kameraguy
06-21-2005, 09:53 AM
.....But not in the C36 :P
Yesterday I was at our BMW dealership participating with the Susan Korman test drive event and was driving the Z4 3.0 all day long. I really liked that car so i drove it 5 times in a row :P
Part of the "loop" entailed a 1/4 straightaway freeway entrance. There are two lanes which will eventually merge to one at the end of the straight. On one of my drives a black 300C gets behind me at the light prior to this entrance. I'm at the front of the two lanes, with the other lane already occupied with other cars. When the light turned green, I didn't floor it all the way, but I did laucnh a bit hard off the line. A second latter I hear an exhaust growl and the rear view confirms the 300C is coming up to me quick. I'm at about 40mph when I floor the beemer. I see in the rearview the 300C cut to the other lane in an attempt to pass.
As we scramble to the end to the merge, I can see myself slowly pulling away. What started off as a one car lead eventually became two cars by the time our lanes merged. We were at about 100mph at that point. I thought it may have been he decided to let me take the merge but we had more than enough room had he decided to pass me.
I slowed down to merge with traffic, and so did the 300C. By that time I stayed in the slow lane and the 300C eventually moved into the middle and passed me. It turned out it was an SRT-8 :) So to be honest I don't know if he was trying to pass me but decided not to, or if he really tried but didn't expect the Z4 to be that quick. But it was quite an experience since everything was magnified times 10 with an open cockpit!
It looked pretty menacing especially in black at speed. It looked like a younger kid was driving it.
I was suprised at the result as I figured a stock 300C would pass me, let along an SRT-8. But I guess mid-range torque and the light overall weight of the Z4 was better for that run.
Aside from that, the Z4 was awesome! Although I hated the prospect of driving a convertable on a crowded freeway due to debris which could get kicked up from trucks and cars, it was an absolute blast when the freeway opened up. The responsiveness of the straight six was incredible. In sport mode ( I was driving a steptronic), the engine was a torque monster. 80-100mph passes were more like "leaps". And the car was super responsive. This was definitely a "sports car" in terms of what I always envisioned one to feel like. The overall handling, engine sensitivity, low and rearward seating, visceral excitement of an open top format, and the audible sounds of the brake calipers clamping and exhaust growling each time the throttle was applied followed by a slight burble and hint of backfire when throttle was released was a thrill at all speeds. I can now appreciate why roadsters exist.
On turns the Z4 was rock solid and laser sharp. The steering and throttle response was fantastic. When i pushed the car on off-camber decreasing radius freeway entrances the car would slightly understeer, but was easily balanced with the throttle. It was straightforward to obtain neutral to slight oversteer with these type of turns. The steering was beautifully weighted and provided just the right amount of boost to maintain feel and what seemed the right amount of correction at any given speed. The balance was wonderful :)
Coming from a heavy sedan like the C36, the Z4 was a pleasant change of pace. A complete opposite, and certainly a closer representation of what a sports experience is. I fully enjoyed driving the Z4 and would love to consider an open top sports car in the future.
As much as I love the new SLK 350 in terms of style and overall comfort, as well as the increased performance of the new V6, I hve to say the Z4 with 3.0 was just a bit more raw in terms of power delivery and handling. Now if it only came with a hardtop convertible I think the Z4 would be perfect for someone looking for a new school roadster which is more than a hint of what a true sports roadster used to be :)
It will be interesting to see how the SLK55 stack up against a new M Roadster if/when it is made :)
Yesterday I was at our BMW dealership participating with the Susan Korman test drive event and was driving the Z4 3.0 all day long. I really liked that car so i drove it 5 times in a row :P
Part of the "loop" entailed a 1/4 straightaway freeway entrance. There are two lanes which will eventually merge to one at the end of the straight. On one of my drives a black 300C gets behind me at the light prior to this entrance. I'm at the front of the two lanes, with the other lane already occupied with other cars. When the light turned green, I didn't floor it all the way, but I did laucnh a bit hard off the line. A second latter I hear an exhaust growl and the rear view confirms the 300C is coming up to me quick. I'm at about 40mph when I floor the beemer. I see in the rearview the 300C cut to the other lane in an attempt to pass.
As we scramble to the end to the merge, I can see myself slowly pulling away. What started off as a one car lead eventually became two cars by the time our lanes merged. We were at about 100mph at that point. I thought it may have been he decided to let me take the merge but we had more than enough room had he decided to pass me.
I slowed down to merge with traffic, and so did the 300C. By that time I stayed in the slow lane and the 300C eventually moved into the middle and passed me. It turned out it was an SRT-8 :) So to be honest I don't know if he was trying to pass me but decided not to, or if he really tried but didn't expect the Z4 to be that quick. But it was quite an experience since everything was magnified times 10 with an open cockpit!
It looked pretty menacing especially in black at speed. It looked like a younger kid was driving it.
I was suprised at the result as I figured a stock 300C would pass me, let along an SRT-8. But I guess mid-range torque and the light overall weight of the Z4 was better for that run.
Aside from that, the Z4 was awesome! Although I hated the prospect of driving a convertable on a crowded freeway due to debris which could get kicked up from trucks and cars, it was an absolute blast when the freeway opened up. The responsiveness of the straight six was incredible. In sport mode ( I was driving a steptronic), the engine was a torque monster. 80-100mph passes were more like "leaps". And the car was super responsive. This was definitely a "sports car" in terms of what I always envisioned one to feel like. The overall handling, engine sensitivity, low and rearward seating, visceral excitement of an open top format, and the audible sounds of the brake calipers clamping and exhaust growling each time the throttle was applied followed by a slight burble and hint of backfire when throttle was released was a thrill at all speeds. I can now appreciate why roadsters exist.
On turns the Z4 was rock solid and laser sharp. The steering and throttle response was fantastic. When i pushed the car on off-camber decreasing radius freeway entrances the car would slightly understeer, but was easily balanced with the throttle. It was straightforward to obtain neutral to slight oversteer with these type of turns. The steering was beautifully weighted and provided just the right amount of boost to maintain feel and what seemed the right amount of correction at any given speed. The balance was wonderful :)
Coming from a heavy sedan like the C36, the Z4 was a pleasant change of pace. A complete opposite, and certainly a closer representation of what a sports experience is. I fully enjoyed driving the Z4 and would love to consider an open top sports car in the future.
As much as I love the new SLK 350 in terms of style and overall comfort, as well as the increased performance of the new V6, I hve to say the Z4 with 3.0 was just a bit more raw in terms of power delivery and handling. Now if it only came with a hardtop convertible I think the Z4 would be perfect for someone looking for a new school roadster which is more than a hint of what a true sports roadster used to be :)
It will be interesting to see how the SLK55 stack up against a new M Roadster if/when it is made :)