BMW‘s Z8 is a roadster from the early 2000s powered by a 4.9-liter V8 (from the then-current M5) putting down a hefty 400 HP and 370 lb-ft (500 Nm) of torque and was supposed to be a spiritual successor to the iconic 507 of the 1950s.
While its performance figures were more impressive back then, what Doug DeMuro focused his review on is how good of a value proposition the Z8 is, seen as how it costs more now than it did when it first came out.
DeMuro also feels that this BMW roadster is “the single most beautiful retro car ever designed,” but we’ll let you be the judge of that. On the other hand, $200,000 is a lot of money and you can get a fifth-gen Mercedes SL 55 AMG from the same era for 6-7 times less.
Read: The SL 55 AMG is quite a looker and, right now, one hell of a used car bargain
Of course, if you’re a collector, the BMW Z8 would undoubtedly draw your attention more than an SL – besides, owning one would mean owning something very rare – something that was once a Bond Car for 007 in The World Is Not Enough when BMW had a deal with the studio (and it was sadly cut in two).
Take it out on the road and, according to this reviewer, you will enjoy how easy it is to shift gears using the six-speed manual transmission, the throaty exhaust note and the overall feel of the car – as long as you don’t expect it to handle as well as modern supercars.
In conclusion, if you want a luxury roadster with retro looks and a great deal of power, the Z8 might be your best bet. We will however point out that more than decent alternatives do exist, with the SLS Roadster being the first that comes to mind.