Driving Simplicity

BMW reintroduce the petrol-powered 3 Series. Does it make you smile a little wider this time around?

- Jim Gorde

OVER THE YEARS I’VE COME to realise that some of the best things are the simplest. Yet, because of our idea of what things should be like, experiences get ruined and even the most spectacular settings can leave you wanting. Not from their lack of anything, but from your lack of acceptance. An acceptance that, yes, this indeed is what perfection looks like. So if all you ever wanted was a driver’s car that felt solid and went like a race horse with its tail on fire, you’d have a straight-six petrol, six-speed manual, rear-wheel drive, sharp-looking compact car with no complicated electronics to sort out before it gets the idea that you want to have a bit of fun. Unfortunately, it’s not an ideal world.

Take that simple idea, deduct two cylinders, add a twin- scroll turbocharger, replace the six-speed manual with an eight-speed automatic — still driving the rear wheels, thankfully — and you have that proper driver’s car that is now cleaner and is more pedestrian-friendly if you do happen to run into them. The interior has seats, quite firm but leather ones, yes, and you have black dials with white lettering and red needles. Not some miniature flat-screen television that lets you change channels. Yes, I’m talking about the new 3 Series. It’s sharp, mildly aggressive and sounds excitedly vocal, yet restrained; like a growling Rottweiler who would love to attempt to bite your leg off, only on the other side of a huge metal gate.