BMW Z4 (E89): where have we put all our space?

[Tave]

So my buddy and his wife were going to the beach yesterday, and he stopped by my place in the morning before he left. Imagine my surprise when I see him pull up in a black Z4 and offer me ride. This was my first time in the E89 (first time in a Z4 actually), and I was excited as I've always been a huge fan of the Z-line.

I don't really want to talk about the car's positives--confident balance, immediate power, trick hardtop, gorgeous red interior--rather this is a thread for a criticism, one in particular: interior legroom.

There is none. None. It doesn't exist. The seats are designed to bottom-out at right around 5'11", good luck to anyone taller.

Now, I know I'm above-average height and can't expect every car, especially older models, to accommodate my individual preferences on space. That's ok. We all have to make-do in life. Engineers shouldn't have to plan for the comfort of a 7-foot giant at the expense of everyone else. It sucks to be an outlier but the world keeps turning.

At the same time, how far from the norm is 6'3-to-4" today? The average height of an adult male in Germany is 5'11" and in the Netherlands is 6'+, not exactly a short people. Likewise, heights in this part of the world have steadily risen for quite some time.

There is no excuse for a modern carmaker to design cockpits that function as torture chambers to anyone slightly above average height. New cars are enormous, what good is all that extra space if you leave the occupant with as little room as they had before? And I'm not talking about impossible design fixes, all the Z4 needs is an extra 2 inches of seat track.

Sports cars shouldn't be penalty boxes anymore. The Z4 is a power hardtop two seat GT for pete's sake.
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What are your experiences in the E89 versus the E85 and Z3? It's been awhile since I was in the latter, but I don't remember any of the same space issues.

[Rich]

The solstice and s2000 had some good leg room. I've never been in a z3/z4.

My problem is that most cars think seat height is a good compromise to the pedals. And newer cars want the steering wheel a good distance from the drive because of the airbag. By the time I get the seat adjusted so that I can rest my wrist in top of the wheel comfortable, I'm sitting either bolt upright, or my legs are all jammed up under the dash.

[12,000 RPM]

This only further confirms the E89 was designed for housewives. Avg woman is 5' 4" in the US and prob shorter in China.

[GoCougs]

I'm but a wee manlet at 5'-10" on a good day so no offense Timmy but whenever I hear "tall" people complain about leg room I can't really sympathize and mostly because I've just never seen any evidence of it. No place is gonna be perfect for anyone - plane, bus, taxi, car, etc. We all adjust and otherwise just live with it.

[Raza]

I've had 6'+ in the passenger seat with no complaints, but everything I'm seeing lists the legroom of both cars at 42". Might be a difference in comfort based on seat height or shape, though.

[MX793]

Does the Z4 have a lump in the passenger's footwell for the exhaust or catalytic converter?

[MexicoCityM3]

I'm 6'4" and he a had no problems in either generation of Z4. Maybe you're Mr. Long legs there?

[Raza]

Does the Z4 have a lump in the passenger's footwell for the exhaust or catalytic converter?

I don't know.  Can't say I've ever sat in the passenger seat of my Z4. 

[MX793]

I don't know.  Can't say I've ever sat in the passenger seat of my Z4. 

Figured you would have at least been over in that side to vacuum the carpet or remove the passenger's floor mat for cleaning.

[Tave]

I'm but a wee manlet at 5'-10" on a good day so no offense Timmy but whenever I hear "tall" people complain about leg room I can't really sympathize and mostly because I've just never seen any evidence of it. No place is gonna be perfect for anyone - plane, bus, taxi, car, etc. We all adjust and otherwise just live with it.

It's not esoteric philosophy. Get in your car. Is your seat comfortable? Good, now move it up the track until your legs are jammed in the floorboard.

Typically modern cars aren't that bad.

[Tave]

Does the Z4 have a lump in the passenger's footwell for the exhaust or catalytic converter?

There was some sort of lump, but it was only half the problem. I couldn't extend the other leg either.

I'm 6'4" and he a had no problems in either generation of Z4. Maybe you're Mr. Long legs there?

No, my legs aren't short, but proportionally I have a long torso.

[Char]

It's all in the seat adjustment, you might want to put the back  portion back and then the seat down, with the front of the seat angled up.

[Raza]

Figured you would have at least been over in that side to vacuum the carpet or remove the passenger's floor mat for cleaning.

Yeah, I've been over there, but I've never sat down. Not long enough to notice something like that.