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Old 06-08-2012, 12:16 AM   #43
Symbiont
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Drives: BRZ Premium 6MT (SWP)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by inimitable View Post
Great story! Very enjoyable, and well written, which is very hard to come across on da innernetz. Car's a beaut, too.

Got me wondering though... Should I holler around to some other dealerships to see what they might have to tell me?

I have been interested in trying to pick one of these things up for ~2 months. Unfortunately, things that require leaving the house/my bed, and interacting with real, live people, these days, seem to take lots of will power. So, I finally got around to getting down to the dealership, this week, and that's only because I looked online and saw what appeared to be a few dealerships with a couple in stock. I didn't really believe it, but it was enough to drive the point home, that I had better get my ass down there if I wanted to score one of these things.

I hadn't even contemplated the FR-S because, before I saw this, I wanted a WRX. Considering my last 4 out of 5 cars were 2 RSX type-s's and 2 del sols (the 5th being an EK civic coupe), the BRZ/FR-S seemed like an easy enough merge/no-brainer/logical progression, if ever there was one; and man, am I looking forward to ridding myself of all that FWD-ism-ness. Also, like you, this would be my first ever brand-new car. Naturally, I'm as excited as you are. I drew an easy parallel when you said you were talking yourself into the auto; I could see myself attempting to rationalize the same thing if it was being dangled in my face, even though I've sworn to drive stick fo' life.

In any case, I had to see if it was true: Had the BRZ/FR-S hit the streets? I hadn't seen any, yet. Then again, I try not to leave the house during the day. So, I went to the nearest pretty-big name dealership (in that, I've heard of it before...) in south Jersey, hoping to at least catch a glimpse. I didn't really expect to find one for sale, for if I did, I'd probably be in a terrible situation, and end up coming home with a color I didn't necessarily want, paying a price I wasn't happy with; I'd be too easily tempted. It was a Toyota/Scion ~7 mi away. I forgot to mention, I did bother to call first, of course, and I was informed that they had one on the premises, but it was a customer's car and it would be picked up later that day. So, I had to go see it.

It looked sweet. It was a SWP (or whatever the Scion version is), but it was an auto. WTF? Regardless, I was sold. Like I said, I was all BRZ in the beginning, though, honestly, I'd take either car, as long as I could get one of the top two colors I want and a 6-speed. But after I got to looking around on the internet the night before I went to the dealership, I actually bothered to take my first look at the FR-S. I liked what I saw; the front had a different cut, more aggressive. I'm not really a big fan of that flat/matte black middle of the BRZ; it looks like the steel bumper underneath is showing through. I also noticed a similar attribute in a Genesis that I saw today. ...so, I went back later with my girlfriend and made a deposit!

My biggest concern, was, is, and will be till I'm driving it off the lot, is when can/will I get it? I'm so dang impatient, if the guy whose car I saw was a 6-speed, I'd have probably paid him $2-3K to let me have it, right then and there. Of course, irrationality aside, I know better, but I still want the car ASAP. Now, especially after reading your story, I'm wondering if I should call a few other dealerships? Maybe I'll get lucky like you did. I'm half tempted to place ~4 different orders, granted I'll have to make 4 different $500 deposits, to see which one comes in first, then, simply abandon the others, since the deposit is refundable. This has to improve my chances?

Thoughts?

Advice?

Thanks in advance.
Considering how large of a purchase a new vehicle is, settling for anything that you wouldn't be completely happy with is just doing yourself a disservice. That being said, putting down refundable deposits is never a bad idea, since you should be assured of getting your funds back.

The AT is by no means a bad vehicle/transmission, and can be a blast to drive from what everyone says. As far as the styling goes, I felt the same way about the BRZ/FR-S, originally. It wasn't until seeing both in person that I decided that I actually preferred the BRZ. I have heard a few comments that the front of the FR-S is too 'Transformers' (their words, not mine), but styling is, and always will be, a personal preference. Ultimately, both cars are gorgeous and I think you'll be happy, either way.

The color is absolutely beautiful (in person), as well. I don't think that pictures do it justice. It really has to be seen in the sunlight in person to be appreciated. I have never really cared for white cars in particular, but this is really a classy looking automobile.

If I were in your position, I would hold out for the vehicle you really want. Don't settle, don't pay above MSRP, but call around and stay in constant contact with a few different dealers in your area. It can only work out to your benefit.
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