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I've posted this at some other forums, so I thought I would share here too. (I'm by no means a great writer or storyteller, but I think it's enjoyable anyway).

This isn't necessarily a review of a car, but more an event that I had the opportunity to attend this summer, and if you guys haven't already done it, I'm sure you'd love it.

So in case you haven't heard of it, The Ultimate Drive is BMWs way to support the Susan G. Komen fight for the cure against breast cancer. BMW invites enthusiasts over the age of 21 to test drive a select group of cars at a local dealership, and for every mile you drive, BMW donates a dollar towards the Cure. So it's a fun event, and money raised goes towards a good cause.

My first (and definitely not my last) experience with this event was back in July. Being only 21 at the time, I couldn't drive some cars like the 330Ci or the 6 Series (you have to be 25), so I registered to drive a Z4 Roadster 3.0si a few weeks ahead of time, conviently during work hours of course!

I arrived at the dealership at 2:30 with my mom (who would be my navigator), a half an hour ahead of my appointment just for the opportunity to look around and drool over some of the world's finest automobiles. After confirming my appointment and making a small donation, it was time to get familiar with "my" Z4.

The fine ladies at Dave Walter BMW handed me the keys, escorted me to my car, and gave me a quick overview of the features of this uber-chic German machine. I was instructed not to deviate from the pre-determined route, and above all, enjoy my ride. Sounds easy enough....

The 3.0 liter inline six came to life with a low, harmonious burble and I was on my way. The first thing you notice about this car is just how smoothly it delivers it's power. The second thing you notice is the noise jetting out of the tailpipes. Oh the noise! Compared to my V6 Mustang, this engine can only be described as a symphony of cylinders. A good chunk of our 12 mile route was in the city, where the automatic transmission performed like a champ. When we finally got to the scenic portion of our route, it was time to unleash the paddles behind the steering wheel! Now I'll admit, I'm biased. I like manual transmissions. And while BMWs flappy paddles did their job just fine, they take away too much driver involvement. But this is only a minor gripe. We were told all cars were fitted with an auto because if they were manual, the clutches would be burned out in a week. Understandable. Where this car really shines though is the steering. I've never driven a car with a more direct feel for steering, which made our metropark sprint an absolute blast. (No speed limits were broken, I promise!)  



When we finally arived back at the dealership, I was genuinely sad to get out of this awesome machine. But my day was quickly brightened back up when the fine ladies of Dave Walter BMW told me I could drive another car....I was only scheduled for one, but I wasn't about to complain!

The choice was tough, but I decided on an X5 4.8i because of it's monstrous V8. In a sense, this is BMWs "M" version of an SUV. This car competes with Mercedes AMGs and Cayenne Turbos. I had to see what the fuss was about.

Just like the Z4, the engine is the highlight of the X5 4.8i. This car roars, and if it weren't for the massive 315/35R-20 rubber fitted to rear wheels, the streets would have been alive with the smell of burning tire. Sitting at a few stoplights gave me the chance to play with BMWs infamous iDrive. I'm not the first, and I know I won't be the last to say that iDrive is seriously flawed. The most simple functions are buried in endless menus, and most of the time, I couldn't perform any task I wanted to. Other than iDrive, the X5 was as much fun as an SUV could be. I doubt I'll ever want an SUV, but if for whatever reason I find myself shopping for one someday, the X5 will be first on my list.



Back at the dealership, I signed the Signature Car, which all participants can sign and happened to be an X5 this year. I chatted with some of the salesman, and luckily overheard that they were looking for volunteers to transport the cars to the next dealership. Say no more, just give me the keys!



As volunteers, we would drive in a caravan, approximately 45 minutes to the next dealership. But first, we attended a small meeting, and recieved refeshments and a coin with a pink ribbon on it as thanks for volunteering. We were all assigned a car, and I was lucky enough to get behind the wheel of a 328xi. Our all-BMW caravan (except for my Atlantic Blue Mustang following in the back) headed out and jumped on the highway. I can honestly say, this was without a doubt the best drive of my life. I have never been more relaxed and more excited at the same time just to be driving. There was no need for music, just open windows for fresh air and a calming breeze. Surprisingly, this car is extremely quiet at high speeds, even with the windows down and the sunroof open. The steering was just as responsive as the Z4 and the inline six just as smooth. The Ultimate Driving Machine is right--this car is an engineering marvel.

We arrived at Ganley BMW without any incidents, and once again, I was genuinely dissapointed to be leaving "my" car. It was an emotional day with highs and lows that only us "petrolheads" can understand, and I can't wait to do it again next year. We recieved t-shirts, and everyone boarded the bus to go back to Dave Walter BMW, except me, as my car was trailing behind, because I live close-by.

On the way home, I reflected on what I had just participated in and felt like I had done something really special. I drove some amazing cars for a good cause, and met some great people along the way. The staff of the event couldn't have been more professional or friendly and already hoped they would see me back next year. My calendar is waiting for the dates....