I personally would have done the opposite and go from Coupe to Roadster as you get much much more from the 3.2l Straight Six. I had similar problems making up my mind for the Z4M and am absolutely relieved now that I made the choice for the Z4MR and now i drop the top at almost any opportunity even during the winter (just switch on heated seats and heating). Having nothing between you and the aural viscera from the bonnet and exhaust elevates the driving experience in the Z4M to a whole different level. you really get addicted to driving the car and rev range becomes a musical keyboard.
as for looks, the coupe probably gets the thumbs up with the roof-up on the roadster but with the roof down, not a lot of cars get close to the Z4MR.
On the 1 M Coupe, its probably going to be a great handling car and so on, but I think it lacks a crucial ingredient which characterizes all the previous M cars and that is a "charismatic engine". I haven't test driven the car but was let into a sneak preview at Stephen James last week and find everything great about the car until i started the engine up. Its quite a lack-lustre experience as it sounded no different from the 135i apart from a slightly louder exhaust and there is literally no engine note to speak of other than the faint turbo shish..... You immediately noticed that the exhaust volume is tuned up to compensate for the lack of theatre from the engine. mind you, i actually think the exhaust sounded a tad "noisy" after a while but it might be due to the car being parked in a warehouse. The sales manager who had one on order keep saying he is going to put a straight pipe in first thing when he gets his car and i think that suggests something. Overall though, the car is absolutely stunning in metal especially in white and there is definitely 100% no mistaking it for a regular M sport 1 series with those angry wheel arches, bumpers and those gorgeous rims. Am waiting for the invite to go for a test drive soon and hopefully, everything else good about the car compensates for that lazy engine.
as for looks, the coupe probably gets the thumbs up with the roof-up on the roadster but with the roof down, not a lot of cars get close to the Z4MR.
On the 1 M Coupe, its probably going to be a great handling car and so on, but I think it lacks a crucial ingredient which characterizes all the previous M cars and that is a "charismatic engine". I haven't test driven the car but was let into a sneak preview at Stephen James last week and find everything great about the car until i started the engine up. Its quite a lack-lustre experience as it sounded no different from the 135i apart from a slightly louder exhaust and there is literally no engine note to speak of other than the faint turbo shish..... You immediately noticed that the exhaust volume is tuned up to compensate for the lack of theatre from the engine. mind you, i actually think the exhaust sounded a tad "noisy" after a while but it might be due to the car being parked in a warehouse. The sales manager who had one on order keep saying he is going to put a straight pipe in first thing when he gets his car and i think that suggests something. Overall though, the car is absolutely stunning in metal especially in white and there is definitely 100% no mistaking it for a regular M sport 1 series with those angry wheel arches, bumpers and those gorgeous rims. Am waiting for the invite to go for a test drive soon and hopefully, everything else good about the car compensates for that lazy engine.
To enjoy that nise must be great.
