Reader Review of the Week: 2011 BMW Z4

Posted by Paintless Removal on June 30, 2011

<

"Rparmar” of Winchester, Va., recently purchased a new 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive35is, a new trim for the model year. This reader has a lot to say about the Bimmer, which sports a new twin-turbo six-cylinder. He enjoys the car’s perfect balance and fast speed, as well as how it looks with the top down and up. Continue reading the full review below. Once you’re done, share your comments about your own car here.

<
“I bought a 2011 Z435i with premium sound, sport package upgrades and seven-speed automatic transmission. It really is the perfect balance of sport, eye-catching style and luxury on the road. The acceleration is very responsive and has a nice, throaty masculine sound. The handling around turns is very nice and tight. The zero-to-60 speeds are exhilarating.

“The Sport and Sport Plus transmission options and the steering-wheel paddles are a nice touch for the money to keep the car and the driving a bit more interesting, but it probably would be better used by someone who truly is a bit of race enthusiast.

“The car's style is a showstopper! It gets a lot of attention on the road. It has a great look from all angles and is noticed at a distance. The hardtop is very functional and when up, it gives the car a "non convertible" sports car look compared to other soft-top convertibles that look less attractive with the tops up and visible. Putting the top up or down is a showstopper as well in public, given the ‘transformer’ style of panels moving about. … Very cool.

“The interior is typical BMW high-end style. Lots of cabin room for driver and passenger, lot of leg and arm room, very comfortable on long trips. Seats are very supportive. You don’t feel like your in a small two-seat convertible; you feel like you are in the cabin of a larger convertiable sedan.

“Great panoramic view with top down and great visibility with top up. Top up, the car drives and feels like a non-convertible. Back window looks and feels like normal sedan rear views. Limited storage space, but that should be expected for this type of car. Trunk space is limited, but again this should be expected.

“Ride in non-Sport mode suspension is comfortalble for long road trips. I love that I can be taking a nice, lazy scenic drive with the top down and then when the moment strikes me, I can gun the car down a straightaway or fly around a nice turn like a top performance car and get goose bumps.

“The sound system is nice, not great. No subwoofer, iPod and USB interface is easy to use while driving, radio display is hard to see while top is down due to sun's glare on dashboard. Cupholders are stupidly small, can only hold a 12-ounce can cup, and they are hard to reach while driving (often spill my drink trying to grab it), optional detachable cupholder is easier to reach but still very small diameter and can’t hold a ‘large’ size drink from fast food place. (Big Gulp … forget about it.)

“BMW's a la carte options are very pricey, and you need to get at least the Premium, Sport and sound packages to experience the car as I am discribing it. If you add on even more options, the price range puts the car’s cost in the range of other higher-end sports/luxury cars that may be better all-around options. For around $60,000, you may be able to get a faster or more luxurious car, but I don’t think you can get a better combo of all-around showstopping, jaw-dropping style, sport performance and luxury on the road.

<