Comments on: BMW Z4 Review & Road Test

By: TDo

TDo — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 12:07:02 +0000

My test drive didn’t leave me as amazed as I thought it should. I like the sound of the engine as it gets revved and the revs climb higher and higher.
Other than the noise there wasn’t much else that would make me want to purchase this car.

By: josephat kiarie

josephat kiarie — Sat, 15 Aug 2009 08:00:09 +0000

This is an exellent ride oh my I would love to have a test drive and own one when possible.

By: Simon

Simon — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 07:04:42 +0000

I’m going to swim against the current. I don’t like the looks. The Tech is fantastic, the driving experience is probably among the best for the legal blacktop but I just don’t see any beauty in the thing. It reminds me of a dog sticking it’s head through a hole in the fence. All distorted and eyes pulled back.
For mine it’s like a WRX – goes exceptionally well but couldn’t be happy with the looks, irrespective of the badge.

By: Al Juraj

Al Juraj — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:48:14 +0000

Coupe + Convertible + Fun

By: Shane

Shane — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 07:42:51 +0000

A boxster will smoke this thing

By: MB

MB — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 06:42:08 +0000

Firstly perhaps the author should read the Terms & Conditons again about ‘personal’ comments.

SLK has been arond since 2004 and is pretty long in the tooth but it is to be replaced late 2010 with a twin turbo job. I admit the Z4 reviewed is a better car over the SLK 350 but they have had the previous Z4 to get it right and now this model. Given the time from 2004 SLK release it is hardly a massive stride forward.

By: Delta

Delta — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:58:59 +0000

That review was epic.

By: Paul Maric

Paul Maric — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:19:56 +0000

Flying High:

I couldn’t disagree any more.

The BMW dual-clutch gearbox in comparison to the Volkswagen DSG is literally like comparing apples to oranges. They are totally different. That’s why I suggest you drive the car prior to commenting, as you obviously don’t have much of a clue regarding the gearbox.

I’m not quite sure how you’ve deduced that people who drive manuals know more about driving, it seems like an absurd statement.

It really sounds like you’re clutching at straws.

And apologies for the pink shirt comment – wear whatever you feel matches your palette, even if it is a pink shirt.

By: Alex

Alex — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 14:15:58 +0000

I just couldn’t take this over a Boxster. Everybody goes on about the Boxster not being a “real Porsche”; what does that even mean? It’s engineered, designed, built and powered by Porsche so that makes it a real Porsche. At the end of the day, the Boxster is the best roadster on the market. It handles better than this and it’s far more focussed and all without being harsh. An all round better drive. I agree with other commenters though, the SLK350 doesn’t even compare anymore.
When I drove the Z4, it didn’t feel like a roadster to me so much as a sporty convertible. It didn’t feel like a roadster should and that disappointed me because the last one did. To me, Porsche have nailed it with the Boxster so I would get that, but this would be a good car to live with day to day. The BMW would also be better if you live in the city as I remember having an old Audi Cabriolet that had it’s roof slashed more than once. Hard tops are good for stopping this, as they would be.
The Z4 is just a bit soulless to me. I thought it was a very good car, but I couldn’t find anything particularly remarkable about it. I drove it, I thought it was excellent, I walked away and I didn’t find myself wanting one. I only buy a car when I can feel myself wanting it. I don’t get this feeling with the Boxster either, but it gets a lot closer.
I do think it looks good though. I just think it could use some more colour choices for the purpose of individuality (you only get about six choices and one of them is brown) and some more driver involvement.
This is the first review I’ve read that’s truly praised the Z4. All the others (and I’m talking about ten or twelve reviews) have simply said that it’s good, but not too exciting and the last one was better. After driving it, I concur and I too will be waiting for the Z2, hoping they make a proper roadster.
I don’t want to sound like I don’t like it, because I really do, I just think they could have done better. The Ultimate Driving Machine just doesn’t stand up in a world with Porsche and I think BMW have softened a bit lately. I look forward to seeing them come back to true form.

By: Flying High

Flying High — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:40:37 +0000

Paul I have not driven the Z4 sDrive35i with the BMW dual clutch gearbox as I am unlikely to purchase such a car at this time, do not often have an opportunity to drive such a car even for pleasure, and do not tend to waste a dealers time pretending that I am in the market for such a car to gain access to such a drive. There is no question the Z4 would be a great drive, I have however driven a dual clutch VW but was not left breathless with the ‘advanced gearbox’. Nothing about it made me want to sell up and switch over.

I do not refuse to accept ‘advances in technology’ – actually the industry in which I work requires me to embrace it everyday. I also believe that within a relatively short time, sadly, all manufacturers will only offer such a transmission, doing away with the need to offer both auto and manual.

I am sorry to hear you get irritated by such small things, however when you make pink shirt comments, you are clearly seeking to aggravate. Or possibly compensate. I am not sure which.

Whichever way you cut it, the new manumatic dual clutch blah blah gear boxes are yet another reason the driver needs to know less about driving and pay that much less attention to what they are doing.

New technology, yes. Advances? Debatable.