2007 BMW Z4 auto 2 seater Roadster Convertible Hire, Christchurch

A modern roadster with the best old fashioned characteristics of front engine with rear wheel drive plus a very responsive and smooth six cylinder engine stretching out before you in that long bonnet. Inside you’ve got all the usual BMW modern creature comforts and refinements, in a pretty spacious and desirable, proper sports car package.

Like a good old fashioned sports car with a long bonnet, sparkling performance and seat of the pants driving experience, but without the deafening noise, leaks, hard work and coarseness. The very firm ride is a bit too akin to an older sports car too, but that means it hangs on well and the refinement and comfort is superb. The car really responds well to the accelerator and steering inputs, especially in tiptronic mode, and the straight six is simply one of the worlds best engines.

Being looked down on enviously from other drivers could be one thing but hopefully they’ll be magnanimous especially if you tell them they could be driving it too. You don’t have to get used to your hair being windswept top down, thanks to the rear wind deflector. You’ll know if you hit a pothole because you’ll possibly chip a tooth and due to the very low front lip, judder bars and crossing pavements need to be at snails pace. But you’ll never get enough of that rasping straight six…

This roadster comes with all the usual modern BMW refinements, diagnostics and safety aids such as ABS, airbags, traction control.  This particular version has had some useful improvements over the earliest Z4 models with 6 speed auto transmission and revised power steering. It’s regularly serviced and has to pass the Certificate of Fitness (CoF) test required for rental cars every 6 months. 

Very good – only minor marks on the bodywork, and small scuffs to the wheels and drivers seat.

A surprising amount. Luggage space isn’t bad for a roadster but you do need to pack light-ish with mainly soft bags. You can get an extra 3-4cm of boot height back by adjusting the shelf holding the lowered roof, but then you can’t put the roof down whilst that’s in place. Please refer to the Seating & Luggage tab above for exact dimensions of both options. One thing larger drivers will appreciate is the cabin and seat space – there’s a surprising amount of room for two compared to many other roadsters. 

Launched in 2002, the BMW Z4 was the replacement for the high selling but not so highly lauded as a sports car Z3 model. It was very squarely aimed at the Boxsters, TTs and SLKs although definitely not squarely styled, as it featured Mr Bangles first furrows into ‘flame surfacing’…..the design of which did furrow quite a few brows at first, but it grows on you and particularly in our darker colour variety. We’re just happy companies are still making proper sports cars. It’s beefy, it’s brisk, it’s brilliant.

Absolutely nothing from 2007 worth mentioning IMHO….so instead, here are the best songs from artists from the same country as the car, Germany:

• Duel – Propaganda
• Sunny – Boney M
• The Model – Kraftwerk

and whilst not a German band, they surely deserve an honourable mention as you’ll feel like a film star riding in this car…

• I’m In Love With A German Film Star – The Passions

Check out the rest of our classic best road trip driving tracks here and put RentAClassic on your play list… 

Note the factory stereo has a CD player but no Bluetooth connectivity so you’ll need to hire our Portable Bluetooth Speaker to enjoy stuff off your Smartphone

Sehr schnell – have fun, but responsible, legal fun…

He didn’t like the ride…

“First we (over)take Manhatten, then we take Berlin, Herr Cohen….”