So my Z4MC went into the dealership on Thursday to sort out a dash lighting issue (turned out to be a loose connection) and while it was in I was given a 2007 3.0 Z4 Sport Auto Roadster. Now no offense to the Roadster owners...but I have never been interested in the convertible at all. I have always felt its looks were very odd and out of proportion, the soft top a bit girly and the idea of a silver, automatic convertible did not fill me with joy. However I was soon to change my mind.
My first surprise was the gearbox. I have driven plenty of autos and nearly went for a 335i Auto, but ultimately have never bought one (unless you count an M3 SMG) - I have always been manual all the way. However the gearbox on this was so good it made me seriously reconsider on a daily driver. Obviously you need a manual for your weekend trip to the 'Ring, but every day? I am not so sure. Not only was it incredibly smooth but kick down was prompt and the steptronic useful when you want to give it some welly. Last week my left foot was incredibly achey after 2 hours of crawling from Tower Bridge to Richmond at 4MPH in the M...in this, it would have been a breeze....
The engine? Well again, smooth is not the word. I test drove a Z4 3.0 Coupe before the M so i knew it was good, but living with it for a few days I discovered just how nice it is. It reminds me a lot of my old 330Ci, i.e its incredibly refined, makes a great noise and is quick. I think this is the 265BHP model? It has all the performance you could want in 80% of situations, but is much easier to drive than the M which demands that you grab it by the scruff of the neck and treat it rough. Its much smoother and of course lacks some of the urgency and drama, but it still sounds brilliant and has plenty of go.
Of course the top has to be down at all times (I was once told if you drive your soft top with the roof up, the storm outside better have a name) despite it being pretty cold at the moment - if its not raining, roof goes down - and it adds a whole other dimension to the driving experience. I really really enjoyed driving it.
Downsides? Plastic on plastic scuttle shake from where the roof meets the windscreen on a car with 770 miles on it seemed a bit wrong, and as mentioned I am just not keen on the styling - especially in this cars silver with silver/black two tone leather. Just was not me. Also it wasn't much better on fuel than my M; about 2-3MPG in it from what I could see. But that gearbox and that engine in a convertible setting really makes for a fantastic combination, and I can now see why so much of the press say the 3.0 car is, in many ways, a better day to day proposition than the M.
Would I swap? Not a chance
My first surprise was the gearbox. I have driven plenty of autos and nearly went for a 335i Auto, but ultimately have never bought one (unless you count an M3 SMG) - I have always been manual all the way. However the gearbox on this was so good it made me seriously reconsider on a daily driver. Obviously you need a manual for your weekend trip to the 'Ring, but every day? I am not so sure. Not only was it incredibly smooth but kick down was prompt and the steptronic useful when you want to give it some welly. Last week my left foot was incredibly achey after 2 hours of crawling from Tower Bridge to Richmond at 4MPH in the M...in this, it would have been a breeze....
The engine? Well again, smooth is not the word. I test drove a Z4 3.0 Coupe before the M so i knew it was good, but living with it for a few days I discovered just how nice it is. It reminds me a lot of my old 330Ci, i.e its incredibly refined, makes a great noise and is quick. I think this is the 265BHP model? It has all the performance you could want in 80% of situations, but is much easier to drive than the M which demands that you grab it by the scruff of the neck and treat it rough. Its much smoother and of course lacks some of the urgency and drama, but it still sounds brilliant and has plenty of go.
Of course the top has to be down at all times (I was once told if you drive your soft top with the roof up, the storm outside better have a name) despite it being pretty cold at the moment - if its not raining, roof goes down - and it adds a whole other dimension to the driving experience. I really really enjoyed driving it.
Downsides? Plastic on plastic scuttle shake from where the roof meets the windscreen on a car with 770 miles on it seemed a bit wrong, and as mentioned I am just not keen on the styling - especially in this cars silver with silver/black two tone leather. Just was not me. Also it wasn't much better on fuel than my M; about 2-3MPG in it from what I could see. But that gearbox and that engine in a convertible setting really makes for a fantastic combination, and I can now see why so much of the press say the 3.0 car is, in many ways, a better day to day proposition than the M.
Would I swap? Not a chance
Don't you think sometimes the ///M is wasted in all that traffic, and you'd be better off with the 3.0/auto combination?