2003 BMW

Z4 3.0i

2003 Porsche

Boxster
BMW of North America, Inc., P Box 1227, Westwood, N.J. 07675; www.bmwusa.com.O.
Porsche Cars North America, Inc., 980 Hammond Dr., Suite 1000, Atlanta, Ga. 30328; www.porsche.com

List Price: $40,250

Price as Tested: $44,820 List Price: $42,600

Price as Tested: $50,840

Price as tested incl std equip. (ABS, front, side and knee airbags, sport suspension, yaw & traction control, limited-slip diff, cruise control, 18-in. wheels, leather interior, premium Carver sound AM/FM/CD player w/10 speakers, cruise control, keyless entry; pwr windows, mirrors & door locks), premium package (power top and seats with memory) $1500, auto. air cond ($700), bi-xenon headlights ($700), heated seats ($500), metallic paint ($475), dest charge ($695).
Price as tested incl std equip. (ABS, dual front and side airbags, speed-activated rear spoiler, integrated foglamps, auto. climate control, AM/FM/cassette sound system, keyless entry, leather interior; pwr seats [recline only], windows, mirrors, & door locks), 18-in. wheels ($2920), stability control ($1235), premium sound ($830), metallic paint ($825), cruise control ($570), alarm ($450), wind deflector ($375), wheel caps w/colored crests ($175), floormats ($95), dest charge ($765).

General Data

BMW Z4 3.0i
Curb weight. 3130 lb Test weight. 3290 lb Weight dist (with driver), f/r, %. 48/52 Wheelbase. 98.2 in. Track, f/r. 58.0 in./56.0 in. Length. 161.1 in. Width. 70.1 in. Height. 50.1 in.

Acceleration

Porsche Boxster
3000 lb 3180 lb 46/54 95.1 in. 57.7 in./59.2 in. 170.1 in. 70.1 in. 50.8 in.
Time to speed, sec 020 mph. 1.mph. 3.mph. 5.mph. 9.mph. 15.9 Time to distance 01320 ft (14 mile). 14.4 @ 95.7 mph
1.1 3.1 6.0 10.3 15.7 14.6 @ 96.5 mph

Engine

Type. dohc 4-valve/cyl inline-6 Displacement. 2979 cc Bore x stroke. 84.0 x 89.6 mm Compression ratio. 10.5:1 Horsepower (SAE). 225 bhp @ 5900 rpm Torque. 214 lb-ft @ 3900 rpm Redline. 6500 rpm Fuel injection. elect. sequential port Rec. fuel. prem unleaded, 91 pump oct dohc 4-valve/cyl flat-cc 85.5 x 78.0 mm 11.0:bhp @ 6300 rpm 192 lb-ft @ 4750 rpm 7200 rpm elect. sequential port prem unleaded, 91 pump oct Minimum stopping distance From 60 mph. 113 ft From 80 mph. 196 ft Control. excellent Brake feel. good Overall brake rating. excellent

Braking

113 ft 199 ft excellent very good excellent

Handling

Lateral accel (200-ft skidpad). 0.92g Balance. moderate understeer Speed thru 700-ft slalom. 67.0 mph Balance. mild understeer 0.91g moderate understeer 68.6 mph mild understeer

Chassis & Body

Layout. front engine/rear drive Body/frame. unit steel w/alum. hood Brakes, f/r. 11.8-in. vented discs/11.6-in. vented discs; vac asst, ABS Wheels. alum. alloy; 18 x 8J f, 18 x 812 r Tires. Bridgestone Potenza RE050A run-flats; 225/40R-18 88W f, 255/35R-18 90W r Steering. rack & pinion, power assist Overall ratio. 13.7:1 Turns lock to lock. 3.0 Suspension, f/r. MacPherson struts, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar/multilink, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar mid engine/rear drive unit steel w/alum. hood 11.7-in. vented discs/ 11.5-in. discs; vac asst, ABS cast alum.; 18 x 712 f, 18 x 9 r Michelin Pilot Sport; 225/40ZR-18 f, 265/35ZR-18 r rack & pinion, power assist 16.9:1 3.0 MacPherson struts, lower Aarms, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar/struts, lower Aarms, coil springs, tube shocks, anti-roll bar

Fuel Economy

Our driving. 21.7 mpg EPA city/highway. 21/29 mpg Cruise range. 293 miles Fuel capacity. 14.5 gal. 21.1 mpg 20/29 mpg 335 miles 16.9 gal.

Interior Noise

Idle in neutral. 48 dBA Maximum, 1st gear. 80 dBA 70 mph. 75 dBA 53 dBA 87 dBA 74 dBA

Drivetrain

Transmission. 6-speed manual Gear/Ratio/Overall/(Rpm) Mph 1st, :1. 4.35/13.35/(6500) 36 2nd, :1. 2.50/7.68/(6500) 63 3rd, :1. 1.67/5.13/(6500) 94 4th, :1. 1.24/3.81/(6500) 126 5th, :1. 1.00/3.07/est (6450) 155* 6th, :1. 0.85/2.61/est (5475) 155* Final drive ratio. 3.07:1 Engine rpm @ 60 mph in top gear 2100 rpm *Electronically limited. 5-speed manual 3.50/12.46/(7200) 43 2.12/7.55/(7200) 71 1.43/5.09/(7200) 105 1.09/3.88/(7200) 137 0.84/2.99/est (6350) 157 3.56:rpm

Accommodations

Seating capacity. 2 Head room. 37.5 in. Front-seat leg room. 43.0 in. Trunk space. 9.2 cu ft (top up), 8.5 cu ft (top down) 2 37.0 in. 42.5 in. 9.1 cu ft
Subjective ratings consist of excellent, very good, good, average, poor; na means information is not available.

ROAD & TRACK

www.roadandtrack.com