2004 BMW Z4 NEW CAR BUYER'S GUIDE

What's New for the 2004 BMW Z4?
Introduced last year as the successor to the popular BMW Z3 roadster, the dynamic BMW Z4 rolls into 2004 with a handful of changes. Standard equipment now includes automatic headlights and rain-sensing windshield wipers, and audio controls have been added to a new multi-function steering wheel. Preparation for the optional hardtop is included on all BMW Z4 models, and BMW Assist telematics is a new option. Z4 models equipped with leather upholstery can now get the hides in a Dream Red and Black color combination for 2004, and M sport seats are newly available. For that G.I. Joe look, the 2004 BMW Z4 can be painted Olive Green. Why BMW thinks Olive Green paint is going to improve the Z4's appearance is a mystery.

Advantages of the 2004 BMW Z4:

• Brilliant handling
• Seat comfort
• Stiff structure
• Interior design
• Easy up/down top

Objections to the 2004 BMW Z4:

• Iffy steering feel
• Useless cupholders
• Lacks interior storage

Editor's Advice:
If the styling appeals to you, you'll love the way the 2004 BMW Z4 drives. The weakest part of the hardware package is the drive-by-wire steering, which seems to replace real road feel with artificial heft. Beyond that, our only complaints center on useless cupholders and a lack of interior storage space. But then, one doesn't buy a BMW Z4 to serve as a mobile office; one buys a BMW Z4 to drive!