2006 BMW Z4 M Roadster
BMW Z4 M Roadster
Old news is better then no news. I came across the release of the new BMW Z4 M Roadster during the 2006 Detroit Auto Show and got to see it personally at the 2006 Chicago Auto Show. I must say I m neither impressed nor disappointed by the car.
Weeks earlier I being 6 4 in height had attempted to get into a Z4 at a Chicagoland BMW dealership with no such luck. I had the seat as far back as you could and adjusted in all sorts of ways and just couldn t fit. I have found this to be a problem in other cars but had thought for sure BMW wouldn t let me know. To no avail the salesman nor I could adjust it so that I had enough leg room to fit even remotely comfortably.
Short of actually being able to fit the car is a sleek little roadster with some pop. The Z4 M Roadster is everything that the Z4 Roadster is and more. In lieu of the Detroit Auto Show BMW released a 16 page release highlighting just about every single feature you could think about and explain how and why it was so much better. I started reading this and wondered if they could improve so much on just the Z4 Roadster with the Z4 M Roadster then why didn t they? If BMW has all this left over technology to improve the Z4 Roadster then why not do it?
The documented list includes the award winning straight-six power unit of an engine. This six cylinders 3 246 cc 252 kW/343 hp at 7 900 rpm 365 Newton-metres/269 lb-ft at 4 900 rpm maximum engine speed 8 000 rpm engine for such a small little car can make it go but again why is it only in this car? I honestly haven t delved into the full option list of the Z4 but I imagine these weren t even options for the standard Z4. Now it does appear that some of these great features for 2006 have been added to the updated 2006 BMW Z4 Roadster but I m still not impressed. I will give you the stiffer body (improved crash safety) and improved braking power are both big add-ons for the stock BMW Z4 Roadster but there is so much more missing.
As BMW stated in their release: A Special Roof with Special Folding Configuration . What could be so special about a special roof? It appears that this special roof is so special that it must manually be done unlike most of the convertibles now that do it with the push of a button. Why is it that my 2002 Pontiac Firebird could put its top down but your 2006 BMW Z4 Roadster that costs twice as much is unable to do so? If this roof is so special why must I get the option to have the electrically operated roof? It does come standard on the M edition and being able to also open and close from outside by remote control is a very nice feature; I will give you that one.
Pricing: Not all cars are truly comparable but this gives the good overall picture of the 2 Seater Roasters available on the market.
High End
- 2006 BMW Z4 $36-42k
- 2006 Mercedes SLK 280 & SLK 350 (V-6 models of the SLK-Class) $43-47k
- 2006 Audi TT $36k
- 2006 Mini Cooper $17-25k
- 2006 Nissan 350Z $27-35k
- 2006 Porsche Boxster $45-55k
- 2005 Chrysler Crossfire $35-45k
Low End
- 2006 Pontiac Solstice $19-27k
- 2006 Mazda Miata $20-25k
- 2006 Volkswagen Beetle $17-22k
- 2007 Saturn Sky $23-28k
- 2006 Honda S2000 $35k
- 2006 Ford Mustang $19-32k
What is my problem? I guess my problem with cars such as this is that they promise so much but just don t fit me or fit what I want in a car. I think the 3-Series as well as the Z4 are great cars for short people. The Z4 should blow the competition away (short of Mercedes) but doesn t do so. With the new Pontiac Solstice and Saturn Sky out this year and for a far cheaper price I can see problems for the Z4 that short of the BMW name isn t really THAT much better.
