Old New Car – New Older Car

I had a 2002 Toyota 4Runner.  I loved it more each year I owned it.  I kept it for 16 years and 200,000 miles.  When it came time to replace it, there was no choice.  Another 4Runner was the only choice.  Twenty-one months ago, I traded in my 2002 4Runner which I loved and bought a 2018 4Runner.  I even wrote about it:  Old Car - New Car. 

While the 2002 was a compact SUV, the 2018 had grown into a full-sized SUV.  It drove well.  I could load and tote all of his music equipment into it with ease.  As a result, it was a bit harder to climb into but no issue for me.  My wife?  It was a different matter altogether. Except for trips to Home Depot, Menard’s, or to haul furniture, where the cargo space was valued, my wife refused to drive it or ride in it. 

It seemed idiotic to have two people in our household with two cars when one of the two of us refused to drive or ride in one of the cars.  So, I contemplated replacing my new 4Runner.

I decided to look at cars I always liked.  He wanted to keep my note near the same level that I could trade the 2018 4Runner for.  I owed $22,000 on it.  So, he looked for used cars with about the same number of miles.  I focused on three alternatives:

• 2017 Lexus LS 460 – their flagship sedan
• 2018 Mercedes-Benz GL 350 – their popular SUV
• 2020 Subaru Outback Turbo Touring Model – a brand new station wagon

I like to consider a variety of alternatives that seem disparate to others.  This never works at a new car dealerships when I have tried to consider different models of the same brand.  The dealerships can’t and won’t process more than one car at a time.  But, this time I was at different dealerships.  I was looking at the Lexus both on Carvana and CarMax.  The Mercedes was at the Mercedes dealership where I had bought my wife’s E350.  The Subaru was at another local dealership.

I wanted the Lexus.  I ruled out the Carvana one and was set to buy the CarMax one.  They had to deliver it up from Nashville and that would take about ten days for them to get the car up to my local CarMax store. 

In the interim, a 2016 BMW 550i GT with low miles popped up one of my internet feeds.  I was interested in this car because it was an interesting hatchback on a 7 Series frame with the 5 Series interior.  I could tool around in style and still haul music gear when I had to.  It was at a Volkswagen dealership about fifteen miles north of me. 

I made an appointment to take a look at it and take a test drive.  I made another appointment, later, on the same day, to see the Subaru.  In this Covid era, I could take a test drive but by myself versus with the salesperson.  I got in the BMW, started it up, gingerly drove out the dealership and planned to get on I-294 East which was right there.  I wanted open it up a bit.  It had the speedometer displayed ‘heads-up’ i.e. displayed on the windshield a most cool feature.  I got on the ramp to the expressway and stepped on the gas.  OMG, the next thing I knew was going over 100 mph and I was still on the ramp.  I had a huge grin on my face and slowed it down to 80 mph.  Wow.  What a machine.  I had so much fun test driving it, I was like a little kid.  I first called my friend and financial advisor, Claude Ohanesian, and told him about the car, how much fun I was having in it, and whether I consider it.  He said, "Buy it!  Today!"  I next called the Subaru dealership and told them there was no way I could test drive the Outback immediately after this BMW.  I decided not to wait for the CarMax Lexus.  I had to get this BMW, which I did… that very day.  I love it as does my wife:  mission accomplished.

Back in the 1980s, I was purely a Ford man.  I worked for Ford and only bought Fords and then a few Chevys.  But, as of the mid-1990s, I switched to Toyota and Lexus exclusively.  Now, we are a two German car household. 

My wife teases me about owning a BMW and justifiably so.  BMW has a slogan they have been using since the 1980s, The Ultimate Driving Machine.  One day in the late 80s, I was driving a Ford Escort station wagon on Franklin Road near my Bloomfield Township, MI home.  A light wet snow made the roads treacherous, but the front wheel drive of my humble Escort was able to navigate the slick pavement.  A fellow, obviously, more well-heeled than me, was in a 700 series BMW spinning his wheels unable to navigate a slight incline.  I slowed down, rolled down my window, and the fellow driving the BMW rolled his down as well.  Perhaps, he thought I might offer him some assistance.  No.  That was not the case.  Instead, in a combination of youthful and Detroit arrogance, I looked at him and snidely said, “The Ultimate Driving Machine,” as I rolled by.  Not my greatest moment.

Now, I own one.  They have since solved that problem.  My BMW is all wheel drive.

I will probably replace this car, down the road, with the Lexus LS as it a better car for the more elderly gent I am planning to be.  For now, I am enjoyed the heck out of, what to me, is truly my ultimate driving machine.