My MZ4 test drive

Sharp11 · 11-18-2006, 11:35 AM

Lease rates are great and the supply is aplenty, so i thought I'd try out a brand new Mz4.

This car had only 22 miles on it and the salesman implored me to not overdo it, so most of my impressions are daily driver kind of stuff (except for one blindingly fast exit off the Merrit Parkway).

First things first: This car was optioned midway, premium pack, heated seats, but that was about it. Great nappa leather smell and I liked the carbon fiber-look dash.

Start it up: Civilized, really civilized, I wasn't expecting that. Nice mechanical sound, though - you get that real sense of highly oiled machinery out there in front of you - not as smooth as either the 3.0 powerplant in my 05 nor the new Si 3 liters (but it's a brand new engine).

Steering wheel's really fat, I wonder how this would feel in my hands after a couple of hundred miles.

Great seats.

Biggest surprise: This car has the best ride quality of any of the Z4's I've driven, better than the new Si and ten times better than my 05 go-cart ride! Nice, could be the non run flats, but I think BMW's done some more work on chassis reinforcement - my 05's really solid, but the new Si feels more so and this car feels like a coupe.

I think people make too much of the steering feel, yes, the M car's hydraulic assist is weighted more heavily than the standard model's electric assist, but otherwise, it feels the same. I think the Z4's standard steering feel is terrific anyway, a bit light, but pressing the sport button cures that.

Great brakes.

Notchy shift and heavy, long-throw clutch with a high engagement (although not nearly as bad as the standard Si shift/clutch).

I liked it, but I'm not certain it's different enough from my 05 to prompt a payment schedule, at least not for the everyday kind of stuff. My car has pretty high limits and I get good gas mileage!!

So for now, I'm staying put, at least for today, or for a couple of hours.....

Ed

11-18-2006, 11:35 AM	#1
Sharp11 Vicarious Twitterer Join Date: May 2005 Carmudgeonly Ride: 06 330 cic ZHP Location: CT Posts: 7,566	My MZ4 test drive Lease rates are great and the supply is aplenty, so i thought I'd try out a brand new Mz4. This car had only 22 miles on it and the salesman implored me to not overdo it, so most of my impressions are daily driver kind of stuff (except for one blindingly fast exit off the Merrit Parkway). First things first: This car was optioned midway, premium pack, heated seats, but that was about it. Great nappa leather smell and I liked the carbon fiber-look dash. Start it up: Civilized, really civilized, I wasn't expecting that. Nice mechanical sound, though - you get that real sense of highly oiled machinery out there in front of you - not as smooth as either the 3.0 powerplant in my 05 nor the new Si 3 liters (but it's a brand new engine). Steering wheel's really fat, I wonder how this would feel in my hands after a couple of hundred miles. Great seats. Biggest surprise: This car has the best ride quality of any of the Z4's I've driven, better than the new Si and ten times better than my 05 go-cart ride! Nice, could be the non run flats, but I think BMW's done some more work on chassis reinforcement - my 05's really solid, but the new Si feels more so and this car feels like a coupe. I think people make too much of the steering feel, yes, the M car's hydraulic assist is weighted more heavily than the standard model's electric assist, but otherwise, it feels the same. I think the Z4's standard steering feel is terrific anyway, a bit light, but pressing the sport button cures that. Great brakes. Notchy shift and heavy, long-throw clutch with a high engagement (although not nearly as bad as the standard Si shift/clutch). I liked it, but I'm not certain it's different enough from my 05 to prompt a payment schedule, at least not for the everyday kind of stuff. My car has pretty high limits and I get good gas mileage!! So for now, I'm staying put, at least for today, or for a couple of hours..... Ed