Redesigned 5 Series

BMW has been a favorite car company of mine for many years and it is a safe assumption to say that I love all of there vehicles, well almost all of them. The BMW 5 series has been at the bottom of the barrel in terms of overall design as compared to other BMW models. Since the release of the E39 model back in 1995, my eye had never been caught by one driving down the road simply because its looks did not set it apart from other cars in its class. This isn't to say that the overall quality and performance of the vehicle was sub par to that of any other model, it was just the body style they never seemed to satisfy my taste.

The E39 model 5 series sported a similar, "aggressive," looking front as did the 3 and 7 series bimmers during the same time period but the car just looked so awkwardly long. The 7 series, BMWs largest sedan, is expected to have the elongated hood and overall body shape simply because it is the grandaddy of all the other series. Along with the never ending hood the rear end was an un-aerodynamic mess of straight lines and boxed edges complemented by over sized taillights. The look of the car had none of BMWs usual "stand-outish" styling and blended in right along with the mid size Lexus' and Mercs. The E39 was caught somewhere between the sporty 3 and luxurious 7 and never really found its place.

The next generation 5 series, the E60, had a more aggressive body style as compared to the previous model. Almost the entire body was redesigned from the headlights to the taillights! BMW scrapped the rectangular front end, found on all of its models from 95' to 04', and moved towards a more rounded aerodynamic look. The E60 with its well know "dragon eye" halo headlights and LED taillights lit up the street with its flashy looks. This model definitely was a notch above the competition on terms of looks with the tear-drop shaped headlights and the taillights creeping up the side of the car; the look was very modern but not over the top.

In the past few months BMW has released snap shots of what the 2011 5 series is going to look like and I must say that I am infatuated. The car has had major reconstructive surgery all around and is donning a fantastically similar look to the current 3 series. The front end shares nearly the same look as the 3 series sedans which actually makes the new 5 look a bit leaner than it measures up to be. The rear shares a slightly modified version of the 3 series sedan's taillights with of course a bigger trunk. Overall the new look is refreshing and will not disappoint the long time 5 series followers. We can expect to see the 2011 5 series hit the market some time late next year.

Used, Better than New

In the time of a dwindling economy and rising taxes many people feel as if they will be stuck with the old outdated car sitting in their garage. Certainly the purchase of a new BMW is out of the question seeing that many tend to be a bit pricier than most a willing to pay given today's economy. Now of course as you can probably imagine most car dealerships are having trouble steering people away from their used car lots and onto the showroom floor, however, BMW cant complain about their buyers points of interest.

In the past two years the market for used cars has nearly doubled that of new cars and it isn't slowing up either. This means that obviously there is a large demand for used cars but some individuals, such as myself, are a bit skeptical about who was the first to sit in the drivers seat. Certified Pro-Owned (CPO) cars give you the piece of mind that the car was not abused in any way, meets all safety standards, and performs beautifully. Many car companies do not operate any sort of division that deals with the resale of there automobiles, BMW has chosen otherwise. BMW's CPO program is rated the best on the planet in terms of quality and overall reliability (Edmunds.com).

First of all the vehicle must be a BMW in order to qualify to be a BMW CPO car, but this doesn't mean that just any old Bimmer that rolls on to the lot has a chance to wear the CPO badge. The vehicle must also have no less than 6,000 miles and no more than 60,000 miles to be considered. The cars are then put through many rigorous tests to evaluate the cars worthiness. It must have had all maintenance done on time and recorded at BMW or at a BMW certified garage, the wheels and tires must meet perfect specifications as they did when they were new, the "fit and finish" of the vehicle must be pristine, and the car must be in proper working order mechanically (BMW USA). There is a master checklist to account for all of the information as well as four signatures to be had by the head technician, head service manager, CPO manager, and of course the customer.

The overall benefit of buying a CPO BMW is the assurance that the used car you a buying is reliable and most importantly, safe. There is, however, one more added benefit to buying a CPO BMW and that is the extended warranty. A CPO BMW's warranty is good up to 6 yrs./ 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Note: "the CPO warranty is not an extension of the original New Car Warranty; the CPO warranty simply takes over after the New Car Warranty expires" (BMW USA). The CPO warranty covers everything from the engine and transmission to the suspension and ABS brakes, as well as the cooling and electrical systems; as you can see all major mechanical parts are covered. However, one should know that, same as the warranty with a new BMW, the CPO warranty is voided when "aftermarket" parts are put on the car.

