Susan G. Komen Foundation

[dtanesq]

BMW North America is doing a very cool thing to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. It's called the "Drive for the Cure" or something like that. Essentially, licensed drivers over 21 years old are invited to visit a local BMW dealer on specified days and test-drive 2002-03 BMWs. For every mile driven, the sponsoring dealer donates $1 to the Foundation. There are no salespeople in the cars, the test drive covers a route of about 15 miles and each class is represented nicely (3 through 7 and a couple of Z3s - although no longer made).

I participated in this event yesterday. The local dealer made the nice gesture of doubling every dollar donation.

While there is an altruistic reason you should all do this if you have time, I had an ulterior motive. I am interested in owning the current 5-series sedan. Luckily, a 525i and a 540i Sport Wagon were available for test-driving.

I drove a 2.5 litre Z3 (much quicker than the 1.9 litre I've driven extensively), the new 7 (okay experience, feels lighter than it looks, I-Drive isn't all that hard to figure out, but kept wondering what an S500 would be like) and the above-mentioned 5-series cars.

If you'll indulge me, I have a couple of driving impressions, specifially of the 540i Sport Wagon.

OH MY GOD!!! and HOLY SH---!!!

At first, I would've preferred that the cars had manual transmissions. The Steptronic transmissions took a moment to get used to and BMW has done something weird with them. In the Z3, shifting to a higher gear in Manual mode requires a push on the lever, with a pull being a downshift. In the 5-Series, it requires a pull, with a push being a downshift. Imagine my surprise the first time I did the wrong thing.... Once I got used to the 5-Series version (within a mile or so - $2.50) it was like having a manual but not having to move my left foot.

The 540i Sport Wagon was, quite simply, the most exhilarating new car test drive I've ever taken. This is completely idiotic and I should be shot, but part of the planned route for the test drive included a quarter-mile long sweeping two-lane off-ramp from a freeway. The first time I drove the Sport Wagon on the loop, they'd sent us off in a little pack of 8 cars. Naturally, the boy racers surged to the front. I entered the freeway in fourth, but capped them all on the sweeper, passing a 330i coupe, a 3.0L Z3 and the 525i while in the outside lane of the exit at a top speed of....ouch - 95+ or a bit higher. (I looked.) It was effortless. The engine simply pulled all the way up and had more, the suspension soaked it and at the end, the brakes simply ate up the speed. Almost no drama, just the YYYEEEAAAHHHHHHH escaping my lips.

I drove the Sport Wagon on the loop twice. Tamer the second time, but not much.

Then, I got back in my E34 and chugged back to the office.

Go ahead guys. Flame me for being an idiot on a public roadwayI deserve it. But that car, that engine, etc. WOW!