M Roadster - Close to Perfect

I recently drove the BMW M Roadster Z3 and was completely amazed. In my opinion, this car is always perfect in every way. I loved everything about the drive. The car handled perfectly, it accelerated perfectly, and most importantly, it was a blast to drive.

Engine
The engine in the M series is unbelievable. During my first drive of the car, I was very surprised by its raw power. Both the M Roadster and the M Coupe come with a standard 3.2 liter, I6 with 240 hp. Considering the size of the car, this horsepower is unbelievable. From the minute I started the car I knew it was going to be a fun car to drive. The engine immediately revved with enthusiasm.

The M Roadster is quoted at 0-60 in 5.6 seconds, although it seems a lot faster when you are driving the car. The car does the quarter mile in a mere 14.2 seconds. The listed top speed is about 140 mph which should keep most people happy on the highways.

Basically, the engine makes this car. I have driven other Z3s and they do not compare to the M series. The car is a blast to drive because the engine is so powerful. At no time does the car hesitate when accelerating. You simply apply the gas, and the car takes off.

Interior
The interior of the M Roadster is what you would expect; it is very small. Although this would be a negative for most cars, it is not for the M Roadster because the size allows for better handling and acceleration. As mentioned above, the interior and size is to be expected. When you buy the M Roadster, you are buying the performance, not a car you are going to drive on vacation.

With that said, the interior is your typical BMW style. All the controls are easy to read and situated properly. The five speed manual transmission comes standard on both the Roadster and Coupe. The heated leather seats are very comfortable and would remain comfortable even after a long trip. Because this is a sportscar, there is of course no backseat.

The stereo system is adequate although not the best. During my drive we had the top down and their was no problem hearing the stereo. I could imagine that the situation would be different if the top had been down. The truck is basically non-existent. Golf clubs and luggage would not fit.

Exterior
The exterior of the M Roadster is simply perfect. It looks like the other Z3 models in almost every way. The lights are wrapped around the side and add to the looks. The rear tires are very wide which increase the amount of handling the car has. The crome rims add to the looks of the car.

One aspect of the M Roadster that I loved was the ability to put the top down. The M Roadster is one of these cars that would have driving enjoyable during the summertime with the top down. Although I did not drive the M with the top down during my test-drive, I have driven other Z3s with the top down and I must say, it was a great experience.

Handling
Like all BMWs, the M Roadsters handling is superb. There was barely any roll while corning and because the tires are wide, there was no screech to them at all. There were some parts of the test-drive where the road became very curvy and narrow. I was going slightly above the posted speed limit of 25 mph and the M had no problems around the corners. It seemed as though the car actually accelerated around the corners which only added to the fun.

Price
The M Roadster is a bit pricier then the other Z3. The one I drove was about $41,000. Although I did not do too much bargaining, I would imagine that the prices are not too negotiable because it’s such a great car.

As you can see by this review, I loved this car. There were no major negative aspects that I could find. If you are in the market for a roadster, do yourself a favor and test-drive the M Roadster.