2002 BMW 745i - Challenging the Senses on Every Level
Has BMW created a car that is too technologically advanced? Fortunately, reports state that technological ability increases with wealth, demographically speaking, which bodes well for the premium marque. Still, despite my fairly advanced computer know-how, I found its systems hardly intuitive. Consider this, I receive more than 100 vehicles each year for at least a week, yet I needed detailed operating instructions just to get out of BMW Canada's parking lot. Forget that, I needed someone to hold my hand just to get it into reverse!
Let me walk you through it. Slot the electronic key into the appropriate dash orifice, and press the START button. The 7's fully automatic starter brings the engine to life with quiet immediacy. Take your left forefinger and press the electronic parking brake button to disengage. Then, with your right forefinger, pull back the stubby aluminum shift stalk located in the usual place behind the steering wheel. Move it up for reverse, down for drive or between for neutral, like a regular column shift automatic. To put it in 'Park', just push the button on the end of the shifter stalk toward the column, press the parking brake button to engage and the key to stop the engine. That doesn't sound too hard does it?