Out For a Drive

We made it out yesterday for a drive down A1A to St. Augustine. It's a great little trip with lots of fabulous beach houses (and mansions). These houses are about as close to the water as I'd think you could build a house. Nothing separates the property line from the beach, no dunes, nothing...

Unfortunately, this route is straight as an arrow. So I didn't get to make much use of the cornering abilities of the car. But the cruise control works great. We took I95 back home. The BMW 325i really settles in at high speeds.

Today I took a few photos of the car. It finally gave me a chance to try some of the Strobist exercises.

New Ride

Succumbing to my driving urges, I signed my life away for the next 4 years. The punishment: A 2004 BMW 325i. Luckily I was able to resist the temptation to go all out for a 2006 or 2007 model year - maybe next time (and hopefully gas won't be $8 a gallon).

Plain and simple, just like every review out there, this is a driver's car. The 'growl' of the engine is almost soothing... It may even sound better than the stereo! Even with the base engine, the car is quick and agile.

The German ergonomics take some getting used to. Some things make sense but aren't as obvious. Setting the clock, for example, is probably the easiest to set of any car I've ever owned - once I figured out which knob to turn.

Storage space (again, as any review mentions) is quite minimal. The manuals nearly fill the glove box. Ashtrays seem more prevalent (and accessible) than storage compartments. Nothing wrong with a sterile cockpit, it'll keep me focused on the road.

So far, my favorite 'luxury feature' is the rain sensing wipers. They're perfect for the scattered rain so common in Florida. The blade speed adjusts automatically depending on the water volume passing over the sensor... so cool.

Unfortunately, I didn't get the real leather seats, just the 'leatherette.' So it may be a little sticky in the intense sun - nothing will prevent that in Florida.

Hopefully this weekend we'll get out for a drive. And photos are in order as well...

Consuming

Since a few of our friends and Bonnie have bought new cars, I figured I'd take a look. Today I drive a modest Honda Accord. Aside from the brakes rusting out from the Ohio winters - yes apparently, modern brakes still corrode, it's been a nice car. And I suppose that's the point. The car is just 'nice'.

So Friday I test drove an Acura TSX and TL. Today I was drawn back to the BMW 3 Series. The TSX (which is my Accord with some minor upgrades) was uninspiring. It's an Accord with more toys and slightly better handling. I'd have to find a killer deal to pull the trigger. Now the TL on the other hand is quite a step up. With more of everything, this car means business. And of course it also means more dough.

Finally I revisited my occasional affair with a BMW 325. I drove a 2006 model year with only 11k miles. I was reminded just how different a driver's car really feels. Sure those Acuras are loaded, but the handling isn't quite there. This particular vehicle was priced in between the TSX and TL. But there are some trade offs for the ultimate driving machine. Most significantly, there's no navigation - easily corrected with a TomTom. In the earlier model years, I'd give up Bluetooth. And with any BMW, cup holders are scarce.

Who knows what I'll select. Perhaps I'll even stick to the trusty Accord for awhile longer. But car shopping sure is fun...