"
Favorite"
The exact choice of word here is interesting and important, not because of what it means, but because of what it
doesn't mean. Not fastest. Not best. Not most value for the money. Not sexist, most innovative, most important, fastest around the 'Ring (
), or anything even
remotely objective.
It's about what you like.
Decoupled for a for moments from impersonal, unbiased... objective evaluation, I had to use the "what makes you smile the most when you see one on the road or a parking lot" rule. Here's what I got. A few of these surprised even me, because they are
NOT the best cars in their segment. But they are my favorites.
Here's my next car project: pay off the Z4 M and park it in the garage 5 days a week. Buy a nice, comfy, fuel efficient daily driver that is still a load of fun to drive. Something with 4 seats again. Something I can carry stuff in, because the Z has roughly enough room for a pack of tissues. Something with a tin top so I can track it. Something fairly inexpensive so if I ball it up, I can still live with myself.
I'm looking at a lot of cars. And yet, this is one I always come back to.
Yes, the BMW and Infiniti are indeed, still more focused driver's cars. But this thing has so much
character. So much
charisma. I thought it was a value leader until I went to the Cadillac website and "Built My Own". It rang up over $52,000. And that wasn't even with 4 wheel drive. Ouch.
But it doesn't matter because it's gorgeous and one of the very few "no excuses needed" American cars in a long time that isn't a Corvette. And it always passes the "happy to see one" test.
Except that hideous eggplant color. That **** is nasty.
What's this? The 335i denied again? And the COUPE this time? Did I notice the Audi is more expensive? Yes. Did I notice it's heavier and slower than the BMW? Yes. Did I notice there's a 1 year waiting list at most dealers to get one of these and Audi dealers are going to make you pay through the nose for it? Oh yeah.
Then what the hell gives?
It's the sheet metal. And the interior. Wow. I didn't want to get out and that says something. I'm not beyond going for the 'lesser' car when it looks like this one. Call me shallow. Whatever.
Yes, the GT-R is much faster on the 'Ring. Yes, a Z06 is cheaper and faster everywhere. And the Aston, well...
is an Aston.
But I think there's something about the fact that if you watch nearly any kind of sports car racing, there's probably a 911 not very much different from this one slugging it out. Year after year, players come and go, but the 911 keeps racing.
Well okay, the GT-R has some pedigree. So does the Corvette. Even Aston has returned to competition after years of absence. But none of them has the kind of
depth the 911 heritage has. To me, that is worth something.
The F430 Scuderia is better, you say? Oh, most probably. But I look at a Scuderia and think the chances of me ever owning a car like that is a long shot. When I see one, it's like looking at a UFO, whereas when I see a GT3, I'm thinking, "someday..."
Yeah, I know what you're thinking:
You picked this car because you have one. That's just daft. 
While that may be true, I submit in my defense that I've always admitted the Boxster S is quite possibility the superior car. But just like there is something about the CTS, S5 and GT3, so my heart goes with the Z4 M Roadster.
Let's get one thing out of the way. Most people think this car is either wonderful looking or butt-ugly. I actually used to be in the 'butt-ugly' camp and still was the day I took delivery. But over time, I started coming around to the most unabashed and potent treatment of Herr Bangle's flame surfacing for a BMW production car. After you see it a few dozen times on different days, from different angles and lighting conditions, it starts to really come together. Every line and crease actually makes perfect sense on this car. No kidding.
And then one fine day, on my way out to lunch I stopped dead in my tracks and WOW. It was suddenly like another car. Or maybe like that girl in class you thought was a little homely until one day she wears her hair a little different and suddenly you wonder how you could have missed what a total hottie she was all those years.
The Boxster is the obvious choice. It's a good, solid choice. The Z4 has character. Oodles of it. And since I see mine just about everyday, I can say without hesitation it passes the "makes me smile" test. And that's even before I start the ignition.
M
