BMW Test Drive Event 4/29

[Mike]

mike doesn't drive a new type r

but you drive a E46 M3?

We're comparing the E46 M3 to mike's car. Mike likes his civic better than an E46 M3 apparently.

Since when were we comparing the M3 to my car? I'm comparing the 330Ci and Z4 to my car. I didn't like the E46 in general, I really don't think the M3 can feel that different aside from more power and better suspension. My issues were not really with either of those, I just don't like the "fluffiness."

[Chris]

so back on topic...

this BMW test drive was awesome. Anyone that didn't get the chance this year, definately sign up next year. I thought we were going to have an employee ride along with us or even follow a group of cars. They basically gave you the keys and a set route to drive and sent you on your way. I'm not going to give all the details as to what I put those poor cars through, but I did get a very good feel for their performance.

I drove a 325 auto, 330 auto, and a Z4 3.0 auto. I wasn't a big fan of the 325, but the 330 performed well. It would be a nice daily driver. I think it had a sports package, which helped it keep up with mike when I followed him in a Z4. The Z4 I drove was a fun little machine, but I would never buy one. The seating position was strange and it felt as if the top of the windshield was right in my face. The hood was also too high and hard to see over. It handled well, but no where close to my dad's Boxster S.

The other thing I noticed was the extreme computer control of these cars. I had the traction turned off most of the time :twisted: and it still kicked in a lot. I also only drove the cars in auto-manual crap mode. I really hate these things bc forward on the shifter downshifted, and back on the shifter up shifted- sounds easy enough but it just didin't feel natural. They were also very slow to shift.

Overall- nice overall packages. strong engines and rear-wheel drive fun.

[Beej]

I love it that everyone dislikes the e46's.

Fuck'em. Old school, real driver's cars for life.

[Feersty]

Way to get us back on track, b00bies. I also thought that we would be doing some sort of parade drive through Charlottesville and there would a salesperson driving the first car setting the pace, but it wasn't like that at all. I drove down to Charlottesville with Big E and he didn't even care that he wasn't driving cause he wasn't 21, he just wanted to "Pimp that 745i" Sidenote: I signed up for this online on 29 March so I was banking on the fact that I wouldn't have any conflicts a month later. Thank God I didn't my st00pid Modeling and Simulation class got cancelled :o . This was a straight "Money shot." The drive down to Charlottesville was nice, we listened to Atmosphere, Bob Marley, and some Window to the Wall bull- sh!t. When we got the beautiful BMW of Charlottesville dealership(Crown?) I had to fill out a simple information sheet with my name, address, email, and mark some boxes about what BMWs I liked, obviously I checked all the ///M cars. They also took my driver's license and took down my SS# and date of birth(21, hint hint).

When Big E and I saw the cars, we were friggin stoked. Online I had originally signed up to drive the 525i manual and the 745i. But, for some reason they didn't have the 525i manual so they offered the 330i manual. I asked the chick, Angie if any Z4s were available, but she was like since you wanted a manual, this is comparable to it. So I was like, okay. Big E and I waited about 40 minutes for the 330i to come back, driving if after Mike. When the car came back, Angie called my name: "Feersty your car is here." I was like yup. Then Sherry from Cav cars took this picture:



As you might imagine, the shotgun seat was tight for Big E, but the exhilaration totally outweighed the cramped space. The 330i manual has 6 forward speeds and one reverse speed :wink: . It also has a ///M steering wheel, rims, suspension?, and shift knob, which was sick. Now I had never driven a Bimmer before so I had no idea what I was in for. As soon as everyone left the dealership parking lot, they gunned it, I even got passed by a 325 wagon when I was driving the 745i. The 330i was amazing, the ride was so smooth, unlike any domestik that I had previously driven. The course that they took use through was also amazing, seemed to mimic a rally course, with narrow roads, guardrails, and cliffs. I am sure Maeng gets nasty on those roads. Chime in now Maeng if you would like. The 330i also had some big 18" rims with 12-15 spokes which was some hot ish. Here are some pictures:



















