RE: BMW Z4 30i | Driven

[Diesel Meister]

Insert sports car as appliance meme.

I am sure there is a market for this but it strikes me that BMW isn’t trying hard enough in this segment. I can see the appeal for some but it’s just less interesting than most alternatives from the perspective of this enthusiast.

[Panjy]

I’m sure it will be more economical than the 40i but i’m certain you won’t get mid 40’s combined mpg out of one.
To put it in some sort of context, i currently drive a modern 2 litre turbo, with circa 280hp, that weighs if anything a little less than this, has start stop engaged, and with most of my journeys spent stuck doing 40 mph with a very occasional quick blast, i get 35 mpg average if i drive carefully.
I wish the car manufacturers would all be more honest regarding this

I think it should sell ok though, it’s a different proposition to the Cayman that will appeal to a customer that’s looking for something less focussed.

[craigjm]

I can see the m40i selling due to its straight 6 now that the Boxster has the four cylinder. To me they are not really direct competitors with the Boxster being a sports car and the z4 a cruising roadster. Which one you buy depends on what you want. A full specced m40i with a 5% discount available is 50k which is a bargain when compared to how much a Boxster costs at the same spec.

[Sticks.]

As well as what's been said already about the looks, I think the interior's disappointing. All the parts just look slot-in. It's messy, fussy, nothing joins up. And if the speedo and tacho are digital, why is there still a screen sticking up? Audi and Porsche (now) do it better imho.

[SOL111]

Panjy said:

I’m sure it will be more economical than the 40i but i’m certain you won’t get mid 40’s combined mpg out of one.
To put it in some sort of context, i currently drive a modern 2 litre turbo, with circa 280hp, that weighs if anything a little less than this, has start stop engaged, and with most of my journeys spent stuck doing 40 mph with a very occasional quick blast, i get 35 mpg average if i drive carefully.
I wish the car manufacturers would all be more honest regarding this

I think it should sell ok though, it’s a different proposition to the Cayman that will appeal to a customer that’s looking for something less focussed.

I think it'd be possible imo. The wife has the same engine and power output on the 4 series. It's easy to get over 40 and her 4 series is heavier and manual.

[craigjm]

Sticks. said:

As well as what's been said already about the looks, I think the interior's disappointing. All the parts just look slot-in. It's messy, fussy, nothing joins up. And if the speedo and tacho are digital, why is there still a screen sticking up? Audi and Porsche (now) do it better imho.

Because the digital cockpit is not standard around the world

[Sticks.]

craigjm said:

Sticks. said:

As well as what's been said already about the looks, I think the interior's disappointing. All the parts just look slot-in. It's messy, fussy, nothing joins up. And if the speedo and tacho are digital, why is there still a screen sticking up? Audi and Porsche (now) do it better imho.

Because the digital cockpit is not standard around the world

Thanks.

[WJNB]

From some angles it has the look of the Honda S2000, which says more about Honda than BMW.

[MikeGoodwin]

SidewaysSi said:

Looks like yet another average Z4. BMW can't made decent drop tops can they? And it looks crap.

But it will sell...people love to have a new
"BMW sports car" after all.

The ultimate driving machine. LOL

[Pesty]

Looks fabulous to me.

Each to their own.

[Car-Matt]

The fact they said a 330d made a better fist of the test road says it all really

[F1GTRUeno]

Why can't BMW ever get it's roadsters right?

[cerb4.5lee]

F1GTRUeno said:

Why can't BMW ever get it's roadsters right?

I guess that it doesn't really matter to them because they sell in such small numbers. They get their saloons right though because they sell in the millions.

[NJJ]

A used V6 F-Type is a much better bet. Sports cars are supposed to thrill and look good. I don't think the new Z4 does either.

[Court_S]

These look much better in the flesh (to me anyway). I’ve seen a few about and other than the grille, they look pretty good to me. Still not a patch in the original Z4 though.

[g3org3y]

They had one displayed in the airport at Stockholm.

Although I like the orange paint,not such a fan of the rather large blacked out grill. Seemed quite big also.



I'll stick with my E85 for the time being.

[Pvapour]

Saw this colour combo in our car park yesterday, until then i thought it was a very bad effort, in the flesh a completely different animal, looked very very good and very un bmw in a good way, tempted if an M version were to arise

[Jhonno]

I like these.. They look good in the flesh. Think I would have to go for the 6 pot though. For noises.

[Epiphany]

Sticks. said:

As well as what's been said already about the looks, I think the interior's disappointing. All the parts just look slot-in. It's messy, fussy, nothing joins up. And if the speedo and tacho are digital, why is there still a screen sticking up? Audi and Porsche (now) do it better imho.

The screen has the sat nav, radio, call info and all of the vehicle setting adjustments on it. They couldn't be incorporated in to the speedo screen, it just wouldn't work, so I'm not sure why you'd expect there not to be a screen? Looking at the Audi A5 the screen in that looks far more disconnected than BMW's to me, and appears to me like they forgot they needed it and then stuck it on later

[RushDom]

These look absolutely terrific in the metal. They look great in black and, oddly, better in 'sport' trim than in M Sport. Far cleaner shape and less spoiled by fake vents and side skirts. Still, a very pretty car in person.