Breaking up is hard to do.
So goes the song and how it really is.
Such was the case for me as I reluctantly sold my 2011 BMW 335is convertible on Black Friday of all days.
But I was seduced by the lure of biggest shopping day of the year and a deal that was too good to pass up.
Porsche Carrera 911 S Mark 2 Photo Gallery
Now before I go into details, I need to cover a subject that has bothered me for years regarding members of the automotive press that you and I read from time to time.
If you were to ever get the chance to meet this unique crew, one of the most surprising things you would learn about them, is many don't even OWN a car themselves.
SAY WHAT?
No joke.
It's common knowledge that they cycle through loaner press cars weekly so they feel there is no need to be an owner.
And when you ask many of them, they actually admit they aren't real car fans or they live in large cities and are trying to decrease their carbon footprints.
I have a different viewpoint.
In my case with AutoSpies.com, we talk to the most affluent car buyers in the world and I wouldn't feel comfortable giving you my opinions on cars in this segment, if I myself didn't have any skin in the game.
I may be wrong but I honestly believe if you haven't owned a nice car yourself and paid the tab with your OWN money, you have NO chance of ever gaining credibility in my mind.
I mean at least go out and buy a nice used GTI or SOMETHING so you know what it's like to be a customer and and have a chip on the table.
So that said, every Agent here at AutoSpies.com really has a car and bought it/leased it with their hard earned American cash or is supporting big banks with their monthly payments.
It's important you know that so you know we've walked a mile in your shoes and are not detached from your world.
So back to my deal...
While the rest of the world was trying to get a deal on wrapping paper at some crowded mall, I made a few pre-calls before the big day, looking to see if there were any REAL 'Black Friday' type deals on something nice.
So when I emailed AutoSpies.com reader Trent Hill (Circle Audi/Porsche Long Beach) asking if he could get me a 'BRO' deal, he dialed me into the Circle Porsche managers Tom Croxton and Eric Ernst. 562-494-1911.
We cut a deal over the phone on a dealer demo 2010 Porsche Carrera S and i picked it up last night.
And I must say in all my days of buying high end cars, there are no better guys to deal with.
They kept their word and gave me a deal no one could match or was willing to offer.
So what made me sell the 335is?
First they over paid me for my trade.
Next I asked them if they would let me have the 'trunk money' (that's an unpublished rebate offered to the dealers to help them move inventory from the manufacturer for the uninitiated) and they did.
Some dealers will offer it if you're smart enough to read Auto Spies and know that it exists and some won't.
And oh, by the way you won't get this kind of info at the C&D's, Edmunds, KBB, MT, etc. because they are all in the tank with the dealers and manufacturers.
But this is information that can save YOU REAL dollars.
In this case on existing 2010 911's and Panamera's it's 9 GRAND! And it's 6 on Boxsters/Caymans.
That's why it's always important to SPY before you BUY.
Remember, these deals aren't on every Porsche in dealer inventory but if you're will to look hard we bet you could accomplish them same thing that I did.
So now i got the discount on the car, the trunk money and did i mention this was dealer demo driven by one of the owners so there is MORE money to discount the car.
And in the end, I can't tell you the exact deal on the car but can we just say it was TENS of thousand of dollars LESS than the average Edmunds.com researcher would pay and didn't have to come out of Agent 001's pocket.
So i just COULDN'T say no. I had to share the wealth ;)
Let's talk about the actual car I got.
Here is the option list...
PDK and Sport Chrono is a must on the mark 2 911's because they're the fastest and get amazing mileage because of the 7-speed.
Not babying it, I was getting 28-30 MPG on the way back from Long Beach to San Diego.
On a car that goes 0-60 in a little over 4 seconds!!!!!!
Be sure to check out the Natural Brown leather interior with deviating black carpets.
Without a doubt, on par with best Bentley Continental leather quality.
I also went with the Dark Blue Metallic exterior becuase it was the demo car but I also am SICK of white, silver, grey and black 911's. Dime a dozen.
And OH, those SEXY LED's!!!!!
I put together a special photo gallery so you can check it out.
Special thanks to Tom and Eric at Circle Porsche, Bandera Restautant in Corona Del Mar and The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel.
Enjoy and enjoy this 2010 holiday season and may you be blessed enough to get the car of your dreams this year!
Porsche Carrera 911 S Mark 2 Photo Gallery
2010 Black Friday Photo Gallery
2012 BMW 6-Series Convertible Photo Gallery
2010 LA Auto Show Photo Gallery
2011 Chrysler Group Photo Gallery
2010 LA Auto Show Preview Photo Gallery