In Queenstown
August 21st, 2012 at 4:00 pm by David FarrarI’m in Queenstown for a couple of days. BMW NZ must have seen the photo Whale took of my almost backing a car down a bank, and decided I need some upskilling.
So they have kindly put me on their BMW Alpine XDrive, which in their own words:
Put your driving skills to the test in the most challenging driving conditions the Southern Alps have on offer, behind the wheel of our latest BMW X Range vehicles. Guided by professional BMW Instructors, you will discover first-hand the class-leading, road-holding capabilities of BMW’s xDrive technology – the world’s most intelligent All-Wheel Drive system.
Having acquired the skills you need to drive in these extreme snow and ice alpine conditions, you will then experience power-slides in the skid circle and compete in timed challenges on the ice slalom. High-speed hot laps with a professional driver, on snow-covered roads are the only way to finish the day.
There is a more than reasonable chance that you’ll get to see a photo of me driving off a cliff and landing a few hundred metres down. If I manage to avoid driving into an icewall, it should be a bloody fun experience.
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August 21st, 2012 at 4:18 pm
Check something for me when you get behind the wheel could you? Flick the wee stalk by the steering wheel and tell us if it’s actually connected in any way to the orange lights on the corners of the car…
Vote:August 21st, 2012 at 4:49 pm
James
If it’s NZ assembled there won’t be any orange lights at the corners.
Vote:August 21st, 2012 at 4:49 pm
Do you know why the Rasta bought a BMW?
Vote:He thought it stood for Bob Marley and the Wailers.
August 21st, 2012 at 4:56 pm
What do you mean ‘almost backing’? It was more than ‘almost!
Vote:August 21st, 2012 at 5:05 pm
If you have a 4WD, I recommend a trip to Paradise, with maybe Kinloch, the Routeburn and Greenstone Valley thrown in: some of the most awsomely fabulous scenery in New Zealand. Regardless, I hope you have a great time.
Vote:August 21st, 2012 at 5:09 pm
Obviously want you to buy one.
Vote:You do know that if you break it you have to buy it on one of these things David?
August 21st, 2012 at 5:18 pm
“If it’s NZ assembled there won’t be any orange lights at the corners”
Yes there are orange lights on the corners but the default setting is off. They are only used on rare occasions such as getting into the fast lane (BMW lane)
Vote:August 21st, 2012 at 5:19 pm
Are you sticking around Q’town or straying out of town?
[DPF: We're staying at Millbrook. I think we have drinks at Cardona Hotel tomorrow late afternoon if that is handy]
Vote:August 21st, 2012 at 5:25 pm
Sounds like fun.
Although the provincial in me wonders how far off road you’re REALLY likely to go in an automatic BMW softroader…
Vote:August 21st, 2012 at 5:27 pm
To DPF and BMW owners:
The other day I was cruising along as usual coming onto one of my motorways,
which was very busy with inferior cars.
First off, I couldn’t believe that the volume of traffic DIDN’T slow down
for me AT ALL as I came off the slip road! I had to squeeze into a barely
big enough gap between two cars in order to get onto my motorway (the driver
of the car behind me did realize his mistake though and honked an apology to
me with a long blast of his horn.)
Unbelievably, I had to do the same again before I could get to the BMW lane
(why do underlings use this lane? Surely everyone knows it is for BMW
drivers only?).
Anyway, once I was in the BMW lane and posing along at 140 kph enjoying the
adulation that the inferior car drivers were giving me, I noticed an
inferior car ahead of me which was not only in the BMW lane of my motorway,
but was driving at a ridiculous 100 kph. Naturally, I got to within a foot
or so of his rear bumper and flashed my headlights to remind him he shouldn’t
be in the BMW lane of my motorway and to get out of my way. Of course, once
he realized it was a BMW behind him, he did just that, but I could hardly
believe it when he pulled straight back out behind me! He also tried to keep
up with me and when he realized I would out-run him, he put on some blue
lights in his front grill and urged me to get onto the hard shoulder so that
he could congratulate me on my excellent car.
Needless to say, I was eager to oblige and when we had stopped, the man gave
me a piece of paper confirming what I already knew – that my car goes fast!
Apparently he wants everyone to know what a superior car I have, so I had to
go to court and show them. The man also said if I carried on like this they
would take my drivers licence away! Can you imagine no need for a drivers
licence?
See, now THAT’s the sort of respect you get when you buy and drive a BMW!
Vote:August 21st, 2012 at 5:40 pm
Steve
Vote:Yours sounds like the kind of vehicle Winston needed this afternoon to get out of the Debating Chamber fast enough to satisfy the Speaker!
August 21st, 2012 at 5:49 pm
Yeah, poor Winston, couldn’t happen to a better bloke lol.
Vote:Jacinda needs one as well to communicate quick with the duck
August 21st, 2012 at 6:31 pm
Ah, so the “new” Barry Chump.
don’t forget the dog. Or the hay bale in the boot.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5aw-PGqhZM&feature=autoplay&list=ULVCkjBKjCikU&playnext=2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbBx4Ql6Umo&feature=fvwp
Vote:bugger
August 21st, 2012 at 8:24 pm
A BMW Alpine XDrive? Very nice!
But be sure to tell us the number of times you hit the wipers instead of indicating!
Heh….
Vote:August 21st, 2012 at 9:45 pm
DPF A bit stuck tomorrow afternoon. Enjoy drinks.
Vote:August 21st, 2012 at 10:27 pm
Millbrook. Noice. BMW. Hmmm. Couldn’t do it meself. Rather have a VW and the money in the bank.
Vote:August 22nd, 2012 at 12:58 pm
Buy A Land Rover in the Auckland region and go on their Driving Instruction course in South Auckland for the day, and learn to drive, with instructors every sort of vehicle they have, and every terrain on the course. Great fun
Vote: