<cure> Went for a Drive Today...

[richardm@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

I missed my Tuesday Drive for the Cure reservation at Patrick BMW in
Schaumburg.  Today, I went with my SO to Northfield BMW to see what I had
missed out on (she signed up for the ///M Roadster).

I wasn't expecting to find one since I'd read on the digest that it had
been wrecked.  Well, there most certainly was one.

We ended up taking three cars out.  

///M Roadster:

Highs - Kinda fast.  Powerful brakes (land-anchors).  Turns on a dime. 
Makes exotic noises.  Ride-quality not too bad. 

Lows - Not as fast as I expected.  S-L-O-P-P-Y shifter.  We're talking '74
Firebird sloppiness here.  WTF was wrong with this car?  Lots of force
necessary for shifting into any gear, even with 7000 miles on the clock.
Sticky throttle cable.  The high pedal effort was bad enough but the
lack-of-smoothness in the gas pedal added insult to injury.  

Impression - A purpose-built machine that is NOT designed to appeal to the
masses.  The utilitarian-looking VDO gauges are probably enough to send a
few potential buyers looking for a Miata M-edition or something.

E46 328ia (I think it had the sport package due to 50-series tires):

Highs - Real quiet.  Idles so smooth you think it cut off.  Nice interior
(better than E36) that feels solid.  Rides quite smoothly, even on
broken-up Chicagoland roads.  Responsive steering that is not at all
twitchy.  This car is a wonderful compromise between "Sport"  and
"comfort".  Did I mention Real Quiet?  Easy to modulate, fairly strong
brakes.  For those not wanting to feel an automatic trans do its job, this
is it.  No bump, no overlap, no flare, no nothing.  All you notice is the
tach dropping. 

Lows - Real quiet.  Lack of power, probably due to slushbox automatic. 
Automatic shifts WAY too softly for me, takes too long to downshift when
ya punch it.  Funny Honda-ish looking ass-end.

Impression - I'd hafta drive a DIY shifter model before passing judgement.
This particular one was *not* impressive.

E36 323ic (again, sport package I think):

Highs - Great steering, as good as the E46, it seems.  Nice feeling
brakes.  Nice sounding engine.  Pedal postions that beg for heel-and-toe
operation. Refined driveline (almost no lash at all).  This car would be
pleasant in 15mph rush-hour traffic (why do they call it rush hour?). 

Lows - Didn't feel very powerful.  Sloppy/vague shifter again, although
better than the Roadster.  I suspect the clutch on this 6900-mile example
was worn out, as a dragstrip style holeshot with ASC *off* resulted in (a)
zero wheelspin, (b) the engine revving steady at about 5000 rpm throughout
the launch, and (c) poor acceleration.  

Impression - I'd hafta drive one that hasn't been ragged out.  Also, I'll
take mine with a roof, thank you.

Post Drive-for-the-Cure road test - 1999 Toyota Camry Solara SE V6:

Highs - Well built, high-quality materials, good price, easy access to
underhood bits.  Kinda quiet.  Kinda smooth.  Excellent control layout. 
Knobs and switches beg to be operated, they feel so great. 

Lows - Not as quiet as the E46, didn't ride any smoother than the E46
despite the pillowy handling.  Slow steering rack (Toyota doesn't publish
the ratio in their book, but I'm guessing about 18:1), smallish backseat
(smaller than a Neon Coupe).  Where's this wonderful engine noise that Car
and Driver likes so much?  Sounds like another V6 to me... 

Impression - Bland.  'Sposta be available with a 5-speed, if I could ever
find one.  That'd help a bunch.

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There you have it.  I drove over there expecting to be knocked over with
desire and longing for some Teutonic machinery.  I drove back home
less-than-impressed about the whole thing.  

Were the Cure cars just bad examples of BMW-ness?  

RM

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