Why a BMW 7 Series?

Why did I purchase a BMW 750iL? Well it all started back in late 1984, I worked for a then small company named FORE Systems, I started when they where small and picked up some stock before IPO. When they went public it turned out I had a little bit of extra cash. I decided I wanted a car in the $30-40k range. I looked at virtually everything out there. First up an Acura Legend, I took it for a nice spin, it was certainly room enough, and handled all right, but I wasn't sure I was ready for a Japanese car. I knew that the BMW 525i was about the price I wanted, and I knew that I would have to drive a BMW before I made any decision. The sales droid was convinced that the Legend could hold value just like a BMW, I was not as convinced. Next up an Infiniti J30, definitely a tighter machine than an Acura but still Japanese, need to test the Germans and Swedes and see what they had to offer. Mercedes was out, too boxy for me. So we gave the Audi a shot. Took the whole family, piled into an A6 and gave the salesman a ride. I wasn't sure of exactly where I was driving, but I was pushing a bit, not too much. Testing acceleration and braking in and out of the curves, which are plentiful here in Western Pennsylvania. I came up over a hill and realized I was in a parking lot behind some office buildings, it was a Saturday afternoon, and the parking lot was empty. The sales critter said: "Just make a lane over just to the edge by the guard rail." I figured, good deal, let's see how close we can get and turn hard left just as we get there. I planted my right foot and shot ahead towards the guard rail, got within a few feet and turned hard left. Judged it perfect, probably two feet from scraping, I think it looked a lot closer from his vantage point. He held tight to the dash, and said to my wife: "I think he really wants a Porsche." Porsche was out of the question I need to pile in 2 kids and the wife along with luggage and be able to hit the road. The car was nice but I needed to drive some more. Driving home one afternoon in a mild snow I decided this was the weather to try out the Saab 900. They always claimed to go well in the snow, so I stopped by a nearby dealer and took one out. It was good, it handled well, even in the snow, but I just didn't like the acceleration. It wasn't slipping it just wasn't jumping, I don't remember the precise model, but I had soured on Saab. All that was left in my mind was the BMW, I had saved it for last figuring it would definitely live up to my expectations. Unfortunately the 525i, as some of you may know is a bit under powered, and I could feel it. Also the sales person was not exactly friendly, sort of had the attitude that I shouldn't be wasting her time, I clearly wasn't going to buy a car from her. I left the dealer sorely dissatisfied on several counts. So now I had a decision to make, what to do, what to do? Then I thought, hey I've been looking at imports, maybe, just maybe, a domestic could fit the bill. What looked nice, a Pontiac Bonneville SSEI, I knew that they could perform, or so they said, I figured I would give it a shot. Wow, talk about excitement, it scared the living daylights out of me. I put it into the paces, and talk about body roll. I pulled out of a light and tromped the accelerator, amazing amount of torque steer, I thought I was going off the road. I told the salesman, thanks but no thanks, I just didn't like the car. Then, it appeared, coming out of work one day I spotted a very sharp looking BMW looking right at me as I came out of work. I looked carefully, as I sat at the light, I thought to myself, that is very wide, it can't be 5-series. So, I drove straight into the lot and began to check it out. I noticed the badge, 750iL, yes V-12, I know this baby will go, twice the engine of the little 525i. Nice and big, lot's of room, I had to drive this car. I called the wife and said: "I am looking at a BMW 750iL, if the price is right I am buying this car, it is really nice." Sales guy wandered out said: "Want to go for a drive?" "Yes!", was my immediate answer, he wandered off and collected some keys. We piled in and looked at the controls, lots of stuff going on in this cockpit. He wasn't sure of everything himself, it was a Cadillac dealer, they had taken the car on trade. I could not even fathom such a thing, someone trading a BMW for a Caddy, but it was my luck. Took it for a spin, mistakenly clicked M on the transmission and had it in drive, darn it didn't accelerate, disappointed again, then I looked at the dash and said: "Oops, we don't want that", I clicked the A, and stepped down. What fun, downshifted hard and away we went, this car handled exactly as I had imagined. Even though I had made the statement to my wife, I had to think about it. So I went home and pondered the big BMW. The next day I had a seminar to attend so I couldn't talk to the dealer, I called the dealer at around 4, after the seminar ended and said: "I'm on my way to look at the BMW!". Then he said some horrible words: "Sorry, some guy put money on it this morning.". Shoot, I was going to miss out, I had convinced my wife that she could take a quick look then we would buy it. Convinced her we could afford it, and everything. Oh well, it was not to be, kay-sera-sera. One day later, I was sitting in my office hacking away, and I received a call, it was the dealer. The guy's financing had fallen through and he couldn't get the car, if I wanted it I should come down. Over lunch I drove over, there was already a woman talking to the sales manager about the car. First one to put money on the car would get it, what could I do, last conversation with my wife was no car, let's use the money for something else. She was out and I didn't want to make a decision like this without at least consulting her. I just couldn't decide, so the woman put money on the car and I left. Next day, yet another day, yet another seminar, life was good back then, in the afternoon around 2 I checked my voice mail and there was a message from the dealer. The woman's husband said she couldn't buy, the car was available again. I didn't have any cash on me, how could I call him. I transferred to the company receptionist and asked her to transfer me to the car dealer. I gave him my credit card number to hold the car, and high tailed it up to his place as soon as the seminar was over. I walked in and said: "Hi Art, I'm here to take a final look at the BMW, what time are you here until, I want to bring my wife up." We lived about 45 minutes from the dealer, so I would have to drive home pick her up and drive back. Art said: "Here take it and let her see, then you can really test it." This was great no sales guy, I could really test. I couldn't believe it they just handed me the keys, I left my Chevy Lumina, fully 1/3 the value of the BMW and off I went. I pulled into the driveway and said: "Well, what do you think?" At the time we had the aforementioned Lumina and a Dodge Spirit, this car was just a few classes above those, so it was clearly a "Wow, this is really nice!". There was an import car mechanic around the corner, I didn't know him to this point, I called and asked if he could inspect a car and let me know what he thought. He would, so I drove over. He took it for a quick ride, put it up on the lift, spotted a leak in the left rear levelling shock, and that the brakes were a lttle thin up front, other than that he pronounced the car sound. I returned to the dealer and said: "Let's do it." That was a Thursday, I gave them my social security number and they did all of the paper work. They had the car ready for Saturday morning, fully detailed and looking immaculate. We drove up in the Chevy and my the trade way up in performance and style to the BMW 750iL. It had 45K on the clock, since then I've reached 110K. Overall I've probably spent the full retail cost of that Lumina on repairs and add-ons, but I love it. So ultimately the choice came down to brand new mid-range, or slightly used top of the line world class luxury sedan, I think I made the right choice don't you? P.S. This is really from 1998 but the post factory won't handle 1998.