Happy Holidays!

     It was a good year. Thank you everyone who came in and out of my life this year. I learned many new things and I became a better person. 

    New Year is not about changing the Dates but Direction;

It's not about changing the Calendar but Commitment;

                       It's not about changing the Actions but Attitude;

        It's not about changing the Fruit but Faith, Force and Focus!

                      May you Commit and Create the best New Year ever!

Next Post is about me.

       There's nothing complicated about me. My mission is to dream and achieve my goals. I am usually very specific about what I want from myself and people around me. I love the Law and high end cars. I know it sounds high but I am not that "high". I just do what I like and enjoy my life as a hobby every day. This is it,

Buying vs. Leasing

People don’t realize that leasing invariably costs more than an equivalent loan. And even if they did, the extra cost is difficult to calculate. Still, many people can’t afford the higher payments of a loan, at least not without putting a substantial amount down. If payments are an issue, consider buying a lower-cost vehicle or a reliable used car.

Leasing is a very good way for dealers to keep customers around and it's a great option for customers who are looking for some flexibility. Sellers will talk you into leasing by showing you the small month to month payments. Dealers want you to lease, they want you to come back, finance or lease an another car, or perhaps buy the car when your lease is up.

Buying:	Leasing:
1. You can keep the car as long as you want, you are the owner of the vehicle;	1. You don't own the vehicle. You must return it at the end of the lease unless you decide to buy it;
2. You can sell or trade in your vehicle at any time. If necessary, money from the sale can be used to pay off any loan balance;	2. If you end the lease early, early-termination charges can be almost as costly as sticking with the contract;
3. You're free to drive as many miles as you want;	3. You may only drive 10 to 15k miles per year, if you drive more than agreed you will pay a fee or you can buy miles in advance for .16-.26 cents per mile; There's no credit if you drive less than the miles allowed;
4. You can customize your vehicle as you like;	4. You cannot customize the car; Or you can but you will have to take off all aftermarket parts when you return the car;
5. You don't have to worry about wear and tear;	5. You are responsible for wear and tear or you will end up paying for dings, scratches or even wear of tires. You will be charged a fee for all dings, scratches, dents, worn tires and others;
6. The vehicle will depreciate but its cash value is yours to use as you like;	6. On the plus side, its future value doesn't affect you financially. On the negative side, you don't have any equity in the vehicle.

BMW 535i- SOLD

Following up on my previous post related to the engine malfunction issue on BMW 535i, I luckily only needed a computer reset. There was no problem reported with Vanos Solenoid, HPFP & injectors or the turbos- it was just a software error.

I had one more trip to LA with this sporty car and I sold it immediately after I got back in town. Now I am looking for a new car. Stay tuned and I will have some other interesting posts for you.

BMW 535i- Engine Malfunction- Reduced Power

I was aware that the Twin Turbo on 535's is a common issue before I decided to buy one. After a few weeks driving the 535i on my way to Vegas, half the way through- having 300 more miles to drive the Engine Malfunction light came on messaging Reduced Power- It was not a surprise- I am used to lights coming on right after purchase.

25 miles after I received the warning I decided to stop and do researches-

When the light came on, I did not notice any power loss more of a less responsive acceleration and was able to make it to Vegas and back home the 560 miles. After making the stop at the gas station I shut the car down and restarted back, the warning light did not appear but it came back on after driving 200 miles. And again I experienced no loss of power. I first thought that it should be related to the Fuel pump and I also put fuel injector cleaner in the gas tank. Than I thought the car perhaps was fixed and after the warnings are canceled they usually can come back on after a while and it needs a software reset. The light appeared a couple more times but not for the last 300 miles I drove coming back home. I am lucky there was no issues and the car resisted so long. I am glad I did not have to stay in the middle of the desert in the heat of 115 degrees. There are a few factors that might caused the light to come on; Vanos Solenoid, HPFP & injectors, the turbos or just a software error. I am taking the car in to a mechanic this weekend and I will keep you updated.

And because every adventure in my life has a happy ending, we had a great time in Vegas celebrating my mom's Birthday-

Monterey Car Show 2014

----->  The Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance is where the world's collector cars meet and compete- Auto shows and rallies throughout Monterey offer car fans the chance to see historic and rare vehicles up close. I am happy I decided to attend this show which is one of the best in the world: http://www.montereycarweek.com/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2oLwYvjDs8

Ready for drifting!

I still think the 5 series are the best executive/ mid-size luxury cars. 

This is probably my 5th 5 Series- the first 535i which is definitely faster and its a lot of fun to drive. I like this body over the new one because it's not heavy and it is easy to maneuver.

Inspiration for Summer Fun

Lake Berryessa, Summer 2014

Californian Fever- Tesla

I like it, but I would not go for it! Forget about engine noise, oil change, gas, transmission and engine. It has a very fine design and I only see that car driven by ladies because it is just so easy to locate every function and it is super easy to drive.

What you want to know:

• You only can preorder it;
• The Co doesn't keep units in stock;
• You are welcome to customize;
• Starting price- $70k;
• Warranty included 4 years or 50k Mills; 
• Financing available;
• Business lease available only, through Tesla Finance;
• More Info pending...

 

If you want to be happy in retirement, consider ditching your BMW. (Yahoo Article)

I must say- there's something true about this article! 
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/why-unhappy-retirees-driving-bmws-143200093.html

.
Certified financial planner Wes Moss has surveyed over 1,300 retirees in 46 states about everything from their assets to their happiness and the cars in their driveways.

He found that when it comes to luxury cars, the most common pick among unhappy retirees is the BMW.

In his book, "You Can Retire Sooner Than You Think: The 5 Money Secrets Of The Happiest Retirees," Moss explains that this correlation might have less to do with the car itself than the impression it leaves on others.

He suspects that BMW owners are "still competing. They buy the 'Ultimate Driving Machine' because they're looking for a distraction — a high-end status symbol to make them feel better about themselves," he writes. "But in purchasing a car, they have opted, either knowingly or unknowingly, to add an additional financial burden to their lives."

On the other hand, the happiest retirees in comparably luxurious cars are driving Lexuses — and in a five-year price comparison, Moss and his team found that owning a Lexus costs 16% less than a BMW. Happy retirees, he found, bought their cars for "comfort" and "cushion."

In his book, Moss also lists the non-luxury cars that tend to pair up with happy and unhappy retirees, from Nissan and Subaru (happy) to Chrysler and Dodge (unhappy).

As Moss says, driving a particular car won't magically boost or tank your happiness level ... but the findings seem like more than a coincidence.

Hawaiian Fun