M5 Driving Experience - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

CEC · 11th April 2002, 22:02

I need some ideas. I got my invitation to the M5 Driving Experience last week. I really want to go. I am married with 2 small children. Here’s the rub. I need to convince the wife that it is a worthwhile vacation idea. I made my first attempt yesterday. It didn’t go well. Here is how it went:

Me: “Honey I have a great idea. Why don’t we take a vacation and go down to South Carolina? Maybe we can do some furniture shopping while we are down there.”

(Notice how I dangled a carrot out there and I have no idea if SC has a big furniture industry like NC.)

Wife: “What are you talking about?”

Me: “Well, I got this invitation from BMW for driving school for my car, and it sounds like a fun place to take the family.”

Wife: “Why do you need to go to driving school? You have been driving for 20 years haven’t you?”

(Not exactly the response I was looking for.)

Me: “No that’s not what I mean. They teach you how to use the M5’s full potential. It will make me a better and safer driver.”

(I played the safety card right up front.)

Wife: “What’s the point? You can’t go that fast on our roads anyway and why do you need to become a safer driver. Why would you take our son in your car if you aren’t a safe driver?”

(This is not going well.)

Me: “Actually there is more to it than just driving school. We can take a day trip and go see the Biltmore Estate. Plus they pay for the hotel and meals. I have always wanted to see South Carolina.”

(I am reaching at this point.)

Wife: “I have never heard you mention that before. Why don’t you just go by yourself?”

(This is, of course, a trick question – a positive response here would be devastating.)

Me: “No honey I would never go by myself. This isn’t about me. I will only go if we can make this into a family vacation. What do you think?”

(I am floundering big time.)

Wife: “No.”

(I am going down in flames now.)

Me: “Maybe we can talk about it later. I have this fancy brochure you can look at. I think it would be a great break from our routine.”

Wife: no response….

Martin A. · 11th April 2002, 23:24

Hmmm,
We've got reversed problems
I haven't been suuccessful so far in getting invited (second owner)
My wifes reply would be when can we go? and secondly, can I do it too?
I'll ask her for some pointers on getting you there with, maybe without the Mrs. ( that would be fun!)
I'lll ask tonight. Now, if you can convince BMW to invite me.......
Martin

PhilSeastrand · 11th April 2002, 23:32

Does she drive the car at all? If so, then it would be beneficial to her as well. My wife went along and had a great time. You take turns in the maneuvers and each get a chance to experience the car. It really made my wife a lot more comfortable, both as a driver and a passenger. You never really appreciate how well the car drives until you can push it beyond what you would do with your own car. They also make you a big believer in DSC.

In our case, we flew into Newark (hate that airport, but that's another discussion), drove to Eastern Pennsylvania where her family lives, went up to Niagara Falls (never been there before), hit Western Pennsylvania where my sister lives, and ended up in Spartanburg. It was a great trip!

You could also consider what to “trade” her for… maybe there’s something that she’s been wanting that hasn’t been possible in the past. Get creative!

atomic80 · 11th April 2002, 23:35

Chet: Don't you WANT to go by yourself? You'll get to do everything twice that way. Sounds like your wife is practically encouraging you to go by yourself here. Try to figure out a way to do it without making you look like the bad guy here. She's already given you an opening by suggesting that you go yourself.

Martin: BMW sent the invitation to everyone that they had on file. Since you're the 2nd owner I doubt that you'd get the invitation letter but you can still go regardless of that. Just call 877-99M-5999 and have them check your M5 VIN number to see if the DE portion hasn't already been used. If it's already past the 1 year mark then you might be able to bend their ears long enough to convince them to let you go. Diamond Dave with the help of myself and Sang (RareM5) is going despite the fact that his is long since past.

tfung · 12th April 2002, 00:55

ahh.. Jason... if he says he would go by himself, the wife would probably throw a bigger fit.... so it was actually the better of the two answers to say that he'll bring the whole family...

hmm.. but I was wondering, what would the kids do while you two went to the driving school?

A_Train · 12th April 2002, 01:33

CEC,

Great write-up. I was literally LOL, picturing in my mind the whole scene going on.

- A-Train

Richard in NC · 12th April 2002, 02:07

CEC;
I'm not maried so I can't really know what you are going thru. Here are some ideas for an SC vacation. The beaches are 5 hours from Spartanburg. Myrtle Beach is for family fun or Charleston is for old south architecture. Hilton head is an exclusive resort. The NC mountains are 2 hours north. The Biltmore estate drive to Asheville during the M5 DE takes you into that area. Either direction from Asheville, you can spend days on the Blue Ridge Parkway. It goes from the Smokey Mountains (NC/TN border) clear into VA and is a great drive. Of course you could always buy peaches and fire works like Beewang!

Do try to go, I went in December and it is well worth the time and airfare.

Pamilih · 12th April 2002, 02:14

I would definitely go on my own. Wife and children will spoil the joy of driving. Imagine being totally and uninterruptedly absorbing yourself into the technical details of the M5? That should be more fun than sex....

AndrewNJM5@home · 12th April 2002, 04:47

I was in the same boat, but with one small one. So, I've decided to make it a "guy thing." I've invited my good friend for a weekend of golf followed by some fast driving - Guess I am a lucky man - owner of an M5 and married to someone understanding enough to let me get away with this. The biggest delima is if I should put the 1000+ miles driving down from NJ. Would be nice to have the car for the golf outings.
BTW - am signed up for the May 13-15 class, wait listed for the May 1-3 class.
Andrew
2001 Carbon Blk / Blk

wbarber · 12th April 2002, 05:02

Quote:

Originally posted by PhilSeastrand
Does she drive the car at all? If so, then it would be beneficial to her as well. My wife went along and had a great time. You take turns in the maneuvers and each get a chance to experience the car. It really made my wife a lot more comfortable, both as a driver and a passenger. You never really appreciate how well the car drives until you can push it beyond what you would do with your own car. They also make you a big believer in DSC.

I would ask the same question. My wife doesn't drive the car much (because I hog all the driving time

) but she does enjoy it when she drives. She thought it was seriously cool when I told her the M5 driving experience is for two, and I would have been in big trouble if she hadn't been the guest.

We have two kids (boys ages 3 and 6) and her parents are going to watch them for the week we are gone (we're taking the M5 from Jersey to SC - no way we're going to fly. After the school, I wonder how long it will take us to drive back - maybe a couple of hours?

)

I think this is a good deal since my wife had to approve of me getting the car in the first place. We're both really looking forward to it.

Good luck! I enjoyed the narrative, even if it didn't have a happy ending.

Bart Carter · 12th April 2002, 05:12

She obviously has no desire for this type of thing. Well, you asked her as your first choice.

So I would make it a guy thing. There is nothing wrong with that. Don't feel guilty about family obligations. You are part of the family too. You deserve a couple of days. By yourself if your wife doesn't want to go.