No sense waiting around for the Rolex Monterey Historic Automobile Races, I figured. You'd just spend the weekend looking at the back of people's legs instead of old historic racing cars. Most of the same machinery always runs the vintage racing event at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca the weekend before, an event fondly known as, "The Pre-Historics."
So I pointed the 2009 BMW 135i toward Monterey and looked forward to seeing some interesting cars, notably one of the John Wyer-run Porsche 917s in Gulf Oil colors that raced at the 1970 24 Hours of Le Mans and gave Steve McQueen's Le Mans its timeless appeal.
And after I put a couple tanks of gas into the 1 Series over the course of 800 miles or so, I noticed that a lot of us have been choosing the smallest BMW for long-distance travel. Just check the odometer.
No mystery, as this car combines a great driving position, excellent visibility, supple suspension and an engine with a powerband so wide and seamlessly elastic that you never really have to use the gearbox unless you want to.
I spent a lot of time on the usual Interstate, but also took my favorite crossing point from Interstate 5 into the Salinas Valley, CA Highway 129 between Coalinga and King City. It's a classic California road, along a creek bed next to an earthquake fault and then over some mountains covered in coastal oaks to empty cattle pasture.
But as much fun as I had driving this BMW on the winding pavement of Hwy 198, I have to admit that the real reason this BMW is such a great traveling companion is because it's so comfortable. BMW guys can talk at you about power and performance until you're cross-eyed, but the hidden goodness here is a car that's more comfortable than a Honda Accord.
Michael Jordan, Executive Editor @ 26,100 miles
jederino says:
03:13 PM, 08/11/09
I enjoyed the Sovren Vintage races this summer in Kent, WA. Great track, great visibility, and no crowds.
manuelc says:
03:40 PM, 08/11/09
Have you ever taken the drive on the 198 the opposite way through Visalia and into the Sequoias?
clarkma5 says:
05:05 PM, 08/11/09
Next time any of you guys drive from LA to Monterey (since you seem to do it a lot), try Carmel Valley Road. It connects Greenfield (on highway 101) with Carmel, and it's a real test of a car's mettle.
buickboy92 says:
10:45 PM, 08/11/09
Man, I would love to go to one of these races.
sgude says:
04:35 AM, 08/12/09
Shhhh! Stop telling the secrets of Bimmer drivers, Jordan!
blueguydotcom says:
06:55 AM, 08/12/09
Road trips in Bimmers: it's the fun aspect and the feeling of being connected. When we're on road trips with rental cars I end up feeling sick in most cars as I can't feel the road through the steering wheel. It's disconcerting.
Gotta say taking a Bimmer through the side roads of the alps is still my favorite drive of all time.
DLu says:
07:12 AM, 08/12/09
agree w/ amazing comfort and quietness, considering handling precision and taught suspension.
redwoodaggie says:
07:29 AM, 08/12/09
That's absolutely true. If they can make a 6'7" person feel comfortable in a 135i, they can make just about anybody comfortable. I took a road trip from Houston to L.A. in 2002 in my friend's 2001 330Ci (manual) and it was a breeze. Absolutely comfortable and I never got sore.
vvk says:
07:41 AM, 08/12/09
Are you kidding me?! Honda Accord?! Please. That noisy, rough riding, ugly tin-box that costs much more than it is worth?
When I drove one recently, it had vibration coming through on steering wheel, pedals and gearshift lever -- on a brand new car?! Disgusting... And those terrible seats...
08lr3 says:
12:08 PM, 08/12/09
agree trip to Colmar France for the Tour de France then to Zurich and back to Landstuhl Germany.. it was 1 FUN run! LOVE MY 135i
roadburner says:
02:35 PM, 08/12/09
"Road trips in Bimmers: it's the fun aspect and the feeling of being connected."
As part of my semi-retirement I'm assigned to do on-site consults all over the state; sometimes I have to drive over 1,700 miles per month. I simply take the Club Sport and I enjoy every mile. I'm comped for mileage and since the car gets over 30 mpg I'm coming out way ahead. Win/Win.
lvranger says:
03:05 PM, 08/12/09
I love that road. I took it when I rode to the Moto GP races on the fourth. It combines lots of twisties with some nice straights. Very fun but easy to get stuck behind slow cars/trucks in some parts.
roadburner says:
03:17 PM, 08/12/09
"Road trips in Bimmers: it's the fun aspect and the feeling of being connected."
As part of my semi-retirement I'm assigned to do on-site consults all over the state; sometimes I have to drive over 1,700 miles per month. I simply take the Club Sport and I enjoy every mile. I'm comped for mileage and since the car gets over 30 mpg I'm coming out way ahead. Win/Win.