the perfect car for New York's roads?

As much as I'd like to live in Germany, the reality is pretty far from the truth. Potholes the size of a bus, cobblestones from the 19th century, and ruts that can turn your car into a life-size slot car all conspire to make driving in New York City and the surrounding environment a harrowing experience. The French had a solution to this about a half-centry ago and atleast one smart New Yorker has figured it out:

The Citroen DS was introduced in 1955 and came with a hydropneumatic  self-leveling suspension. Sure, a Mercedes 600 had a full air suspension as well, but Citroen was targeting a less rarefied audience than dictators and rock stars. Not only that, but Citroen offered driving lights that turned with the steering (something BMW has advertised heavily as of late), but it's suspension allowed you to quickly change a tire without a jack (and without runflat tires!).

I've had a soft spot for French cars since riding around in a childhood friend's Peugeot 505. It was  quite different than the big Buick wagons and Volvos that everyone else's moms drove, and aside from being supremely comfortable, it smelled great too! 

Cars and Coffee anyone?

New York City has everything right?  If you're a film nut, a foodie or an art buff this city has a lot to offer. But if your interests tend toward pistons and valves, there's not much out there. Sure, the Guggenheim has the occasional motorcycle exhibit, and the MOMA had an E-type on display but there's not many places you can go to just chat about cars.  And it's not like people in NY aren't into cars; on my way home tonight I saw a nice 70s 911 with racing numbers on the side, a pimped out e92 M3 and a Mercedes W114 coupe on the same block! We need something like the "Cars and Coffee" events they have in the LA area. Sure, there's the "Madison Avenue Sports Car Driving and Chowder Society", but I'm thinking of something much younger and more casual.

A solution to my New York City parking dilemma?

Someone on Craiglist has come up with a brilliant idea for getting free parking in Brooklyn. He'll allow the proud owner of a driveway-equipped house to display his "brand new shiny 3 series" for all to see:
http://gothamist.com/2010/10/08/bmw_owner_will_park_in_your_spot_fr.php

Unfortunately, anyone wealthy enough to have their own piece of ashpalt in Manhattan has enough money to buy 10 of whatever car they want. And in Park Slope, a Prius would be way more desirable as a driveway trophy.  All in all, if someone is impressed with you for having a new 3 series in your driveway, they'll probably be asking you for money very soon. I think most people look at 3 series BMWs and their drivers in one of the following ways:
-Could care less cars
-Obnoxious yuppie/frat boy/spoiled teenager
-Already has one or has something he likes more

As good a car as it may be, I think you'd get more bang for your status buck by spending your lease money on a night of bottle service at a club, walking around the neighborhood with a private bodyguard for a day or signing up for a high end yoga class.