Just wanted to stop by and announce the latest addition to our stable of vehicles. An absolutely stunning white X5 with that amazing sounding V8 engine!
So sit back and let me tell you all our story...
I bought my first BMW last year in the form of a black 2016 M235i which I absolutely adore. I did the Performance Center Delivery with my girlfriend and she, who had to that point been a very cautious (i.e slow as crap) driver really came into her own when we did some track time. A month later we got invited to the M Days event in Florida and she ruled when it came to both the drag racing and slalom events. Seeing her kick butt in a X6M is something I will never forget. Ever since, I sensed that she was feeling a need for some more Bavarian speed.
For past year she has been in the market for a larger SUV to replace her Mazda CX-5 (a really fun and spirited vehicle to be sure), and with our herd of dogs growing, we needed more space as well. The X3 was nice but too small. She also looked at Honda Pilots and most recently both the Toyota 4-Runner and Highlander.
At a recent trip to a local dealer to put my summer wheels and tires back on we were chatting with the staff and asked if maybe to kill some time we could take an X5 for a drive. Bad idea...
The one they setup for us was the 35i but it was packed to the gills with extra options. Signature paint and the highest end Merino leather interior (made with sheep not cow leather so they said). It was love at first site for both of us, but there was no way we were going to drop what they were asking for it. However the seed had been planted that perhaps a lesser optioned out X5 was the way to go.
A few weeks went by and the more rational and logical and fiscally responsible parts of our brains slowly crept back in and we again were looking else where for our SUV solution. It was looking like maybe a Toyota or Mazda CX-9 (which I didnt really like after testing one) was going to win out. Then, I got a text from her last week with a link to a CPO 2015 X5 50i with lowish miles.
A V8!?! Nah, we could never afford it...or could we. The asking price wasn't bad, even less than a 35i I had been pricing out and I knew that I could utilize some serious negotiation skills and beat them down on pricing and extras. I setup a test drive for that very afternoon and again it was love at first site. This X5 was loaded with options. Mineral White Metallic, Mocha Nappa interior with the leather dash and 20 way seats. Executive package, Cold Weather, Active Cruise Control, Luxury package, Driver Assistance Plus, aluminum running boards, vented seats, soft close doors, rear window shades and the previous owner had already tinted the windows as well. While it didn't have the M Sport package, that was fine as my girlfriend is rather old school and believes that M badges belong only on real M cars.
DHP would have been nice but suspension upgrades are something I can look at for the future. After our test drive we both knew we wanted it and less than 48 hours she drove it home. I will say that those 48 hours were a roller coaster of emotions as we debated (to put it mildly) whether or not this was the right thing to do.
In the end, the dealer really worked with us on pricing and I got a few extras thrown in to sweeten the deal. Could i have beaten them down further on price? Maybe, or I could have gone out of state for a slightly better deal on a similar X5 but we decided to stay local and also got a decent deal on a old CX-7 we traded in.
Okay okay, I know, enough with the rambling story, what does it look like... Here ya go. I am so very proud to present to you, our new X5 50i.. I say OUR but she hasn't been very receptive to me driving it much... yet
Oh, and what does my baby think of this V8 powerhouse? Let me share this text she just sent me after she took a short business trip in it... "I fu*&ing love this car!" I think that sums it up...
I'm sure I'll have many more tales to share in the coming months and years. She is already asking me if we can add a piggyback tuner module to it like I did with my M235... women!
Madmatt