Because it's a taut, brilliantly executed roadster in the tradition of great British roadsters — well, not exactly in their tradition. Think of the romanticized, open-top road car of your dreams, not the one whose parts fly off when it gets breezy. Also because you're also well-heeled enough, or willing enough to subsist on Top Ramen for a decade out of love alone, to float the $10,000 premium (plus $1,000 gas-guzzler tax) over a base BMW Z4.

Because you think the Bangled design is better suited to a shopping mall in Leipzig than a roadster. Also, because you're way too into driving not to buy the coupe.

· Speed Merchants:

· Fashion Victims:

· Treehuggers: No

· Mack Daddies: No

· Tuner Crowd: No

· Hairdressers: No

· Penny Pinchers: No

· Euro Snobs:

· Working Stiffs: No

· Technogeeks: No

· Poseurs:

· Soccer Moms: No

· Nascar Dads: No

· Golfing Grandparents: No

· Porsche Boxster S

· Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG

· Honda S2000

· Manufacturer: BMW

· Model tested: M Roadster

· Model year: 2006

· Base Price: $51,300

· Price as Tested: $56,400

· Engine type: 3.2-liter DOHC 24-valve inline six with VANOS variable valve timing

· Horsepower: 343 hp @ 7900 rpm

· Torque: 269 ft.-lbs. @ 4900 rpm

· Redline: 8000 rpm

· Transmission: 6-speed manual

· Curb Weight: 3,273 lbs

· LxWxH: 160.4" 69.5" 50.8"

· Wheelbase: 98.3 in

· Tires: 225/45 ZR18 - 255/40 ZR18 Continental ContiSport Contact

· Drive type: rear-wheel-drive

· 0 - 60 mph: 4.8 sec.

· 1/4-mile: 13.6 seconds @ 105 mph

· Fuel economy city/highway: 16 / 24

· NHTSA crash test rating: 4 /4 / 3 / 5

[by Mike Spinelli]

Related:

Jalopnik Reviews: 2006 BMW M Roadster, , [internal]

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