Since 1996 I had always told myself "drive this car till it breaks down." And so of course the Stupid car never broke down. In fact, it still had the same bloody clutch when we said goodbye last Sunday!

I know what you're thinking "he should have driven it harder!"

Well, I did. I wasn't that nice to it really. I took it over 130 many times, attacked corners and since it was my only car, I took it everywhere Home Depot (concrete bags, wheel barrel inside), loaded gear like a 32-inch Sony TV (I remember the salesman "you're not going to fit that in there" -i managed to and smiled as I drove away), city dump runs -you name it.

I always did look after the engine though with regular tune ups, oil changes etc. The worst thing that ever happen was a radiator crack.

hit and run and caught
There was that time when someone hit my car trying to park in front of me in downtown Seattle.

I wasn't near the car at the time, but when I returned my car had been pushed backwards -partially up onto the sidewalk! Someone had crushed my grill in and rode my car backwards. Then they left a note (in my hand in the photo) with a bad telephone number to fool witnesses.

A kitchen shop employee (see kitchen shop directly behind me) said "don't worry she's left a note for you." Figuring she would just find another parking spot, I asked "What kind of car was it? Did you see the direction they went?" Armed with that information, I promised myself that if they had parked again anywhere near there I would find them. The market had just opened on a Sunday and if they had driven there to shop, they'd just re-park and continue on with their day. So a friend of mine and I began our search and only 10 minutes later we found the car! It still had part of my front license attached to her tow hitch!

I noticed that she had locked her keys in her car so I knew she wasn't going anywhere fast. I had some time to flag down the police. This proved harder than I thought it would be...but in the end I managed to convince some nice police cyclists to help. Impressed with my investigative abilities the police officers asked me if I wanted a job in the department :-) When the ladies came back to find their car getting towed they tried to deny it. Then they received a hit and run citation from the police. The passenger then claimed that the driver was from Germany and that she didn't know any better. I shouted back "you stupid twit, it's a German made car she should respect it even more!" I think that's when the police officers told me not to say anything else. The tow truck in the background is in the process of impounding their vehicle. That made me happy.

whispers
I never worried too much about the 325i's cosmetics. The one exception to that was in my twenties, when I purchased a gear shift knob cover with '///M' on it and M floor mats. I never pretended to be driving an M car but I did find humor in saying "I have an M3 (long pause) gear knob." So for 10 years when I looked at those M symbols they reminded me that I was driving a rather standard issue, run of the mill car. The M logo somehow seemed to whisper "you need to upgrade." I swear once I heard them say "what are you doing driving a rich high school students car? You need a real sports car. A real upgrade!"

So I finally gave in and upgraded last weekend.

Trying to decide from my short list was tough. Do I play it safe and get a used 2002 328i? That would be a big upgrade. Maybe buy an '02 M5 (conservative looks, crazy power, not bangled yet)? Or an '07 335i (w/ M kit if available)? or the 335xi (I am a skier)? Those were all in the running because finding the right used M3 for me in the Seattle area had proven tricky. Loads of M3 convertibles, red on black / black on red coupes, white with many dings, SMGs with high miles, modded tracked out black on black (which would never let me know what the car was engineered to be like).

I just wanted an M3 manual, carbon black on black, under 30k on the clock, one that had been loved. Sunroof + premium stereo would be nice. I didn't want an outdated nav as this is going to be my daily driver. I know my way to work.

I needed to make the right decision. This car was likely going to be my only car for the next 10 years... maybe the rest of my life who knows? It was going to be the most expensive thing I've bought except my house.

close call
So which car should I buy? Performance wise: The M5 was too much. I could hear the gas burning when I drove it. Thoughts of driving from gas station to gas station filled my head. So the M5 was out. The 335i seemed fun and quick when I test drove several of them in dry and rainy conditions. But could I take those same ///M labels staring at me and whispering to me? In the end, the 335xi seemed like that was my best option. 4 year/50k warranty, iPod charging, bluetooth etc. I thought if I hear whispering later I'll just turn the stereo up. Best of all I'd get to choose the features and the colors -sparkling graphite on black looks sexy! Also I would get a few fun months of excitement tracking My car's progress from Germany. For 2 weeks, I kept trying to convince myself the 335xi was it. The engine had a few cool tricks and who knows maybe the turbos are the BMW way of the future? Push button starter -it's Ferrari like.

So last Saturday night I said "tomorrow I'm going to put an order in for a '07 335xi." I'll be done with the car search and it will feel good. No more weekends walking around dealerships in the pouring rain.

The long search was over. So I decided to celebrate. I opened a really good bottle of wine! I can relax and start to surf car sites without the buying pressure. Then I went back to cars.com.

I saw a new listing of an M3 less than 15 miles away. I swear it wasn't listed just hours earlier. A specialty car dealer had posted an M3 AND it fit my specs! I double checked it. Had my wife confirm it. An '02 28k, all service records, carbon black on black, manual, premium stereo, sunroof, no nav, no heated seats -just performance!

After missing 3 different 02-04 M3's by a few days over the last 2 years, I went to the specialty car dealer first thing the next morning (which happen to be directly across from the BMW dealership). I test drove it (the handling made the 325i seem like a Ford Fiesta) and I made an offer. The sales agent came back (15 long minutes later) and congratulated me "you now own an M3."

blue skies
It had been rainy last Friday, Saturday and Sunday morning. But by the time the deal was done it had stopped raining and the sun was out. It was a sign! Driving home in the M3 the whispering had stopped an the M3's soul embraced me. I felt a little younger and more excited knowing that everyday I could take the M3 out for a spin. On the drive back home to Seattle, under blue skies, I had a chance encounter with another 02 BMW M3 carbon black when trying to change lanes. We both waved each other into the space ahead of our cars and finally he punched it and went in front of me slowing down enough to wave thanks as the freeway split directions.

Soon after I thought to listen to the engine sound more carefully, to fully appreciate it. The radio was off, I put the windows down and I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It sounded like a full orchestra, much better than when I was test driving it that morning. I thought WOW that can't be my car! And sure enough, it wasn't. The sound was coming from a Red Ferrari F430 driving in my blind spot! The more I accelerated the more it did. I slowed down to take a look at his car and we drove side by side for 2-3 miles. Looked like a Microsofty guy in a Bill Gates like sweater. I couldn't help but stare at him thinking "you stupid Microsofty, you're ruining this moment for me! YES your car is way better than mine. Now will you please drive it away fast?" Usually I would go out of my way to reel in a Ferrari just to look at the model, the design etc. I've always considered them mobile works of art. Most of the time it seems like I only see Ferrari's driving the opposite direction from me on the freeway. So this was funny.

obey the whispers
In the end, the new '07 335xi just didn't have the M soul. It never would have it and I knew it deep down. Sure the handling was good but the overall package was not exciting. Real excitement happens when a car has clean dash lines, a great instrument panel, properly weighted doors, amazing handling, amazing engine performance and sound. It's also a feeling you get from the car. Does it make you want to get up early on Sunday mornings and go for a drive? I am glad I was saved at the last minute and that I didn't get a 335xi. It's been a very enjoyable 7 days so far and hopefully many more fun full days ahead. And since it's Sunday morning I think I'll go for a drive...

If you are a 3 series owner (hearing whispers at every red light) debating between a new 3 series or a used M3 as an upgrade, my advice to you is wait to find your M3. Then once you get it, always take your time finding a good parking spot.