Let me be honest with you: this is the first time for me to handle a German car.  For all my years as a car enthusiast, I've only driven cars from the likes of Toyota, Nissan, Honda and Mitsubishi.  Thus, I nearly jumped for joy when I was given the go signal to finally test a German car.  Moreover, a car from a car manufacturer which has an infallible reputation for building 'The Ultimate Driving Machine'.

When I stared at this sleek, black BMW 328Ci, I found myself smiling all over.  Every line of this vehicle speaks to you, almost saying 'drive me…enjoy me'.  The clean, chiseled look of this car brings about a sense of masculinity that is often lacking in other similar cars.  Some of you may argue that this car may not look different from a typical Japanese car's appearance, but I have to object.  Unlike other Japanese cars that I've driven or owned, it's only this BMW that truly speaks directly to my heart.  Call it badge snobbery or anything, but even so…this car is a beauty. The lines of this convertible echo those found in the 3-series coupe or even sedan, thus they flow from end to end, and they seem to unite to form one solid-looking form.  However, be warned: if you're the type who likes to seek attention, then this car is not for you.

There are several wonderful details that I want to share regarding this BMW.  The mirrors contain small, black textured dots.  These, according to BMW decrease the wind noise at high speeds, thus making this car quieter.  More details that I like are regarding the tires and mags.  The owner says that the mags and tires of this BMW 328Ci are not the stock ones…it shows.  However, the new set of wheels is still a perfect match for the car's jet plane-like performance.  The light alloy wheels are still original BMW equipment but has been increased from the stock 15" to new sportier-looking 17", likewise the tires from 205 / 60 VR 15 to 225 / 50 ZR 17s.  This makes the steering more precise in cornering and the car more stable, but the trade off is that caution must be exhibited when going over humps, especially the high, 'village' type ones.

The doors open and close with a solid clunk, typically German, I thought.  As I stepped inside the vehicle, I've quickly noticed how small the interior space of this car really is: my head was actually touching the soft top's roof; the shoulder space and the knee space were just enough for me with no room to spare.  However, quickly I've noticed how this car really envelopes you, much like a driver's vehicle, or closer to a sports car even.  The steering wheel, pedals and gear knob were all at easy reach and required no stretching whatsoever.  The electrically adjustable seats had fine increments to make sure that you get the best driving position available.  The only problem I saw was that the middle storage box actually blocked the parking brake lever, so putting it up and down needed me to adjust my whole right arm and the use of three fingers to lift it up. 

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