2008 BMW Z4 M Roadster

If the Porsche Boxster didn't exist, I'd like the M Roadster a lot more. I just prefer the light, tactile feel of the Porsche. The BMW has a raw, muscle car feel to it. Fun, but I'm not sure I'd want to live with it every day. The throttle is aggressive, the shifter is heavy, and the steering wheel is far too thick for my liking. It was nice to once again drive the now old but powerful 3.2-liter inline-six. It has great character but it is not the smoothest of engines. Also, the interior is a bit snug and the old-school, flip-up screen is looking, well, old. I've never been nuts about the styling of the Z4 but it is distinctive. I prefer the looks of the non-M version as long as it has 18-inch wheels. As with most newer BMWs, the styling is very wheel size sensitive. Marc Noordeloos, Road Test Editor