lawguy

So, I picked up my new '07 550i on February 14th and have put about 4600 miles on it since then. Its a marvelous car in every respect. The 6-speed manual transmission is a blast, and I couldnt be happier with the logic 7 stereo.

However, I came from a 7 series sedan and honestly, after nearly 3 months, I really miss driving a full size sedan. I've got 3 kids and two chubby law partners, and its just not as easy to get folks in and out of the car as I'd hoped. I'm also traveling more and more these days for work, and with more interstate highway miles (and less time on the fun & twisty roads), a full size "cruise mobile" might have been a better option for me than a performance sedan.

I leased the car for 36 months, so I'm still 34 months to go...yikes. I might just buy the car and trade it in. The lease terms were great - I put $5k down and the monthly is only $701. I feel a little crazy for even considering letting it go so soon, but I wondered if it would easier to find someone that wanted it now with less than 5k miles on it, rather than a few more months when its closer to 10k miles.

Any thoughts to help me snap out of the headworms I'm experiencing?

Spyder44

The fact that you are even asking about it, I think answers your own question. Unfortunate that you do not get to enjoy the sport sedan in lieu of your heavy highway travels with or without your chubby partners. Seems as if at the mo, you're more inclined to get more enjoyment out of a 7. Maybe get an M5 when you win that big case!

tjleeland

I have to agree with Spyder, if you having serious doubts go for the 7. I know that you can find several 760's on eBay in the 70 to 80 grand range.

tachyon

Oh, my. So soon?

Try swaplease.com. Maybe you can switch to an X5 or a 750iL.

lawguy

I'm not 100% sold on the idea of letting it go, but more and more, I'm wishing I had a 7 series, and just wonder if the timing now would be more optimal to buy it out & sell it.

I'll check out the swapalease site - cant imagine they have many low mileage 550s....

MidnightRider

Apples vs. Oranges

It sounds like the verdict is in and you really want the 7. Your milage is high and will hit about 30K in a year at your current rate. If you are making a move I recommend sooner rather than later.

I smile every day when I am behind the wheel of my 550. I have been in the 7 and it is an impressive ride but not a sport sedan. Perhaps the diet (five to seven) should also be applied to the partners?

Good luck!

slickrick

Did you buy this car for you or your partners? Don't worry about our partners and worry about you. Do you enjoy the car when your alone cruising? Good. Snap out of it and live it up.

narvselius

Try to stick to your current car another year, the new 7 series is soon to be revealed which will make the current E65 quite cold on the market.

550isport

I sold my 740i sport for a 550 last year. I wanted to the like the 745/750, but it is a rather disconnected driving experience, certainly relative to a 5. Although its beyond my price range and wasn't available last year, a B7 Alpina would have met my needs perfectly. In essence, cost issues aside the handling is the only compelling reason to get a 5 over a 7. If your preference for comfort is stronger than your preference for handling, then the quesion is answered. Naturally there is the status benefit of driving a 7 as well. I can't tell you how many times I bite my lip when any of my clients ask why I 'downgraded' rom a 7 to a 5 (even though the sticker on my 550 was $2,500 higher than my 2001 740). The 7 is more of an attorney's car.

Best of luck,
David R. Peck, Esq.

tachyon

I think you should keep the 550i. It's such a magnifcent driving machine.

If you look at the interior dimensions of the E60 versus an E38 (not the longer wheelbase), the E60 is almost within 1/2" in legroom and shoulder/hip room - and the E60 has better headroom than the old 7er. The main difference between your old 740iL and the new 550 is rear legroom. So I don't think you really lost that much room going from the E38 to the E60.

But if you want a 7 series ... consider that the new 2009 model (F01) should be available next year. At that time you could get a really good deal on a 2008 model or pony up for the big new 2009 ride (it's going to be longer and wider than the current E65).

Good luck with your decision.