29 Mar 07
In fact, the bit about the authoritative voice is not entirely true: my five-year-daughter is already a whiz at getting iDrive to do what she says.
Being often bored in traffic and inquisitive by nature, I've also been talking to it in a vast variety of both regional and international accents: while it recognises most, despite my non-existent gift for mimicry, it does struggle a bit with Geordie, American deep south and, oddly enough, German.
Problems include the Dakota lemon driver's seat already darkening in colour (thanks, presumably, to the black jeans I wear every day) and the fact that, with two full-size booster seats in the back, you can only carry two children.
Oh, and my labrador's enthusiasm for the taste of rear parcel shelf remains undimmed.
Other than that, life really could not be any better with it. I recently drove it to an airport where I caught a plane that took me to the launch of the new C-class Mercedes. It was an interesting comparison because a C320CDI is priced only slightly below the 335d, despite its 62bhp deficit.
And while I liked and admired the Mercedes, when I returned back to the UK and climbed aboard the BMW, there was no doubt in my mind which was the better car. The Merc is better looking, more comfortable and refined, but if you want to go driving, I don't think there's a diesel-powered car at any price in the world than can currently get close to this.
