That said, the record shows that the Z4 makes bigger numbers on the test track than any of the others, if only by a shade. The 5.3-second 0-to-60 squeaked ahead of the Honda by 0.1 second and out front of the Nissan by twice that. The quarter-mile blurs past in 14 seconds flat, again 0.1 second ahead of the Honda, and this time, 0.3 up on the 350Z. All three clock an identical 99 mph in the distance. The BMW leads in top speed at 152 mph, with the Nissan and Porsche close behind at 148. The governed Audi hangs back at 125 mph.

Same story on the skidpad, where the BMW and the Honda tie at 0.92 g, a mere 0.01 behind the Porsche and 0.04 ahead of the Nissan.

(This is an excerpt of an article by Car and Driver in 03 comparing the Z4, 350z, Audi TT, Porsche Boxster, and Honda S2000)