July 2010
2 posts
3 tags
Driving the Nürburgring
Ask any car enthusiast about the Nürburgring and you’ll probably see the little boy or girl in them make a brief appearance. It’s hard to hold back the excitement and reverence that the indoctrinated have for this track
The Ring is one of the pinnacles of modern automotive racing. Built in the 1920s, it has seen nearly 90 years of competitive action. Lucky for you, you don’t...
2 tags
Königin Freue
For several weeks now, Johanna has been asking me what I was going to name my new BMW. Her black Ford Focus is already a named member of our household, going by the ever appropriate “Schwarz” (black in German).
I’ve never named a car, so this was an odd task. How do I name a car I haven’t met? What should I be considering when naming it, anyway? Is it male or female?...
Photos photos photos! →
It turns out that spending all day driving, sightseeing, and drinking good beer leaves little time to blog. Who knew?
As a result, I’m going to try and keep my Flickr stream up to date while saving the quality narration for when my brain and sleep schedule can handle it. For now, click the title above (“Photos photos photos!”) for some great shots of Munich, beloved Cocoa...
June 2010
18 posts
2 tags
3 tags
3 tags
3 tags
2 tags
2 tags
2 tags
3 tags
Die Große Deutschland-Tour
The Grand Tour of Germany
I’m hardly an expert when it comes to Germany, but I definitely have a great appreciation for the geography, the food, the culture, and, of course, the cars. So when it comes to seeing as much of Germany as possible, we’ve got a kick ass plan in place. For 17 days we are going to galavant across Deutschland. From the heart of Bavaria, to the slopes of the...
2 tags
Working with the Best
Buying a car is a scary proposition. Next to buying a home, it’s probably one of the single largest purchases you make in your life. Combine that with the usual tales of car salesman, and you have a classic recipe for indigestion.
It was with this fear that I came across the best cure: Dave Parker, Fleet Manager at Stevens Creek BMW in Santa Clara, California. To say that Dave is a...
conferient asked: Michael,
Awesome set of posts... You'll love .de, I worked for CompuServe in Munich for a few months, it's a great place.
Is it possible to pick up the vehicle on the east coast, then get "Vacation 2: Cross-country Road Trip Boogaloo" out of it?
Also: any plans to hit the Nordschleife while you're out there? :)
Awesome set of posts... You'll love .de, I worked for CompuServe in Munich for a few months, it's a great place.
Is it possible to pick up the vehicle on the east coast, then get "Vacation 2: Cross-country Road Trip Boogaloo" out of it?
Also: any plans to hit the Nordschleife while you're out there? :)
3 tags
To Euro or Not?
Picking up a car in a foreign country is quite the adventure, but most folks don’t realize how doable it really is.
Aside: Before we get too far into what constitutes “doable”, I fully realize that the purchase of a luxury car is exactly that: a luxury. The goal of this post is not to convince you to spend beyond your means or to insinuate that such a purchase is a drop in...
3 tags
Visiting the Welt
One of the great treats in picking up your BMW in Munich is your chance to visit BMW Welt (BMW World, if your German is rusty). BMW Welt is an extraordinary example of modern German architecture and a sight to behold.
Design Matters
For any car enthusiast, this is a trip to the Holy Land. A return to some long forgotten world where quality, craftsmanship, and solid engineering mattered. ...
2 tags
The Story of a Girl
Johanna is my wonderful fiancée. We’ve been together just over three years and will be tying the knot next April. She has been one of the greatest influences in my life and there’s not a day that goes by that I’m not thankful for her. I’m exceedingly happy and truly lucky to get to share this upcoming trip with her.
If you had told me three years ago that I would...
2 tags
Efficient Dynamics
Diesel? Are you sure that’s a good choice….?
I had just explained to my mom that I was taking the plunge and buying a BMW. A diesel burning BMW at that. The 335d to be precise.
For many Americans, diesel conjures up a couple thoughts:
Huge, dirty tractor trailers clogging the highways with billowing plumes of soot.
Huge, dirty trucks and SUVs that are both ill-equipped...
1 tag
Some Backstory
Four years ago I stepped into a 325i sedan and fell in love.
I had recently graduated from college and was getting ready to start a new job. Excited by the newfound prospect of an income, I decided it was time to do some shopping. Not being much of a car guy at the time, I test drove a variety of brands: Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, Lexus, Acura, and finally BMW. I was hooked from the word go.
...