This is such a mid-life crisis car. Though I'm not quite mid-life (yet) I felt like I had the crisis over the week we had it on review. I mean, have you tried getting a wife and two small children into a roadster, let alone a toddler's essentials and a five-year old's backpack?
And so the two-seater Z4 became my own little toy. And, let me tell you, it's a toy of note.
What you see here is BMW's Z4 range-topping sDrive 35i, which in other words means it runs the same animal of an engine found in the 135i and 335i. You have two other Z4 options in the non-turbo, three-litre (190kW and 210Nm) and 2.5-litre (150kW and 250Nm) straight-sixes which respectively power the sDrive30i and sDrive 23i models.
BMW has dropped the separate roadster/coupé range approach and gone for a folding aluminium top. Don't even try to call it a coupé-cabriolet - BMW went to great lengths to ensure that the new Z4 has the longest bonnet in the segment so it would be classified as a pure roadster.
And the Z4 sits like a proper roadster too, low to the ground, looking angrier than its predecessor thanks to widened headlights and grille and a slightly wider stance. The wheel arches are bigger, overhangs shorter.
The interior has a classic roadster feel with retro-styled round dials and the low, far-back seats. It really feels as if you're sitting over the rear wheels. It's also more spacious than the previous model, with head, elbow and leg room quite sufficient. The boot's bigger, too, but you'd need the optional storage pack that allows for through-loading if golf's your game.
BMW's iDrive is available for the first time in this Z4 and is (thank goodness) the upgraded one with the shortcut buttons. But there's another new button next to the gearshift. It controls a system called Dynamic Drive Control and allows you to choose between Sane, Bring-it-on, and Barking Mad - which in BMW-speak translates to Normal, Sport and Sport Plus.
As you've probably gathered, the settings tweak things such as throttle mapping, engine management (including gearbox behaviour) and stability control but be warned: Sport Plus throws traction control to the wind and, if paired with a non-manual box, will squeeze every last revolution from that screaming engine.
LAUNCH CONTROL
I say "non-manual" because there are two other transmissions: lesser Z4s have the option of traditional Steptronic over the standard six-speed manual, while the 35i option is the dual-clutch ransmission. Our test unit had the almost-R30 000 DCT box and the merger is like silicon to Pamela Anderson. Coupled further to the dynamic drive system it means that in full battlefield mode you get seamless delivery from 225 force-fed kiloWatts and 400Nm.
And there's a special launch control with DCT. As with the M-DCT transmission in the M3, the Z4 will rev up and launch for F1-style smoke-off-the-line starts. I'll say it again: What were those Bavarians thinking when they brought that horrid SMG technology to market?
Sadly, though, the Z4 - even if you're a bachelor living the Penthouse lifestyle - is not the best of daily commutes. The 35i comes with an adaptive M Sports suspension which, though constantly adapting to driving conditions, still gives a rather hard ride - and sitting almost over the rear axle doesn't help with some of Gauteng's rutted roads.
You love this suspension when taking bends but get a bit grumpy when pottering around to your local supermarket. There was also some road noise because of the driver's proximity to the rear tyres. Wind noise was minimal with the top in place.
THE EPITOME OF ROADSTER-HOOD
The driving position, coupled with the long bonnet, makes you feel like you're staring down the barrel of a gun and, in assault mode, provides exhilarating driving.
Enter your local KFC drive-through, though, and it becomes a little bit of a challenge negotiating those tight kerbs. I liked the bonnet's presence; it's the epitome of roadster-hood and gives you a really grand feeling.
The only other issues I had lay with the boot and the steering paddles. The boot lid is a key part of the 20-second roof-moving mechanism but on its own is quite heavy - you'd think the strut mechanism pushing it up would have taken this into account.
The steering paddles change up and down on either paddle; I much prefer a dedicated change per paddle - alleviating any confusion.
But, come summer or winter, you'll force yourself to drive the Z4 with roof down for two reasons: it looks masculine enough and, though twin-turbo, it still has a really decent growl. This Z4 loses no noticeable rigidity peeled, none that I noticed anyway. And spend the extra R13 000-odd on the V-spoked 19" rims - they're wicked.
VERDICT
The millisecond-changing gearbox ensures superb shifts while the M suspension matched to the dynamic drive and meaty steering make sure the Z4 stays glued to the ground - and the pearler of an engine keeps it running like a locomotive.
The 35i is hardcore, full stop. And, yes, there is an M version coming - you heard it here first.
SPECIFICATIONS
ENGINE
Cylinders:
6 in line.
Capacity:
2979cc.
Fuel system:
Twin-turbo, fuel-injected.
Max power/torque:
225kW at 5800rpm/400Nm at 1300-5000rpm.
TRANSMISSION
Type:
Seven-speed double-clutch transmission, rear-wheel drive.
SUSPENSION
Front/rear:
Double-joint spring strut, anti-dive/Independent, anti-squat and anti-dive.
STEERING
Type:
Power-assisted rack-and-pinion.
Steering-column adjustment:
Height and reach.
BRAKES
Front/rear:
Vented discs with anti-lock and stability control system.
WHEELS/TYRES
Rims:
18" spoked alloy.
Tyres:
225/40 radials in front, 255/35 radials at rear .
DIMENSIONS/WEIGHT
Length:
4239mm.
Width:
1790mm.
Height:
1291mm.
Mass:
1580kg.
FUEL TANK/CONSUMPTION
55 litres/13.5 litres/100km.
250km/h (limited).
ACCELERATION
0-100km/h:
5.9sec (claimed).
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
Power-adjustable sports leather seats, USB interface, heatable mirrors, rain sensors, automatic xenon headlights with washers, remote central locking, cruise control, cup holders, automatic air-conditioning, power windows and mirrors, power-operated folding hardtop, wind deflector, satnav, park distance control, multifunction steering wheel, MP3-compatible radio/CD player.
SAFETY EQUIPMENT
Dual front, and side crash bags, runflat tyres, rool-over safety system, datadot antitheft, electronic stability programme with dynamic traction control, hydraulic brake assist, active head restraints, tyre pressure monitors.
MANUFACTURER SUPPORT
Two unlimited distance warranty, five-year or 100 000km maintenance plan with BMW On Call roadside assistance.
SERVICE INTERVALS
Determined by trip data computer.
PRICE
R682 500 (DCT gearbox R28 700 extra).
RIVALS
R573 000 - Alfa Spider 3.2 V6 Q4 (191kW/322Nm)
R579 000 - Audi TTS 2.0 TFSI Quattro Roadster S-Tronic (195kW/350Nm)
R660 000 - Lotus Europa 20 S (149kW/263Nm)
R678 000 - Mercedes-Benz SLK350 7G-Tronic (224kW/360Nm)
R695 000 - Porsche Boxster 3.4S PDK (228kW/360Nm)