Buying New car: dealer options help (Rust proofing?)

[mparr1708]

HaHaHa... do you also buy monster cables to get the most from your HD signal. :awe:

monoprice.com

However, if you can't tell the difference between driving a civic, camry, etc and driving a benz feel free to get your head examined. I've driven some so/so Audis but I've also driven the new S4 recently and I'm here to tell you its worth every penny. I haven't driven the Q5 so I can't judge that one.

Do what you want with your money. Some of us are fine paying a premium for a premium vehicle. Just because we chose to do so doesn't mean we lack reason or intelligence.

 

[StageLeft]

Thanks a lot guys for the responses, decided to get the Venture Shield (Clear Bra) as it does at least sound like it will protect the front from dings.

Will definetly get the GAP coverage, will call our own insurance to see if it is cheaper to get it thru them.

Hate car shopping got talked into $2000 navigation system by the wife, even when I explained to her that we can get an aftermarket one for $200. Its like you go to the dealer with a plan and list of things that you want and do not want but eventually buy the car thats available. Still cant beleive I spent this much on a car when I was totally happy with a practical, efficient civic for the past few years. daughter will be inheriting the civic hence the new car.

Thanks again.

Damn, this makes me sad. At least you should have been under the false impression you weren't getting reamed but to buy the car and know you're being reamed at the same time depresses me a bit.

Oh I didn't notice you were 4 hours away. Terrible mistake, IMO. Simply unacceptable; you cannot own a car if there is no close dealer. Anything beyond basic work many places simply won't take it so you'll need either a specialty shop or the dealer. You going to drive four hours or have it towed 500+ miles round trip because you can't find anybody to work on an electrical problem with it?

No offense, but you wife seems very gullible/clueless about this stuff

Well she did get navigation and like he said, heck just buy a GPS unit. I know a guy with nav in his car and it's nice but the problem is it was nice when he bought it, not now. Now it looks like what it is, which is ancient tech. You can replace a window unit every couple of years.

Audis are nice but I think it's a monumental, almost life-changing and history-defining mistake to buy a luxury sedan from a brand like Audi (read: known reliability issues) with closest dealership 4 hours away. A tremendous mistake of Iraq-war like levels. Where will you be getting warranty work done on it? Is there somewhere local that works on these? And not changing the oil, but changing transmissions, ripping out dash boards, electrical system, etc.?

 

[jpeyton]

monoprice.com

However, if you can't tell the difference between driving a civic, camry, etc and driving a benz feel free to get your head examined. I've driven some so/so Audis but I've also driven the new S4 recently and I'm here to tell you its worth every penny. I haven't driven the Q5 so I can't judge that one.

Do what you want with your money. Some of us are fine paying a premium for a premium vehicle. Just because we chose to do so doesn't mean we lack reason or intelligence.

I don't think we're arguing that a Benz isn't more luxurious, refined, or powerful than a Toyota.

I think we're talking about why luxury dealerships offer a more upscale experience, and the answer is: because you're paying for it out of your own pocket.

I don't go to my dealership often enough to care whether they have an espresso bar or plasma screen in the waiting area. In fact, I like the fact that my car has one of the lowest total costs of ownership in it's class.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

Go out and look at the front end of your Civic/Odyssey. does it look at all sandblasted with lots of rock chips from all the sand on the road?

The Clear Bra will prevent this from happening. You can see it on the car if you are within 3-5 ft. It really is transparent and we have it on one of our cars. We had it done at a shop and paid $400 to have the bumper, partial hood, and partial fenders wrapped. They also wrapped the mirrors and the area under the door pulls.

By keeping the front end of the car in pristine condition you will increase its resale value.

 

[Xed]

Just for comparison, USAA charged 100 dollars for my gap coverage.

 

[Doggiedog]

I have 5 yr tire and dent insurance on my car. I used the tire insurance last year when I popped the 2 driver's side tires in a nasty pothole. Insurance replaced them at no charge. I popped a snow tire 2 weeks ago and insurance covered that too. So far I am way ahead. I paid $750 for the insurance and have used up $1200 on replacement tires.

I haven't used my dent insurance yet although I have on nasty dent. I'll probably use that next time I take my car in.

 

[TruePaige]

Not to crap on your choice but the in-car nav systems (while a nice throw in if you buy the car used) are a rip if they charge much at the dealer.

$2000? After two years they tend to be so far outpaced by advances on portable units (a good one costs $200) and the fact that the map updates are crazy priced...ick.

Dealer "value adds" are rip offs.

 

[mparr1708]

I don't think we're arguing that a Benz isn't more luxurious, refined, or powerful than a Toyota.

I think we're talking about why luxury dealerships offer a more upscale experience, and the answer is: because you're paying for it out of your own pocket.

I don't go to my dealership often enough to care whether they have an espresso bar or plasma screen in the waiting area. In fact, I like the fact that my car has one of the lowest total costs of ownership in it's class.

You are correct I am paying for it and I'm good with it. Every car has scheduled service intervals and quite frankly I'm to busy to fight with dealerships about scheduling, a loaner, etc. With my merc I just ring them up and they send a guy to me, drop off my loaner, service my car, and bring it back to me wherever I'm at. I'm not sure if every luxury dealership does this but that kind of level of service is important to me.

Conversely my wife and I have owned 3 hyundais in the past. Great cars but the service at all 3 dealers here where I live is atrocious. As a matter of fact that's what drove us to go more upscale with our vehicles to begin with (she now drives a BMW).

Again to each their own I just get a little annoyed when I see someone being given a hard time because they choose not to drive an econobox.

For what its worth I can agree that factory installed Navigation is overpriced. I have COMAND in my merc and we use a Garmin in my wife's BMW. There is no contest... the Garmin is far far better. Although, I do like the other features of COMAND (voice system, address book, hard drive for ripping CDs, etc).

 

[StageLeft]

With my merc I just ring them up and they send a guy to me, drop off my loaner, service my car, and bring it back to me wherever I'm at. I'm not sure if every luxury dealership does this but that kind of level of service is important to me.

That is pretty darn sweet.

 

[PClark99]

The only one I would get is Venture Shield. That stuff actually works great.

I was going to say the same thing. My brother has this on his car and swears by it.

 

[StageLeft]

So what did you end up with? And seriously, have you thought about how to get work done on this car?

 

[AnMig]

So what did you end up with? And seriously, have you thought about how to get work done on this car?

Bought the Q5 last Friday, happy with the purchase. I understand the dealer is 4 hours away but dont expect any problems with it (knock on wood).

Maintenance is at 5000 (free) 15,000, 25,000, 35,000 (covered by the Audi plan).
We expect to drive to the cities (mpls) maybe 1-2 times a year. We do this anyway as we go shopping, watch shows often.

They will give as a loaner car as the car is serviced, so we go eat out, go to the mall, then pick up the car after.

If it brakes down, there is 24 hour roadside assistance and was told thay would pay for the towing all the way back to the cities. Not sure about car rental while it is being repaired.

I have not had problems with breakdonws in the past (Civic, Oddessey) so I am hoping my luck holds up.

My close friend has an Infiniti and he does the same thing (service in the cities), no problems so far.

Nice car still learning all the features, it does have torque vectoring by the way (someone had asked). We also needed something to tow a small boat around (1500 pounds)hence not a sedan

peace

 

[PlasmaBomb]

Quote:
Crystal Fusion™ improves driver reaction time by keeping windshields and glass surfaces clearer.
Wow!

I wonder if they will do it to my eyes, so that I can enjoy faster reactions permanently...

 

[Pacfanweb]

I wouldn't get any of that shit.

Yep