Altruism. Not a word that is normally associated with me. As a native Los Angeleno, I'm quite content being self-serving and self-involved. Imagine my surprise when I volunteered to be a designated driver for a group of friends. Granted, these friends were exceptionally attractive members of the opposite gender - ok, so maybe this wasn't as selfless as I lead on...
That was my pitch to the keeper of the keys. My personal cars don't have enough seats and I was really hoping to procure something with a bit more style than the usual fare that I'm offered (I'm the new guy, so it's usually the Saturn Aura or Diesel Jetta). In a "Help a Brother Out" moment, the keymaster came through. Our BMW X5 - Four doors, easy entry/exit, decidedly upscale interior and ride, and quiet enough to hear the conversations.
The X5 was perfect. My passenger easily found the tunes she was in the mood for on my iPod via iDrive. Entering the address of bachelorette number two proved a bit more problematic, but before too long we had audible instructions to our next stop. In heavy Hollywood traffic, the X5 easily sliced through the throngs of inattentive drivers and the shoddy Melrose pavement was smoothed over by its supple suspension. The rearview camera made me look like a parallel-parking pro and let's face it, I felt pretty good driving an upscale SUV in image-conscious L.A.
We ended-up closing down one of the finest West Hollywood restaurants and in my sobriety, I realized that next time I should probably hire car service. Having all of my faculties among inebriated aspiring starlets is not nearly as fun as I thought. Much like a Tarantino movie, I hung in there out of morbid curiosity (seriously, shooting hoops at midnight and losing a game of H-O-R-S-E to a red-headed model in stilettos?). Only in L.A. - and I'd have it no other way. BMW X5, you can be my wingman anytime!
Mark Takahashi, Associate Editor, Edmunds.com
lenoroc says:
12:21 PM, 09/25/08
Nice picture but I really wish L.A. wasn't so damn image conscious. I remember an incident where my male friends and I were waving (casually) from an Accord at a Lexus full of fine-looking females. What did the driver respond with?
"At least I have a Lexus!"
Uncalled for! Bah!
bepperb says:
12:47 PM, 09/25/08
If I drove around in a BMW X5 I'd basically have to wear no shirt and carry around a big can of Pabst to even things out. I guess Milwaukee is different from LA.
dragonflight says:
12:48 PM, 09/25/08
Picture reminds me a lot of the Cadillac commercials. That is to say, it looks pretty cool.
compliance says:
01:06 PM, 09/25/08
So how much does it suck when you have to explain to the attractive members of the opposite gender that it's not really your car? ;)
slickersdrip says:
01:15 PM, 09/25/08
This was the last picture taken by the photographer, as he was struck down by a kidney grille only seconds later.
joefrompa says:
01:39 PM, 09/25/08
Bepperb - Superb, just superb. PBR all the way. :)
Mark - Who is the guy in the back seat? Unless he's recently trans-gendered, you've got yourself a member of the same sex taking up precious seating space :)
You image-concious freaks :)
Joe
santiagofdz says:
01:46 PM, 09/25/08
That is a very nice picture.
And the girl riding shotgun looks cute.
jriz says:
01:55 PM, 09/25/08
Takahashi's just making us all look bad. That photo? Riding around with aspiring starlets? The '57 Thunderbird?
Jerk.
allenychung says:
02:15 PM, 09/25/08
Hey, the person behind the driver is a dude!
rocklah says:
02:29 PM, 09/25/08
If only the G8 was available. This is simply an observation but lately XC90's, Q7, LR3's and X5's have become the new Los Angeles soccer mom/dad choice of transport. The G8 would have been a little more ummm how do I put it.. BALLIN!
homburger says:
03:51 PM, 09/25/08
Takahashi
Did you get some?
carfreak8394 says:
04:08 PM, 09/25/08
dragonflight,
you're right, it does remind me of the Cadillac commericals. And that is one awesome picture!
misterfusion says:
04:09 PM, 09/25/08
How did you get Scott Jacobs to balance on the hood like that?
