2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i Lockhart TX

December 10, 2009   
2009 BMW Z4


2009 BMW Z4
DriverSide Overview
Say what you want about the last generation BMW Z4’s design, it’s all in the past now. Polarizing to the very end, the outgoing Z4 was lauded by some for its eccentric design cues, loathed by others. The same went for its hardhat wearing brother, the Z4 coupe. This year however, the two join forces, as the Z4 roadster gains a folding hardtop roof, sending the Z4 coupe of old off into the sunset. That’s right, there will be no dedicated coupe this time around – BMW is of the mindset that the new hardtop roadster should have little trouble filling both roles. Not just the exterior has been refreshed, however. The interior has been completely redesigned, with improved ergonomics and a more (though still not much) storage. Opting for navigation gains you a positively massive folding screen that fits neatly on top of the Z4’s dash, and the new iDrive system won’t provoke any emotional breakdowns unlike the last generation. Aside from an increase in overall size and mass, this new Z4 is an improvement in every way.




2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i




2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i




2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i

What's to Like
The sleek new exterior of the Z4 gets noticed, taking all of the good lines from the previous model and leaving the, ahem, less desirable styling cues in the past. The sDrive dual-clutch gearbox provides seamless power shifts when you’re pushing hard, yet remains docile and smooth around town. The new hardtop deploys in a brief 20 seconds.

What's Not to Like
The bottom line. While the initial price of $51,560 isn’t brutal, if you haven’t taken a glance at a BMW options list lately it’s highly advised you be seated when the time comes to do so. Tick a few boxes and the final price can easily rise by $12k. The hardtop roof – along with a longer and wider chassis – have evolved the Z4 into a slightly fatter, slightly lazier creature.

The Drive:
DriverSide Driving Impressions
Twin-turbo torque is an awesome thing, providing tons of linear power throughout essentially the entire rev band, and that translates to acceleration on demand whenever you want it. BMW’s dual-clutch transmission provides near seamless power delivery, banging through gears with rampant dexterity and a burbling hint of turbo backpressure. Steering is spot-on with accuracy typical of Bavaria’s iconic brand, but the level of feedback from the road has been dialed back a notch. We’re pointing the finger at you, run-flat tires. Still, it’s basically a point and shoot car with direct, predictable handling characteristics thanks to a near perfect 50/50 weight balance and a surprisingly quiet, comfortable ride for a drop-top roadster. But when you put the pedal to the carpet, it will still eat up 0-60 mph in about five seconds. We wouldn’t have i...

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