It does attracts special responses...
Some light hearted stuff to share with fellow BM owners here on this sleepy Friday afternoon...
I have been driving Japanese cars all my life, till last end of last year when I felt it was time to change my 8 year old Civic, as things start to fall apart. My good friend (a die-hard BM fan) suggested me to switch to BM telling me it would be decision I would not regret adding that once you have driven a BM you would not want to revert back to drive a Jap car. Given the price differential between the 316i and the Jap model that I was eyeing was narrow (about 15k after trade-in, discounts, etc.), I decided to switch and bought the 316i. I have been driving it for 1 year since. In terms of the tangible aspects (e.g. power, performance, comfort, features, etc.) the comparable Jap cars are no where near it. I guess this needs no elaboration. However, what caught me by surprise was the attention you get driving a new BM.
People start seeing you differently. For a start, some my neighbours who would normally just walk pass me or at most just "hi-and-bye" to me start getting more friendly and engage in small talks. I also noticed road users in general tend to be more "polite" - maybe they reckon it may be costly to be involved in accident disputes with BMs. Then there is a condo that I go almost regularly for drop off and pick-up. When I drive my Civic previously, the guard will stop me and ask me standard questions (e.g. which unit I want to visit, purpose of visit, etc.) even when I tell them upfront I am there just only for drop off/pick up and also given that they do recognize me. However, things changed when I started driving the BM. Surprisingly, most of the time they just lift up the barrier and let me pass when they see my car drive in. Occasionly, when they do stop me and when I tell them I am there to drop off/pick up, most of the time they dun probe further and let me pass. The latest incident happened recently. It was a lady manning the guard house. I told her I am here to "pick up". She smiled, paused for awhile and cheekily replied - "How come no one come and pick me up, one ah?" and then let me pass.
Any regrets buying the 316i? No, in fact I think I am getting more than what I bargained for.