BMW

Back in 1979, the curmudgeon was looking for a new car.  He was going to trade in his Dodge 1972 Challenger.  Having seen little BMW 320s dart (yes, dart) around him as he commuted in the company Ford station wagon, he went to take a look


The salesman simply tossed him a set of keys and said try it.  As the car leapt - no kidding - leapt into it's first turn, it was bought. The princely cost ($12,000) was the beginning of many more princely sums for BMWs


Its mighty 4-cylinder engine could out-perform the curmudgeon's sainted wife's 280z.  Driving my best friend Bob around in it once, we were approaching a sharp curve, I was zipping along, and Bob did one of those fearful brake motions from the passenger side that driving school teachers worldwide do.  The car, again, simply leapt into the curve.


I don't buy BMWs because they have become status symbols - they still leap into turns.


Back in 1994, the curmudgeon wanted to move further up the BMW food scale.  So, looking at 5 series cars, the salesman said "we call this the point-and-shoot"  model.  Greatly