I'm wondering what the OP was driving before the getting into the Z4? I know when I was looking at a BRZ I was blown away by how flexible the engine felt after getting out of an Golf 1.2 TFSI. But on a second visit to the dealership in my 120d I was left feeling that the car was feeling flat until it was wound past 5krpm. Of course my 120d has a hell of a lot more torque than the Golf.