BMW has given the economical car buyer the assurance that the used vehicle they purchased will not turn into a bottomless money pit as some used cars do. People can now buy the "Ultimate Driving Machine" for an affordable price, in a time of a less than favorable market, and still make it out with some change left in their pockets.

Diesel Driven

For the past ten years many automobile makers have been trying to incorporate a diesel powered car into their lineups. Some were successful but many just could not find the the perfect mixture between diesel fuel efficiency and performance. BMW introduced the 335d back in 2008 with the intentions of selling a fuel efficient sports car; they nearly succeeded. The diesel car market really has not taken off nearly as fast as many have predicted. This is unfortunate because diesel powered cars are going to most likely be the first real push towards fuel efficiency. Electric and hydrogen powered cars are starting to become a more popular research and concept topic for manufacturers but it is their impracticality that is holding up mainline production.

Volkswagen currently leads the diesel market in terms of fuel efficiency with there Jetta TDI but the car really isn't anything impressive outside of it mpgs. Along with VW Audi has also incorporated a few diesel models of there own; none of which that stand out in the performance category. BMW took the design of the 335i sedan and just simply replaced the famed inline six with, yes you guessed it, another inline six but this one is powered by diesel. Don't get too excited by the numerical denotation of the 335d because the overall performance falls between the 328i and the 335i; not that any less performance than the 335i is unsuitable for the common man. The 335d does share the same two baby turbos as the 335i which helps it to outrun the 328i in a dead sprint. The engine boasts a plentiful 265bhp but the real kicker is the massive amount of torque, a whole 425lbs. worth. The 335d skips along 0 to 60 in about 6 seconds flat which is a hair better than most of the cars found in its class.

The 335d has a 16.1 gallon gas tank which is the same size as the 328i and 335i's tank but the diesel gets far better gas mileage than even the smaller engine 328i. The mpgs come in at 23 city and 36 highway, at an average of about 29.5 mpgs. The 328i averages about 23 mpgs while the 335i rolls out about 21.5 on average. Many diesel powered cars tend to run significantly louder than that of there gasoline equivalent, however, the 335d doesn't run any louder than the 328 or the 335 but only produces a different sound under the hood and out the exhaust pipes when accelerating. The 335d prices out at around $44,000 give or take a few of its limited options which is more around the price of a 328 as compared to a 335. The diesel only comes in a four door model with no word of a coupe ever being built. BMW definitely has produced an attractive fuel efficient sports sedan but are people really ready to leave their gas guzzling petrol burners behind?

Economical Cabrios

Since the debut of the original retractable hardtop convertible, the Mercedes-Benz SL class in 2003, many automakers have introduced competing models of their own. Now seeing that the SL class Mercedes was a bit beyond the average persons price range, most thought that attaining a hardtop convertible was a bit out of reach. It was not until BMW, GM, Lexus, Volkswagen, and Volvo came out with more economical convertibles appealing to the masses. BMW and Lexus obviously comes in a bit pricier than the rest and both GM models are true bargains, however, the 'bang for your buck" award definitely can go to either the Volkswagen and Volvo.


The Volkswagen Eos first came onto the market back in the spring of 2006 and has been quite a big seller for VW. The Eos, bearing its name from a Greek goddess (VW), has a two-piece hardtop which completely retracts beneath the Eos' trunk. The top takes about 17 seconds to retract and about 20 to completely close and uses a electrical hydraulic systems of levers and sensors to successfully open and close the top. The Eos' top does a decent job of canceling out road noise and insulates heat well during the winter. With its top up in looks just a sleek as any other sporty coupe but even better when the top down is down. To match its sporty looks, the Eos has a powerful four cylinder turbocharged engine pumping out 200bhp and 207 torque. The cabrio can run 0 to 60 in about 7.4 seconds with its front wheel drive system. Since the vehicle uses the same FWD systems as the Golf GTI, aggressive cornering is something you will want to do on a regular basis. The Eos, well equipped, comes in at about $40,000 according to Volkswagen. The forty thousand dollar price tag offers all of the bells and whistles that a new age navigation can get you including Bluetooth, Sirius Satellite radio capability, and mp3 compatibility. From the dual-climate control to the cast alloy aluminum wheels, the Eos has has every creature comfort you could possibly fit into a two-door convertible.


