Drive in style - convertible thrills in Tasmania

It happened at the very first red light. Sitting low in my fancy BMW Z4 convertible at a busy intersection, I let out an excited squeal. Hands on the leather wheel I stared ahead, certain the flock of pedestrians at the lights had heard me.

A quick headturn confirmed their amusement, but thankfully in Hobart style, the lights changed promptly. Seeing green was the first moment Z4’s acceleration and I became close travel companions.

But I’m not about to tell you that hiring a prestige car from Overdrive is about speeding about the city streets. Their customer service is like none I’ve encountered, but doesn’t extend to paying for 58km/hour speeding tickets in those lovely 50k shopping zones.

I learnt the hard way that convertibles offer no lid to contain shrieks of joy. But what caused this you ask? Was it the fact I had a 7-speed M3 paddle shift gearbox beside me? As a girl with little gearbox expertise, I must admit no. It was so much more….

I collected my passenger and we cruised out of the city streets with gourmet picnic tucked away in the boot. Bound for Mount Wellington, I had taken this winding, impressive journey many times. But nothing prepared me for how different the experience would be aboard my new mate, Z4.

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The towering rock spires known as the the Organ Pipes, typically out of view for much of the ascent in a roofed car, rose proudly high above our left. The warm mountain air breezed across our faces and the scent of wildflowers filled the open cabin. A whole range of senses, typically trapped inside a closed vehicle, were suddenly engaged.

Of course little Z4 effortlessly hugged the corners, and the mountain’s steepness barely caused her to puff. It was a smooth and powerful trip to the top, the type that makes you feel alive. Was it the wind in our hair? The uninterrupted views from road to sky? The low ride that made it feel naughtily fast? Or the roar of Z4 each time the accelerator was engaged? It was all of this.

It was this, and also a large dose of Overdrive’s commitment to service. It’s not often that a business is so insistent on making your experience far superior to anything you anticipated. Yes, you might be just hiring a car. But according to Overdrive, it’s an opportunity to make you feel special, to offer more than expected, and to leave you with a satisfied, exhilarated smile.

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Not only  will you have a Porsche, Audi, Volkswagen, BMW or snazzy Mini Cooper in your hot little hands, but it’ll be happily delivered to your door. You’ll be showered with customised itineraries, optional car changeovers and interesting drop off locations. What’s more, you can combine your performance vehicle with a Rotorlift helicopter journey, with their fantastic fly/drive packages.

Don’t expect to wander up to the counter and have a key shoved in your direction. You’ll be greeted personally, will be given tips on the best Tasmanian experiences, hotels, restaurants and local secrets before you’re farewelled.

Currently the Z4 is $225 a day for 2 days, $200 for 7+ days with complimentary drop offs and pick ups in the city. Trust me, once you press the ‘top down’ button you’ll want to squeal at the first set of traffic lights also.

For more information visit: Overdrive

*For some great itinerary ideas click here….there’s nothing like combining a prestige car with some glorious scenery….is the Bay of Fires calling? Saffire Resort? The Agrarian Kitchen? Arrive in style.

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