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New to the Family - 2007 BMW M Coupe

We added a new car to the family today... an 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe. It is arguably the most beautiful BMW ever created, next to the Z8, and according to Top Gear, the E86 M Coupe "is the car that just revived BMW's soul." I couldn't agree more. The Z4 M Coupe isn't laden with run flat tires or electronic nannies. It's a back to the basics thrill machine and its true beauty lies within its sweet simplicity. Underneath the hood, sits the 3.2L inline-6 S54 engine borrowed from the E46 M3 and winner of the International Engine of the Year Award five straight years in a row from 2001 to 2006. Its transmission, M differential and brakes are also borrowed from its blood brother and its more aggressive variant, the M3 CSL.

Nicknamed "Shoei" after its predecessor, the Z3-based M Coupe or The Shoe as its more popularly known in automotive enthusiast circles is a base Z4 M Coupe model with no options in Alpine White with Black leather interior. The only options available on M Coupes are the premium package and navigation. The premium package adds power seats and an audio system by Carver at an additional cost of $3,000. I don't really need power seats since I'll be the only driver and the regular audio system sounds good enough to me so I opted for no options. It's the opposite type of car in the technology-stuffed Lexus IS350 that we traded in for Shoei. Although the IS is a good car, it just wasn't for me. I tried to like it, I really did but in the end, it was just a soul-less hunk of metal. And all the problems with Lexus and Lexus customer service didn't help either. If anyone out there is considering a Lexus, I would think twice. Look at BMW instead.

Now I just have to suffer during the next few weeks as I break in Shoei for his first 1,182 miles. It will be a difficult time; I hope I can keep it under 5,500 RPMs... ;)

Labels: BMW Z4 M Coupe, Car Review