OT - Don't Saab for me, Argentina... - OT

Botch

This weekend, my 33-year association with the Finest Marquee in all of Autodom ended.  I bought a 2018 Audi A5 Cabriolet:
 

 
Test-drove one Saturday morning, loved the way it handled, fit, and looked; when the (excellent) salesman learned I was an ME (and a Saaboholic) he spent about an hour going over the mechanical and electrical features, and I knew I would be getting an Audi.  Its 2.0L Turbo, along with a double clutch and all-time 4wd, delivers 34 mpg Highway and (in the Coupe) a 5.0-sec 0-60 mph time!  
After an evening and morning of research, I decided to order one, called the salesman, set an appointment, and showed him what I wanted.  Learned that all future cars will have the full "computer screen" instrument cluster, rather than mechanical, analog tach/speedo; I didn't want that at all, so I ended up buying their showroom model with the mechanical gauges.  I didn't care for the wheels (shown in the stock photo above) and also wanted a tan leather interior rather than black, but all other features are what I wanted (750-watt Harmon-Kardon stereo!!).  The financial guy knocked their 6% markup down to 2% (the '19s are coming in) and I then learned, if I financed through Audi, they'd drop the price another $2K.  I was prepared to pay cash (a bucket list goal of mine that I'd been saving up for), but by financing a minimum, and then paying the loan off in the minimum 5 payments, the interest charge was far below the $2K, rawk!  I take delivery Monday afternoon.
 
The other test drives were interesting.  The new MB dealership near me had an unsold 2017 E400 Cabrio that was heavily discounted, rode like **** until I switched it into "Sport" mode, but I still preferred the ride in my 2001 Saab (had a desperate phone message at home this afternoon, they've discounted it again "just for me").  An '18 BMW 440i rode okay, but was rather loud and beat-up (CarFax showed it was a Rental, NEVER buy a used sportscar rental!); I didn't fit in a year-old Mercedes SLC (formerly SLK) nor did I fit in a Porsche Boxter.  There was a private-sale Jag F-type for cheap, 22,000 miles, but the Carfax report chewed up a lot of trees, yow.  
 
Will post a couple pics when I get Her Monday!  Hopefully She lasts long enough that my next chariot will be a wheelchair.... 

DoubleEgger

Congrats on the new whip

WeberWho

Good deal! Nicely done!

Wolfpack

Wishing you many years of enjoyment.  

20stone

Congratulations on a great looking car!  The tall guy convertible has been on my list for awhile. 

JohnInCarolina

You are going to have a ton of fun in that thing.  Congrats!

Wolfpack

,

GATraveller

Nice ride. That's a fast car. I get tickets in fast cars. 

lousubcap

Congrats as it sure sounds like you did all your homework and manged to get a deal that was equitable across the board.  

And as I am prone to say-stealing from the late great Leroy "Satchel" Paige, "Don't look back, somethin might be gainin on ya."

Go forth and enjoy-

nolaegghead

Well done, Botch. 

You should take a road trip to New Orleans for Brisket Camp in Oct.  Great food and music here...and if you can't get laid in New Orleans, you simply can't get laid anywhere.

DoubleEgger

nolaegghead said:

Well done, Botch. 

You should take a road trip to New Orleans for Brisket Camp in Oct.  Great food and music here...and if you can't get laid in New Orleans, you simply can't get laid anywhere.



Yup. Just ask that Chaplain....

thetrim

That’s a beauty.   Those tires looks awesome. 

Eoin

Nice car Botch. 

GlennM

love the car. I am looking as well. Looked at audi a couple weeks ago, kind of like the new merc c43 cab, new e is nice but pricey  Nothing like a convertible!

HendersonTRKing

Well done!  You’ll love that whip!!

Back in the early oughts, I had the S4 cabrio (with the V8). Traded it for the newer model S5 in 2000, which has the V6. The exhaust music changed but the performance is nuts + it’s less thirsty. Was recently at the dealer and am lusting over the the latest offerings. These are gorgeous performance vehicles. 

Welcome to the Audi family!  Wishing you many years of joyous and exhilarating travels. 

