Over to you

PLEASE APOLOGISE TO BMW

I have a bone to pick. There’s something that constantly leaves me on the edge of my seat, shouting, blurting facts and comments at the television screen: unrealistic car chases. To the untrained eye, it is just another tyre-screeching display of oversteer and handbrake turns down an unusually quiet street but, to the trained eyes – rolling eyes, I should add – this is all nonsense.

Not to generalise, but I crave the day when movie producers do their homework and come to understand what vehicles of equal performance would make a believable car chase. We have all seen it; the tricked out street racer or latest high-performance sportscar hurtling down a street or dual-carriage way, the rev counter needle frantically bouncing back and forth into the redline, impressive exhaust burbles and splutters. Yet, somehow, the villain or law enforcement continue to trail behind in their worndown hatchback.

I recently watched a carbased lm and was initially open-minded and forgiving towards the production despite the far-fetched driving stunts and indestructible vehicles. However, a fuss was made over the advanced driving skills of the car thieves (ironically, the good guys). When it came down to business, however, and despite a display of exuberant driving in an impressive BMW M4, the local law enforcement in a couple of 1990s station wagons were right behind, keeping up with their every ick and sprint. I think it’s fair to say, then, that the best drivers in the world are actually cops in wagons.

I urge the producer to apologise to BMW for embarrassing one of its agships. Your average driver could out-run most vehicles with just their big toe exing on the accelerator pedal of this twin-turbo brute. To all movie producers out there brewing up the idea of a car chase, we beg you for something realistic.

SHAWN BRETT Alberton

[What gets me is that there’s always surprisingly little traf c whenever there’s a car chase in a city. In which modern city does this happen? I’ve done my fair share of travelling the world and it’s bumper to bumper everywhere these days – editor.]