ROAD TEST:WE DIDN'T want to mention anything about the dreaded economic climate this week. It hangs over us like a dark cloud and is all getting a bit tiresome. But sadly, we can't ignore it and it, along with the other sort of climate, the rainy Irish one, pretty much ruined our experience of the new Z4, writes PADDY COMYN
Let’s deal with them in order. With daily jobs cuts, news that our bankers appeared to have been using our funds for a wanton game of monopoly for the past few years and that it’s going to take until the middle of the next decade before things resemble any sort of normality, it doesn’t make miserable people feel all that delighted to see you driving a brand new, ‘09-registered sports car.
Car buffs acknowledge that the fact that it’s the new one is pretty obvious front and side on. The new Z4 has a much more aggressive and imposing front end and the car looks much more like the Z4 coupé because it now comes with a folding metal roof instead of the old cloth top of the previous generation.
This gives the car, according to BMW, more practicality, meaning it offers the best of both worlds. While some rivals – namely Porsche’s Boxster and Audi’s A5 convertible – continue with a cloth roof, Mercedes’ SLK uses a folding hardtop and this, it would appear, is its main rival. The new roof takes 20 seconds to tuck away and there is a decent boot left. Roof up, BMW claims you can stow two sets of golf clubs and skis in the Z4.
It used to be fun to pick up cars like this. You might do a little showing off; you might pretend to be a high roller. Like many motoring journalists, you could lead a first-class lifestyle on an economy class ticket. But, sadly, there was less anticipation than trepidation. How would people react and what would they think of the guy behind the wheel? You might think it would be the last thing on your mind but it’s a real handicap for luxury brands in 2009. The thing is, engineers and talented designers of this and other sports cars don’t design with recession and economic catastrophe in mind. They build them to make those fortunate enough to drive them feel that little bit more alive. So, has BMW succeeded? Well, yes.
Despite the odd derisory glance at the registration, badge and driver, by and large the Z4 attracted positive glances. The visual treat is followed by an audio one; the sound is superb. Where huge improvements can be seen is inside. The cabin feels more spacious, the layout is infinitely better and the interior design is much more modern, with better quality switches. Our test car did without navigation or iDrive, which wasn’t missed.
What was fitted was BMW adaptive M suspension. This adds adjustable dampers, meaning you can choose the right setting for the road or if you want to drive a little more enthusiastically. The new Z4 aims to be more comfortable than before, so the Sport setting is equivalent to the old standard.
This new system allows you to choose Normal and Sport+ in addition to Sport, with the latter turning off stability control. Sport is the most fun, with Normal better suited for everyday use. When we drove it at the European launch in Alicante on silky smooth roads, Sport felt ideal, but on more challenging Irish roads it was a little too hard-edged. The Normal mode (or indeed the standard car’s set-up) will be just about right.
The seven-speed clutch transmission fitted to our test car (€1,558) is good around town where you might not want to balance the clutch of a sportscar, and out of town you’ll enjoy lightning-fast gear changes thanks to paddle shifters behind the wheel. One gripe is with the fiddly paddle operation – we’d prefer one paddle each for down and up but instead each does both in a push and pull action – it just doesn’t feel right.
It’s easy to conclude that this is now a much better car to drive, with the balance between comfort and agility addressed.
You can really push this car on if you so desire and it’s much more flattering to drive. The steering feels more responsive and there is a huge amount of grip – and when the tail does break away it’s entertainingly catchable, either by the car’s stability control or, in Sport+ mode, by your own skill and bravery. It feels more like a car you could use every day without too many compromises – aside from only having two seats.
Naturally, there will be comparisons made. Because of its price, engine range and general evolution, the Porsche Boxster is its toughest adversary. You could argue that the BMW is better-looking. While the Boxster has again been tweaked, telling models apart is usually reserved to the most ardent Porsche fans and the longer bonnet of the Z4 and folding metal roof make it really striking.
To drive, the Porsche is a delicate, poised driver’s car that leaves much to the skill of the driver. The BMW is still something of a blunt instrument, but way more refined than it used to be and it’s getting closer to the Porsche. However, with the price of the Boxster better than ever before, those who do lift their head above the parapet to buy a new roadster may be tempted by the arguably more romantic Porsche badge.
We wouldn’t expect too many takers for the version we tried. A more relevant test might have been to try some of the lower-powered versions. We’re guessing the other 3-litre with 258bhp or even the 2.5 with 204bhp, fitted with a standard manual gearbox, could be good to drive too, and less open to depreciation. BMW hasn’t announced a diesel but one would assume it will come, with the 3-litre diesel from the 335d the most likely candidate.
Fitted with a handful of options, our car came in at just under €86,000, huge money in this or indeed any other year but, as we have said, this version is likely to be the least sold of what will be a pretty rare car anyway. Taking it out of the economic context and judging purely on merit, it’s hard to resist the Z4’s appeal. Not only has BMW moved the car on in leaps and bounds, compared to the older version aesthetically but it has also evolved as a driver’s car.
As for the weather, it, like it did at the golf, frequently stopped play and meant that not once did we take down the roof of the Z4, but then again taking down the roof of your €86,000 ‘09-registered BMW Z4 might just be a display of defiance too far. Let’s hope we get to a time soon where buying this car won’t be like stuffing your face at a charity fast or getting a fit of giggles at a funeral. If and when it does, the Z4 deserves to be high on the wish list of anyone in the market for a performance roadster.
Price:€74,500
BMW Z4 SDrive 35i Factfile
Engine:in-line 6-cylinder 306bhp 2,979cc petrol engine putting out 306bhp @ 5,800rpm and 400nm @ 1,300rpm-5,000rpm
CC:2,979
BHP:306
0-100km/h:5.2 secs
Top speed:250km/h
Bootspace:180-310l
Consumption:9.4l/100km
CO2 emissions:219g/km (€1,050 tax)
Specification:leather upholstery, individual electrically adjustable driver and passenger seats with height adjustment, alloy and leather multi-function steering wheel with tilt adjustment and telescopic adjustment, air conditioning with climate control and two climate control zones; options include: light alloy wheels V-spoke design, seven-speed double clutch, adaptive M suspension, electric folding exterior mirrors, extended storage, seat heating, park distance control, Bluetooth L/100km (mpg): urban – 13.5 (20.9); extra-urban – 7 (40.3); combined – 9.4 (30.5)
CO2 emissions:219g/km
Tax:VRT – 32 per cent; motor tax – €1,050
Price:€74,500