Later we got five days in a Z3 Coupe with the optional sport package that includes seats whose contour is both racier and more supportive, and this made all the difference in the world, changing the feel of the whole car. At $600, this package also includes great-looking cross-spoke composite wheels, making it a great bargain as well as a necessary option. In addition to their comfort, support and raciness, the seats in our Coupe were heated (another $500). The interior trim in our Coupe was brushed aluminum, which also added to great looks of the cockpit. The cargo area in the Coupe, separated from the seats by a short bulkhead you have to reach over, is quite tidy and convenient.

The leather-wrapped, three-spoke steering wheel has bumps inside the rim at 10 and 2 o'clock. BMW apparently believes in this traditional position for your hands, which allows your thumbs to use the bumps for better grip; but nowadays some instructors teach 3 and 9, which puts your hands below the bumps with your thumbs hooked over the big wide spokes.

There's a dead pedal for your left foot, but during hard cornering to the right, the edge of the otherwise convenient door pocket dug into the side of our left knee.

The instrument panel and gauges were redesigned in 2001. As one might expect from a performance-minded company like BMW, they're no-nonsense, intended to provide information to drivers. The switches were blessedly simple. Our test car was not equipped with the power top ($750), including wood interior trim. The power top would be a luxury indeed, as operation of the manual top is effortless.