"When you participate in the BMW Ultimate Drive, BMW will donate $1 for every mile you drive to Susan G. Komen for the Cure."

I've done this for the past couple of years - fun for those that'd like a no hassle test drive of a great car and to contribute to a good cause at the same time. You can pick from sports models to the high-end, high dollar luxury sedans, and there's absolutely no hassle, sales pitch or obligation - just show up and test drive along a designated route.

The event in our area is on April 2, 2008 at BMW of Little Rock. You can click on the following link to sign up and reserve a car.

http://links.emails.bmwusa.com/ctt?k...NzkwNjgS1&mt=1

 

Wanted to follow up to recommend participating in this charity event next year if you didn't make it this time. Yesterday, we got to drive a new Z4 convertible and (as an unexpected bonus) also got to test out a brand-spanking new (as in just became available in the past month) 1 Series Coupe. The 1 Series is BMW's new, "compact" line, only slightly larger interior than our MINI and smaller than BMW 3 Series, but with the motor from the 3 Series squeezed in; needless to say, it's a rocket.

 

Ack! Two days too late! I've been wanting to demo the Z4 forever, but have yet to get the opportunity, and that would've been beyond perfect. Were there any Z4 coupes perchance?

 

Yes, several variations of the Z4 (standard, automatic, coupe) and most other BMW models were available, including an M3 and the 6 Series sports coupe.

 

I was there!

what a blast! here is what all I drove. if you arent sure what each model is, just ask and I can explain them some more.

ok, so the 135 was a blast! and it is pretty nice looking in and out. it was pretty roomy too. couldnt get the back end out very well on it, but it definately had some go!

next up was the Z4 coupe. I have driven one before with a M package, but still went ahead and drove this one to kill some time. The back end was real easy to whip around on that one!

Next was the Alpina B7. and OMG was that thing nice! such a smooth ride! I was doing 130 in it on a closed course, and it felt like I was on cruise at 80! and so much alcantera in there! the steering wheel, the whole headliner, and it had night vision for the center display. couldnt really use it since it was the middle of the day, but it was still cool!

Finally was the M3! again OMG. that V8 sound so great! and it had a great steady range of power. you could punch it in 6th, and it would still take off. and lets just say that it was VERY easy to get the back end loose on it. in the Z4, I had hit a U-turn in the middle of the rode no problem, and took off the other direction. not in the M3. It did a full 360! didnt expect it at all! there is so much power going to those back wheels!

 

<--- Envious. When I was in high school, I had a major obsession with most Euro luxury brands. It went away in college. But...since buying the MINI, it's came back with a vengeance.

So they do have a coupe eh? I hope I can make it there while they either still have it or have another. Was it manual or auto?

And Alpina?! How common is it for a dealer to actually get ahold of one of those? What model is the B7 based off of? Unless I'm mistaken, don't they take an existing BMW and, well, make it awesome?

 

yeah it based off of the 7 series. and it is supercharged. there is a black one rolling around town here every so often.

and the z4 I drove isnt there anymore, because it is a certain group of cars that travel around, but they do have some z4s in stock.