Damn.

I took a little drive this weekend to see a friend and kept my speed around 65 to see what would happen to my gas mileage. I hit and stayed at 30 MPG…in a car that has 330HP and 330ft/lb of torque (BMW 335i). I was really pleased with my car this weekend; it was fun as hell to drive on the roads I was on, and knowing it was fairly efficient just made it that much better.

Anyway, it got me thinking about cars for a moment so I decided to go price a 335i and an M3 for giggles. That’s when I noticed an option on the M3 that I’d not seen before–the “M Double-clutch Transmission with Drivelogic”. Hmm, what is this I wondered…

Turns out it’s the BMW version of Volkswagen’s DSG. This thing is utterly sick. It’s a transmission with two clutches. As you move through the gears a second clutch remains open and waiting for you to switch into the gear above or below the one you’re in. So when the change happens (which is anticipated by the computer), it happens almost instantly because the other clutch has already rev matched your other gear.

Do has boner.

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This shouldn’t impress me.

So I’m coming back from my week-long engagement today and I see this 530i pass me rather quickly. I was in my own car (a 335i)  and was already moving at a rather brisk cruising speed of 90 or so. He flew past me, so I figure he was going at least 110. I was bored, traffic was light, and the road was straight and dry so I decided to play.

I caught him at around 120 or so and was trying to guage when to quit based on whether he was acting dangerous or not. He was not. He rolled down his window and smiled and nodded — a reassurance that he was being friendly and just having fun. We then came upon some traffic and had to slow down.

While we were navigating the traffic he was very courteous; he flashed his brights to let me know that I could get back change lanes in front of him and that sort of thing. After we were through the traffic he took off again. We quickly got up past 130 and I tore past him. Right as we were coming towards 130 we hit a pristine stretch of road (the turnpike is well taken care of) that went perfectly straight.

I decided this was the perfect opportunity to take my car where it had never been. I passed 140 and he became very small in my rear view mirror. I saw him flash his brights from way back there — I think it meant, “You win.” My previous speed record was in any vehicle was 140, and the only way to beat 140 is to go 150.

I tried but I soiled myself around 147 or so. The straight part of the road was ending  and my heart was beating like I was robbing a liquor store. The car still felt very safe but I just couldn’t make it all the way there. With the road starting to bend and such it just became too risky. I let off the gas and slowed to a sane 110 or so. It felt like I was barely moving.

After I got back down to regular speed (around 90) the guy came and motioned that his governer kills his car at 140, and he was laughing and clearly having a good time. He motioned for me to follow him off the next exit and I did.

His name is Joe. He asked if he could buy me a beer. A beer? WTF? So we go into the store at the gas station we were at and he buys himself a beer and pays for my Arizona Tea. Nice guy.  Odd, but nice.

So then we start talking about our little speed excursion, and he reveals that he was shitting himself when he hit 140. I expressed similar feelings. He explains that he doesn’t race…anymore…because it’s unsafe, but that he considered what we were doing something different. I agree. He mentions he wouldn’t have done it in an adversarial way, but because we were being friendly and safe about it, it was cool.

Then he reveals that he actually lost an eye racing in the past (hence his aversion) and pulls off his shades to reveal a false eye on one side with some obvious scarring. Uh, wow. We then get onto the topic of BMW engineering. He’s obviously a serious connoisseur and had not had a chance to fondle a 335i as of yet. I offer to let him drive it around the block (he clearly wasn’t intoxicated yet) and he has a blast taking it up the street a bit and then back again.

He keeps asking me to come hang with him in Gainsville. Evidently he’s got some girls there he’s on his way to party with. I pass, naturally, and explain that I have other plans (i.e. partying with my own girl).  But we exchange info and agree to hang out some time in the future.

Quite an experience: I almost make it to 150 with a guy in a 530i who lost an eye from racing cars that prefers beer as his driving beverage.  But I’ve made a new friend. Life is interesting.:

I’ve always believed that gas was gas. I thought it was all the same stuff and that any rumors to the contrary were nothing but marketing. Well, it turns out that isn’t the case.

Six of the world’s top automakers, BMW, General Motors, Honda, Toyota, Volkswagen and Audi recognize that the current EPA minimum detergent requirements do not go far enough to ensure optimal engine performance. Since the minimum additive performance standards were first established by EPA in 1995, most gasoline marketers have actually reduced the concentration level of detergent additive in their gasoline by up to 50%. As a result, the ability of a vehicle to maintain stringent Tier 2 emission standards have been hampered, leading to engine deposits which can have a big impact on in-use emissions and driver satisfaction.

This is from the top tier website, and it’s not just a marketing ploy by some additive company. It is a real standard that has been embraced by the automakers listed. Of course I was still skeptical and decided to try a couple of tanks of Chevron’s 93 octane in my 335i.

Wow. There is a noticeable difference in my performance. My car seriously feels better all around — both in casual driving and when I accelerate aggressively. I’m genuinely and pleasantly surprised.

So yes, I suggest that if you are into cars and you’ve always thought the gas doesn’t matter, try doing a couple of tanks of premium through one of the following companies who supports the top tier standard. I think you’ll be pleased with the results. QuikTrip Chevron Conoco Phillips 76 Shell Entec Stations MFA Oil Company Kwik Trip/Kwik Star The Somerset Refinery, Inc. Chevron-Canada Aloha Petroleum Tri-Par Oil Company Shell-Canada Texaco Petro-Canada Sunoco-Canada