The Z4 is a sports car, so there isn't much storage space. There's a decent-sized compartment between the seatbacks, which you can't safely access while you're driving because you need to either swivel in your seat or be double-jointed, but at least it's there. There are small door pockets, and also four tight nets for maps and papers, which require an option package to get. Coins and maybe a pen can be held in the scoop under the emergency brake handle, between the seats.

The aluminum spoke steering wheel is nice, an appropriate size for spirited cornering, and contains buttons for the sound system and optional cruise control. Our test 2.5i had leather with brushed aluminum trim in a darkish graphite shade and it looked clean. The matching silvery instrument needles are some of the most delicately shaped we've ever seen, teardrop stiletto splinters dancing up and down the faces of the speedometer and tachometer. The optional on-board computer provided information through a digital readout, your choice between temperature, fuel mileage or average speed since the last setting, or miles to empty. The latter is the only one that means much.

Our 2.5i had the optional Harman Kardon premium sound system with 10 speakers and two subwoofers, but we weren't impressed. Believe it or not we couldn't get it loud enough, and we'd like to think we're not extremists. We wanted to hear Bonnie Raitt rocking at 80 miles per hour with the top down, but she was overpowered by the noise of the wind. Maybe the $185 wind deflector is the answer, although we weren't particularly bothered by buffeting even with all the high-speed top-down driving we did.

The standard halogen low-beam headlights seemed shockingly dim, so we'd recommend getting the $700 bi-xenon headlamps.