BMW's Z4 roadster (convertible) sports car employs technology that belongs in lots of cars, not just $50,000 two-seaters. The double-clutch transmission smoothly combines the power and performance of the manual gearbox it really is with the ease of an automatic (no clutch pedal). And the transflective LCD display is unaffected by sunlight. In fact, the more sun shines down, the brighter it gets. The iDrive controller finally works, and well. HD Radio is now free (some models) but the iPod adapter remains an overpriced option. It's a great car if your stock portfolio is fully recovered.
Another Practical Impractical BMWBMW's mainstream cars, particularly the 3 Series and 5 Series, do everything right: handling, safety, comfort, technology, status, residual value. They're practical cars for those with the means to afford them. The Z4 represents the other side of BMW, along with the BMW 6 Series and the BMW X6. They're what I consider impractical cars with a practical bent: Nobody needs them but when you buy one, you're delighted at how well they're suited to daily driving, unlike the the Pontiac Solstice with zero cockpit or trunk room, or the old Ferrari that only comes out on sunny weekends and needs $2,500 tune-ups.
Here's what delighted me with the BMW Z4 in the way of intelligent technology and smart design. The fact that BMW puts it into cars out of the reach of most buyers doesn't keep some or all of it trickling from down over time to more affordable brands and models. Much of this represents intelligent use of suppliers. Others could use them also.
Double-clutch transmission. It's a seven-speed manual gearbox with a clutch (two, actually) but electronics and hydraulics shift gears for you (no clutch pedal). It's quicker and more fuel-efficient than an automatic transmission and, at least for now, cooler to tell people about. Porsche invented the technology, Audi made the most use of it, and now BMW has a first-class version, unlike its clunky. Good news: At $1,525, it's only $200 more than a BMW automatic transmission and far less than the $2,900 BMW charges you for DCT when you buy a BMW M3 (more software in the M3 DCT, BMW says). Bad news: It's only available on the costlier twin-turbo Z4 sDrive35i; with the base model sDrive30i, you have to stick with the traditional automatic.

The Complete Review

The U.S. car market is the biggest and most competitive on the planet. Still, there are several wild, exciting and unique vehicles that cannot be bought here, no matter how much money you are willing to lay down. Many of these rolling wonders are designed and built by tiny boutique automakers that cannot or simply will not shell out the millions of dollars needed to certify their creations for sale in the New World. Others are so radical in design and purpose that they just wouldn't conform to the various U.S. safety and regulatory standards. And a few more are so exclusive and built in such small numbers that they are all spoken for before even rumors of their possible existence reach American ears. Have we piqued your interest yet? Well, here are 10 of the coolest cars you can't get here in the States. As you'll see, they are sexy, powerful and very desirable. Welcome to the world of the unobtainable.

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Although most people have been turning to the internet for purchasing everything from CDs and clothes to books and furniture for a long time now, not many people seemed to prefer purchasing a car online. But the situation is fast changing. More and more people are now turning to online sources not just to compare car prices, but also to actually make a purchase. Whether you are planning on purchasing a brand new car or a used car, there are plenty of online automotive sites that offer reasonable new car prices and amazingly low used car prices. As a result, you can save thousands of dollars if you opt for car shopping online.


Online Car Purchase
Most people go in for online purchases due to the attractive car quotes. Most automotive sites offer access to huge databases of cars across the United States. That means you have the convenience of browsing through various sites and car categories from the comfort of your home. However, the downside of purchasing new or used cars online is that you do not get a chance to thoroughly inspect the car before confirming the purchase.


Things to Watch Out For



Before going in for an online car purchase, use this checklist to ensure a safe and good buy.


* Reputation of the site: Ensure safety by checking if the site is reputable and if it has been around for some time. Do not believe the new car price quote you receive out of the blue from a new site it is likely to be a scam.


* Location: Take note of the areas where the cars are delivered throughout the United States. If you are from Maine, avoid a site that requires you to collect the car from Texas. Remember that most online dealers add the shipping charges to the car quote if you live far from their car delivery locations.


* Compare car prices: Always compare the car quote you receive with ones on other sites, newspaper ads or car showrooms.


* Request for the VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) of the used car: If you are looking to buy a used car, the VIN allows you to get a detailed report of the car history. You thus get to know everything related to the car if it has ever been involved in an accident, if its odometer is showing the exact mileage of the car, number of cylinders, its engine type, etc.


* Get everything in writing: Ask the dealer to provide you a detailed report of the car specifications and new car price quote in writing. This way, even if you find faults in the car after purchase, you will have sufficient evidence to make a complaint.


* Take along an expert: Before taking delivery of the car, let an expert or a mechanic do a simple inspection.


Reliable car dealer sites offer you plenty of new cars with exciting car quotes. These sites also offer used cars in good condition and cheap used car prices. Even if you are dealing with an established, online dealer, observe how good their customer service section is. With a bit of browsing around, you can easily find good dealers known for competitive car prices, impeccable service and satisfactory customer support. Get started right away, your dream car is probably just a few clicks away!