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PageA6
P o r f h u ii
2007 BMW 335i
Convertible
The New
Transformer ~
Powerful
Functional Art
by K athleen C arr
In simpler times BMW would
have rolled out a convertible with a
soft top just like it has since 1987.
For 2007 model year BMW intro­
duced its first ever, retractable hard­
top.
With a retractable hardtop the
car becomes a year-round traveler
ready for rain, sleet, snow and con­
struction zones.
Gone are the typical soft top
shortcomings — wear and tear and
stains on the fabric, noise from the
top flapping in the wind up or down,
and most important, having only a
thin sheet of canvas between your
melon and whatever you hit in an
impact.
The 2007 BMW 335i Convert­
ible, a car whose quicksilver trans­
formation from coupe to convert­
ible; just push the console button
and the metal top hides in the trunk
in 22 seconds. Push the button
again, and it motors back up in 23
seconds; ample time to open or
close at a stop sign, usually. The
three roof panels levitate apart from
one another, shuttle together and
sink in a stack under the open deck
1 ot s e r v e r Auf© R e v a e w
October 31,2007
News and reviews on new motor vehicles
driving dynamics and performance;
these are unbelievably refined au­
tomobiles, powered with hydraulic
smoothness by the company's new
twin-turbocharged inline six, com ­
plete with direct injection and the
Double VANOS variable valve tim­
ing. With a bank of Bosch comput­
ers running the show, this engine
generates 300 foot-pounds of
torque.
As with all BMWs, the 335i is
designed for optimum performance.
That means a stiff suspension to
move from point A to B nimbly. But
while agile, the car isn't necessarily
comfortable. When driven at length
Specifications: 3.0-Liter, 24-Valve, 300-hp @ 300 Ib-ft. torque,6-Cylinder Twin-Turbo Engine: &
a backache and/or leg cramps await
Speed Steptronic Automatic Transmission; 20-City 29-Highway MPG; $57,225 MSRP
from stiff ride, stiff suspension and
warned.
stiff seats. A six-speed manual trans­
lid, when the rear-hinged deck lid roll bars in a rollover.
The speed comes smoothly and
The exquisite twin-turbo 3.0-li- mission is standard; the six-speed
closes and all seals compress, you're
deceptively fast in the 335i. All that ter puts out 300 hp; is a power­ automatic is a $1,275 option, and
looking at a whole different car.
Though it is air tight and doesn't te c h n o lo g y w orks to g e th e r house, but a convertible typically worth every penny in this town.
whistle or flap, a retractable hard­ seamlessly to launch the 335i up to is a sit-back—and-cruise machine. Our car came with run-flat radial
top does have its drawbacks, the speed briskly — zero to 60 in 5.3 No need to nish the experience. tires and a sports suspension that
primary one that it's easier to find a seconds. That smooth power could This twin-turbo lacks the typical prevents lean in corners — at the
needle in a haystack than to find lead owners to rack up a lot of lag. Hit the pedal and the car takes cost of a very stiff ride.
Handling is superb. You can
luggage room in a trunk with the top speeding tickets because the 335i off. No waiting for the turbo to take
hustles to speeds much higher than a deep breath. The convertible's com er with confidence well into
there.
With the top up you can carry a what normally registers with a structural reinforcement adds 375 highway speeds. The speed-sensi­
small overnighter providing the driver's senses. Consider yourself pounds to the 335i. In terms of tive power steering does lighten
case and contents bend or fold. To
hold a couple suitcases, the rear
seat back folds flat. The rear wall
also conceals a bag that slips out
and into the back seat to hold a pair
of skis. Actually lots can beheld in
the back seat except people.
Convertibles are parade cars, but
the huge headrests over the back
seats rob the rear ledge of room to
seat queen and her court. Head­
rests are made to rise and serve as
Fans find that the wait between championships was a lot easier
this time around for the Boston Red Sox, who completed their
second World Series sweep in four seasons after an 86-year
drought.
the feel when going slowly, so you
don’t jolt.
Yet B MW took pains to ease one
pain associated with a convertible.
Hop back into the car after the
leather has baked a few hours and
chances are you'll toast a thigh or
bum a bun. So BMW has gone with
Dakota leather treated to reflect heat
that can hit 140 degrees. Dakota
reduces the temperature by 30 to 40
degrees so the seat will be about
the same temperature as the body.
Noteworthy features include a
cell-phone holder in the centercon-
sole, cell-phone/iPod holders plus
iPodjackandpow erplug underthe
center armrest, includes rain-sens­
ing wipers, power locks/windows/
seats/mirrors (heated), automatic
climate control and AM/FM stereo
with C/MP3 player. On trick that
adds to the magic; the key fob can
raise or lower the top as you stand
nearby.
There's little debate in the auto
world that BMW makes the finest
sports coupe on earth when it comes
to feel and performance on a track.
The 335i Convertible is a beautiful,
powerful work of functional art.
Nationwide
could save you
over 500 bucks
on your car
insurance.
Red Sox Celebrate Title Repeat
Fans swarm streets of Boston
(AP) —Tens of thousands of
Red Sox fans lined the streets
from Fenway Park to City Hall on
Tuesday to cheer B oston's sec­
ond W orld Series title in four
years, and celebrate how a team
once known for losing was again
baseball's best.
Bostonians had lived and died
before they saw a world cham pi­
onship and now they've seen two
in the last four years.
Screaming fans greeted Red
Sox players and their families as
they climbed into the 20 brightly
colored boats outside the sta ­
dium for a three-m ile journey
through the city. The parade fol­
lowed a similar route to the rolling
celebration staged after the Red
Sox broke an 86-year W orld Se­
ries drought in 2004 by sweeping
the St. Louis Cardinals. The Red
Sox completed a sweep o f the
Colorado Rockies on Sunday with
a 4-3 win in Denver.
Most of the players and m an­
ager Terry Francona wore bright
red h o o d e d c h a m p io n s h ip
sweatshirts. First baseman Kevin
Youkilis wore a T-shirt that said
"W e did it AG A IN .”
The parade was set to slow
down at Copley Square, Boston
Common and City Hall Plaza,
where closer Jonathan Papelbon
has promised to do his infamous
Irish jig to “ I'm Shipping Up to
Boston." He was being accom pa­
nied by the Dropkick M urphys, a
Boston-based punk rock band
with heavy Irish folk music influ­
ence.
Fans decked out in Red Sox
gear lined the route, holding signs
and cheering for the team.
There were some indications
Boston fans might even be get­
ting picky about their cham pion­
ships, with 2004 and 2007 coming
when the Sox were on the road.
R ed Sox p re s id e n t L a rry
Lucchino said before the parade
that he could not choose which
Series win he liked better.
“T hey’re tw o flavors o f ice
cream — they both taste good,”
he said. “You can 't choose among
them. I think the next one is going
to taste good, too.”
C u lly P a rk Planning Begins
A controversial plan to con­ 25-acre site between northeast
vert a former landfill site into Colum bia Boulevard, Portland
Thomas Cully Park goes before Highway and Killingsworth Street
the public in a design workshop near 72nd Avenue.
The workshop will be held from
on Saturday, Nov. 3.
The Portland Parks and R ecre­ 9:30 a.m. to I p.m. at the Word of
ation Department wants to iden­ LifeCommunity Church, 4927 N.E.
tify local needs and design their 55th Ave. Childcare and lunch
vision of what the new park could will be provided for those who
look like. The workshop is the register by Thursday by calling
first step in m aster planning the 503-595-8733.
And you thought the paper
only printed bad news.
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