BMW Z4 sDrive35i Review: 4 fun, laughter, peace and joy

What we like:

A looker that attracts attention everywhere it goes

hard foldable top gives it the flexibility to be a coupe and a topless roadster

turbocharged engine with DCT 'box should win it more fans.

What we dislike:

BMW still has some quality issues to sort out in the Z4

DCT tend to run out of ideas when there's a quick need to downshift.

I got nostalgic while driving this new Z4. You see, my late dad always told me - "you'll never understand the joy of driving until you've driven a convertible". This wise man was right - I can simply carve the nearest series of bends in a premium hot hatch or sports car, but ultimately, the freedom to drive a convertible (especially with the roof down) is an immense sensation nothing else on earth can beat.

So I'll just cut this short - the Z4 might not have the handling finesse of the Porsche Cayman S, won't be as agile as the Audi TTS and will never be as cheap as the 370Z, but what it provides in this package is truly unforgettable. Ok, so the Mercedes-Benz SLK is an alternative choice, price-to-price, but it has been around for quite awhile already - and it has turned into a common sight (read: boring).

Hence if you're looking for a coupe that doubles up as a topless roadster, look no further than the BMW Z4. Heck, I'm even willing to forgive BMW for the quality issues...

(Oneshift.com would like to thank LASALLE College of the Arts for kindly allowing us to conduct the photo-shoot on their premises. LASALLE College of the Arts is located at 1 McNally Street. For more details of the institution, log on to www.lasalle.edu.sg)

Credits: Story & pictures by Azfar Hashim