Snowstorms, panic attacks & VINs

All of a sudden this trip is moving in on us very quickly. One week from tomorrow we get on the plane and it feels like many things need to be done.

Truth is, very little needs to be done. We need to get the International Driver's Permit (IDP), finish the taxes, pack and get on the plane. The rest will take care of itself.

At least one big one is knocked out now ... we got the VIN for das Auto (Emmy is her name now). It was actually at the dealer on Thursday but Denver was blanked out by snow. Our client advisor got it yesterday and called in the morning. I hurried down to the dealership yesterday to get the finance paperwork done. Spent some time recovering after realizing the payment required to own this vehicle in 5 years. We knew this already, but signing a contract agreeing to make that payment monthly is a different story now isn't it. Toughest part is switching from being a leaser to a buyer ... no equity to trade-in :)

It didn't help to throw in the extras. I'm normally not in favor of buying some of the adds at the dealer since we know they are marking the product up, but right now that makes the most sense and their prices were not bad. Clear bra, window tint, lo-jack, run-flat tire protection, gap insurance and extended warranty ... it all adds up quick and put another $130 on the payment (yes @ 2.9% I am financing the adds).

The extended warranty is another questionable item. I don't love them, although I have one on the Infiniti to cover the gap between manufacturer's warranty and lease end, and we have one on the Acura provided gratis by the dealership if we get ALL non-emergency service done there (very clever move on their part IMHO).

However, when looking at the price of this car and the list of very expensive and fairly new technologies going into this machine ...

• 1st year of the Dual Clutch Transmission
• 1st year for the hard drive based iDrive
• 2nd year for the retractable hard top
• 2nd year for the high-rev V8

Coupled with the large number of high-tech devices ... seems like insurance rather than warranty. With this particular policy, if we don't use it, we get most of the price back. Guess we'll have to learn the hard way if it turns out to be hard to NOT use the policy. Otherwise, we only use it if something big happens.

So, today was spent with the burdensome task of pushing snow from the top to the bottom of Vail mountain using nothing but a pair of 175 cm boards. Kids were checked into a ridiculously expensive ski school and I spent the day skiing with my Dad and a friend ... the first time I've skied like an adult in a while. During this day I found myself wondering several times if the Alps will be very impressive. I live in one of the most remarkably beautiful places and spend a fair amount of time at the tops of big mountains. The question is only really aimed at planning. Do I plan to visit mountains like Zugspitze or Pfänder, spending several hours, only to go "looks like the view from the top of Mt. Elbert", having then lost that time exploring the truly unique aspects of Europe, 12th and 13th century architecture? Guess that will be a game-time decision.