Exterior Design: Which is the best looking roadster?

An inevitable question arises about the best looking roadster as soon as the new 2009 BMW Z4 was unveiled. The supremacy of the SLK seems to be attacked by BMW’s latest roadster, a car that has already received many applause and positive reviews.

But in the best looking roadster category, we also have the Audi TT-S along with the classic Porsche Boxster S. This comparison will strictly focus on the exterior design for now, we will ignore the performance and interior for now, but we will be back with comparisons on that as well.

With my best efforts, I tried to equally find the best looking photos out there on the web, so we can keep this fight fair and square. Even though this voting might sound a little biased since we’re on a BMW blog, I assure that there were times when a BMW car did NOT win in our poll.

Comparison: 2009 BMW Z4 vs. Mercedes SLK vs. Audi TT-S vs. Porsche Boxster S
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0to60 - 12/18/2008 9:53:06 AM

+5 Boost

All things considered, especially price in this economy, I would take the saturn sky. On this list, the BMW or TT

hao420 - 12/18/2008 6:01:33 PM

-3 Boost

Recommend Lexus ISC, Luxury and sporty........

IVANURI97 - 12/18/2008 10:11:17 AM

-12 Boost

I'd pick the TT or the SLK.

budfrogS4 - 12/18/2008 10:20:21 AM

-8 Boost

TT with the top down, SLK with the top up.

HSCenterconsole - 12/18/2008 10:21:30 AM

+2 Boost

My rankings. Obviously, I haven't seen the new Z4 in person yet.
1) Porsche Boxster: I really like the "speedster" look of the Boxster. While I don't think I would buy one, this is by far the best looking roadster in my opinion, especially the "S" model with 19 inch Carerra wheels.
2) BMW Z4: I really like the new styling. I feel like it is a cross between refining some of the harsher design cues of the current Z4 and many styling elements from the 6-Series. Looks great in the darker colors.
3) Mercedes SLK: Looks far better with the AMG sports package. The recent facelift has improved this car's styling, but I still think the SLR treatment looks forced.
4) Audi TT: No longer a design icon. I see this just as a trendy looking roadster for a woman who wants to hav a convertible.

enthusiastx11 - 12/18/2008 1:22:20 PM

-4 Boost

agree precisely with your ranking.

HSCenterconsole - 12/18/2008 10:21:49 AM

+4 Boost

My rankings. Obviously, I haven't seen the new Z4 in person yet.
1) Porsche Boxster: I really like the "speedster" look of the Boxster. While I don't think I would buy one, this is by far the best looking roadster in my opinion, especially the "S" model with 19 inch Carerra wheels.
2) BMW Z4: I really like the new styling. I feel like it is a cross between refining some of the harsher design cues of the current Z4 and many styling elements from the 6-Series. Looks great in the darker colors.
3) Mercedes SLK: Looks far better with the AMG sports package. The recent facelift has improved this car's styling, but I still think the SLR treatment looks forced.
4) Audi TT: No longer a design icon. I see this just as a trendy looking roadster for a woman who wants to hav a convertible.

HSCenterconsole - 12/18/2008 10:23:19 AM

+2 Boost

Sorry for the double post. Autospies kept giving me an "out of memory error" and I didn't realize it had posted.

DaHarder - 12/18/2008 11:13:24 AM

+3 Boost

It happened to me too... Must be a system glitch today.

DaHarder - 12/18/2008 11:13:31 AM

+2 Boost

It happened to me too... Must be a system glitch today.

FillorKill - 12/18/2008 10:43:57 AM

+2 Boost

I never got the appeal of the TT coupe. Is it worth the thousands of dollars premium just to buy a car that shares its FWD platform with the GTI and Beetle?

ste_u6 - 12/18/2008 11:41:31 AM

-6 Boost

The article lists the TTS which has quattro, the premium if any, would be for this, excellent build quality and a very quick car.
The articles also asks which one is better looking from the exterior and not the one that handles better. Read the article before making stupid useless statements.

I think the Slk and TTS have a tie, the Z4 is nice but not enough of a change and the boxster needs an update.

ste_u6 - 12/18/2008 11:41:45 AM

-6 Boost

The article lists the TTS which has quattro, the premium if any, would be for this, excellent build quality and a very quick car.
The articles also asks which one is better looking from the exterior and not the one that handles better. Read the article before making stupid useless statements.

I think the Slk and TTS have a tie, the Z4 is nice but not enough of a change and the boxster needs an update.

ste_u6 - 12/18/2008 11:41:49 AM

-7 Boost

The article lists the TTS which has quattro, the premium if any, would be for this, excellent build quality and a very quick car.
The articles also asks which one is better looking from the exterior and not the one that handles better. Read the article before making stupid useless statements.

