There are a lot of reasons to own a BMW, and for most prospective buyers safety isn't usually on the short list. Yet in times like this, the active safety of a powerful anti-lock braking system along with superb road manners (helping us to avoid an accident in the first place) move safety to priority number one. Ad these to the many passive safety features BMW includes, such as front and side airbags, as well as pretensioning seat belts, brings a little prudence to the passion of your purchase. Now it's sexy to be safe, no?
We carry on past Niederveihbach, Magersdorf and Gerzen, not to mention a few other tinier villages. Each town is beautiful in its own way. The homes, with their red clay roofs, white stucco siding and ornate carved wood edgings, make a person feel as he's gone back in time. Each town has at least one magnificent edifice towering over the rest - a church or cathedral built to honor God. The roads within the towns are small and tight. It's no wonder the '59 Cadillac Eldorado wasn't a hit in these parts.
After an enjoyable lunch it's back to Munich. For varieties sake, the Autobahn is the route of choice for the return visit. As experienced earlier in the day, the 330 coupe is rock stable at high speed, handling minor pavement irregularities with the ease of a cruise ship passing through the wake of a dinghy. The trip home is much shorter due to the BMW's rapid velocity, and thus we're off to enjoy wiener schnitzel and contemplate the days journey. This is a moment I won't soon forget. European splendor, both scenic and mechanical, is forever etched in my memory.
