After a lot of debating and haggling with dealers I think I am getting a 535
 

First off let me say I love the new A4's and A5's. I currently drive an 05 bmw645,but have owned 01 A4, 99boxster, '95M3 and a few others so I am basially a german car *hore. I am looking to lower my payments for numerous reasons.
This is how I came to my decision.

The A4 is a beautiful car inside and out but the best deal I could find on a A4 with only prestige and nav. was around 44K. After 1 week of haggling the lease ended up being 707+tax @ 12k miles year w $2100 upfront. Mind you this car has no sport or s-line trim.

The 535 has Prem,Nav,Sport,Ipod,heated seats MSRP 58K (no Quatro but I live in SoCal). I am getting this car for $658+TAX@ 12K also $2100 upfront. This is a '08 so I am getting a deal because the '09's are out. The are very minor changes between the '08 and '09 MY.
I just don't think I can pass up this deal. What do you guys think?

Remember also the 535 does 0-60 in 5.6 seconds vs. 6.4

Re: After a lot of debating and haggling with dealers I think I am getting a 535
 

I used to own a 545i w/sport package and it is a very nice car and the contoured sport seats are fantastic.

For less money, and if you don't need quattro, it is a better deal. BMW is known for their cut-rate lease deals - that is why I leased my 545i.

Only negative is that you will look like another BMW "poser". :-)

get the BMW, no one should be leasing an A4 for over $700...

Why not go for the 2.0T?
 

I've been shopping for a 2.0T with prestige and NAV and without much work am $1000 under invoice. 3yr lease with 15k miles and no cash out gives me a lease in the low $600's including Calif tax.

I assume you are only looking at 3.2 A4's?

The '08 535's have had some big problems with fuel pump issues...cars losing power at highway speed. Check out the 5 series board at bimmerfest.com where there are numerous posts about it. The 535 is a fun car, but be prepared for many trips to the dealer to deal with problems #1 through infinity. I owned an E39 M5 and it was a complicated beast and scared me off BMWs forever.

535

I'd go to many other cars before the flamey BMW. Not a fan of the style at all.

Re: After a lot of debating and haggling with dealers I think I am getting a 535
 

I'm glad to see people seriously considering other makers here, based on the reality of the situation. If I did not drive in the snow, I would probably not consider an Audi as my first choice for 2 (in a month, 3) cars in a row.

Design and comfort are great, and I love the 2.0t motor in the car, but there are plenty of faster cars out there. Some for less money, as we see with your lease.

i was quoted 849 for a 2.0t prestige with s-line/nav. i left. picked up a non s-line
 

premium plus from another dealer.

Re: After a lot of debating and haggling with dealers I think I am getting a 535
 

$707 + tax???? I leased a prestige w/ nav including 20K miles per year at $635/month with $3K down total. (MSRP $43,335)

With 12,000 miles you should easly be able to get it under $600/month. Keep workin it...if you really want to be in the new a4???

Re: After a lot of debating and haggling with dealers I think I am getting a 535
 

Get the BM rubbish please do

My $0.02 I'd do a 335xi. I did Euro Delivery of my friend's in April...
 

I did European Delivery of my friend's 335xi coupe back in April. We picked it up in Munich and drove to Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, and back to Munich. I've been a fan of Audis for years and had a 1998 Audi A4QTip for 8 years. That said, the BMW in-line six revs so smoothly, particularly with a manual transmission. My only complaint is that the 335 is arguably too much car for the USA. On the autobahn it does 90-125 mph quickly, smoothly, and without drama. Where can you use that kind of power in the US?
I have a 2006 X3 3.0 (manual, sport, premium). Some people think it's under powered relative to its size/weight, but for me it's perfect. If you're willing to rev the engine and work the transmission, it's a pure joy to drive!
The new A4s look great too, but they're just too big for my needs. Regardless, enjoy the drive!

-James
Seattle, WA

5-series car are just about the ugliest thing on the road, imo.
 

OMG ugly.

no the 6 series is. i actually think the 5 isn't so bad

Re: After a lot of debating and haggling with dealers I think I am getting a 535
 

Hi
I had the same results when I went this week to Buy a A4. There are no Audi deals. Only would take off about $1,800 off sticker. This was at 6 Audi Dealers, All had the same result.
Pete

I thought the actual owner had to take delivery. Was your friend with you?
 

I did an ED for my 2007 335i last summer. My impression of the program was that the registered owner had to take delivery of the car, not a friend or relative.

I drove a 535i today
 

Drives great, but iDrive and fugly dash, run flats, not as roomy in the back as you'd think, and the potential dreaded fuel pump problem got me back in the market for a 2.0T Prestige.

Yuck, Bangalised BMWs. All of them.

Hehe, you'll like the license plates I had on one of my older BMWs...
 

<center><img src="http://www.gearfx.com/bmw/Roundel_plates.jpg"></center><p>

How did the 5er's rear legroom compare with B8 A4?

Well put

Thanks for all the input guys!!
 

Sorry, I have been busy this weekend and have not had the time to post. I do appriciate all the different points everybody has mentioned. I would love to say I am the new owner of an A4 but the price was just to high. I pick up the 535 this week..

That was for the 2.0T?

About the same, or maybe a bit less roomy feeling
 

The the rear of the 535's front seats aren't contoured like the rear of the B8's front seats, so sitting in the back of the 535i it felt like the front seat was closer to your knees. Definitely not as roomy in the back as you might expect.

Well said. Still love the E30 M3 and the 2002 tii

Re: Why not go for the 2.0T?
 

That sounds like a good deal, especially for what I've seen for Avants. Is the avant residual that much worse that its costing 50 more a month?

What money factor are you talking about with these deals?