C&D: Z4(Sdrive35i) vs Corvette vs Boxster S vs TT-S!!!

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2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i
It’s hard to stop looking at the Z4. It’s a pretty car, and the mixture of creases and curves resolves pleasingly with the roof in place or folded down. The BMW has the only folding hardtop in the group and, as a result, the quietest cabin. The penalty is extra curb weight—it’s the heaviest, at 3520 pounds—and a cargo hold that is mostly used up by the stowed top. The heft is compensated for by BMW’s familiar 300-hp, twin-turbo inline-six, and just like the 1- and 3-series cars, the Z4 offers right-now responsiveness. It also tied the Porsche for the best observed fuel economy over our 550-mile test, equaling its EPA city rating of 17 mpg. Its smooth-shifting manual transmission testifies to why we will always love changing gears with three limbs, even if the procedure isn’t as idiot-proof as with the dual-clutch boxes in the Audi and the Porsche.

The BMW’s smart exterior looks are matched inside, especially with the $2050 Ivory White Extended Leather package. Surfaces that are not leather are finished in high-quality plastics. Even the high-resolution, widescreen LCD for the navigation system gives off high-end vibes. BMW’s latest iDrive controller comes bundled with the nav package; non-nav versions have a storage bin in place of the LCD. The cosseting cabin comes at a price: $2500 for the Premium package (includes power seats), another $500 for heated seats, $2000 for premium sound, and $1900 for the Sport package.

The Sport package adds high-performance tires, sport seats, and the M adaptive suspension, which varies the shock absorbers among three settings. Unfortunately, it doesn’t add enough sport to the Z4. In the most comfortable setting, “normal,” the Z4 rides like it has taffy for dampers. Highway cruising is supremely comfortable, but cornering requires the stiffer “sport” or “sport plus” modes. In any situation, the Z4 has an abundance of body roll, and the steering supplements its artificial weight with a lack of feedback. In tight corners, the Z4 starts to understeer before the front end finally bites, requiring a steering correction. On curvier roads, the Z4 takes more effort to drive as quickly as the Audi and the Porsche but returns less enjoyment. This car’s electric parking brake shows BMW’s true intentions here. Our beloved “hand-brake revectoring” is simply not in the game plan. There’s plenty of luxury, but we found ourselves wishing for a little more sport.

Article for BMW!

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Spoiler alert
4th: Corvette
3rd: TT-S
2nd: Z4
1st: Boxster S

[AndyE1976]

I've never been able to spec a Boxster S so it was less than $70k with anything like reasonable equipment. By the time you tack on auto-climate, xenons, leather interior and maybe the adjustable shocks, you're knocking on $70k.

Consequently I don't really consider it a competitor to the Z4 since it's $5-10k more. I know that's a difference that could be saved for, but then why not just save another $10k and get a Maserati GranTurismo or a lightly used Aston Vantage or a new Z06.

When you start talking used the minefield just gets a lot larger, particularly in the $50-60k bracket, there are some amazing vehicles out there for that sort of money.