I went for the BMW's "Drive for the Cure" event :)

It involves driving almost every BMW (minus the M models) on a course that's roughly 13 miles thru curves, back roads and highway.

I took out the 330Ci, 330i, 540i Sport Wagon, 745Li, 325Ci Manual, and the best of them all, a 2.5 Z4 Manual!

I thought that the 330Ci was a fun car to drive when I did the event last year... very firm on the pavement, telepathic handling, great grip and nice steering. But then I drove the Z4 :)

First of all... it's stickshift; so there's a closeness I felt with that car I didn't get with the 330Ci. Stickshift is buttery smooth though clutch engagement is a *tad* on the floaty side for me... I think if I drove it more I'd be more used to it :)

I never really understood what people really enjoyed about roadsters until I got into the Z4. The 2.5 provides for me, PLENTY of 'zoom zoom,' and the handling was really the best part about it. The steering was well weighted, and I had great feedback through it. The dead pedal provided the necessary feedback of the little road imperfections so I could feel the grip come and go. Taking it around a corner that says "25 mph" at about 75mph is an experience that you'd have to experience first hand; it's unbelievable.

Anyhoo... I am really in love with the car. I didn't feel too crazy about the interior, as it was rather cheezy, the stereo sucked, and the front end has an odd look about it.

But for driving... this car is a BLAST. If the RX-8 measures up close to this... I'm going to be an EXTREMELY happy camper! :)

i can't remember the pricing... always gets mixed up with CDN in my head...
the Z4 is significantly more than the RX-8, isn't it?? like +$40k??

It is much more pricey than the RX-8, but BMW has a lease program right now that I can get the Z4 at the SAME price (or less) than the RX-8.

However given that I need a back seat, the Z4 is out. But it's an insanely fun car to drive.

Which tires came on the Z4?

Sport package, i think V rated... not sure the brnd.

...thought i was mixing the prices up.

I did this same event last year (even took a half day off work for it). Of all the cars I drove over and over again (745i, 330i, 330i conv., 325i, X5 4.4, 530i etc) by far the most fun was the Z3 3.0i manual. It made me realize the huge gulf in fun between a 4-seat convertible (e.g. 330i convertible 5speed) and a proper roadster. The following week I tested an S2000 and a Boxster which were about 10x better. If I can ever afford a 3rd car it will be a roadster of some kind.

yeah Herc, if you think the Z4 was fun, don't drive a Boxster. We may lose you then ( of course, not back seat there either ).

wow, it's been a few years since i've done that bmw drive. i vaguely remember taking out one of those really weak z3 models and kept hitting fuel cut off while climbing sepulveda pass. the 740 and the 325 i drove were much better. =) did you get to sign the car too?

Herc, isn't there an even more powerful Z4? I thought there was a 3.0 liter? If I am correct that version must be hella fun to drive.:)

he alluded to the fact that there is a more powerful engine in his post though not necessarily saying what the engine is - but I think it is a 3.0 - R&T or Car and Driver recently did a test drive comparison (unless it was Automobile). More power doesn't always directly relate to more fun. I did a performance driving event over a weekend in TX a few years ago ( I was driving my New Beetle TDI ) and on Sunday we had a Viper join us - problem was he didn't have the skill to keep the thing on the track - seems he must have been a bit prone to throttle oversteer. Plus... a lady I'd met at a BMW club's autocross event around the same time got killed driving a M Roadster on a test drive - she downshifted and being unfamiliar apparently didn't anticipate a similar torque hit, spun and hit a fire hydrant. There's been a few times I've been glad my Miata is a bit underpowered - probably helped me get through Deal's Gap a couple times with all 4 tires on the road ;-)

Originally posted by cueball1029
Herc, isn't there an even more powerful Z4? I thought there was a 3.0 liter? If I am correct that version must be hella fun to drive.:) The 3.0 was an automatic :\

But honestly with a 0-60 of 7.0 seconds from the Z4 with an AGRESSIVE launch (that's what I read online from a quick Googling), I was plenty happy with the get-up-and-go from the engine.

It is definately true that the pure joy of a car comes out at higher RPMs and this engine did wind out quite well. I think this is one of the main reasons I did *NOT* like the 350Z and G35 Coupe nearly as much as this Z4. The Z4 2.5 has something like 180 horsepower, compared to the 280ish numbers of the G35 and 350Z. I think that when the tach was screamin and I was hitting corners with great bounce and agility... I truly TRULY appreciated roadsters.

The RX-8 has similar dimensions, weight, and power to the Z4. And as a result I expect it to be JUST as engaging to drive, if not moreso since it's got a bit more juice and fares far better at the high end of the tachometer due to ROTARY :)

Honestly I think after driving a lightly powered Z4 (and I've driven lots of fast cars, Vettes, Mustangs, M3) I realize that having the lightweight, nimble, and higher revving car is REALLY what I love. And given the fact that the RX-8 is all of those things, I'd appreciate it more than I would the 350Z and G35 Coupe.

Screamin RPMs + slick shifter and power = more fun than off-the-line power for me any day of the week.

The Z4 just made it crystal clear.

Z4=Ichiro
RX-8=Edgar Martinez

Ichiro is really fast and nimble. He does pretty much everything perfectly.
Edgar is good at hauling balls all over the place, but he takes his time getting around the bases. But he does have a better batting average. Not to mention more home runs. He's older too.

If you don't understand the similarities, get shot.
Or get potatoes. Either way, I'm a crispy oily snack.