As indicated previously, when I started to put this together, I had no idea how long it would take or the length of the post, because of the amount of content. Therefore, I decided to break into separate posts. This is Part #6, the final post on this topic. If you haven’t seen earlier posts, please click here to find them.
26-1994-BMW-525
Times were good, so I traded-in the 325 for another 525. I got this one on a lease. This was another excellent BMW. When the three-year lease expired, I had to turn it in or buy it. I liked the car, but decided to check out the new models, just in case.
The new ones weren’t any nicer than what I had, so I was thinking that I should just keep this car. Then, as I was talking to the salesman I mentioned always wanting a BMW 850, but that they were just too expensive. As it turned out, somebody had just traded one in. It was not on the lot yet and was being prepped in a nearby shop. We jumped into my car and drove over to see it. When we got there, he asked me if I wanted to go for a test drive. I stood there thinking, should I do this, knowing what the outcome would be. As soon as I started it, a chill went up my spine and my heartbeat increased. How could I not buy the gorgeous car you will see next.
27-1993-BMW-850
This was hands down the best car I have ever owned or even ridden in, except maybe for a friends Ferrari. It was beautifully styled, had a powerful V-12 engine, and made me feel like a king when I drove it. Who cared if it was used. It looked almost identical to the new ones anyway. When driving this car, I no longer complained about my daily hour plus commute.
This car was very fast. I took it up to 150 MPH a few times and it got there very quickly. It was so air tight that when you opened the doors, the windows would move down about ½ inch so that when you closed the door the air pressure wouldn’t hurt your ears. Once the door closed, the window would go back up.
Unfortunately, I crashed this beauty one evening on the way home from a company event. I got lost and tried an unfamiliar route home through the hills of Sunnyvale. The 850 took turns like it was glued to the road, so I was probably going faster than I should have been for the road conditions. How was I to know, however, that the turn I was approaching was slightly moist and had Eucalyptus oil on the road from overhanging trees. I slammed on the breaks when the car didn’t turn left, but to no avail. It continued straight ahead, up an embankment, then fell back right on top of the car.
I wasn’t going that fast so wasn’t hurt, but it sure was hard on the car. As neighbors gathered, I learned that this had happened before to other drivers and they asked the city to put up a warning sign, but they didn’t. The car could be repaired, but it would take over $24k to fix it. I decided it was a sign from above that maybe I shouldn’t keep it, so I sold it to the guy who owned the local BMW body shop in Pleasanton.
About six months later, my wife and I were walking toward the local Best Buy when I saw the son of the body shop owner driving my 850. I could hardly believe what I saw. It looked better than new, with high profile tires and fancy rims just like the ones I had planned to buy for it. I almost cried while watching him drive by.
28-1999-Lexus-GS 300
When we went looking for a replacement car for the Blazer, I told Georgia that since this would be her car, it would be totally her decision. She test drove a Lexus SUV, BMW 525, the mid-size Infinity sedan and also their SUV, plus a Lexus GS 300. She decided on the GS 300. We have had the car ever since. It is a great car and has never given us one bit of trouble. Other than regular maintenance and break pads, we haven’t spent one cent on repairs. The car is getting up there in age and has over 140k miles on it, but Georgia likes it and doesn’t want a new car. So, as longs as it hold up, I guess we will keep it.
29-1995-Lexus-SC 400
So what do you get after owning one of the truly greatest road cars of all times. I wanted something sporty, and nice, but not so fast. I ended up getting this low mileage car from the dealer we bought my wife’s car from. It was a nice car, but I was never really happy with it, because I couldn’t help but compare it to my BMW 850.
30-2000-Nissan-Frontier
When we decided to move to Redding, and get a home in the country, I realized we would need a pickup truck. We sold the SC 400 just before leaving Pleasanton. While the moving van with all our worldly possessions drove North to our new home we each drove one of our two remaining cars. My wife drove her Lexus and I drove my ’55 Olds.
After we settled in, I went looking for a mid-sized truck. I planned to get a Toyota, but they seemed over priced. I was ready to buy and decided to walk next door to the Nissan dealer to see what they had. I lucked out because a loss-leader was advertised that morning in the newspaper, but I hadn’t seen it. The truck was fully loaded, compared to the Toyota, and was a couple of thousand dollars less. This has been a great truck and will probably outlast me. It is four-wheel drive, so easily pulls our boat out of the lake. With over seventy thousand miles on it, the only thing I have ever replaced is the battery.
Fatherly Advice
So, as I said when I started this post, if you can afford it, why not buy what you want. If you work hard, you should spoil yourself once in a while. If you can’t afford a new car don’t get one. It’s kind of like the housing market situation we are now in. We as a nation are facing lots of problems because people bought something they couldn’t afford. Now it is impacting all of us.
Great cars and great car stories. Plus I learned a few things. Who knew that the air tight BMW had to move windows down to not hurt your ears and that eucalyptus oil from trees could cause an accident. Fatherly advice appreciated.
Cars are like a member of the family. Thanks for sharing.
I never realized you had so many cars.
Neither did I, until I made a list. As you can see, cars are a weakness of mine.
Some women have a “thing” for shoes. Your “thing” is cars
I enjojed reading your life story with cars. A friend of mine just told me, you have changed yor hobby from women to cars, I told him that cars cost less, and the older they become, the more they wanted. I just bought 1928 model A, It is 82 years old, imagine having an 82 years old woman as a girl friend, soon she will fall apart, and there will be no spare parts. may Gos bless you. Talal