The controls are generally well laid out, the seats do a nice job of wrapping your body and, aside from the seemingly endless hood that stretches in front, visibility is relatively good. On a negative note, however, the multifunction iDrive control in the middle of the center console might be remarkably improved, but you still have to remove your eyes from the road in order to effectively adjust climate and audio settings.
Zooooom….!
That being said, the real reason why people buy a Z4 is found under the hood. While the 3.0-litre, twin-turbo straight-six of the sDrive35i model has been around for a while and is used in various BMW products, it makes the little roadster send chills down your spine under acceleration courtesy of its 300 horsepower and captivating rumble.
Despite being relatively heavy (due to the new hard top), this Z4 sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5.2 seconds -- and quite enthusiastically so.
The steering is direct and precise, and the Steptronic autobox is breathtakingly quick and responsive. In fact, based on technical data provided by the automaker, it shifts more quickly than the manual transmission. Plus, the dual clutch system eliminates any vague impulse between shifts.
Even better, BMW’s Dynamic Driving Control allows you to select one of three available modes: Normal, Sport or the slightly more extreme Sport +. The system alters suspension, steering and transmission settings and proves to be so effective and addictive that almost every driver will want to use the Sport mode.
Wrapping up the Z4
The 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i is not perfect, but it does have undeniable appeal. Styling, refinement and performance are all clearly expressed by this well-executed compact roadster. Sure, the ride is a bit harsh at times, visibility could be better and fuel consumption is somewhat excessive, especially with my driving style. Truth be told, it could even use a little more power and aggressiveness.
The Z4 is not a radical sports car, but if you like to play and basically don’t care about money, this sweet 2-seater is a toy you definitely shouldn’t pass up.
photo:Matthieu Lambert
 |
| The controls are generally well laid out, the seats do a nice job of wrapping your body. |
Zooooom….!
That being said, the real reason why people buy a Z4 is found under the hood. While the 3.0-litre, twin-turbo straight-six of the sDrive35i model has been around for a while and is used in various BMW products, it makes the little roadster send chills down your spine under acceleration courtesy of its 300 horsepower and captivating rumble.
Despite being relatively heavy (due to the new hard top), this Z4 sprints from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 5.2 seconds -- and quite enthusiastically so.
The steering is direct and precise, and the Steptronic autobox is breathtakingly quick and responsive. In fact, based on technical data provided by the automaker, it shifts more quickly than the manual transmission. Plus, the dual clutch system eliminates any vague impulse between shifts.
Even better, BMW’s Dynamic Driving Control allows you to select one of three available modes: Normal, Sport or the slightly more extreme Sport +. The system alters suspension, steering and transmission settings and proves to be so effective and addictive that almost every driver will want to use the Sport mode.
Wrapping up the Z4
The 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i is not perfect, but it does have undeniable appeal. Styling, refinement and performance are all clearly expressed by this well-executed compact roadster. Sure, the ride is a bit harsh at times, visibility could be better and fuel consumption is somewhat excessive, especially with my driving style. Truth be told, it could even use a little more power and aggressiveness.
The Z4 is not a radical sports car, but if you like to play and basically don’t care about money, this sweet 2-seater is a toy you definitely shouldn’t pass up.
 |
| Styling, refinement and performance are all clearly expressed by this well-executed compact roadster. |
photo:Matthieu Lambert
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