One Perk You Should Ask For When Buying A New Car

"LifeIsStout" (sirporter) 02/24/2015 at 18:42 • Filed to: car buying, manual transmissions

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This is not an article debating the !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! talk that many of you have had in your head.

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Instead, this is one thing that you can do when you go to the dealership to test drive, haggle and debate with your significant other on just how the free coffee should have chemical spill warning signs.

I may assume that most of you reading this website are enthusiasts of one sort of another when it comes to cars. Some may love liquifying tires into carcinogenic smoke, others may want to have their hind end massaged while creeping through rush hour traffic. Even still are the subset of folks that want to creep over boulders at lean angles that would make a Moto GP rider cringe, and then there are the people who put 20" rims on a Prius.

My wife and I recently went on a new car buying/leasing adventure. Our current vehicle (2007 MINI S) was getting rattled apart on the streets of Seattle, trim pieces falling off, leaks spouting from the head, turbo and various other places that you want the oil to stay in. Over the 4 years I owned the car I put about $7,000 dollars into it above and beyond the purchase price (used), and it was time to move on.

On the short list, 2014-15 VW GTi, 3 series BMW, and an Audi A4. All with manual transmissions.

I went to the local dealerships, having read as much car buying advice as I could fit in my head unwittingly stumbled across a 'want' that I had never thought about before. This is a car dealership, with lots of cars and some I would never ever think to ever drive or own right at my fingertips. I had checked out the inventories online, and at each dealer I went to, there seemed to be some interesting metal sitting on the lot.

I off-handedly said that part of the deal was contingent on getting to test drive a vehicle I knew I would not drive expecting to be told to take a hike. We made sure that they knew we were serious about a vehicle, and we always made the point to drive the car we actually were interested in first. Each time the sales person was more than happy to hand over the keys to the following vehicles:

The VW Dealership has a !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! plotting to crush every Passat CC it can lay it's 37 x 12.5 radial tires on.

Next up was BMW, where they had a lovely
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Finally though, Audi, where they had this absolutely amazing !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! . And while the website said coupe, this one was a convertible. Launch Control is a wonderful thing

My wife getting to drive the R8 out of the parking lot, apologies for the nighttime cell phone movie, but it does sound lovely-

Sure, you could get floor mats, window etching, a tank of gas thrown in, but why not try for something a bit different.

Finally, for full disclosure, we ended up leasing a 2015 S4 manual, I got to drive the R8 before the paperwork, my wife got to drive after, everyone left happy.

TJDMAX > LifeIsStout 02/25/2015 at 11:00

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Awesome choice in vehicles. I am in the middle of my lease on a 2014 S4 manual. You'll love the car. Makes for a great every day driver. Decent on gas, more than enough power to have some fun, and a sleeper as well. Not to mention the reason why i did the lease was it made sense given the residual and the market value of a 3 year old S4.

Enjoy your car!

LifeIsStout > TJDMAX 02/25/2015 at 11:58

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Thanks,

I have had it for around 3 weeks now, great car. I actually was sold on the seats more than anything. I actually thought I was going to be getting a 3 series, but issues with my back made me sit down and just go 'nope'. Which is funny since the previous generation of 3s were great for seats.

I do wish the MMI was a bit faster, and that the steering didn't feel so light at slower speeds, but other than that, it is a hoot to drive. Ours has the dynamic suspension as well as the sport diff, and the black optic package with the 19" wheels (those I could have passed on).

I have a nighttime pic, but have not taken anything since delivery.

TJDMAX > LifeIsStout 02/25/2015 at 13:58

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Yea i have the black optic package as well and sport diff and MMI. Only think i'm missing is the Adaptive Suspension. I usually leave the car in dynamic all the time. It rev matches on down shifts, sounds a bit better, and the steering and throttle are sharpest. But if i had the ADS i would leave it in individual and have everything set to dynamic except the suspension which i would leave in comfort.

For me the black optic package was a no brainer. I didn't like the look of the silver mirrors and grill. And i really like the RS5 wheels i have.

Only thin i have done now is tinted the windows and put a clear bra on the entire front end.