I think the Slk and TTS have a tie, the Z4 is nice but not enough of a change and the boxster needs an update.

ste_u6 - 12/18/2008 11:41:52 AM

-8 Boost

The article lists the TTS which has quattro, the premium if any, would be for this, excellent build quality and a very quick car.
The articles also asks which one is better looking from the exterior and not the one that handles better. Read the article before making stupid useless statements.

I think the Slk and TTS have a tie, the Z4 is nice but not enough of a change and the boxster needs an update.

DaHarder - 12/18/2008 11:11:19 AM

0 Boost

Interestingly subjective (read: flame starting)question:

01 Mercedes SLK – Balanced, tasteful, aggressive yet pretty design, with the best integration yet of the retractable H/T concept.

02 Audi TT Cabrio – Gloriously pure of form, Teutonic sensibility displayed throughout, blissfully devoid of unnecessary design flourishes.

03 (2010) BMW Z4 – Best use of ‘flame surfacing’ yet, compelling design from a-pillar forward, cursed with a disconcertingly unbalanced hood-length to boot-length ratio… looks almost cartoonish from some angles.

04 Saturn Sky - Muscular, modern and menacing, with artfully executed surface detailing … tragic fitting rag-top.

05 Porsche Boxster – Odd proportions resulting from mid-ship drive-train layout, too familiar/complacent overall design e.g. New Porsche Boxster Same as the Old Porsche Boxster.

enthusiastx11 - 12/18/2008 1:24:13 PM

-2 Boost

odd ranking. most boring at the top, most dynamic at the bottom...

DaHarder - 12/18/2008 11:11:47 AM

-1 Boost

Interestingly subjective (read: flame starting)question:

01 Mercedes SLK – Balanced, tasteful, aggressive yet pretty design, with the best integration yet of the retractable H/T concept.

02 Audi TT Cabrio – Gloriously pure of form, Teutonic sensibility displayed throughout, blissfully devoid of unnecessary design flourishes.

03 (2010) BMW Z4 – Best use of ‘flame surfacing’ yet, compelling design from a-pillar forward, cursed with a disconcertingly unbalanced hood-length to boot-length ratio… looks almost cartoonish from some angles.

04 Saturn Sky - Muscular, modern and menacing, with artfully executed surface detailing … tragic fitting rag-top.

05 Porsche Boxster – Odd proportions resulting from mid-ship drive-train layout, too familiar/complacent overall design e.g. New Porsche Boxster Same as the Old Porsche Boxster.

golfer38 - 12/18/2008 11:22:16 AM

+3 Boost

The best looking exterior design to me is the Z4.

B7FAN - 12/18/2008 11:27:58 AM

-10 Boost

1. AudiTT
2. BMW Z4
3. Porsche Boxster
4. Mercedes SLK

B7FAN - 12/18/2008 11:28:08 AM

-9 Boost

1. AudiTT
2. BMW Z4
3. Porsche Boxster
4. Mercedes SLK

JUGNU - 12/18/2008 11:33:34 AM

+4 Boost

To me refresh 2009 Porsche Boxter looks the best of the group and then all new 2009 BMW Z4. SLK and TT look very feminine.

JUGNU

mercuryguy - 12/18/2008 11:34:06 AM

-5 Boost

It has always been the Mercedes Hardtop Convertible Roadster with Kompressor Engine.

golfer38 - 12/18/2008 2:16:30 PM

-6 Boost

I love it, deboosted just because you gave us your opinion on which one looks the best to you, what a joke.

Boosteroo - 12/18/2008 2:25:18 PM

+4 Boost

Maybe it's because the SLK Kompressor is no longer in production?

ste_u6 - 12/18/2008 11:40:35 AM

-8 Boost

The article lists the TTS which has quattro, the premium if any, would be for this, excellent build quality and a very quick car.
The articles also asks which one is better looking from the exterior and not the one that handles better. Read the article before making stupid useless statements.

I think the Slk and TTS have a tie, the Z4 is nice but not enough of a change and the boxster needs an update.

ste_u6 - 12/18/2008 11:42:37 AM

-2 Boost

sorry this is a reply to fillorkill comment

ste_u6 - 12/18/2008 11:42:47 AM

-2 Boost

sorry this is a reply to fillorkill comment

dhkss2002 - 12/18/2008 12:45:58 PM

+2 Boost

The z4.

AudiNewEngland - 12/18/2008 3:21:28 PM

-3 Boost

SLK or TT-S

theoptimisticpessimist - 12/18/2008 4:42:45 PM

+2 Boost

Z4, Boxster,TT,SLK

vman1013 - 12/20/2008 11:23:31 AM

+1 Boost

Z4, TT, Boxster, slk