And the nominees are...
Drop Top - The Driver Profile: Sunshine junkie.
Easy - any car with a removable roof when a fixed roof car just misses the mark, every time.

Torque Galore - The Driver Profile: Torque-monger. Any car that has gobs of torque at any rpm range, doesn't require much shifting as a result and pins you to the seat in the straights.

Slice and Dice - The Driver Profile: Performance fanatic. Light, agile, high revving, more fun for the driver than the second class passenger with very sporty styling, often a coupe is preferred for a stiffer chassis.

GT Cruiser - The Driver Profile: Boulevard king. Treats the passenger(s) with the same luxury and respect as the driver, smooth ride, easy to get in and out, often has a token back seat, heavy but comfortable.

While some cars fall into more than one category, I think many drivers tend towards a particular style of car. You don't have many people say their favorite type of car is a big comfortable grand touring sports car that their significant other enjoys for a casual weekend cruise and then they own a Lotus Elise, which is exactly the opposite of that. No, they want a Mercedes-Benz SL or a Ferrari 550 Maranello. Or the person who wants a convertible to enjoy the wind in the hair and then they own a Cayman S. No, they choose a Boxster or a Corvette convertible.

I am impartial to the Slice and Dice category. Give me a coupe, light weight, edgy styling and I am thrilled. The Cayman S, BMW's new or old M coupe or M3, Lotus Elise (hard top on, please), Aston Martin V8 Vantage, Porsche 911 C4S, Ferrari 360 Modena (Challenge Stradale, Mmmm), F430 (Scuderia is better yet) or Lamborghini Gallardo (Superleggera...) or Audi R8 to name but a few. I like the torsional rigidity of a coupe and generally, with few exceptions, the roof line looks far better on a coupe. Chopping the top loses a lot of the cool design appeal incorporated into the roof line.

Weigh in with your opinions. What category do you prefer? Did I leave out a category? Feedback wanted!

Labels: Club Sportiva, convertible, exotic car share club, GT, sports coupe, torque monster

With each new generation of BMW M3, it continues gravitating towards the appeal and approval of the mass market and further away from the original, raw E30 M3. This isn't to say the M3 is not an awesome performer and all around winner, but when anyone can use the car as a daily driver, it has then become too luxurious and ubiquitous in my books.

I know some hardcore BMW M3 nuts will say I'm crazy as they try to defend the M3 as perfect as it is now. Yes, the M3 is great performance car and yet can still be used with versatility. I am fine with that, don't get me wrong, but...the M3's position is as BMW's scorching racer and a racer shouldn't be out to satisfy everyone. The M3 has really just become the top of the line 3-Series, like Audi's S4. BMW needs to introduce the M3R (or something like CSL). Unlike the ultra rare CSL, which you never see, BMW should sell this lighter, racier, slightly more powerful car through all dealers, not just a limited run for the lucky few. I am suggesting that just like they sell the convertible and four door sedan along side the M3 coupe, there should also be a light version that is more raw.

There are certainly benefits with each new generation of M3 that has increasingly more electronic gadgetry and over rides (read rubbery-computerized road manners), a plush interior, a full bevy of amenities and thus the ever-present added weight and an increasing price tag. In general, this trend is across all categories of cars, so I am not saying that only BMW's M3 suffers from the bloating effect of more luxury nannies being added. The M3 has evolved too far from its roots as a raw, seat of the pants version of the 3-Series. Now it is as common and as smooth as its little brother, the 335i.

For anyone wondering, here is the evolution of the various BMW M3 generations: E30 (1986 - 1992); E36 (1994 - 1999); E46 (2001 - 2006); E92 (2008+ ). Sales volume has progressively crept upward as each model is designed to better accommodate the mass market.

Am I crazy to desire a harder core M3 than what is parked in every lot around town? I want an M3 that isn't designed to be a run-of-the-mill daily driver for the every-man. The M3 I want makes no sacrifices to accommodate comfort and luxury. That is what the original E30 was - simple, raw, pure sports car.

BMW, I dare you to build an M3 that isn't designed to sell 40,000 units. Come on, reinvent the M3. Please?

Labels: BMW M3, Club Sportiva, E36, E46, E92, exotic car share club, sports car, sports coupe

Are you a coupe or convertible person? Most people have a strong preference one way or the other. For those who like convertibles, having a top on the car botches the experience. Our Club Members are often pretty vocal one way or the other.

Personally, I am a coupe fan. Though oddly, for the past six years I have driven three different convertibles as my daily drivers with another two previous targa top cars before that. I think it is sheer coincidence I've been driving so many convertibles, but it was probably about five years ago I became more a fan of coupes than convertibles. Hopefully here soon I can finally get back to enjoying a coupe for my next car. ;) I have/had a 2006 BMW Z4 3.0Si, 2005 Honda S2000, 2002 Honda S2000, 1982 Ferrari 308 GTSi, 1995 Honda Del Sol Si (in order of ownership). It's a motley crew, but all were fun cars when I had them.

I like coupes for several reasons. One, I am not a big fan of getting tons of sun and wind while driving, plus all the noise top up or down. Besides, in San Francisco, it is often too cold to drop the top. Keep in mind, I am using my car as a daily driver, not a weekend car, so that has an impact on livability. I'm on my phone a lot while in the car commuting and coupes are quieter. Also, as the hard core sports car fan I am, I like a bare bones sports car, and that is typically not a convertible. Though the S2000, one of the cars I drive, is one of those pure sports cars and happens to only come in convertible form.

These days, more car manufacturers are introducing folding hard tops that solve this issue. The key is when the top is up, the design has to look fully integrated and not make-shift when the top is up such that you are compelled to put it down. The folding hard tops are improving, for sure and even Ferrari is getting into it now with the new Ferrari California.

So, in which camp are you? Do you prefer the sun and wind of a convertible? Or do you prefer the sleek roof line and chassis rigidity of a coupe?

Labels: Club Sportiva, convertible, Driving experience, exotic car share club, sports coupe