Recently I was watching an extremely educational program that you may have seen before on the esteemed Bravo channel – The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. And yes, I’m embarrassed to admit I watch RHOBH as it’s affectionately known around these parts, but after all, who doesn’t love a little mindless TV (not to mention a glimpse into the lives of the rich and famous?). Anyways, I digress. It was while watching one of the Housewives worry about whether or not she should surprise her husband by surprising him with a 3 million dollar Bugatti for his birthday present that I started to think “hey, it’s always a good idea to know what type of car you’d want to be surprised with on your birthday!” I mean, after all, you never know who is going to be feeling guilty enough to drop some dough after forgetting to wish you Happy Birthday on Facebook, right?
Well, most likely wrong, but whatever. All the same, I’ve made up my mind on which car I’ve decided would be the perfect surprise birthday gift… and while a Bugatti would sure be nice, somehow I think I might just be more of BMW driver myself.
A Standout Brand for an Unbeatable Birthday
What makes a BMW the ideal birthday gift? Well, first of all, there’s the name recognition. Let’s face it, if you’re going to drive a super-special surprise birthday car, you at least are going to want people to know what it is – after all, how else are you going to get Instagram-famous if you can’t #hashtag your fancy new present? According to Forbes, BMW is sitting pretty in the rankings for The World’s Most Valuable Brands – and let’s be honest, it doesn’t hurt that it’s also been ranked the Third Most Valuable Auto Brand in the World, coming in hot behind Mercedes-Benz (which, okay sure, I can see that being a pretty valuable moniker) and Toyota, which really? I mean, sure, Toyota’s are alright, but I’m just not sure the Corolla really can hold its own against say, the 6 series convertible.
As Many Choices as Candles on the Cake
Speaking of specific cars – I’m not just lusting after a BMW for the sake of owning a BMW… I’m hoping that someone buys me a BMW for my birthday surprise because they’ll have their choice of vehicles and price points to choose from because no matter what style or model they choose to buy me, I can promise you I’m going to love it. My secret shopper is more than welcome to buy me the $34,900 3 Series sedan, or they can go all out and splurge on the BMW i8 for a mere $143,400.
Although, if we’re going, to be honest, I think that I’d most like to pull a big red bow off of the best of both BMW worlds (that is, if we’re going to completely neglect their awesome line-up of SUVs…or, as BMW calls them – SAVS, for Sports Activity Vehicles- so fancy!) and be the proud owner of the BMW 4 Series convertible. What makes this car so special you ask?
Cake, Cocktails, and Convertibles
Well, for starters the BMW 4 Series convertible seats four passengers, which is just about the number of people I actually want to be around for any extended period of time. Let’s be honest, once you are in possession of such a sweet car, you are going to have “friends” popping up all over the place, wanting a quick spin in your nifty little ride. So it’s best to limit the number of passengers you can actually cruise around town with (but hey, if you’re looking to have a party in your vehicle, check out the BMW X5 and it’s super luxe seven-passenger interior).
The great thing about the passenger capacity of the 4 Series is that it doesn’t just fit four adults comfortably – you can also use the two sets of LATCH car-seat connectors to safely transport two tiny passengers along with you. And sure, that might not be the most wild and crazy thing you can do in a BMW 4 Series, but it sure is practical!
BMW’s are also amazing cars because they simply don’t skimp when it comes to offering their customers a choice between luxury or power. Offered in two trim types (430i and 440i) and three body styles (coupe, convertible and Gran Coupe), each trim is accompanied by its own unique engine. So those who drive the BMW 430i not only get great amenities like power-folding and heated mirrors, automatic wipers, faux leather upholstery, universal garage door opener, a nine-speaker sound system, a USB input, HD radio, a rearview camera, a USB port, and dual-zone climate control, but they also get to drive a car that’s powered by a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Maxing out at 248 horsepower and 258 pound-feet of torque, the 430i gets an estimated 24 miles to the gallon in the city and 34 miles per gallon on the highway.
Of course, we are talking about spending someone else’s money, so let’s go wild and explore the BMW 4 Series 440i. Powered by a 3.0-liter turbocharged six-cylinder engine that generates 326 horsepower and 332 pound-feet of torque, the 440i comes incredibly well-appointed with a Harman Kardon 16-speaker sound system, keyless entry and ignition and satellite radio. It also comes with a host of options and packages – many of which are also available on the 430i as well. Standout options include a wireless charging pad, a surround-view parking camera, a head-up display and top-quality leather upholstery along with heated front seats. And of course, BMW offers a slew of advanced safety technology across its fleet of vehicles, so you can drive confidently thanks to blind-spot monitoring, adaptive cruise control, front and rear parking sensors and a lane departure warning system, just to name a few.
Now Make a Wish for BMW 4 Series Convertible
Now, do I really expect a bright, shiny new BMW to be sitting in my garage on my birthday? Well, not really. But hey, it’s always good to know what you’re going to wish for when it’s time to blow out the candles, right?