From the mouths of babes

You've got to hand it to children: my 11-year-old daughter asked me what car I was writing about when I sat down to do this one. The BMW 323i, I replied.

"Just tell them it's a nice car to drive but it doesn't go fast up the hill," she commented, eyes glued to Hannah Montana on the telly.

Everything except the whirl

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That's it in a nutshell, really. Yes, it's a beautiful car, and yes, it has everything any driver could wish for... except I couldn't help being disappointed whenever I wanted a soupçon of voomah in a hurry. I wouldn't go as far as to say it couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding, but there were times when I wanted - and needed - more power, and just couldn't find it.

On the freeways, on straight roads, the BMW 323i was bliss. But my nemesis was the twice daily schlep up The Hill - Kloof's notorious Field's Hill here in KZN, when I couldn't quite extract the quick acceleration I needed.

We took it up the North Coast, along the straight and fast N2, and it was magnificent. Sublimely comfortable, exceptionally smooth, as my daughter pointed out - and of course, it's a very handsome beast, too.

Safe, comfortable, smooth

I've always loved BMWs. In fact I've owned too of them. So I know how well made and how perfectly they're designed and put together. I know too, that when I'm behind the wheel of a BMW, I'm in one of the safest cars on the road.

The BMW 323i, apart from its plethora of active and passive safety features, also comes with runflat wheels, eliminating the need for a spare. Runflats have the huge and important advantage of allowing you to drive for an extra 150km even after a puncture. In South Africa, that's a massive reassurance, let's face it.

BMW 323i: good for cruising

The 2.5-litre engine has a top speed of 233km/h (not that we get much chance to prove it, because although they don't bother to arrest crooks, hijackers, murderers, robbers, corrupt officials and ministers, or rapists, the SAPS are seriously swift to nab you should you, heaven forbid, exceed the speed limit).

It comes with a 63 litre fuel tank, which is nice to know if you're planning long road trips: the combined cycle should chew up about 8.4 litres per 100/km. Inside, the 323i - like any BMW - is luxurious and comfortable. And it comes with a six-six auto gearbox, for those who can't drive manuals.

As my daughter said, a nice car to drive, "but it doesn't go very fast up the hill".

Yours for R350 000