BMW Z4 verdict

Colour us surprised but delighted that the manual BMW Z4 sneaked past the bean counters. What’s more, a right-hand-drive version has made it to the UK, and all of this has happened quite late in the Z4’s life cycle.

Most buyers will undoubtedly continue to choose the automatic version, and there’s little wrong with that, but experiencing the outstanding 3.0-litre straight six with a manual gearbox opens up a new dimension of involvement. The Z4 M40i with Handschalter Pack feels like a classic BMW roadster of a kind that we haven’t seen for a while, and may seldom see again. Its interior layout is pleasingly traditional too.

This sort of performance and engagement suggests that the Z4 is a true sports car but, in reality, the unintuitive steering and stability-biased chassis set-up stop it from being a really credible 718 Boxster GTS 4.0 rival.

Instead, it’s more of an alternative; one that is cheaper, more comfortable and works better when you just revel in that wonderful engine at moderate pace. In a market where simple but involving cars are becoming scarce, it’s good to have options.