2006 BMW Z4 Published 09/08/2005

BMW's diminutive Z4 roadster is almost perfect as a tonic for a tough week. When war, natural disaster, rising fuel prices and the Chiefs blowing every preseason game gets you down, tossing back the top and blasting down a country road is an effective antidepressant prescription.

With a plethora of exciting two seat, top down, sport roadsters on the market, choosing the right convertible for you should be an exciting event. I have a tremendous respect for the Mazda Miata, Nissan 350Z, Chrysler Crossfire Convertible, Mercedes CLK Cabriolet, Cadillac XLR, Chevrolet Corvette, Jaguar XK Convertible, Lexus SC Hardtop Convertible, Honda S 2000, Audi TT Roadster, Porsche 911 Cabriolet and Porsche Boxter. These are just some of the mainstream two seat roadsters. Getting a little more exotic you can consider offerings from Bentley, Ferrari, Lamborghini and one of my favorites, Panoz. Top down excitement can even be obtained with seating for four by opening up the Ford Mustang, Chrysler Sebring, VW Beetle, or the BMW 3 and 6 Series convertibles. While this may not be the golden age of Convertibles as in the 1920's, we've come a long way from talking about the demise of the ragtop in the 1980's.

Convertibles are cool but they're not for everybody. Some girls complain that going topless messes up their hair. Guys in suits complain that convertibles get too hot in the summer. You can't pile loads of garbage and haul friends around like you can in a sport utility vehicle. And carrying on a cell phone conversation is somewhat difficult with the background noise of a top free car.

But for me I love the feel of a two-seat roadster. I keep the top down when it's too cold and too hot. I feel safer with the top down because I am in the open where I can see, hear, feel and taste my driving opponents. Fully engaged, a driver of a convertible is less distracted and more in tune with the highway environment than in any other car.

A week behind the wheel of this prestigious sports car was an exciting ride in all respects. Painted bright lipstick red and clad in tan leather, this BMW Z4 commands respect. Muscular bulges accented the long hood with the short rear deck in true sports car styling. The distinctive dual kidney grill tells everyone that you are driving an exceptional vehicle.

BMW has long been respected as the ultimate driving machine and the 2006 BMW Z4 3.0i continues this tradition. Zero to sixty was a smooth 5.9-second romp with the inline 3.0 liter six cylinder engine belting out 225 horsepower and 214 lb. ft. torque. Developing top horsepower at less than 6,000 RPM provides civilized performance for this 3,000-pound adult entertainment machine. Well balanced, the Z4 handled curves, potholes and straight lanes with equal enthusiasm.

Inside the rich leather seats were comfortable and supportive. Equipped with the optional GPS based Navigation system, I found the pop up screen to be interesting but the novelty wore off soon. Integrating the escalating demands for technology in modern automobiles continues to be a challenge for BMW as well as all upscale automakers. In my opinion if you are driving a roadster as exciting as the Z4 you don't need distractions such as maps and directions. I did like the innovative cup holders that may be the best in this class of car. Trunk space for any roadster is always a premium but Kathy and I were able to fit two full size golf bags in the trunk. As poorly as I played, I'm not sure why I bothered -but the bags did fit. After a short and frustrating round of golf at Swope Park, the winding tree covered Blue River road provided an excellent outlet.

There are more expensive roadsters on the market today, some with more power, features and luxury. The inexpensive Miata will also give you a thrill for a lot less money. But the BMW Z4 3.0i will always be an aspirational vehicle for those who appreciate true roadster sports cars. Offering an exceptional motoring experience at a reasonable price makes this BMW a winner.

2006 BMW Z4 3.0i
Rear Wheel Drive Roadster

Base MSRP $42,495
MSRP as driven $50,370

19/27 EPA MPG

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