BMW Z4 2.0i

One of the best looking convertibles on the market. Even the 2 ltr has good performance while having the benefit of being very economical.

The BMW Z4 2.0i has awesome design and styling

great open top drive

I spent one summer with this car and did not really like it - especially a plastic part in the engine bay that started melting and caused a continuous smell which in a convertible is a very bad "side effect".

The BMW Z4 2.0i is bigger, better, more exclusive and yet only about £5,000 more than the ubiquitous Mazda MX5. Absolutely no contest as to which of these two is the best value for money sports car on the road today.

Overall the BMW Z4 is a great machine, with a lot of chic.... gets heads turning...

Wonderful drivetrain but not so convincing package. Steering on the BMW Z4 is like driving a horse and cart (I know, OK), vague, variable and has a mind of it's own.

Hood and a few other 'invisibles' rattle and shake behind the seats, test drove a number and all much the same. Part of the hood came off on one test.

Sports mode is good fun in Auto.

Conclusion - A lazy sports car, in build and appeal.

I loved the BMW Z4 sports car. It was an absolute joy to drive. My only complaint is the price and the price of all the BMW parts and components. I can't imagine why this car needs to be, for example, 40% more money than a comparable Honda.

We're still likely to buy one...It was THAT much fun.

(My reliability review obviously means nothing...but I had to fill in a value, so I entered 10. I didn't have a basis for entering anything lower.)

I love every detail about the BMW Z4 sports car...its nice...good to look at...the company is excellent! My parents have never had any problems with bmw company...THE CAR IS AMAZING! Good to look at..sounds amazing...purrs like a dream, goes like lightning..i feel so safe when im in one aswell!!! GO BMW!

Finally, after the horrible mess that was the Z3 BMW finally come up with a decent drop top that handles and performs as it should - the BMW Z4 . In terms of performance it sits between the Boxter and the Boxter S and due to an abundance of torque at the bottom end its a better car than the S2000 as its more driveable.

Starting with the engine, the sound of the BMW straight six is brilliant - its one of those engines that makes you want to seek out tunnels just to listen to it revving and it's particularly good the higher up the range you go turning into a howling snarl around 6000rpm. It's flexible around town due to a decent slug of torque lower down making it an ideal real world car but it also appreciates a good ragging on the right roads.

The gearbox (in manual form) is also a delight encouraging you to make full use of it, although sixth to fifth could be easier. Having said that, sixth gear is irritating in the extreme and is too long making hard work of full bore acceleration at motorway speeds.

As far as steering, grip and handling are concerned the car turns in crisply although it is far too heavy at higher speeds. Around 110 - 120mph (on Autobahns) you have to manhandle the car and it requires far too much steering input for my liking. Although severe bumps and potholes can unsettle the car it generally copes well for a soft top with little scuttle shake in evidence but for some reason it seems to ground out too easily at hight speed which was surprising. With the traction control turned off and the sport button depressed its time to have some fun. The Z4 takes most corners in it's stride turning in positively with just a hint of undeersteer which can be provoked into oversteer with liberal applications of the accelerator. I've yet to find the limits of adhesion and probably won't until it's done a track day so suffice to say, that for everyday use there's more than enough. However, the ride is firm and it will be interesting to see what effect a change of rubber has to replace the harder than normal sidewalls of the Bridgestone run flat tyres that come as standard.

I feel the build quality is not quite what it should be for a £30k + car, especially when you look at the trim where normally you can't see. Around the footwells, the quality of plastic is very low rent and behind the seats bits of excess leather are visible which detracts from the overall level of satisfaction. Put it this way, when I shut the door in the showroom it sounded surprisingly tinny when compared to the 5 series next to it.

Next up is the interior which is a model of simplicity and should be mandatory for all cars. The controls are simple and unfussy and you're not overwhelmed with dials and buttons that clutter up the dashboard - the ventilation controls do exactly what it says on the tin. The only beef that I have is with the roof - it should be a one touch operation and you should not have to sit there for almost 10 seconds with your finger on the button. Still, beats a manual drop top anyday! The Carver sound system is a worthwhile investment giving audio levels that are brilliant at all speed levels. Put it this way, you can clearly hear the CD at over 120mph with the roof down which is impressive.

Other than that, the brakes work well although the traction control is particularly intrusive and irritating, cutting in too abruptly so you end up turning it off in annoyance when it could be helping you out.

Overall, I'd say its a good package which could handle some more power although I'd recommend the 18 inch wheels which not only fill the arches but look as if they are easier to clean than the 17 inch items that my wife's car has. The handling is good although a little benign at times (but if you want a hooligans car, then TVR will take your money) which can be thrashed or cruised depending on your mood.