[stressdoc]

Flew into Barcelona, rented a 116i from Sixt [highly recommended!], drove around Barcelona until I found the Sagrada familia [photo 1] and walked a few streets. Then headed up northeast on the Autopista for a ways, getting off and driving to the coast at Roses up to Llanca where I spent the night at a great little hotel [Grifeu -- highly recommended]. Then up the Costa Brava [photo 2] to Peripignan, France, back on the superhighway up to Montpellier where I spent a week at the world's oldest continual medical school. Wonderful city!!! Then drove back to Barcelona via Andorra and the Pyrenees [photos 3 & 4]. Some of the best driving roads that I've ever been on, tons of fun. Racing the VWs and Renaults was good fun. My favorites are the Alfas -- what great styling they have! The coast is like highway 1 in N Cal except more interesting and challenging. The routes in the Pyrenees are fantastic. Overall an incredible trip that I highly recommend. Now onto the 1-series.

The 1-series feels familiar when you pop into it. The interior is similar to the E9x. More cramped though. First thing I noticed was the different hood line -- there's a bulge up in the middle, and surprisingly the view is not as good as in the 3-series (E9x). In the city the 116i is a fine driver. It has the automatic engine-off that takes a bit of getting used too, the first couple times you stop at a traffic light it's a bit unnerving. But after I got used to it and over any paranoia that it wouldn't restart I liked the feature.

On the highway the 1 is OK, but a significant drop down from the cruising quality of the 3 series. On the twisties the steering feel is not as good as the 3. The cornering balance is a mushy understeer. I expected a slightly smaller version of the 3 -- which would seem like a great thing -- but that was not what the 116i that I drove was like. Overall the 1-series was rather disappointing, it is no where near the sophistication of the 3. Part of the difference may be attributed to the comparison being with my 335i ZSP. I did like the little 4-cylinder engine though, and really wish that we could get a 120i and 120d here.

Summary: the E90 3 series is well-worth the extra 5 grand.

[voltron1011]

We went to Costa Brava a few years ago as well... We ended up flying from Stuttgart to Barcelona, and then taking a 1hr cab ride down to the beach...

BTW, why didn't you get the 120d as a rental? I had one for a few weeks and actually loved the monstrous torque!!!

[BMWFM]

+1 on Sixt. great service and great fleet.

[bmwmike]

I'm renting the same car from the same company when i go to France in Sept. to run the marathon in Bordeaux. Nice to hear it's a good pick.

[stressdoc]

Doing it over I would just get a VW polo and save some $.

[Robert]

The 116i will probably be significantly cheaper, more than 5k between 135i and 335i considering 128i starts around 28-29k. You will be looking at 10-15k difference. The 116i also doesn't have sports package, correct?

[purplewidow]

the bastards at sixt didn't have the 3 series i ordered so i got a merc wagon instead!!! it was alright!! i autobahned it like crazy holding the pedal down the whole time pretty much from Amsterdam to Munich and back!! it was sick like 2 weeks ago... we had such an amazing time, the guys i went with wanna go back every year and i have no problems with that!!!!!!!!!
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[Evo8MRto335I]

The northeastern part of Spain is beautiful, nice hwys and great scenary. That is perhaps the coolest spot to drive around the mediterranean coast. Also you should noticed that that part of Europe is very liberal, everyone on the beach is either top less or fully naked.