Z4

Since we have been getting our all new website up and running, I have had to spend time reading, re-writing and then re-formatting every car review I have ever written. This would take a normal, computer literate person about 10 minutes. But for me this is about as fun as having you bum massaged with a cheese grater...!!

The problem isn't that I struggle with the technical aspect of the computer world as I have always been able to pick things up pretty quickly. It's the fact that when I have to do something boring and that I can't be arsed to do I find every possible thing to distract me from doing what I have been tasked with.

One thing that has become very apparent in reading my reviews, it seems that I have a fascination with homosexuals and hairdressers! This is understandable given that I have had to review cars like the Mazda MX-5, Audi TT and the BMW 1 series Convertible. So imagine my joy when my boss asked if it would be possible to review the BMW Z4......a car that was originally made for hairdressers! The boss thinks that I shouldn't stereotype cars as much as I do, so he has limited me to 3 hairdresser comments and 1 homosexual comment in this review! Since I have used all but 1 of those up in this paragraph alone, I might get stuck and end up reverting to having the cheese grater bum massage instead.

Since I have only 1 'H word' comment left I think I may as well use it up now rather than wasting hours thinking where best to use it. So here it goes.......The New BMW Z4 could not be further from being a hairdressers car! BMW have made a truly striking car.

This car is more angular and aggressive than the car it replaces (Z4 E85). The previous Z4 was a bit of a sad looking car with its long, slopping, parrot looking front end but thankfully BMW have addressed this with the new Z4 and even though the bonnet is still long and slopping the car looks much more in-proportion with itself than the previous car. This also has a lot to do with the fact that they have given this a folding hardtop and not an insurance hating cloth roof.

The New Z4 is just as impressive on the inside too with a typical BMW layout and attention to detail. The driving position is still slightly offset to the right but it's nowhere near as bad as previous BMW models and therefore doesn't give you the ache's that you would normally get after a long journey in a BMW. The equipment levels on the standard car I'm sure are good but the car that BMW sent me was the Z4 sDrive35i Msport with nearly every conceivable option known to man so I wouldn't have a clue. When you order a Z4, make sure that you order it with Professional Navigation. It's a very good and simple system to use (once use to it). I was racing in a charity kart race in the docklands and staying in some obscure apartment about 15 minutes away. If I hadn't had that nav system, then I would still be in London today! In my opinion it is the clearest sat nav on the market and the birds eye view is simply superb.

Being a sports car, the ride is firm, this is down to the fact that this is the Msport so therefore comes with massive wheels and low profile tyres. I wouldn't say that it was unbearable and you couldn't live with the ride but if you want a soft, premium convertible then this isn't the car for you. If however you are looking for a out and out sports car then my advice would again be bad news for the Z4 as I'd suggest you should lease a Boxster as this is no Porsche beater. The reason for this is the roof. In adding all the mechanics and extra metal that goes in to making the folding hard roof they have added weight (165kgs & 302hp) which means that the Porsche (with 306hp) will easily leave far behind on any country road in the land!

The Z4 is the happy medium between these 2 cars. It's quick and agile enough to set your pulse racing, but it is also wonderful motorway cruiser that just eats up the miles. If after you have started your lease you still have a feeling of "should I have gone for the Porsche?" Just pull up next to a Boxster, look at them both from there side profiles and I can assure you that will easily be enough to set your mind at ease that you are in the right car.

Thanks for reading

Stuart Mckay