Drove a Z4 - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Joe Lapicki · 29th October 2002, 15:47

My dealer called me Saturday morning to say that they just received two demonstrators. I had to work in the morning but got over there in the afternoon to test drive. I was led to believe that the new car would be "bigger" than the Z3...it did not seem so. My M Roadster seemed a little smaller in terms of interior room, but comparing the two cars across the parking lot did not give the impression that the Z4 is a lot larger....I do not know the specs. My overall impression is "so so", looks a lot better than the photos and will probably grow on me, but not a real "got to have one of these". I drove the 2.5 litre 5 speed, the other was a 3.0 litre automatic (all that is currently available). High revving engine seems low on power and the overall feel of the car is more "boulevard cruiser" than sports car/roadster. A 3.0 litre 6 speed will be available by the end of the year. Talk of an M version in maybe a year. Anybody else drive one yet?

kevin034 · 29th October 2002, 15:53

When I was at the dealership for my 1200 mile service, there were 2 Z4s there available for sale. I took a look at it and here are some impressions.

1. The hood looks very very plain. No personality. Compared to the M5, M3, X5, etc. It's just 1 piece of smooth metal.

2. What the heck are those side directional lights? They are BMW roundal protuding with yellow light around the side. Very very ugly.

3. Noticed the line across the front of the car actually continues to the side pannels and downwards toward the front edge of the doors. Hm ... I wonder if the bottom portion of the car rotates like a transformer?

4. The butt look very very good, compared to a Z3. IMHO. Much more defined and has a more agressive look.

5. The sales guy told me that the Z4 has the same wheel base as the Z8. And ... it looks like that a 8 cylinder can fit under the hood easily! Could this mean that BMW has future M versions in mind? I think so! (let us all hope!).

6. The head lights ... more boring than a MB. I almost fell asleep looking at them.

Over all, I think that the Z4 is a replacement for the Z3. Not a good one but not bad either. I just wished that it had more of that special BMW touch, which makes all BMWs special?

My 2 cents.