Hailing from Sweden, the Volvo C70 is good competition against the Vdub with many similar attributes but a reputation of safety that usually edges out most of the competition. The C70's hardtop uses virtually the same retractable hardtop system as the Eos. The top closes and retracts nearly the same as the Eos and sound proofing is nearly comparable. The C70 is powered by a five cylinder turbocharged engine producing 227bhp and 236 torque. The C70 slugs along 0 to 60 in about 8 seconds due to its excessive amount of unnecessary weight. The curb weight of the vehicle does indeed give it a smoother ride than that of the Volkswagen but the cornering feels a bit loose; not to mention the overall length of the car is felt when maneuvering aggressively. So this car definitely isn't as much fun to drive as the Eos but is a bit more refined overall. The interior, although it is made from the same overall materials as the VW, looks and feels a bit nicer and the leather is indeed smoother to the touch. The Volvo has all of the same options as the VW but when equally equipped comes in substantially higher in price. A C70 with all of the same options previously mentioned in the $40,000 Eos, rolls in at about $46,000.


In conclusion both cars are truly a treat to own, however we cannot settle with a tie now can we? If new age looks and overall performance is your style, you definitely will not be disappointed with the 2010 Volkswagen Eos; plus you will not be leaving the dealership with a near-empty wallet. In contrast, if overall comfort and class is something your most interested in, the 2011 Volvo C70 is the car for you but do not think that they wont make you pay for it! With its sporty looks, efficient gas mileage, fun-to-drive DSG transmission, and overall necessity-filled interior, the Eos is my overall pick for the most economical cabriolet.

VW Wolfsburg

The Wolfsburg Edition (WE) Volkswagen's have been long time collectors items that first came on the market back in the mid 80s. The denotation of "Wolfsburg" comes from the head assembly factory located in Wolfsburg, Germany. Wolfsburg has always been the home of Volkswagen even after they decided to expand there assembly factories outside of eastern Europe. In honor of the original factory they decided to make a limited number of Wolfsburg Edition vehicles every new model year.

In the United States, it was only the Jetta that came out in a WE. Unfortunately the WE didn't offer any other engine trims besides the standard one found in the base model Jetta. However, other cosmetic things can be found around the interior and exterior of the car. The VW center-cap logo as well as the stick shift is replaced by the Wolfsburg logo. On the earlier models that came out in the late 80s had Wolfsburg stitching on the front and rear seats. On the latter models the rectangular Wolfburg badge could be found on the passengers side dashboard.

The exterior of the car posed the most noticeable differences that the WE offered. A spoiler came standard with also a special edition sparkling dark gray metallic paint which was found on some Wolsburg models. The WE Jettas had special wheel packages which consisted of uniquely designed wheel patterns wrapped in performance or all-weather tires. On the MkIII Jetta (96' - 98') the taillights were actually tinted versions of the stock Jetta taillights. The newer model WE Jettas donned the same type tinted stock taillights. The rectangular WE logo can also be found on the right side of the trunk lid.

Even though the WE Jettas were not top track performers, or had any bigger engine than the stock Jetta, many VW as well as German automobile enthusiasts long to own one. They were limited edition in their production which added to the excitement of owning one. The rarity of these cars makes them a real treat to see on the road whether they are someones daily driver or show car.

BMW Efficient Dynamics

Nearly six months ago BMW created a new division called Efficient Dynamics. This division is dedicated to the advancement of environmentally friendly, sustainable, vehicle technologies. One of their major projects consists of a redesigned BMW 1 series which runs solely off of electric power. This means that the vehicle has zero emissions which is a big jump from the current hybrid technology which still creates small levels of emissions. The new BMW 1 will be called the Concept ActiveE.

The Concept ActiveE will look exactly the same as the current 1 series coupe and will have all the same dimensions inside and out. The only real difference is the engine powering the car and the wheels. The engine is electric and is run by a quick charging lithium-ion battery. The battery can be recharged in about four and a half hours (BMW USA). The entire engine unit is located on the rear axle instead of under the hood. This helps with the 50 - 50 wait distribution and overall handling of the car. Also, since the engine is located on the rear axle, and the vehicle is RWD, there is virtually no power loss from the crank to the wheels.

The electric power plant produces upwards of 170 bhp and 184 lb. of torque. This by no means is a large amount of power and in comparison to the smallest engine found in the 1 series, it has about 70 horse power less. The car can hit 60 mph in about 8.5 seconds. This short coming is made up for by the vehicles tremendous amount of weight loss found in various sections of the car. For instance, the electric engine weighs significantly less than the, mostly aluminum, motor found in the standard 1 series. Other weight is dropped on other parts of the car with the incorporation of carbon fiber. This helps tremendously with the vehicles stopping distance in contrast to that of a regular 128i.

