For gear heads, deciding on a new car is just about as important a decision as they come. The process usually involves dealership visits, asking many friends’ opinions, building cars online, and reading road test reviews. Undoubtedly however, you’ll never be truly convinced about a car unless you take it out for a spirited, all-encompassing drive. Dealership test drives, therefore, are the number one most effective tool in ensuring a customer makes the right decision. However, most dealerships don’t come equipped with private ‘experience tracks’ to test a car’s maximum capabilities, so where does that leave the enthusiasts that really and truly want to experience a car before making the important decision?

Below is a list of the absolute best ways to experience a BMW, whether you own one or not.

“The World’s Fastest Taxi Ride.”

The world’s most popular taxi ride on YouTube involves the world’s best known racetrack and the world’s fastest saloon car – the BMW M5 in ‘ring-taxi’ livery. For 216 Euros per lap it’s definitely not the world’s cheapest taxi ride, but then again, you are getting to experience the all-new 560 bhp M5 on the legendary 21 kilometer “Green Hell” Nordschleife in Nürburg, Germany. Split the ride with three passengers and you’ll be out 72 Euros for what stands to be the experience of a lifetime. This is the kind of bang for your buck only lottery winners get to experience.

Tag along with a friend during a European or Performance Center Delivery.
People who purchase a BMW anywhere in the world have the option to tick the ‘European Delivery‘ box. What it entails is meeting your BMW at the renowned BMW Welt, the official BMW Experience and Delivery Centre, enjoying an exclusive VIP tour of BMW’s facilities, taking your new vehicle on a European adventure, and meeting your BMW back home at the end. For US residents there’s a ‘BMW Performance Centre Delivery Program’ option which is similar to the European Delivery except that it takes place in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and offers an optional BMW Driver Training package. If you’re active at local race tracks, car clubs, or car shows, you’re bound to run into someone who’s planning a BMW delivery program. Ask nicely and before you know it, you may soon be visiting the BMW Welt Museum in the morning and spending your afternoon driving a BMW sideways through Europe.

Palmersport Experience in BedFord.
All around the world there are numerous companies that make their money placing gear heads in race cars and letting them have fun for a day. There’s no company in the world better at putting a smile on your face than Palmersport, a company founded by ex-F1 driver and British legend Jonathan Palmer. Located in Bedford, England, a short drive from London, you should have no problem persuading the family about an idyllic trip to old England so you can indulge in this small side trip. Spec the ‘GT Programme‘ and you’ll be able to sample not only the race-ready M3 GTP, but a Caterham 7 Superlight and Arial Atom!

Rent a BMW.
There’s an old saying that goes: “the best handling car is a rental.” We don’t condone horsing around behind the wheel in public, but finding a twisty bit of road and finding out what your rental is worth isn’t a crime. Ideally you’d find yourself with a few mates on the Stelvio Pass, but the Pacific Coast Highway with the kids in the back will do. Two companies who offer BMWs in the brochure are Enterprise and Avis Prestige.

Dealership Track Days

What few people don’t know is that dealership hosted track days are often open to all cars. Just pay the fee, bring your car and a helmet, and you’re ready to go. If you’re genuinely interested in the cars taking part and you play nice with the drivers and representatives on hand, you’re bound to find yourself in a BMW and on the track in no time. Endras BMW holds track days every year so if you’re interested in seeing just what a BMW can do on the track, make sure to keep in touch with us at info@endrasbmw.com so you’ll know when the next one happens!