For the past 3.5 years since I retired from Cutter Motors I have done my best to ensure that my former clients received the very best service possible, and time and time again my good buddy Willie Schmeltz the GSM at Steve Thomas BMW has proven himself more than worthy of the task...

The most recent case in point occurred yesterday when I accompanied my best friend "Rob" to get his very first BMW. To give you some history, I first met Rob in 1980 when we pumped gas together at the local Chevron station to help pay the rent while we were undergraduates at U.C.S.B. Rob later became my roomate, and I was with him the night that I met my future bride. Rob threw my bachelor party for me. During my final year at Cutter Rob visited me several times, contemplating the purchase of an Ultimate Driving Machine. Well, four years later when he told me that he was finally ready to pull the trigger, I contacted Willie, and off we went to Camarillo. After checking out several possibilities (Steve Thomas always features an excellent selection of CPOs, btw) including a beautiful low-mileage Jet (focking) Black E39 525i manual sport and a clean Titanium Silver 740iL Rob settled on a Jet Black 2004 E60 525iA. Once we got down to doing the deal, the trade-in appraisal process, the credit application, all of the logistical aspects of the car deal seemed to zoom by as fast as the cars on HWY 101 adjacent to the dealership. Willie sharpened his pencil, and in record time a deal was struck. The financing on off-lease E60 525's is pretty amazing right now in case anyone's interested. How about 4.9% APR for 72 months?!?! Anway, as always, everyone at Steve Thomas BMW was very professional and courteous. Rob is totally stoked, and I expect him to join us here at The 'Fest once he settles down and comes out of the ether from the Bimmer-buying high...

Special thanks again to Willie and his team. Back in the day he was always my #1 nemesis. I lost more car deals to him than anyone else. Now he is the Ultimate Referral target for all of my VIP friends, colleagues and clients. Willie has been with Steve Thomas for an astonishing 16 years. U.F.B. If you live in Ventura County or Santa Barbara County, or if you simply don't mind travelling a bit to acquire a BMW go see my buddy Willie, and be sure to tell him that Shafe sent you. Mention Bimmerfest to any of their CA's and you will get an easy and rocking deal...

Here are a couple of pics that I snapped to memorialize the occasion.