I also got to drive the beautiful 745i, I guess not the rest of the club was interested in driving this one, but it was straight pimp. It is a equipped with a 4.4L V8 that puts out 325 hp. We even stopped at an elementary school to take some pictures and try and figure out the complexity that is the iDrive. While Big E and I were straight pimpin' some guy yelled something to the effect "Yeah for b00bs." He was driving a Jeep Cherokee so I could understand this :wink: We also discovered the capability of this boat on i64 :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: Maeng can atest to this. 50 Cent even mentions it in his song, Stunt 101: The lyrics are:

7 series BM. 6 series Benz
24 inches Giovanni rims,
All one wheel when I'm one of them.
Mod the boy out, shit what up y0.
....I don't really care if its platinum or white gold












From BMWusa:


Push button start on 745i:


Overall this was the best driving experience of my life, better than going 140mph in a Porsche turbo at VIR. Drive a 745i you'll thank me in the end. Long post, but it was so worth it.

[ScottyB]

nice write up feersty. sounds like it was awesome. im there next year no doubt.

[Chris]

Feersty's longest post ever!

[Mike]

Rob, it looks like Satan has entered your fingers.

[ScottyB]

:?:

[Nick325is]

so back on topic...

this BMW test drive was awesome. Anyone that didn't get the chance this year, definately sign up next year. I thought we were going to have an employee ride along with us or even follow a group of cars. They basically gave you the keys and a set route to drive and sent you on your way. I'm not going to give all the details as to what I put those poor cars through, but I did get a very good feel for their performance.

I drove a 325 auto, 330 auto, and a Z4 3.0 auto. I wasn't a big fan of the 325, but the 330 performed well. It would be a nice daily driver. I think it had a sports package, which helped it keep up with mike when I followed him in a Z4. The Z4 I drove was a fun little machine, but I would never buy one. The seating position was strange and it felt as if the top of the windshield was right in my face. The hood was also too high and hard to see over. It handled well, but no where close to my dad's Boxster S.

The other thing I noticed was the extreme computer control of these cars. I had the traction turned off most of the time :twisted: and it still kicked in a lot. I also only drove the cars in auto-manual crap mode. I really hate these things bc forward on the shifter downshifted, and back on the shifter up shifted- sounds easy enough but it just didin't feel natural. They were also very slow to shift.

Overall- nice overall packages. strong engines and rear-wheel drive fun.

Chris you can turn the traction control all the way off by depressing the traction control button for 5 seconds or so i believe. Just pushing it once will turn it off but not completly. It will still help save your ass if you lose traction. Depressing the button for over 5 seconds will completly turn all of the traction control off.

Nick
who wishes he was 21 and could have driven in the event.

[Mike]

:?:

[JackoliciousLegs]

I sense a slight resemblence to Tyrone Biggums...

[REED]

there's something we don't know about feerst...........................he smokes rocks

[JackoliciousLegs]

That is tyrone biggums' actual hat too!

[Big E]

Nice write up Rob. I have to second everything he said, they were great cars, I just can't see my trying to fit in a 330i all the time, it was a little tight for me. It might be the factor of it being a sedan, and not the coupe. But the 745i was huge, i had the seat all the way back, and there was a ton of room behind us. I gotta save that pic of me flashing the double M's in the 745i. Great experience and I am definitely signing up next year, plus it supported a great cause, as my grandmother had breast cancer, but was lucky enough to be diagnosed early on so she could be treated. Good times.

[Evan]

I sense a slight resemblence to Tyrone Biggums..

and that, children, was the first time I sucked a dick for crack

[Feersty]

Mike where are the pictures?

[Mike]

Same place as when you asked a few days ago.

[Mike]

My pics: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.mjcomputer.net/gallery/?dir=mmsports%2F2004_Drive_For_Cure">http://www.mjcomputer.net/gallery/?dir= ... e_For_Cure</a><!-- m -->