BMW Z4 M Roadster: My Take
“While BMW is better than most at employing technology in the service of performance, there’s something to be said for getting back to basics, to a car without electric steering, adaptive suspension, active stabilizer bars or that maddening BMW iDrive control system.” — Joe Wiesenfelder
There’s nothing like seeing a BMW with a little “M” badge on it pull up. That’s when you know it’s more than just a luxury car; it has guts, too. Joe Wiesenfelder recently posted his thoughts on the new Z4 M roadster after a week with a little silver number in his full review on Cars.com. I tackled a red Z4 M on a track a few months back, along with dozens of other new models from various manufacturers.
No car took to the track like the M roadster; it was the only car that wrapped around you naturally. I felt born to drive that car around that track on that day. And drive it I did. Even on the sharpest turns the rear end never came loose. (Well, it’s supposed to swing around at certain points, and it did, but it wasn’t outside my control to straighten back out.) I even took it out on the circuit with the top down. The Z4 M hitting high speeds sans roof is an exhilarating rush and definitely adds to the driving experience.
I have spent plenty of time with the standard Z4, but unlike Joe I felt it was a sporty enough ride, and those shark-like lines made the small car almost menacing-looking. I didn’t really mind the power then, either. With the M’s beefier bodywork and bulging hood you can just tell there’s an added punch before you even hit the gas pedal. After I was done I didn’t think I could ever go back to an un-M Z4.
These are the kinds of cars we writers love to test. They’re fun and precise, and this BMW is also well-crafted. For potential shoppers out there, the $51,300 price tag isn’t completely astronomical. Even though the M is made for going fast, it wouldn’t be bad to live with on a day-to-day basis either. Now I just have to figure out why a car that gets 16/24 mpg city/highway has a gas-guzzler tax, as Joe mentioned. That mileage doesn’t seem so bad for such extreme performance.
