So this weekend I had the privelage to drive a 2004 BMW M3 SMG which my brother had just purchased.  This M3 is pre flame design and some would say the last good looking Beemer.  Styling aside the real hoot with this car is the almost infinite settings to drive it.  Currently we are bombarded with NAV, radio, HVAC,…..settings to customize our driving experience.  But what about actually driving it?

Many cars now have the “automanual, or triptronic” transmissions to allow you to “shift” when you are in the mood.  The shifts are usually slow and better off just leaving it in D mode.

I recently bought an ‘08 VW GTI with the DSG transmission which is incredible.  Four options of driving (D, paddles, tap shifter, and Sport) help fulfill any need on any day.  The shifts are quicker than a manual and allow you to keep both hands on the beautifully sculpted racing wheel.  I thought this was a buffet of driving styles, but is nothing compared to the M3.

The shifter in the BMW is even a hybrid of manual/ automatic.  There is reverse, neutral and up/ down.  No Park.  Once in froward mode the adjustments begin.  To start there is regular Drive and Sport mode.  Within those two modes there is a line of Verizon bars to increase the shifting and throttle response.  One bar equals big lag in shifts and up to six bars with instant power.  Why you would even start at one bar, I do not know.  At this point the car feels almost like a race car.  Loud engine, incredible power and neck snapping shifts.  Once you get enough of the 10mpg you are down to, there is one more setting.

Turn off the traction control to activate one last bar of increased performance.  How great is that.  There is so much power that the car can not deliver it with the traction control holding it back.  And by the way it is pretty much unuseable in city driving.  This mode is for lead feet only.  I gently pressed the gas and the car mocked me by bucking like a horse.  So I mash the gas and it took off like a bullet.  My only words “Holy Shit.”  I thought my GTI was a blast.  A couple sprints and my ride was done to loss of fuel.  I think I sucked down a quarter of a tank in a mile stretch, but it was worth it.

So after that long prelude, here is my question.

How do you like to drive?  What options would you want?  Why do OEM’s think that all we want to do in a car  is push a stick and go?  I certainly like choosing how much fuel I want to use today, or how lazy I am feeling.  Is there room for these options with the new onslaught of fuel efficient hybrids and electric vehicles.

That’s it.  Build a car with super fuel efficient numbers to sell and make cafe standards.  But then have an option to drive it the way it should with performance in mind.  This way it is the consumers fault for bad mileage numbers.  So that was a lot of questions but it gives you some things to think about.  That is enough ranting for today.