2000 BMW 528i...Getting Old Doesn't Mean You Need to be Boring.

Ben Miller
Contributing Automotive Writer

So you're yearning for something fun to drive, a car with a manual transmission that keeps the driving spirit alive inside you because you still have the passion to be in total control of the car. But, a few years have passed since your irrepressible youth. You're married, have a kid or two, but still haven't given up on driving a fun, German-made sedan that gives you a true feel for the road. The BMW M3 is a fire-spitting little pocket rocket that's fun to drive, but it only has two doors. You've got to have four thanks to the burgeoning family. The BMW 528i is a logical choice for someone in your situation. Four doors, a standard manual transmission, and a heckuva lot of fun to drive. Plus, you get the inherent quality of a finely-made German sedan.

The 528i was refined considerably last year, including major engine improvements, and classily continues with the 2000 model. When the manual five-speed transmission is coupled to the 2.8-liter, 193-horsepower, six-cylinder engine, the combination is enjoyable. This car has definitely no problem getting up to highway speed (and beyond) on I-80. At 75 miles per hour, the car seems to be saying, "I'm not anywhere near my potential, yet, let's go faster." And at highway speeds, the ride is as smooth as any car in this price range.

The fear of driving a rear-wheel-drive BMW in winter probably keeps many from buying the German nameplate. The 2000 528i isn't going to make anyone forget sport utility vehicles, but it has standard all-season traction control and (new for 2000) standard Dynamic Stability Control, which BMW says improves traction and cornering stability. A steep hill on a snowy Panhandle February morning probably isn't the best place to test these features, though. Since it's a BMW, it has a slew of safety features, such as front and front-side airbags, and a head protection system, where front-seat passengers' heads are protected by an inflatable system.

The BMW 528i isn't cheap, not with a base price for $38,900 for one with a manual transmission. But compared with luxury cars from Japan and German that may or not be available with manual transmissions, it's not a heart attack-inducing sticker price. Options on a test model included a leather interior ($1,450); sport package ($1,970) that included very attractive 17-inch composite wheels, sport suspension and a leather-wrapped steering wheel that included functions like cruise control and radio volume right at your fingertips; power sunroof ($1,050); and gas Xenon headlights ($500). With destination charge, the total was $44,440. For that price, you're buying a sedan that leaves you in total control of the road (with the manual transmission). You're also getting BMW safety, an engine that you'll hardly never get to test its true potential, and a luxurious, sumptuous and smooth ride.

See, getting older doesn't mean you have to give up all the fun things you enjoyed in your youth. ENJOY THE DRIVE. Remember, always buckle up, drive safely and obey all traffic laws.