BMW Z4 Roadster 2003 - Present

Right, are you sitting comfortably? The history lesson is about to begin. The Z4 replaces the Z3, which established itself as a tasty, if occasionally lacklustre little roadster. The Z4 has almost pushed the Z3 aside in it’s quest to run with the small roadster baton and is charging down the home straight. It’s a bigger more substantial car than the Z3 and this gives it a more grown up feel. Once in the drivers seat a mature head is required as the Z4 takes no prisoners. The extra size gives the look of a more mature car.

It’s got extra weight, substance if you will, and because it doesn’t pretend to be anything other than a fun two seater you are never disappointed with what you get. The Z4 is a low down and large bundle of fun, with an ample boot, space for you and whoever you take away with you to put your luggage. Inside the cabin you’re treated to top levels of detail and comfort. The seats are firm and supportive, and hold you in all the right places. Leg room is superb and with the roof up the headroom is reasonable. With the roof down there is a little buffeting from the wind but you can still hold a conversation, if you can take your mind off the engine note.

The engine options start with the 2.0L petrol unit. I say start but with a 0 – 60 time of 7.9 and top speed of 137 mph the term ‘entry level’ does seem a little misleading. There really isn’t anything but a great powerhouse on offer. The 3.0SL is the most ferocious with 0 – 60 in 5.5 seconds, although the lower tuned 3.0i will get there in 5.7 seconds if you fancy something a little more mellow! Both engines are limited to 155 mph. there is a 2.5L engine with the same two levels of tune and about the same difference between them, both in the mid to high 6 seconds getting to 60 mph and in the mid to high 140s mph top end. All engines offer a great spread of power throughout the rev range although it’s the 3.0SL that stands out as it develops it’s peak torque at 2,750 revs, which means that it pulls like a train very early in it’s rev range, making it very versatile, although quick to get out of hand if the driver’s not firm with it.

The handling and roadholding are pretty much second to none, while there are others that manage the same standard next to none exceed it. The Z4 is aimed at Porsche Boxter owners and it certainly gives them something to think about. The steering is electronically assisted which has evolved into quite a serious piece of kit. It offers easy steering at slow speeds and good feel at higher speeds. This is all helped by the supreme balance of weight front to back that the BMW engineers have attained. So what you have is a car that remains unflustered being thrown corner to corner and eating up the straights. It comes as no surprise that the Z4 is a superb cruiser, on english roads it’s always motoring well within it’s capabilities, unless it’s driven by Alex Ferguson looking for a toilet of course.

The Z4 gives BMW a firm contender in the Roadster market. It may be slightly edged, image wise, by Porsche’s Boxter, but there’s virtually no chance of it being outperformed by one. The Z4 looks to open up a new chapter in BMWs history, that of a two seater roadster manufacturer that sets the industry standard.

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