The 12 Cars of Christmas

Credit: chargrillkiller/Flickr.com

T’is that time of year, oh faithful readers. Christmas is fast approaching, and even for those of you who don’t celebrate the occasion, it is all-encompassing; taking over our televisions, our radios, our stores and now our blogs. In light of this monopolizing holiday, I thought I’d present to you a list of cars I would drive, one for each of the 12 days of Christmas (and, of course, this list would only be feasible if I lived somewhere like California where I didn’t have to worry about snow tires and braking distance and all that jazz, and my true love was a bazillionaire).

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
A BMW 1-Series

Credit: Fabio Aro/Flickr.com

I would think this would be an obvious choice on Day 1. I would, obviously, want the BMW 135i because it is a phenomenal little powerhouse of a car that’s a sheer joy to drive. The convertible model only adds to the allure and luxury of it all. The 1 Series is nimble, responsive and a blast on the road — and it looks damn good. If I was single, had no intention of every having children and lived in a one-room, low-rent apartment, I’d own a pearl-white BMW 135i convertible with a bright red leather interior and all the fixings. Ah, to dream.

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
A Ferrari 458 Italia

Credit: Vineesh Devasia/Flickr.com

There’s something about a bright red Ferrari 458 Italia that makes me want to coo (much like the sound a turtle dove would make). The design is sleek, sexual and smooth. I’ll admit; I’m not the biggest fan of Ferrari, but the 458 Italia has held my attention since it was first released. And with all that power in the mid-engine design, it’s not just attractive, it gets the job done too.

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
A Citroën C-ZERO
In light of the French hens, I would feel the need to be patriotic to my French brethren with a nod towards their forward-thinking, environmentally friendly, all-electric vehicle, the C-ZERO. Sure, there are other EVs out there (the Nissan LEAF, the Chevy Volt [eventually] and even the Mits i-MiEV), but there’s something something cool about the look and feel of the Citroën that really grabs my attention and I think I’d really enjoy a day behind the wheel of this funky little number.

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
A Ford F-150 Raptor SVT

I’m sure you thought this list would be full of Ferrari, Lamborghini and Koeniggseggs, right? Well, surprise! On the fourth day of jolly festivities, I’d like to take to the rougher roads and live it up in a pick-up that’s meant to take a beating and keep on ticking. The Ford F-150 SVT is a brute, a beast, a monster on the road — and I love it. It’s brash, it’s in your face, it’s unapologetic, but its bite is just as bad as its bark. Everything this truck looks like it can do, it can. Bring on the mud and madness; this truck can do it all.

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
An Audi R8

Credit: Jeff Glucker/Flickr.com

OK, so it’s missing one “golden” ring, but close enough. The Audi R8 is a stunning car inside and out. A technological feat, Audi truly outdid themselves with this supercar. I’ve yet to sit behind the wheel in real life, but I promise you, oh faithful readers, it will happen in 2011. Exclusive and in-your-face, the Audi R8 screams performance from every fibre of its being — ideal for my fifth day of Christmas drive.

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
A 1953 Rolls-Royce Mulliner Silver Dawn Drophead Coupe
How did a classic car get into this list you might ask? Well, I truly believe that Rolls-Royce is the starter brand for all things luxury in the auto industry and the Mulliner Silver Dawn Drophead was the granddaddy of them all. I mean, just look at it! How could you not want to get behind the wheel, cruise along a gently turning country road breathing in the fresh air and reveling in your sophistication and superiority on the road. The six geese a-laying represent the six days of creation, hence the connection here (and I kind of think the Rolls-Royce hood ornament looks like a flying goose if you look quickly — sorry guys).

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
A Ford Flex
Shock and awe — yes, I’d drive the Flex for this seventh day and we’d be seven packed into the car for a day of adventure wherever the wind might take us. The first time I saw the Flex I thought it looked like a MINI Cooper suffering from obesity and on steroids. And when I got behind the wheel, I still felt that way. But after a week driving it, I realized what Ford had done; they’d successfully created a vehicle that squished the minivan stereotype while also shying away from the SUV stigma. The Flex is a practical family car that’s large enough for all the kids, dogs and camping equipment.

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
A Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera

I really did try and find a connection here for “eight maids a-milking” but all I kept thinking about was the bright orange Gallardo I drove through the twisty roads on Hawaii’s Big Island. A daily dose of Gallardo is, in my opinion, as healing and good for you as a daily glass of milk. (Phew, connection made.)

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
A Bugatti Veyron

Credit: Axion23/Flickr.com

As I near the end of my 12-day driving spree, I want to end on a high-powered note. The Bugatti Veyron, which boasts more than 1,000 horsepower is just what I’d need to end on such a note. Again, I’ve yet to actually sit in the cockpit of a Veyron, but it will happen one day soon, I promise you that. This is, again, a mechanical and engineering feat by Bugatti. Like an octane-addicted piece of artwork, the Veyron is stunning in ever sense of the word. And I can assure you it would get nine ladies up and dancing if it pulled up on a crowded street.

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
A Bowler Nemesis

Credit: andrewbasterfield/Flickr.com

Because if you’re going to be a leaping lord, what better vehicle to “leap” in than a Bowler? This is almost like the day I’ll have in the Raptor, just a lot cooler. The Raptor is like the every-man’s off-road pickup, while the Bowler is a lord’s all-terrain type vehicle. Day ten is going to be uber fun.

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
A Bentley Continental GT Speed

I feel like pipers should be piping my praise when I drive this car. It is absolutely phenomenal to sit in, and even more incredibly to drive. For the short time I had it parked in my driveway, I truly felt like royalty — but like royalty who also lived to the extreme. The Continental GT Speed is no pushover and with over 600 horsepower it sounds and feels a bit like a jet engine when you really push the throttle.

On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
A MINI Cooper S JCW

Because, clearly, as the last day I would have to keep this car forever. So, there’s no question that it would be a MINI.

I think with the above lineup of vehicles my 12 days of Christmas would be pretty spectacular and quite festive in the end. To some, this might not seem like a very Christmas-y post, but if I woke up to the keys for each of those cars under my tree on December 25th, I think I’d be happier than a pig in shit kid on Christmas morning.

It seems that every year Christmas becomes more and more material, and besides wanting to keep the Cooper (really, who wouldn’t?) my 12 days of Christmas are all about experiences and memories, which is what Christmas really should be about.

But enough about me.

This will most likely be my last post of 2010, so I want to wish you all, oh faithful readers, the merriest and happiest of holiday seasons. Whatever it is you celebrate, do it with love in your hearts and smile on your face. T’is truly the season to be merry, so spread the love (especially when you’re driving in wintery conditions). Thank you all for your incredible support over the past 10 months — this is just the beginning.

Drive on (ho, ho, ho),
– M.

~ by drivingmsmiranda on December 21, 2010.