Where the Z4's interior design falls disastrously short is in storage. Being a two-seater convertible, everything about the car is smaller and more compact and, unfortunately, the same applies to the storage. Located between the front seats is a nifty little compartment that deftly hides all personal belongings, such as purses (small ones), cell phones, and anything else (small) you don't want to be blown away. The trunk offers a decent amount of space; for a couple who don't indulge in golf and don't go to Costco. The cupholders are located on the outer rims of the dash near the vents closest to the side mirrors. They are fully adjustable for any sized drink -- good thinking -- but dangle your beverage precariously above your legs throughout spirited driving.
The power to excel
One area the Z4 doesn't fall flat is in acceleration and throttle response. Equipped with a 3.0-liter, 255-bhp in-line 6-cylinder engine, the Z4's power off the start is surprising at first -- and with rear-wheel drive, sometimes downright alarming. Perhaps most impressive with the Z4 was its throttle response. As the driver, one feels completely connected with the car at all times, as if it understands your downshifts, swift handling maneuvers and severe breaking and responds to each accordingly and to perfection.
The 6-speed manual transmission is lightning-fast and feels like butter beneath the driver's eager hand. Shifting is effortless and spot-on each time, equipped with a short shifter for dynamic driving. The Z4 almost drives like an automatic, it's so easy.
Gadgets and gizmos
The Z4's retractable roof was a pleasure to use. The soft top folds back into the miniscule back end in mere seconds at the touch of a button. The process is effortless and can be performed anywhere at anytime -- as long as you're not moving... at all. While the electric-powered retractable roof is an awesome improvement over any older ge'neration's manually-removable soft tops, the fact that the roof cannot be raised or retracted when the car is moving seems to deter from the gadgets "coolness." Granted, you don't want to be putting the top up whilst driving at 120 km/h on the highway, however if I choose to raise the roof while cruising along at 20 km/h on a side street, I'd rather not have to pull over and completely stop the car to do so.
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| The 6-speed manual gearbox is a good match for the 3.0-liter 6-cylinder engine. |
The power to excel
One area the Z4 doesn't fall flat is in acceleration and throttle response. Equipped with a 3.0-liter, 255-bhp in-line 6-cylinder engine, the Z4's power off the start is surprising at first -- and with rear-wheel drive, sometimes downright alarming. Perhaps most impressive with the Z4 was its throttle response. As the driver, one feels completely connected with the car at all times, as if it understands your downshifts, swift handling maneuvers and severe breaking and responds to each accordingly and to perfection.
The 6-speed manual transmission is lightning-fast and feels like butter beneath the driver's eager hand. Shifting is effortless and spot-on each time, equipped with a short shifter for dynamic driving. The Z4 almost drives like an automatic, it's so easy.
Gadgets and gizmos
The Z4's retractable roof was a pleasure to use. The soft top folds back into the miniscule back end in mere seconds at the touch of a button. The process is effortless and can be performed anywhere at anytime -- as long as you're not moving... at all. While the electric-powered retractable roof is an awesome improvement over any older ge'neration's manually-removable soft tops, the fact that the roof cannot be raised or retracted when the car is moving seems to deter from the gadgets "coolness." Granted, you don't want to be putting the top up whilst driving at 120 km/h on the highway, however if I choose to raise the roof while cruising along at 20 km/h on a side street, I'd rather not have to pull over and completely stop the car to do so.
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| The Z4's styling is unique and cannot be mistaken. |