Shark nosed and big bonneted, the Z4 arrives, Morgan Man at the helm. We tip-toe down the street, park up out of the flow, have a look around, take in the shape, the purpose. I'm a bit nervous. This is a brand new optioned to the nines 50,000 pound car.
I climb in, I take the wheel. The bonnet seems to go on forever. I press the electronic hand (finger) brake and pull off. The transmission is heavy. So far, so masculine.
We leave Spa Cheltenham behind and climb out of the Severn flood plain and into the Cotswold hills. She pulls strongly, the smaller turbo warming the larger not giving any hint of lag. Later we spend 5 minutes trying to find them. Try bottom left, deep down next to the main block.
Back to the past though...
We head over the Air Balloon roundabout, I mash the pedal in 5th, again hoping to catch the 3 litre forced induction six out. It just pulls, builds power satisfyingly. That's the other thing. Having used various TDI's, having driven the supercharged SLK around I was afraid that the signature straight six would feel too linear. No show, all go. That's fine in the Starship Diesel, that's fine in a saloon or estate. Fine in something where drama is not the key component. Not fine in a sports car though. Not fine where you want bellow and interaction . Not fine with memories of hard drinking V8's, of hard driving pretty little things with bad attitudes.
That, of course, is a point within itself. Is the Z4 a sports car? It certainly looks like a sports car. It certainly goes like a sports car, but then so does a 330d estate, so does a Cayenne for that matter. Speed (as time) is relative. No one would argue that this car would give an F355 a damn good fight. No one could argue with BMW that the sport button was put there for those with a passion for track driving. In days of yore you could call a GT a sports car because men with oil on there faces and scarves around their necks would race across Italy and Sicily doing the ton through a thousand miles of wide eyed brilliance. In short they were taking part in a sport.
The Z4 would have done well at that. Apart from the heavy transmission it's very comfortable. That powerful, characterful engine need not be stretched to cover ground quickly. You need never be stressed to cover ground quickly. But those days are gone. This is not a sports car. It is a GT.
Anyway.
Where was I?
Ah yes...
We turn onto the Slad road and I get fleeting chances to use the engine properly. It bellows in the same way all BMW sixes have done for the last thirty years. I will never get tired of that. We head through traffic in Stroud, then up through Rodborough, across The Common, down the 'W' and into Nailsworth. As we leave the valley of my childhood home somebody in a beaten up Ka pulls out in front of us. The brakes work well. Morgan Man talks of the clever standby nature of the braking system. What it must be to be a mechanic these days...
The sun comes out and we pull over. You need to be stationary to lower the roof. The motors do the dance and I get a chance to poke and prod the interior plastics. All feels solid. All is let down by the door bin that feels so cheap I'm almost shocked.
Ha.
Shocked by plastic, now that's decadence.
We push on, head down the hill to Wotton-under-Edge, talk of past misdemeanors, dreams and regrets. As we peel onto the motorway for the run back to Spa Cheltenham I can report the cabin is quiet enough for talking (not shouting) and calm enough for me not to lose the feeling in my scalp.
As we cruise two small boys in a Zafira turn to get a better look, press against the window and point. In the end it was something similar that wins me over.
An overview?
The steering is communicative,the seats are comfy, the engine is marvelous and it handles well.
It does, however feel a little cheap in places, a little too expensive in others (£155 for cup holders!?). Later when we open the bonnet, take in the details, the design, that small boy me becomes enchanted. Although its head is clothed in the obligatory plastic the strait six is not hidden away completely. You can see the steering linkage, you can make out the various parts of the engine bay like some jewel. Like those small boys I'm excited by it.
BMW make cars. They make engines and gearboxes and diffs' and linkages and they are proud of it. Despite the huge numbers of vehicles the Bavarian Motor Works' push out these days they still have a passion for what they do. I admire that. I admire Bangle for the same reason.
I liked the Z4. If you want something a little more visceral try a Porsche Boxster. Although I rather suspect the majority of user-choosers won't be bothered by this...
Transmission Ends.........
No comments:
Post a Comment