Took my mates BMW Z4 2.2i for a spin t'other day (hence the title of this thread!).

It's a nice looking vehicle, and very well made. The roof mechanism works a treat. The stereo is OK with the roof down. Heated seats are great. The handling is superb on the twisties. The driving position is excellent.

However. The 2.2 engine, despite being silky smooth is very slow on power delivery and the gearbox seemed quite rough.

The ride is attrocious! After 20 minutes I was begging him to take the keys back as my back was jarred beyond repair. (more money in my chiropracter's pocket). It's truly shocking. I ended up having to slow down as every single pot hole and undulation was rattling my fillings loose.

My Octy vRS felt alot quicker and more comfortable, and ultimately more enjoyable.

Took my mates BMW Z4 2.2i for a spin t'other day (hence the title of this thread!).

It's a nice looking vehicle' date=' and very well made. The roof mechanism works a treat. The stereo is OK with the roof down. Heated seats are great. The handling is superb on the twisties. The driving position is excellent.

However. The 2.2 engine, despite being silky smooth is very slow on power delivery and the gearbox seemed quite rough.

The ride is attrocious! After 20 minutes I was begging him to take the keys back as my back was jarred beyond repair. (more money in my chiropracter's pocket). It's truly shocking. I ended up having to slow down as every single pot hole and undulation was rattling my fillings loose.

My Octy vRS felt alot quicker and more comfortable, and ultimately more enjoyable.[/quote']

I remember there was a 1.8 version of the Z3 and it was slated for being underpowered. It really needed the 2.5 engine. The Z4 probably really needs the 2.8 or 3.0. You would think they would have learned by now.

Seem to remember reading that the run flat tyres fitted to Z4's totally destroys the ride quality, as they seem to do on any car they're fitted to.

Neil

Save some money, buy a Datsun.

I am thinking of test driving one soon for my next car, might go this weekend infact.

As for being a harsh ride, its a roadster, not a family hatch back.

They'll always produce a version like that, for people who want the badge and the image, especially associated with one of their drop-top models. What they'll miss out on is the ability to make any decent progress

Yes, and I believe the ride issue is because of the run flat idea. Seems a real shame, as BM's of old always seemed to have a really excellent suspension and damping setup. Maybe they still do, if you run proper tyres.

I find the same issue as you do, in my mate's Mini Cooper, having to brace myself for any potholes - ouch!

Steve

I am thinking of test driving one soon for my next car' date=' might go this weekend infact.

As for being a harsh ride, its a roadster, not a family hatch back.[/quote']

I appreciate it's a sports car but the ride was just totally unacceptable. I've been in Go Karts that were more comfortable than that.

Nice car like, I would just hate the fact that I'd paid so much money for a car and have a compressed spine every time I drove it. That would really really annoy me.

I'd still rather have an MX5! If only the boot was bigger.....

Z3 really needed the 3.2 IMHO

Id love a Z4M...

failing that the new 3.0si with the 260bhp engine is suppost to be excellent too

Interesting review - i've got a Z3 2.2i sports and although i've not driven the same model Z4 the difference sounds like chalk and cheese! The ride is superb - it's built on the old 3 series chassis - vs the z4 on a dedicated platform. Sports suspension isn't hard at all (especially out 'ere in the country). Gearbox is beautiful, we got the auto box and as its sports it has the steptronic which i use all the time and is silky smooth (although could be fractionally quicker to change if im honest). Low profile tyres aren't run flats either...

The stereo is crap i would agree but for some reason when you drive a droptop you dont tend to have the stereo on as much - maybe its psychological... or maybe its just embarrasing to let the entire world know you like Girls Aloud

I think power wise it's fine. 2.2 is just enough to have a bit of fun. It's not super car performance but then if that's what you want... buy the M.

As for being a harsh ride' date=' its a roadster, not a family hatch back.[/quote']

But BMW's family hatchback is no better...

I took out a 1-series for a test drive a couple of weeks ago... the ride was also atrocious, and it seriously put me off the car. The salesman was not happy that I even mentioned the ride quality, and repeatedly highlighted the fact is was a BMW (so what?), the fact it had near perfect 50:50 weight distribution (and that means....?) and the fact that it was RWD (finally, an actual selling point!).

Was not impressed at all. :thumbdwn:

I hired one out from Munich airport last year and took it down to the Austrian alps. Conclusion was...totally underwhelmed, although TBH I don't really like 2 seater cars anyway due to feeling that any other vehicle could crush me to death.

The handling is sublime, but was very unrelaxing to drive, didn't notice the ride being bad, but that was on German and Austrian roads. Couldn't drive it with the roof down at anything over 30 MPH because of buffeting. Sounded nice though and had good brakes. Overall I was glad to give it back and wished I'd rented the 5 series I wanted (wife won out on the choice).

When I was considering my current car, the 3.0 Z4 would have been on the list were it not for the ride (had driven one previously). Terrible and far worse than my 130iM.

Glad I never bothered testing one!