First need, then want and finally, reality. Our purchase of my spouses daily...

On 6/15 of this year our 2005 Toyota Highlander Limited, 4wd work horse with 245,000 miles called it quits. The failure was traceable and I knew it might happen, I will miss that car.

But the reality was my wife had first dibs on claiming the next car and what she was willing to do to make it happen.  She has taken on the task to make this work and my job, to find her new wheels.  This has been a learning curve in this the brave new world of purchasing a car that was going to cost what turned out to be 50% of its original MSRP, in just under 6 years.  

Ok, I have and will continue to buy and drag home stuff that has and will continue to cost what I can pay cash for, this was a very different transaction.  Before looking at what was available, my wife had through her credit union and had her self preapproved for what she was willing to commit too financially.  Then she started her search.

The world of private party transactions, at these dollars are in trouble.  

Focusing on the end off this transaction; "gap insurance" is an necessary evil.  We got to spent $400 dollars to ensure that the price that we were not going to get to negotiate on the purchase of the car, was covered for our lender.

I have first person accounts of new owners of their brand new cars, totaling them right after taking them home.  Not fun, but money well spent.  My first drive of this car reinforces this reality.  This car is looking for you to, not pay attention.

We live in Southern California, as the crow files 70 miles sounds close. The reality of that distance is hours on the road.  My job in this quest was looking at cars that where identified as potentials.  Private party sellers are in love with KBB.com determining the value ot their "baby".

They might be clueless, profoundly.   And having the title in their names before they want to sell the car, an inconvenience.

Now, why would we use a dealer, one that did not negotiate on the price of a car?  After weeks of looking at private party cars, I was over getting them to understand what was required of them to actually sell their car.

The days of requiring the buyer to just show up with cash to drive away with no responsibility going forward for the seller, are over.  That and the vendor we used was in a location and provides a service that focused on this being just a transaction.  Yes, they had a select array of cars that would allow you to get very distracted, but they knew that keeping inventory outside was not going to work in this market. 

We had three cars in one location that would meet our needs. We agreed on the one we drove home. Did not get too distracted. Thanks God.

We are the second owners of a 2015 BMW X5, xdrive 3.5 Diesel, with 40,000 miles. Gray in color, black interior.  The Car Fax Report lists the maintenance and the body work.  I can understand that with these cars they attract hits.  Having driven the car, I can envision that some of the damage might have been the reasonability of the driver.  This car has spontaneous torque.

The installation of the factory rear camera in a car not originally equipped, is an affirmation that some one realized there was a need.  The gear selector in this ventage of bimmers is not initiative.  We are learning. 

Now, gas versos diesel in the Golden State.  We are profoundly effected by overly helpful people that are convinced that they know better than the average person of our fair state.  Gas powered BMW should be run on a steady diet of premium fuel, all of mine are, and I get to pay the tariff to have my cars running as designed. I average 18 MPG in my current BMW X3, 3.0i, driving up and down the hill to work. I know, I am trying to drive responsibly.

In this case diesel fuel is costing less than regular gas and even factoring the addition of the "DEF", this is going to be a win. Yea, a wash a least. Time will tell. 

Congrats on your choice.  Let us know how it all goes.

Did you call and talk to a BMW service writer before you bought that?  I sure hope you did.  My friend, who is a BMW service writer, expressly warned me off of the X5 diesels when I was looking at one vs the Cayenne diesel.  If it's not too late buy the best, most comprehensive, longest bumper to bumper warranty you can...

Yes, the warranty purchased from our lender was a three year/36,000 mile all inclusive policy.  The cost was $1000 less that the one offered at the dealer.

I know this is a bit of a crap shoot, but the fuel costs have me willing to give this a shot.  The cost of consumables; tires and breaks, are the same. We consume two sets of everything per year.  It's hard to even type that, but it's the reality of living in the mountains. My wife drives it like she owns it, she works hard. The car, too.

Our current 2005 X3, 3.0i has 223,000 miles and gets 18 MPG. I nurse these cars until they get towed away.  Funny how well they run when you understand what you are ignoring when the "check engine" light is your constant friend.

I constantly confirm the coolant level and that they have oil. Having them parked in front of my house gives me a clear view of puddles that appear overnight. I have this drill down pat.

I can confirm that the car was repeatedly inspected by prospective buyers.  Nothing was noted, but until they installed the backup camera it sat on their lot. We were the first to the office when it was installed, just by luck.  I would not think of owning this car without it.  

One of the "tells"on the Car Fax was the break fluid change at the correct mileage required by the car.  The previous owner did change the oil in car on an annually basis, at less than 7500 miles a year.  Someone did look after the car.  

Life with a diesel, the first 1000 mile report. First, 1800 RPM in Drive means the car is doing 80 MPH.  This is the flow of traffic on the highways of Southern California. Lots of people are going around you, not always the ones you would expect.  The turn signal on the car is not as smooth as you would want it to be when signaling a lane change, I am still working with the intermediate function.  I-drive is it's own world, that too I am learning.

Now, with my learning curve and the layers of technology in the municipal data systems of the car, I can confirm the MPG are telling me 27.4 on the dash system and 34.7 on the I-drive screen display, that I have figured out how to reset.  Not bad, driving up and down the hill with some free way driving in the mix.  Fuel prices are just lower than the regular gas I never run in any of my cars and the tank holds 22 gallons. I now will only get to drive the car occasionally, it is now my better half's DD.

Next test, I filled up the car on Sunday afternoon and I am wondering how long in the week this tank will last?  Yes, it is not as quiet as the gas version of the same car at idle.  For the 10 plus MPG at a lower cost, it is quiet enough.