On a scientific note, the vehicle can actually produce its own energy by way of kinetics. When the driver takes their foot off of the pedal, in an attempt to slow the car down, the vehicle will convert the kinetic energy into power (BMW USA). This energy is then stored within a battery pack to be used later on. The batteries found in the car are liquid cooled but BMW has incorporated a new-age cooling technology into the Concept ActiveE. The unique shape of the wheels funnel air underneath the car to help cool the batteries as well as the engine (Road & Track).

I don't know if I am too crazy about the lack of power or space age wheel design found in the Concept ActiveE, however, this vehicle does indeed scream sustainability. BMW has created a fantastic cornerstone to build off of and they will surely be competitors to beat in the eco-friendly car market of the future. So, look out Chevy Volt there is a new electric car on the block; this one is from across the pond and is sure to give you a run for your money!

Winter Wonderland

Now normally sports cars and snow do not mix but since the early 80s Audi has changed the game. Using their legendary all-wheel drive (AWD) system, Quattro, they have now made it possible to enjoy a sports car in less than desirable weather. When most enthusiasts think of the ideal sports car, rear-wheel drive certainly is the preferred drivertrain. Now being completely realistic, most of us do not live in a climate where the sun is shining all year round with minimal rain, let alone snow; so rear wheel power may be out of the question. Since front-wheel drive really isn't all that much better in adverse weather, and performance usually suffers from it, you only have one other option, AWD.

BMW, Porsche, VW, and Mercedes-Benz have all come out with competing AWD systems to compete with Audi but none have been comparable competition. Audi's Quattro combines traction-control and stability with outstanding performance. Audi's AWD system has been so successful because it has been put through the paces seeing that it was originally used in the Audi Quattro. The Audi Quattro was Audi's first generation rally car which made its name by winning numerous championships since its debut in the mid 80s. They incorporated the same system found in their rally cars into nearly all of their production models. Today, Quattro can be found in all of Audi's models ranging from the A3 the the R8 supercar.

Nearly all of the new Audi models come standard with front-wheel drive and the Quattro is an available option. The exception is found in all of the RS models and of course the R8. AWD truly is a fantastic innovation for all purpose use, however, this isn't to say that it is a good idea to take your car out in a few inches of snow or heavy rain and speed around like a maniac. The Quattro does a exceptionally good job at keeping cars from sliding off of the track when its dry but should be used with just as much caution as a four-wheel-drive SUV in inclimate weather. So if you ever find yourself in a winter wonderland and want a high performing "sleigh," Audi Quattro is your best bet!

All That Glitters

Since the founding of Mercedes-Benz in 1881, people the world over have been in awe of their extraordinary elegance and beauty. Up until the mid 90s many Mercs were almost completely assembled by hand in Germany. As we neared the millennium, machines took over in the building of the vehicles and brings many to question the overall quality of the Mercs. The best example of "lack of quality" is found in the new C class. If you can draw your attention away from the enormous, gaudy emblem found on the hood, take a look inside the new C to understand where I am coming from. The interior, although it does have the sparkle of "carbon fiber" and the flip-up navigation, really isn't aesthetically pleasing. It seems now -a-days you need to pay at least $60,000 to get a dash NOT made of hard, cheap looking plastic or seats made from tough leather. Sitting in the new C class really makes you feel like you are in the lowest model Mercedes.

In contrast to Mercedes-Benz, BMW doesn't sacrifice quality throughout the range of their vehicles. Whether you are sitting in the 128i, the lowest price Bimmer, or an $85,000 650i, the quality is parallel. From the wood grain dashes to the leather sport seats, nothing is made better or worse if your budget hinders you from purchasing any of the higher priced BMWs. Mercedes defends themselves in stating that, "you get what you pay for," but is there really anything wrong with giving the baby Benz a little extra attention on the inside? The redesigned C class brings a whole new meaning to the saying, "cars aren't built like they used to be."

Now I understand that Mercedes-Benz prides themselves on luxury but be sure to know that they will make you pay for it! BMW on the other hand, catering more towards the sports car enthusiast, will make you pay for performance. Keeping the previous statement in mind, its interesting to know that the C class's Bimmer equivalent, the 3 series, is equally priced but has a more refined interior and a beefier engine! With an interior equalling the quality of a 7 series, an engine nothing short of spectacular, worthy price tag, AND an impressive residual, the BMW 3 series blows away the inferior C class! I mean there IS a reason why they call it "The Ultimate Driving Machine."