Top Down, Cowtown!

There was a time when the only convertible available in Cowtown was a strong horse and a leather saddle. You had a variety of breeds to choose from and depending on what you were doing or where you were going, you wanted to make sure you picked the strongest, fastest, and most reliable horse with the most comfortable and durable saddle. Today, we still want a reliable source of transportation that allows us to see the big Texas skies, feel the wind as we cruise from one moment in time to another, but with just a little more horsepower (382 of them to be exact). The 2021 BMW M440i convertible is my current convertible of choice and Autobahn Fort Worth has, once again, introduced me to my newest car crush!

I’m easy to please when it comes to any car Autobahn allows me to test-drive for a weekend, but the BMW M440i convertible knocked the wind out of me with its sleek and strong design. My friends at the BMW dealership met me with a friendly greeting and a key to experience one of my favorite Autobahn test drives to date. It didn’t take long for them to go over the details of how to drive this work of art because driving, in general, has become so much easier and safer. Even with a car so technologically advanced as the M440i, I felt at ease sliding into the driver’s seat and pushing the ignition button to begin this privileged experience. It was time to go! But first, top down, please.

Transitioning the M440i from an enclosed car to an open-air cruiser (or vice versa) happens in a short 18 seconds, something you can do at speeds up to 31 mph, which was helpful when I drove around as it rained off and on throughout the afternoon. Taking the top down and up was the thing I loved to show people. It literally was like the BMW M440i met Ironman. It’s a nice combination, don’t you think?

The M440i’s steering was quick and precise. Whether the top was up or down, this BMW felt impressively sturdy. The car carried itself with strength and dignity, which could be deceiving because I found myself going faster than I thought. (Oops!)

The sleek black leather interior had a highlight of blue stitching throughout the front and back seats. Although compact, the backseat had a decent amount of legroom for adults. The two-door white exterior looked classy and toned. According to BMW, the black cloth roof is equipped with a rollover protection system. As I was sharing this driving experience with my husband and kids, the mom in me had more peace of mind. Forward collision warning, lane-departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic high-beam headlights are just a few more of the standard safety features BMW bakes in.

As with most new cars I have test-driven with Autobahn Fort Worth, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto come standard. The voice-activated Intelligent Personal Assistant (I need this in more areas of my life!) kept my eyes on the road and both hands on the steering wheel. You might imagine that a convertible makes it much more difficult to have a conversation or jam to your favorite tunes due to road noise. This was not the case with the M440i. The prestigious design and engineering made it seem as though I wasn’t even in a convertible when the top was up.

The allure of a convertible is undeniable. An open-top car is a luxury, a car for beautiful sunny days, desirable to drive into the sunset or to your next favorite locally owned Fort Worth restaurant.

As I drove into the sunset to deliver this beautiful car back to its BMW dealership home, I was filled with gratitude for the opportunity to experience such luxury with my family. Thank you, Autobahn Fort Worth, for another great test drive! Your customer service and well-rounded expertise always have this girl’s heart! Until next time!