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Can't go wrong with either. Happy motoring.
I plan to go back to the dealer to see what there next comments are. What really upset me is that it should be one place to take the car to, the BMW dealer, when you have any problem with a car with 12k miles on it.
I have owned other cars where this was the case. But then I guess it can be dealer specific and not BMW policy.
package and much prefer it with. I don't notice any difference in ride comfort
and the handling is so much better. It makes a great car more outstanding.I
can only talk in superlatives for the car with sport suspension. In my mind the
only thing more I might want is all wheel drive and the sport pkg. That would
be the Ultimate!
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
But, realize these conditions affect probably 10-20 days a year. The other 350 or so you'll probably regret not getting the better driving car (i.e. the BMW). Don't get me wrong, the A6 is a great car, and is styled very impressively (especially the interior). But the 5-series does have a decided edge when it comes to ride and handling, not to mention the A6's remarkably poor reliability record.
I'd recommend getting a good set of winter tires mounted on 16" wheels (about $1000 from Tire Rack), which you can easily swap out yourself every winter and extend the life of your summer tires. Driven gingerly and with good winter tires, the 5-series will get you through winter OK. Just don't expect any hurculean ascents up any icy hills.
Best Regards,
Shipo
You might also want to ask brave1heart over on the 3 series board (he usually lurks here too though). He lives in Boston and drives a 3 series with z rated Sport Package tires.
2001 Prelude Type SH, 2022 Highlander XLE AWD, 2025 Camry SE AWD
The Audi has a much bigger back seat. It has an exceedingly pleasing interior design(exterior,too,for that matter). Also,a much more compliant ride. A deal breaker for me,though,was that the wheel wouldn't tilt up enough. I like to sit very upright,and at the highest setting,the tops of the gauges were obscured.
The BMW did not have this problem. It is more of a "driver's" car.
If you really do ski a lot,I'd say you would really enjoy the quattro. But as so many say,you probably would still want snows.
I'd say that transmission choice might reveal which car you might most enjoy. I bought my first manual last year,and it really has added a whole new level of fun. So I'd go for the Bimmer.
But if you are committed to an automatic,I wonder if that implies that you are a bit more of a "cruiser". If so,you might really enjoy the Audi. It has a very relaxing,almost Lexus-like,softness that I thought very seductive.
i wasn't aware of the a6 reliability record but i checked consumer reports and you are absolutely right.
i think the other main point is the enjoying 350 days in the car you want and driving tentatively at most 15 days with snow -- so i'm just going to do it and get the tires you recommend;
now i just have to find the car i want now which is not that easy (fold down rear seats are hard to find). there are none at the local dealer, but they can get them out of new jersey but without xenons which i heard were nice
i also originally wanted a nav system but even the dealer talked me out of it (perhaps because they are even harder to get). he said they very rarely see them on a 5s because people don't think they're worth it and they stay with the car after the lease. instead people were buying standalone units at circuit city for half as much which they could move from car to car and take on trips? i don't know what he's talking about
any feedback on xenon or nav would be appreciated.
i have yet to talk discount, i hope i can get a reasonable price -- does anyone have a sense of how much over invoice would be reasonable on a 530?
thanks!
The car has been superb with no trouble other than the engine light which didn't require a separate pit stop at the dealer. The car got routine maintenance which was free.
All in all, a wonderful car.
Nav: You're right to be suspicious of a dealer's opinions when they try to sway you one way or another in order to sell you a car quicker, but he's actually right on this one. I've played with the BMW nav system, and while it offers some advantages, if you try competing systems from Acura and Lexus you'll quickly realize how antiquated and crappy the BMW system is. For one, it's CD-ROM based, so there are different discs you need to swap out for different parts of the country (as opposed to the others' DVD-ROM based systems, which contain far more information). And the user interface is relatively poor; you have navigate around and enter every street address using a rotary knob, which is tedious and slow. The others' systems have touch-screens with small keyboards (I'm fairly sure I'm remembering this right) that greatly facilitate data entry. Ask your dealer if he's got any nav systems in stock (except for the new 7 series', which is different/better), and decide for yourself. As for the "portable" units, one of the more popular models is from Garmin, the StreetPilot III (http://www.garmin.com/products/spIII/index.html), which is half the cost of the factory nav system and is, obviously, portable. It won't be integrated seemlessly into the car like the factory system, but I've heard several positive reviews of it.
As for pricing, anything between $1000 and $2000 over invoice seems to be the norm in most parts of the country.
In my case, the jury is still out, during my 1,440 miles in Europe, I got the seats close to my liking, however, not quite. I have a hip flexor issue on my right hip, and it is very uncomfortable for me to drive unless the seats are "Just so". After a fair amount of testing, I found two positions on my former 328i, and I am still in "Test Mode" on the 530i (which I hope to take delivery of tomorrow). In the end, I suspect that I will find a couple of positions that feel good and will immediately program them into the seat memory.
I will say this, I personally have a problem justifying the $1,200 Comfort Seats simply because the SP seats are so comfortable for everything but my right hip (so far that is).
Best Regards,
Shipo
They are mostly to prevent "overdriving" your headlights. Most of us have experienced a fleeting moment when you have a VERY brief sensation of "where am I?"when driving at night. This usually occurs driving rapidly through a series of tight corners.
