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The BMW One Series was launched in 2004 as a further bid from the jolly Bavarians to fill yet another market gap: the luxury hatchback. We could probably argue about the definition of a luxury hatchback all day and all night, but I wasn’t the only one who disliked the 1-Series.
BMW’s and their drivers tend to have a nasty stigma attached to them and they don’t come more dubious than a bottom-drawer Three Series. Hence I was excited to test a 320d and finally research if it has any indicators or if the fog lights are permanently on.
Time for some history lessons. BMW stands for Bayrische Motoren Werke, which means Bavarian Motor Works. Bavaria is a province of Germany and saw the birth of BMW in 1916. The white on blue propeller badge pays tribute to aircraft engines which the company produced in its early years.
After many thoughts of rejection, years of feeling inadequate and a growing inferiority complex, I finally whipped out my big red pen and made an X next to the word Audi. That’s right – for reasons unknown, this is my virgin test of an Ingolstadt car.
Last Wednesday morning at precisely 03h24 I woke up to the sound of pelting rain and a startling realisation: the BMW X5 is a fantastic car. Note the use of the word “car” instead of four-by-four, SUV or other such descriptions.
If an underwear model came up to you for the third time and offered to buy you a drink, would you refuse? I thought so. I have no idea what happened and even less interest in the consequences, but last week someone gave me a Z4 that I have tested before.
In die Klein-Karoo het ons destyds net Fords en Chevs geken. Maar hier rondom 1957 het ’n vindingryke ondernemer op Uniondale, ene mnr. Keller, ’n groot, nuwe, diamantvormige kenteken van gebakte emalje in swart, wit en rooi op sy voormalige fabriek se muur aangebring. In die middel van die diamant het ’n naam gepryk waarvan ons nog nooit gehoor het nie: BORGWARD.
I’m quite sure that I’ve mentioned my love for coupés before, so our invitation to the new Volkswagen Scirocco R launch in Durban resulted in a brief rock-paper-scissors competition at the office, won by yours truly. Perhaps I cheated, perhaps I didn’t, but a few days later I was jetted off to KZN.
Usually I approach bright, new packaging with a hefty dose of mistrust but in the automotive world I welcome freaky hues and multi-colour interiors with open arms. Our roads are far too polluted by white and silver cars with black interiors so I immediately took a shine to the Opel Corsa Colour Edition.
Natuurlik sal daar by die stel van bogenoemde vraag, maak nie saak wat of wie onder bespreking is nie, dadelik gekwalifiseer moet word waarna die X-faktor verwys, amper soos in die wiskundestudieveld. Word daar verwys na ‘n negatiewe of ‘n positiewe waardebepaling? In die geval van BMW se nuutste toevoeging tot sy uitgebreide stal van modelle, kan die antwoord heelwaarskynlik na beide kante toe swaai, afhangende van die van die voornemende koper se behoeftes en sy begroting.