists seeking a manual transmission will have to settle for the slightly less powerful sDrive35i. Fortunately, the dual clutch box is quite brilliant, rifling off upshifts in less time than it takes to think about shifting gears. Paddle shifters provide manual control, but the transmission is so good at selecting gears that we just left it in drive most of the time.
Take the Z4 out on some curvy back roads and you’ll be rewarded with capable handling and impressive levels of grip. Put the Dynamic Driving Control in Sport+ mode and the adaptive suspension firms up, the shifting becomes more aggressive, and the steering response quickens. Add in a set of sticky Bridgestone Potenza tires mounted on 19-inch wheels, and responsive, fade-free brakes, and you have a recipe for cornering fun. Holding the Z4 back from being truly brilliant is a somewhat vague, numb steering feel, and a hefty curb weight that you do notice when the turns get really tight.
Our test car featured an appropriately sophisticated interior, with tan leather upholstery and all the latest electronic goodies. Although heavily criticized at first, the latest generation of BMW’s iDrive control system is really quite good, making it easy to flip through the various menus to access the Nav, sound system, and other options.
As you can expect for a 2-seater, interior space is minimal. Unfortunately, the retractable hard top also eliminates all but a small portion of the trunk. Folks looking for a convertible to road trip in are probably better off with a more conventional sedan.
With an as-tested price of over $65,000, the Z4 sDrive35is isn’t cheap, especially for a car with such limited practical utility. The competition in this segment is also quite stiff, with the Mercedes SLK, Porsche Boxster, and the new Jaguar F-TYPE all offering high performance in a two-seat convertible. Although the Boxster and F-TYPE arguably have the performance edge, the Z4 is perhaps the most well-balanced of the bunch, providing thrills when needed, and comfortable, stylish cruising the rest of the time.
What others are saying about the BMW Z4
Over at Autoblog.com, Matt Davis is impressed by the Z4’s potent powertrain, but laments that BMW hasn’t tweaked the performance to truly live up to its sexy exterior design. “We have always harbored a desire to fall in love with this swoopy and well-proportioned roadster, but it still strikes us a bit like the way the over-designed Mercedes SLK now strikes us: a really nice lifestyle/reward car, with not much else going on.”
In contrast, Autotrader.com likes the fact that the Z4 isn’t purely about performance. “The reality is, most Z4 drivers don’t take their roadsters to the local autocross club every weekend. They’re more likely to go for a spirited drive along a scenic byway or boulevard, reveling in the car’s combination of luxury, technology, elegance and hardtop security. In a word, it’s the Z4’s sophistication that draws people in, not its tough-guy racetrack credentials.”
See BMW Z4 for sale on eBay.