Botch

GlennM said:

love the car. I am looking as well. Looked at audi a couple weeks ago, kind of like the new merc c43 cab, new e is nice but pricey  Nothing like a convertible!

As I mentioned, MB of Farmington has a new 2017 E 400 model they're pretty desperate to sell (and they said on my answering machine they've cut the price again from $57K):
https://www.kbb.com/cars-for-sale/cars/mercedes-benz/e-400/?distance=75&bodystyle=convert

Botch

Thanks guys.  Got some medium Buyer's Remorse this morning, that's a lot of damn money, but it should be my last car.  I'll get over it.  

TN_Egger

total. chick. magnet.

Midlife crisis?  Nah...I'm looking at a Lexus right now.  It's all good!

Botch

TN_Egger said:

Midlife crisis?  

No, that happened 18 years ago.  

northGAcock

Gawjus Ride!

thetrim

Botch said:

GlennM said:

love the car. I am looking as well. Looked at audi a couple weeks ago, kind of like the new merc c43 cab, new e is nice but pricey  Nothing like a convertible!

As I mentioned, MB of Farmington has a new 2017 E 400 model they're pretty desperate to sell (and they said on my answering machine they've cut the price again from $57K):
https://www.kbb.com/cars-for-sale/cars/mercedes-benz/e-400/?distance=75&bodystyle=convert

FWIW, +1 for your decision.

Eoin

Botch said:

Thanks guys.  Got some medium Buyer's Remorse this morning, that's a lot of damn money, but it should be my last car.  I'll get over it.  

It's a nice car, well built and with one of the best quality interiors of all. It will last, like your Saab did, so in 5 years the paon on the initial expenditure will have faded but you will still have a nice set of wheels.

It's a great shame about Saab, what an interesting and hard wearing range of cars they produced. I had a 1990 Saab 9000 bought in 2001 when I quit working for the man and jumped out of a secure job and into self employment. The Saab was cheap (£1,500) comfortable, presentable to clients and all the toys worked (only the petrol gauge didn't, but the trip counter took care of that and mileage was 30 to the imperial gallon regardless of driving style). It had 135k miles on when I bought it and 250k when I sold it 4 years later for £60 on ebay, by which time I had an established business and could afford a new car.

YukonRon

Way to go Botch. That is a very fine automobile, and you will have years of enjoyment out of it. Have fun, and drive it like you stole it.

lousubcap

@Botch - I would refer to your purchase as "solving your old age crisis" however since I've got you by around a decade it may not yet be appropriate.

And regarding buyer's remorse, once that is in your driveway after an exhilarating drive the remorse will be long gone.  You will find the experience "intoxicating" and well worth the expense. 

DoubleEgger

Botch said:

Thanks guys.  Got some medium Buyer's Remorse this morning, that's a lot of damn money, but it should be my last car.  I'll get over it.  

A nurse friend told me to live now because the last quarter of your life is nothing more than doctors visits and constipation. 

lousubcap

@Botch- time for an update after the first few drives.  

buzd504

Welcome to the club.  I have a 17 A4 Quattro, and I love it.

fishlessman

nice vehicle,  never thought i would like all the new cruise features but going from the 89 to the rover  those adaptive features are killer, that audi has all of them keep all 4 wheels on the ground

WeberWho

HendersonTRKing said:

Well done!  You’ll love that whip!!

Back in the early oughts, I had the S4 cabrio (with the V8). Traded it for the newer model S5 in 2000, which has the V6. The exhaust music changed but the performance is nuts + it’s less thirsty. Was recently at the dealer and am lusting over the the latest offerings. These are gorgeous performance vehicles. 

Welcome to the Audi family!  Wishing you many years of joyous and exhilarating travels. 

My friend's brother had an early 2000''s S4. Tried to outrun the cops one day when they tried to pull him over for speeding. They clocked him around 160mph. He ended up smashing it up pretty good and didn't get away this time. Spent some nights in the clink and lost his licenses for a while. He misses that car. 

DoubleEgger

I guess Botch brought a cot and is taking the Fishlessman route. 

JohnInCarolina

Where are the pics of said vehicle?