If money is not much of an issue,sure,go for them. But I really don't think they are a necessity.
they give lateral support and even after a long trip you arrive feeling fresh and
ready for what comes up. Would not do without the xenons, must have for me.
The pass through rear seats? Have not used it once, probably could go for
another option instead. The nav system as posted above is antiquated and too
cumbersome to use, BMW needs a DVD/ROM based system like the one on Lexus.
Just my 2 cents.
1)Sport Package
2)Cold Weather Package
3)Premium Package
4)Xenons
5)Auto-Steptronic
6)Split foldown rear seat (wife had to have it)
Colt.
Colt.
model have? Anything interesting there?
I am very happy with the sport package, although my kids originally complained that it was "very bumpy" in the back seat. They have apparently gotten used to it, though, for I haven't heard any complaints recently.
I like the five speed manual transmission, although the long throw of the shifter took a little getting used to.
One real disappointment is the base stereo. The tuner does not pull in stations very well, and the sound quality is mediocre. You should compare the base to the premium stereo. I wish I had done so. Note that ordering the nav system deletes the in dash cd player. As a result, I ordered the trunk mounted cd changer, which works fine.
I ordered the xenon lights, which I thought would provide an extra margin of safety. While I can't quantify the advantage they have over conventional lights, I would think they would be particularly useful for rural driving (of which I have done little).
One final note: I would check out the dealers' reputation for service and find out the typical lead time for a service appointment. I recently called my dealer because of a defective rear speaker. (The call was necessary because they failed for a week to respond to an e-mail request). I was given an appointment two months hence for the dealer to determine whether a new speaker was necessary. Once it is inspected and it is determined that I indeed need a new speaker, the dealer will order one. I will then need to come back to have the dealer install the speaker. Almost makes me wish I still had my Toyota Camry (almost).
I see Shipo answered your questions re: comfort seats and SP, but I wanted to give you some additional information. I took ED of a 530i with the comfort seats and the SP. Now this is my opinion, so take it for what it's worth, but while the sport seats are comfortable, I (and my wife) found the the comfort seats to provide a significantly higher level of comfort and adjust ability. I currently have the sport seats in my 325i, and enjoy the support it provides during cornering, etc. However, bigger folks that sat in the seats did not find them as comfortable. When I sat in the E39 sports seats, I noticed that the side bolsters on the console side was in a slightly uncomfortable position for me. Also, if I am not mistaken, you cannot get the lumbar support option with the sport seat (assuming this is important to you). A lot of this may depend on how you drive.
In any event, this is my 2 cents.
decided our next cars had to have equal or better lights. My 97 Civic and now the
'02 Civic EX also offer this great lighting. Of course, the bimmer's Xenons are even
better giving me a greater sense of safety. I, too, just had occasion to drive a late
model Japanese car and American car and their lights just were plain inadequate.
The Xenons light up the road and let you see ahead and to the sides, just perfect.
Best Regards,
Shipo
thank you in advance.
If you want us to see pictures you have found elsewhere on the web, you can post a link to them instead of displaying them.
Hope this helps.
Pat
Sedans Host
Best Regards,
Shipo
This is not an apples to apples comparison, but I need your opinion. The options that I can not live without are: automatic, premium package, cold weather package. I am pretty flexible on anything else.
I have been to the only two dealers located within a 40 mile radius of my house. The two best prices that I can get are:
Dealer #1. 530ia, premium package, cold weather package and lumbar support; price $44720. This car is sitting in the dealer's lot.
Dealer #2. 530ia, premium package, cold weather package, xenon lights, heated steering wheel; price $43555. This car is in another dealership out of town, the dealer would have to request that the vehicle be transferred to their lot.
I am definitely getting hosed by Dealer #1, but this dealership is closer to my house, and they do not charge any additional fees. Of course, they don't need to because they are already gouging me by charging only 950 under MSRP (2888 over edmunds invoice).
I am concerned about Dealer #2 because they are not sure of when the car will be here, and I am not getting a straight answer on the fees. They also gave me a preliminary quote on the Maintenance service extension that was twice as much as the quote I got from Dealer #1. I will be talking to the Dealer #2 again tomorrow, so we'll see.
Assuming that Dealer#2 does not charge any additional fees, which one would you go with? I just want your very own biased opinion.
Thanks.
Now, about getting a better deal: It's not clear how much you negotiated with the first dealer. Did you tell them a competing dealer is offering you $1500 over invoice? I suspect they'll be willing to come down further, since $950 off MSRP is fairly greedy, and usually only heard of in areas with only one dealer around. If you want a better deal, you can also contact Steve Diamond at www.eurobuyers.com. For a couple hundred dollars, he'll locate the rock-bottom best deal around, but it may require a few-hour drive to an out-of-state dealer. His fees will almost certainly be paid for in the savings. I haven't used his service but have heard nothing but positive reviews of his service.
Eurobuyers may be another way to go. You could probably find a similar price yourself by just calling a bunch of dealers. I ordered mine from the 4th or 5th closest dealer via phone / FAX (I'll meet him only at local delivery after I have already taken Euro delivery), but then shipo had just recommended him on this board. But $1500 over invoice is pretty good, so I would just go in and pin down dealer 2 on the details.