STARSHIP SUBS,
Soups, Catering, and
more...
Wm. B. Sullivan Realty & Co.
Claudia Hommel
Cabaret Singer
Extraordinaire
Cordell Koland
Car Writer
Weekly Reviews
 2007 BMW M Coupe by Cordell Koland If you're the Hollywood producer of the next James Bond epic, here's a thought. You've got to put the 2007 BMW M Coupe on your short list for the next Bond car. It's sexy, agile and has power to burn. While most consumers may think of BMW as the purveyor of high-class executive transport, there is still a small number that cling to one of the company's earliest traditions smaller, high-powered two-seat roadsters and even an occasional racing coupe based on that chassis. Today's BMW M Roadster and M Coupe are the heirs of the legendary BMW 328, which made a major impact on auto racing in the late 1930s and helped lay the foundation for the modern sports car. This week we're looking at the 2007 BMW M Coupe. And while only a very few buyers may step up; its very existence is a spiritual balm to the cognoscenti. The current model is the second coming of the M Coupe and is based on the Z4 platform. And truth in journalism, I am the proud owner of a 1999 first-generation Z3 M Coupe, a controversial car particularly in terms of design, which I bought very early in the production run and am determined never to part with. There's no rational reason to own a vehicle such as the 2007 M Coupe. It's hard to get in and out of and it sucks enough gas to warrant a gas-guzzler tax of $1,000. Add the tax and some options to the base price and our little terror is priced just south of $60,000. There's precious little room inside for anything, just two passengers and a small about 11 cubic feet amount of luggage or groceries. I tested the cargo capacity when I picked up my son at the San Francisco airport. He had a carry-on suitcase and a backpack, which pretty much maxed out trunk space. However, there are lots of irrational reasons to love the M Coupe. The coupe version of the Z4 roadster is a very handsome car and received a lot of favorable comments. The fixed roof on the M Coupe slopes gracefully rearward focusing attention on the car's profile, which is long and uncluttered. The new Z4 Coupe is one of the best-looking cars that BMW has penned in several years. And while it may not make you as alluring as James Bond, it will quicken your pulse and fire your imagination. The M Coupe's interior features a contemporary look with the control functions incorporated into the horizontal design motif that stretches across the dashboard. The optional navigation system is cleverly integrated into the interior. It pops out of its well on top of the dashboard and is easy to read. It is also exceedingly easy to program, something I haven't been able to say about other BMW navigation systems. Key to performance is the mighty inline, six-cylinder M engine, which is considered by long-time BMW aficionados to be the company's crown jewel. The engine showcases cutting-edge technology including highly advanced continuously variable timing for both intake and exhaust valves. BMW states that the M Roadster will rip to 60 miles per hour in exactly 4.9 seconds. The car offers a top speed of 155 miles per hour. Needless to say, the six-speed manual transmission shifts effortlessly. Sports cars are fundamentally about handling. The M Coupe with its special suspension and beefy 18-inch wheels and tires is unusually keen on winding mountain roads. The steering feedback is exceptional and the car is so well balanced that you can actually drive it hard enough to break loose the rear wheels, yet maintain precise control. Some of this athletic ability must be due to the fact that the car is perfectly balanced. Set the car midway on a fulcrum and you'll find that 50 percent of the weight falls to the front and an equal amount to the rear an accomplishment that is rarely achieved in the real world. On the other hand, the small coupe is stiffly suspended; a quality that may grow wearisome on long drives. The M Coupe is probably not the car for a cross-country jaunt, but will provide a lot of entertainment for a weekend in the country, particularly if you have an irrational streak and are good buddies with the local highway patrol. Vehicle: BMW
M Coupe
Price as tested: $57,500 Engine: Type: 3.2-liter inline six Horsepower: 330 @ 7,900 rpm Torque: 262 lbs.-ft. @ 4,900 rpm Fuel economy, manual transmission City 16 mpg Highway 24 mpg Curb Weight: 3,230 lbs.  Cordell Koland is an automotive journalist based in California's central coast. He can be reached at cordellkoland@oakparkjournal.com |