I was at the HBO Emmy after-party on Sunday, and while waiting in the garage for someone else to arrive, I noticed that the cars of choice for invitees were almost evenly split between upscale German sedans, and... Prius.
And then I saw a grey Rondo pull up, and I was like, "YES!!"
Mind you, all of the BIG invitees were arriving at the front in limos...
lazyhater says:
05:35 PM, 09/25/08
We need pictures of the exceptionally attractive members of the opposite gender!
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploads12/ttiwwop1205171688.gif
subytrojan says:
06:01 PM, 09/25/08
I call "photochop!" The interior looks too well lit for driving out on the town. Mark, nice Top Gun reference! I'm going to assume JDP and Sadlier have welcomed you into the club already!
subytrojan says:
06:01 PM, 09/25/08
And Bryn too!
blankfocus says:
05:01 AM, 09/26/08
wow, is that a rig shot? with off-camera flash? i like you.
blankfocus says:
05:02 AM, 09/26/08
now i'm thinking it's just the interior light...still cool though.
0mega says:
05:59 AM, 09/26/08
That really is an awesome picture :)
I personally, Hate the X5. Why? It's a great car. The people who drive them here though. Ugh.
Every single one, except the kid who is 19, is the stereotypically cheap rich guy or girl. Every one. 3.0i's all around. I've seen atleast 10, and only ONE 4.8 (The 19 year old, Who just happened to be the biggest jerk off... And guess who paid for it? Daddy. He made sure we all knew. )
Regardless, they tend to abuse the rules of the road to an utterly scary degree, and most of them take up two parking spots. Therefore, I loathe the x5's of Hamilton ontario. Sad, isn't it?
Now the Cayenne... Those are some respectably ugly SUV's. Only those who know porsches buy them here.
dougtheeng says:
06:12 AM, 09/26/08
"And the girl riding shotgun looks cute."
+1, lol
subytrojan says:
09:09 AM, 09/26/08
An inside source has told me the pic isn't a photochop. :o) Hopefully he'll chime in soon. After all, we do get some work done here. :)
mtakahashi says:
09:36 AM, 09/26/08
Hey everybody, thanks for the comments. Here's scoop on the shot:
Suction cup mount on the hood.
Canon 5d
17-35mm lens (set at 17mm)
ASA 1600
1.6 seconds / f4.0
Manual focus
RAW format
Triggered by pocket wizards
I turned on the interior/map lights to get enough light on the faces (you can see it above the rearview mirror). Speed is only about 30mph on La Cienega Blvd., sometime after midnight. The only photoshop work was adjusting the color temp and exposure. Yes, the person behind me is a dude - he's the sommelier at Sona, the restaurant we closed down. If you visit the bar (and you're not driving), order a "Mark's Drunken Summer".
lazyhater says:
09:50 AM, 09/26/08
"I personally, Hate the X5. Why? It's a great car. The people who drive them here though. Ugh.
Every single one, except the kid who is 19, is the stereotypically cheap rich guy or girl. Every one. 3.0i's all around. I've seen atleast 10, and only ONE 4.8 (The 19 year old, Who just happened to be the biggest jerk off... And guess who paid for it? Daddy. He made sure we all knew. )
Regardless, they tend to abuse the rules of the road to an utterly scary degree, and most of them take up two parking spots. Therefore, I loathe the x5's of Hamilton ontario. Sad, isn't it? "
This is why I enjoy smoking everyone of them with my STi, the hottest SUVs out there with the most power, is still a 5000 lbs+ truck that is slightly slower then my STi, I never had a problem smoking all X5 4.8i, Cayenne Turbo, AMG ML63.....that think they are king of the road in a $100k truck with 500 hp. They can't even pass a $30k rice burner, pathetic.
They all get extremely angry when they lose a stop light race from 0-60. I enjoy making jerk angry.....haha....
jriz says:
11:52 AM, 09/26/08
Oh, and now he's hanging out with sommeliers?
Jerk.
brn says:
01:39 PM, 09/26/08
Sommelier? Yet another word that I had to look up. This Wide Wide World of Web is learnin me good.
Beer me.