2004 Audi TT Roadster vs. BMW Z4 vs. Porsche Boxster S vs. Nis

Now that the National Do Not Call list has freed our evenings and weekends from the unpleasantness of telemarketing solicitations, we have more time to attend to personal issues that don't involve 12 easy payments. When it comes to driving, it doesn't get any more personal than taking a top-down spin in a two-seat roadster. Roadsters put it all together: you in the car, the car on the road, the road on the surface of a planet. Escape from the gravitational pull of the towering SUVs crowding your space, and a panorama of sights, sounds, and smells unfolds as celestial bodies (and police helicopters) hover above.

Though some two-seaters indulge in the relentless pursuit of luxury, we'll say that the joy of driving a sports car should be as basic as riding a bicycle. As one editor put it, the elements are "good grip, a firm suspension, a willing engine, and an agreeable gearbox." But you won't want for creature comforts in this well-matched foursome, either, as all have a modicum of toys and power goodies.

Though you could hardly tell by looking at it, top seniority status in our quartet goes to the Porsche Boxster S. When first introduced in 1997, the entry-level Porsche offered just 201 horsepower from 2.5 liters of flat-six. In its latest iteration, the Boxster S punches 258 horses from 3.2 liters. A six-speed manual gearbox is standard with a five-speed Tiptronic automatic optional. The Porsche Crest doesn't come cheaply. Base price for our S model was a top-of-the-group $52,365, and metallic paint ($825), floormats ($95), heated and lowered seats ($1115), 18-inch Carrera wheels with colored crests ($1610), stability control ($1235), upgrade audio ($830), wind deflector ($375), and cruise control ($570) brought the tally to $59,020.

Audi's TT has been with us in coupe form since 2000 and was available as a roadster beginning in 2001, both with 180- or 225-horse turbocharged four-cylinder power and front- or all-wheel drive. For 2004, the Bauhaus-flavored sportster can be optioned with a new 3.2-liter version of Volkswagen's narrow-angle VR6 engine with 250 normally aspirated horsepower on tap. No more four-cylinder peakiness or turbo lag. It's teamed exclusively with Audi's new and darn near magical six-speed direct-shift preselector gearbox, which combines the features of manual and automatic transmissions. With standard quattro all-wheel drive, the Roadster DSG6 based at $43,590, and Bose audio ($1200), Baseball Optic leather seat trim ($1000), 18-inch alloys and summer tires ($775), heated front seats ($700), and California emissions ($150) carried the total to $47,415.

After a seven-year hiatus, Nissan resurrected its long-running Z-car in 2003 as the 350Z Coupe and followed that a year later with the 350Z Roadster. Like the Audi TT, the 350Z features a tall cowl and beltline because its platform is based on a sedan--in this case, the Infiniti G35. A single engine offering--the 287-horse, 3.5-liter V-6--can be paired with a six-speed manual or five-speed manumatic transmission. The engine is mounted behind the front-wheel centerline for good weight distribution. Nissan targeted the 350Z to intercept buyers moving from Japanese to prestige European brands, and with the Roadster Enthusiast model's base price of just $33,850 ($34,180 with optional side airbags and floormats), the Z-car drives a hard bargain.