@David Chaus, too bad The Car Guys are gone. This is more a relationship question than a ski question. How is this "gift," that's really more about your quiver than about her enjoyment, going to go over in the long (or even the short) run? Presumably she's no dope and will see through this in fifteen seconds.
My dad gave my mom an old pair of his skis. They were "much better" than her even older wood ones. (This was fifty years ago.) Unfortunately he decided to use the old skis for kindling without asking her first. She never skied again. She also never stopped telling the story. So, don't take away her old standbys.
My suggestion: Get two pairs of skis. Don't tell her. Go ski them both if you must. Pick the one you like better. Give her the other pair outright. Don't borrow them; they are hers. (But do tune them, of if you are a tuner.) Take her to a special show or whatever she loves to do. Say thank you for her willingness to hit the slopes with you, and tell her how much you love being outdoors together. Okay, now you have domestic capital AND a pair of narrow skis.
Yeah, this would be a perfect Magliozzi question.
It’s not about me getting her something that’s really intended for me, or trying to fool her. I have no intention of taking her Nemisis away, and I’d be more than willing to buy her what she wants outright.
It’s more, can I get something for myself that I would be stoked about skiing, that she could also use and would actually be more appropriate for the terrain she tends to ski. I thought of the AX because of wide envelop of abilities that can use it. If she ever wanted to try my Z90’s she can, I have demo bindings on them, though they are a bit long for her at 174, but not out of the question.
Now, if she tried the AX and then wanted one for herself, or a Motion, I’d be fine with that. It‘s just more money that I might not have. Just got to see a few more clients and accumulate a few more billable hours.